Original story published May 25, 2016:

Psychology major and class president Michele Mellick (SHU ’16) credits an internship in her junior year with inspiring an interest in the legal profession.

“For my internship, I was working in the human resources department of a company, and at the time, they were in the middle of a law suit,” she says. “During my time there, I saw how law, business, and human resources intersected. After completing my internship, I knew I wanted to pursue law school.”

“One of the main focuses of my psychology major has always been learning how to think. I was constantly asked to think deeper about issues and to find multiple solutions to problems."

Michele is confident that her time at Seton Hill has prepared her for law school, and for a career in law.

“One of the main focuses of my psychology major has always been learning how to think,” she says. “I was constantly asked to think deeper about issues and to find multiple solutions to problems. As a psychology major I also focused on viewing problems from other people's perspectives, understanding their point of view, and being empathetic. The Catholic approach to education has also helped to prepare me. Using Catholic social teaching and the psychology code of ethics, I was asked to determine what the ethical approach to various situations is.  All of these skills are ones that I will definitely use in law school and beyond.”

Michele will attend the Duquesne University School of Law, and hopes to become a corporate lawyer – but she’s keeping her options open.

“I have three years of law school ahead of me, which could definitely impact what I choose to do after graduation. I know I have a lot to learn and am open to anything!”

Update as of March 7, 2019:

Nearly three years after graduation, Michele Mellick is continuing to thrive while at Duquesne University School of Law. This past summer, a new opportunity brought her back to The Hill to gain even more experience at her alma mater while in a professional setting. Michele is currently working as a law clerk within the Office of the General Counsel at Seton Hill University as she continues to pursue her law degree.

"My job at Seton Hill helps me to understand my courses more in school and provides me with more real-world examples in the concepts I am learning in class," she says. Michele continues to incorporate her undergraduate psychology degree and her liberal arts education into her current studies and her position within the university. "The liberal arts curriculum at Seton Hill exposed me to a wide variety of subjects, from religion to science to the arts," she explains. "Although law is its own field of study, it applies to every aspect of life! The broad knowledge that I gained through the liberal arts program has helped me to understand cases and the people that I encounter and will encounter as I practice law."

Since beginning to work professionally at Seton Hill, Michele has found a new passion that she hopes to take charge of in her future. "I have gained a deep interest in higher education law and would like to pursue a career in that field."