Taylor Ganz '20
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Political science major from Freeburg, Illinois
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Pursuing Juris Doctorate through McKendree’s 3+3 law program with St. Louis University School of Law
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Named to the Dean’s List and President’s List
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Member of Pi Gamma Mu, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies
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Participated in the Midwest Model UN Conference in St. Louis in 2018 and 2019 and the American Model UN Conference in Chicago in 2018
- Participated in the “Renewing Illinois Summit” in 2019
- New Student Orientation leader
By Stephanie (Coartney) Dulaney '10
"Leave the world a better place than you found it."
It’s a mantra that many aspire to, but few put into action. Political science major Taylor Ganz ’20 seeks to bring positive change to our criminal justice system, and she’s taking steps
to achieve her goal through a career in law.
As a high school student, Taylor knew she wanted to attend law school one day. “I
took a U.S. history class that was focused on historic court cases,” she said. “I
loved reading the cases and about how the same laws can be interpreted different ways
throughout history. I also threw up during an anatomy dissection, so med school was
not an option,” she joked.
Taylor chose McKendree as a stepping stone between high school and law school, but
the University soon became so much more to her. “I was recruited to play softball,
but I stayed because of the professors,” she said. “Softball, ultimately, did not
work out for me. However, professors like Dr. Collins and Dr. Frederking cannot be
found anywhere else. Even with my original cause to be at the campus gone, I did not
want to leave the close relationships I had with students and the accessibility to
professors that’s not found at bigger universities.”
McKendree also offered one-of-a-kind opportunities that would prepare her for law
school and reduce the time and tuition cost required to earn her Juris Doctorate.
Taylor is one of the first students to take part in McKendree’s 3+3 law program with St. Louis University School of Law. By spending her senior year at SLU, she
will earn credits that not only transfer back to complete her McKendree Bachelor’s
degree, but also count as introductory classes in SLU’s law program.
"Being in the 3+3 program has been beneficial because it saves me a year of schooling,
and I get to begin practicing law earlier than planned."
“I met with some incoming law students a couple months ago and realized I may be the
youngest one in law school this fall.” Taylor says she is ready to jump into her law
courses and plans to spend one summer studying abroad at SLU’s campus in Madrid, Spain.
She is also excited to participate in clinics, which involve working on actual court
cases under the oversight of a practicing attorney.
Looking ahead to her future is bittersweet for Taylor, knowing she’ll be leaving McKendree
a year earlier than most. From representing the university at Model UN conferences
to introducing first-year students to the campus community, she packed as many memorable
experiences as possible into three years. Like her motivation to go into law, one
of her favorite McKendree memories also involves tackling big issues that she sees
need to change. At the Renewing Illinois Summit, she worked together with retired
Illinois House members and students from across the state to put together solutions
to problems facing Illinois.
Taylor knows her time at McKendree has given her the skills and problem-solving mindset
to succeed in law school and beyond. She looks forward to exploring a career as a
judge advocate general in the military or a defense attorney. “Too many innocent people
are locked up and I hope to be a catalyst for change,” she said. “I feel strongly
about this issue, and I could have an opportunity to change a system.”
"Too many innocent people are locked up and I hope to be a catalyst for change ...
I feel strongly about this issue, and I could have an opportunity to change a system."
Learn more about our 3+3 law degree program with St. Louis University.
Make It McKendree
