Field: Law
Valpo alumna Nichole Mitchell ’22’s love for reading and learning manifests itself in her work as a law student. Mitchell graduated with a bachelor of arts in English with minors in philosophy and psychology. Following her time at Valpo, Mitchell is pursuing a law degree at Wayne State University Law School. She participates in societies, such as the Community Homelessness Interprofessional Program, Mock Trial, and Women’s Law Caucus.
Mitchell’s work as an English student set in motion her desire to go to law school. In high school, she recalls reading Harper Lee’s renowned “To Kill A Mockingbird:” “That’s the book that made me think maybe law school was for me. I remember reading that in high school, and I was like, wait a minute, yeah, this is a great piece of fiction that is telling the story about a possible career path I can take.” While at Valpo, Mitchell found her fascination with how language conveys meaning, and “how meaning means something completely different to two people.” She cites “Othello” as a play that reminded her of being a lawyer because, “You follow this character that talks about how he’s making people follow him because of the words he’s using; that’s essentially what a lawyer does. They’re persuasive, and they craft arguments to get a jury to do what they want.”
During her undergraduate years at Valparaiso University, Mitchell admired Professor Richard Sévère, Ph.D.’s teaching style. Mitchell asserts, “He set a very clear example to me of what I wanted to be. I wanted to be driven, have high standards for myself, and be successful in whatever I created. That side of him helped craft my work ethic into college and stemmed into everything I do now, both in law school and in my career.” Mitchell notes that she still keeps up with Professor Sévère and discusses important things with him. She continues saying that, “Dr. Sévère has been a massive mentor for me. We’re still in contact to this day; we were just talking about the bar exam.”
Mitchell’s advice to students is “to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.” She was heavily involved in sorority life, clubs, and the English department. Valpo fosters growth and opportunity. Mitchell states, “Valpo is a great place to really allow yourself to explore who you are before you have to do it in the real world, which is a lot scarier. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today had I not had my four years there.”
Written by: Jovana Trajanoska ’28
Originally published in the spring 2025 edition of The Lodestar, Valparaiso University’s English department newsletter. Since this article was published, Nichole has continued to shine and received her juris doctor from Wayne State University Law School in May 2025.
