Award-winning scholar Destiny Cruz '25 ’26 MBA said attending the Global Lawyers for Refugees' Washington, D.C. Professional Development & Fellowship Experience inspired her to be even more focused on her academic and career aspirations.  

In addition to pursuing an MBA at Colby-Sawyer, Cruz is the program operations director for GLR, which provides refugees fleeing religious persecution with legal services, technology and policy support. 

She’s also preparing to take the Law School Admission Test this fall, is researching and visiting prospective law schools and is serving as treasurer of the Student Government Association. 

“It gave me the chance to see my long-term goals in action,” Cruz said of the weeklong July experience. “This connected my studies, nonprofit leadership, and future legal career in a way I’ll carry forward through my journey.” 

Cruz is accustomed to being focused. And accomplished. Last spring, she received the 2025 Colby-Sawyer Award for demonstrating personal dignity and intellectual growth, contributing to campus life and being a constructive influence on other students. 

She earned a B.A. in forensic psychology, minored in business and legal studies, was a Wesson Honors Scholar, and three-year president of the Student Government Association. As an undergraduate, the dean's list student-athlete also earned the James Duane Squires Award for outstanding academic work and was a repeat National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III All-Academic honoree. 

Below is a lightly edited Q&A with Cruz, a member of the BOLD Leadership Network, about her experience in Washington, D.C. 

What is the program’s purpose and why did you want to attend? 

The purpose for me was to continue my fellowship responsibilities as program operations director for Global Lawyers for Refugees in person and gain first-hand exposure to law schools, courts and nonprofit management practices in Washington, D.C. I work as a fellow for GLR and serve as the program operations director, but until this visit, I had not worked in D.C., where the nonprofit is based. 

I also wanted to further my professional development in preparation for law school, gain insight into nonprofit operations and experience the legal field in a national hub for policy and law. It was an opportunity to immerse myself in both the professional and cultural environment where much of the nation’s legal work takes place. I've been working remotely with GLR for the past year and a half and wanted to be in the area where most of our pro bono work is done. 

What were some of your major takeaways? 

I gained a better understanding of nonprofit structure and operations. Seeing how the nonprofit structure operates without a formal budget was the most intriguing to me. The nonprofit survives solely on pro bono work. 

The exposure to law school environments reaffirmed my commitment to pursue a J.D. I gained insight into courtroom proceedings — especially in criminal law — by observing 13 cases at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. This was one of the most captivating experiences during this trip. I was fully immersed, from observing the use of different motions, to seeing how both the prosecution and defense shaped their arguments and witnessing the judge's thoughtful decisions that balanced rehabilitation with public safety. Experiences like this reaffirm my excitement to one day advocate in the courtroom as an attorney. The journey ahead feels more real and more inspiring than ever.  

I also better understand how legal processes and nonprofit advocacy intersect in a real-world context, and not just from a book. 

Did you have other valuable experiences in D.C.? 

Yes. Touring Georgetown Law and the George Mason University campus; visiting the National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery, and the United States Botanic Gardens; taking a water taxi to view Georgetown from the Potomac River; and engaging with D.C.’s history, monuments and cultural landmarks. 

How might this training benefit your pursuit of an MBA, as well as your postgraduate fellowship with Global Lawyers for Refugees and preparation for law school?  

It strengthened my project management skills and deepened my understanding of nonprofit strategy. It also reinforced my knowledge of legal operations, enabling me to contribute more effectively to GLR’s mission (which is to advocate on behalf of one of the most vulnerable segments of the forcibly displaced refugee population: religious minorities). And the in-person exposure to court proceedings, law school environments and the legal community solidified my career direction.