NJIT Professors Prime Jada Evans for UCLA School of Law

Jada Evans had a plan when she arrived at New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2019 and achieved it – and then some – ­in just three years.

Beyond a finding a major that matched her dual interests in law and technology and honing her skills as a writer, the Albert Dorman Honors College Scholar immersed herself in campus and real-world opportunities, be it clubs, an internship, mentoring high school students or working as a teaching assistant. Such service and scholarship earned her the Spirit of “Doc” Award from the College of Science and Liberal Arts, the Albert Dorman Future Leader Award from ADHC and the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence.   

Still, when looking at law schools, Evans hedged it bit, applying to some 10 schools in the top 100. “I was not sure how strong of a candidate I was, so I figured I should be safe than sorry,” explained Evans, who’s from Washington, N.J. “I found out I got into UCLA around my birthday and I thought it was a prank. I had to read the email a few times to make sure it was real.”

Now as she takes the next step toward a career in tech law, the Class of 2022 graduate looks back on all that she accomplished as a Highlander and how key mentors in the history department inspired her along the way.

What led you to choose Law, Technology and Culture as a major?
I’ve wanted to do law for a long time now, maybe since third or fourth grade. My role model growing up was Michelle Obama and she is a Harvard Law School graduate. I had no clue what law I wanted to study though, until high school. I loved my computer science classes but hated coding. Toward the end of my junior year, we had a cybersecurity lawyer visit our class. After talking to him for five minutes, I realized that tech law was the perfect marrying of my two interests. 

What made "Legal Issues in Media History" your favorite class?
I learned how to take quick notes that made sense when looking back later on. And I learned how to write college essays. I also enjoyed Dr. [Kyle] Riismandel’s teaching style. I was nervous about being in an upper-level class as a freshman, but he made me feel seen and heard during discussions and I never felt inadequate. 

How did professors Alison Lefkovitz, Rosanna Dent and Riismandel guide you?
It never felt like they were talking at us in class. Everything was a discussion, and I never felt cornered into one way of thinking or interpretation. These professors provided me with opportunities to grow outside the classroom too. Dr. Lefkovitz and Dr. Riismandel were on my thesis review board, and they also advised the Pre-Law Society that I ended up becoming vp of. I did research with Dr. Dent. I participated in service-learning and I got to intern with the Essex County Office of the Public Defender. All of these opportunities were presented to me in part because the great professors in the history department wanted to offer me chances for real-world development. 

What does the Spirit of “Doc” Award mean to you?
It means that I was able to help as many people as possible in my short time here. I dedicated a lot of my time to service through the CSLA and the Honors College. I was a high school mock trial coach and a volunteer writer for a non-profit. I was a TA for freshman seminar classes and I was an RA in the Honors Hall. I did historical research that helped indigenous groups with data sovereignty and volunteered at multiple robotics events. I edited a lot of papers for my friends, ran a composting collection for Green Club and helped the Pre-Law Society set in motion a plan for an undergraduate law journal. Looking back, it is hard to believe how much I was able to participate in and still balance school and a social life. 

What’s most appealing about UCLA?
I want to study tech law, which is why I came to NJIT. I knew that I could get a mixed tech and law education here, giving me a head start. UCLA has a new Institute of Technology, Law and Policy that works with their engineering students and law students and helps law students become exposed to a lot of tech law opportunities, including research and internships.

What are your long-term goals?
I want to either work for a tech company or a tech entrepreneur’s legal team. Then, after I have established myself, or maybe when I want a career change, I want to end up in politics. My dream would be to become a state senator.