Asking Questions and Creating Change
For Nubia Willman ’07, Valparaiso University is more than the place where she earned her degree. It’s where she learned to ask difficult questions and, perhaps more importantly, to keep asking them. A sociology major with a concentration in criminology, Nubia came to Valpo from Indianapolis knowing she wanted to become a lawyer. She chose Valpo in part because of its strong criminology and sociology programs, and she was equally drawn to the University’s smaller classrooms and close-knit community.
“I didn’t feel like I’d be a small fish in a huge pond,” she recalls. Nubia immersed herself in student life, becoming involved in student organizations, serving in Student Senate, and working at the Union and the MLK Center. Those experiences gave her opportunities to develop leadership skills and make lifelong friendships – including meeting her future husband, Evan Williams ‘07, ‘08 MBA.
As a first-year student, Nubia took a sociology course with the late Professor Lissa Yogan ‘82, M.A., Ph.D., that included an exercise asking students to identify five ways they were privileged. At 18, she had never thought about privilege in quite that way. “I was able to see the ways that we are privileged, and things I hadn’t even considered before,” she says. “And I was able to do it in a way that was objective and neutral, that didn’t come with some type of moral judgment.” That exercise became a turning point.
Another course introduced her to concepts of racial justice and white supremacy, ideas that would become increasingly important as she considered what kind of lawyer she wanted to become. “I always knew I was going to go to law school,” Nubia says. “I recognized that if I was able to earn my degree, I really wanted to work toward addressing racial justice in some type of way.”
After graduating from Valpo, Nubia attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law and went on to build a career in immigration law. In 2019, she was appointed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead immigration policy for the city, an opportunity she describes as “the honor of a lifetime.”
Her work has continued across law, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement. Yet one of her most enduring contributions began during law school, when she noticed something missing. At the time, Latinas represented less than 2% of attorneys in the United States. Nubia recognized that many of the challenges she had encountered were not simply individual obstacles; they were part of larger systems and patterns. In response, she created something she wished had existed for her: a community.
What began as a blog in 2014 grew into Latinas Uprising, a digital platform providing practical advice, mentorship, and encouragement to Latina lawyers and aspiring attorneys. Over the years, the community has grown to more than 28,000 young professionals across the country. What started with advice about succeeding in law school has expanded into conversations about leadership, civic engagement, representation, and creating meaningful change. In many ways, Nubia has become the mentor she once hoped to find.
“I do meet with a lot of people,” she says. “Anyone who ever wants to meet with me to grab coffee, I almost always say yes.” For Nubia, mentorship is not simply about telling someone what path to take. It is about helping people recognize possibilities they may not yet see for themselves. That same philosophy now extends to her newest chapter.
In 2026, Nubia announced her candidacy for alderman of Chicago’s 25th Ward, bringing her legal experience, advocacy work, and commitment to community into the political arena. At the center of that work is a belief she traces back to her time at Valpo: the importance of integrity, seeking knowledge, and thinking critically.
Nubia still finds herself thinking about lessons from her Valpo classes. She remembers discussions that asked fundamental questions about citizenship, knowledge, and how we understand the world around us. “I really appreciate that there was a space and time in my life where there was time and ability to just think,” she says. “To think critically.” In a world increasingly driven by quick opinions and sound bites, she believes that ability is more important than ever.
Her Valpo experience also taught her the power of belonging. As a student, she found a community where she could explore her own heritage and culture while learning from people whose experiences differed from her own. Her involvement with student organizations helped her understand the importance of inclusion, not simply as an ideal, but as something that can fundamentally change a person’s experience. “I think for a lot of us who were lucky enough to be in that space when she was there, our experience would have been very different if she hadn’t been there,” Nubia says of Jane Bello-Brunson, who helped create a welcoming space for students of color at the MLK Center.
Today, Nubia works to create those kinds of spaces for others. Whether through the courtroom, city government, nonprofit work, digital mentorship, or a political campaign, the goal remains remarkably consistent: help people feel seen, understand their own potential, and have a meaningful voice in the systems that affect their lives.
If you’re looking for a future dedicated to helping others and building strong communities, follow Nubia’s footsteps – explore your calling in Valpo’s School of Social Sciences at valpo.edu/school-of-social-sciences.
