My job deals with a lot of administrative policy which brought back that interest in law. After weighing the costs and time I have left in the work force, I decided it was not too late to pursue my second love.
In 2014, an agreement was made that created an affiliation between Western Michigan University and the nation’s largest law school, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. As a result, many WMU alumni pursuing a law degree a Cooley Law School found themselves “back” at WMU.
In this series, MyWMU.com will feature some of those alumni who are now students of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. 
Our forth featured Bronco at Cooley is Kendra Ortega, who went from staying at home with her daughter, to working with the Department of Human Services, to pursuing a law degree part time. Ortega hopes to complete her degree in December of 2017 and continue to work in the Department of Human Services in a law-related or policy capacity.
1. Why did you decide to attend WMU?
My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Music. I attended a music seminar hosted at Western my junior and senior years of high school and fell in love with the music program and faculty. It was also close enough to my hometown to go back on weekends, but far enough away to obtain the "away at school" experience.
2. What did you study at WMU and why?
I studied music because it was my first love at that age. My instrument was voice. My second love was law and so I fit that in with a Criminal Justice minor.
3. Were you active in any on-campus organizations, clubs, or teams?
A music degree leaves little time for activity outside of the curriculum as there are many zero and one credit courses that actually take two to three hours of time per week. Most of my extra-curricular time was spent rehearsing for classical and gospel choir.
4. When did you decide you wanted to pursue a law degree?
After staying home with my daughter for her first four years of life, I entered the work world again with the Department of Human Services. My job deals with a lot of administrative policy which brought back that interest in law. After weighing the costs and time I have left in the work force, I decided it was not too late to pursue my second love.
5. What do you hope to do with your law degree?
I hope to further my career with the Department of Human Services in a policy or administrative law related role.
6. Why did you choose Cooley?
I chose Cooley first because of the part-time night option. I would not have been able to pursue a degree without working full-time. The second reason is the honors scholarship opportunity.
7. When you complete your studies?
I hope to complete my studies in December of 2017.
8. As an alumna of WMU, how you feel about Cooley being an affiliate of your alma mater?
I was extremely excited to find out that Cooley was affiliating with WMU. I loved being a Bronco and am so excited to graduate law school with the WMU name.
9. What you like to do in your spare time?
I love to be with my family, attend sporting events, and participate in the Worship Band at my church.
My experience at Cooley has been amazing. I have been extremely impressed by the professionalism and competence of the professors. I feel like they sincerely want to see us succeed not only in class, but on the bar and in our future careers.