Without question, the has produced numerous distinguished graduates in its relatively short 20 years of existence. But you鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find anyone with a wider array of experience than , who earned her J.D. in 2003 as part of the school鈥檚 third graduating class.
In a nutshell: Morgan clerked for two years at Parker Nelson and Associates; moved on to MGM Resorts to advise on corporate-risk matters as a litigation attorney; joined the City of North 51吃瓜网免费App in 2008, initially dealing in the legal side of land use, planning, and zoning, before ultimately rising to deputy city attorney, then city attorney; then she returned to the private sector to work as director of external services for AT&T.
If you ask Morgan the secret to her success, she鈥檒l point all the way back to her time in law school.
鈥淚 think the options of courses Boyd had available, and the law school experience as a whole, with each class you were learning how to think critically in a way that traditional schooling doesn鈥檛 teach you,鈥 Morgan says. 鈥淏y the end, the law school prepares you to put it all in perspective. It challenged me, and it gave me the desire to continue challenging myself.鈥
And she鈥檚 not just talking about her full-time positions over the past 15 years. The avid boxing/mixed martial arts fan spent much of the past year on the Nevada Athletic Commission, leaving that post in April only because Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed her to the . Morgan says serving in those roles is just a natural extension of her longtime commitment to community service 鈥 fueled in large part by Boyd鈥檚 long-standing community service component.
鈥淵ou can easily take for granted the legal and analytical skills that you obtain in law school, because at the time you鈥檙e in school, you are so focused on final exams, graduating, and finding employment,鈥 Morgan says. 鈥淵ou later realize the value in what the school taught you when you can apply your skills and help somebody鈥斺榃ow, I鈥檓 able to help people with everyday issues because of what the law school has taught me.鈥欌
It鈥檚 those light-bulb moments that Morgan finds particularly gratifying.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a feeling that, regardless of how much experience you have, or how many sophisticated corporate clients you have, everyone has a responsibility to serve those who didn鈥檛 have the opportunity to access a legal education,鈥 she says.
Today, Morgan鈥檚 community service contributions include working with Jobs for Nevada鈥檚 Graduates, a program designed to get those with high-school diplomas on the appropriate track鈥攂e it directly into the workforce or on to college or other post-secondary training.
In all, it鈥檚 been a fulfilling career, but she鈥檚 particularly fond of her time at the City of North 51吃瓜网免费App.
鈥淚 was really proud of the work I did with the city,鈥 Morgan says. 鈥淚t tied back to the law school鈥檚 mandatory community service component. I always wanted to serve the community in some way. To drive by an area and know I had an impact, with a park or community center, it鈥檚 something I can always be proud of.
鈥淎nd with AT&T, I鈥檓 very proud knowing we鈥檙e dedicated to the way technology is used in society. We鈥檙e conscious of social issues, and it鈥檚 important that we put our corporate dollars toward those issues, such as education and innovation. Technology should be used for good.鈥