The Iowa Student Bar Association (ISBA) is excited to welcome its newly elected leaders this fall, chosen by the student body. Co-Presidents Nickolaus Cabrera and Jude Hagerman bring with them a vision to make student voices heard and to continue cultivating a Iowa Law community. 

To help the law school get to know them both as peers and as leaders, Cabrera and Hagerman took the time to sit down and address some pressing questions about their goals and aspirations for the ISBA.

Q: What does the Iowa Student Bar Association mean to you?

Cabrera: “Student representation in decision-making by the law school is very important to me. The Iowa Student Bar Association gives students the power to make their voice heard. I am honored to lead the organization that elevates the concerns of all students.”

Hagerman: “It means so much to me. The Iowa Student Bar Association has given me so many opportunities to meet members of the class, and that's important to me. I love getting to know people and want to try to meet everyone I can. I've also never been in student government before, and while it can be frustrating at times, I do think it has given me an opportunity to make changes that have bettered the law school. I love getting to advocate for students and it has been extremely fulfilling having the opportunity to represent my classmates. So, to generalize, for me it means connection with the school.”

Q: What factors went into the decision to run for Iowa Student Bar Association Co-President?

Cabrera: “I ran in order to serve our law school community. I am a first-generation college and law student. The open arms with which Iowa Law welcomed me allowed me to thrive my 1L year. I saw running for ISBA President as an opportunity to ensure that others could have that experience.”

Hagerman: “I thought I did a very good job as a 1L Representative last year, and that running for co-president was a natural extension of my responsibilities. I was very proactive about asking people for feedback about their experience here or problems they were having. I think that I've established myself as a figure that people can turn to when they have suggestions or need someone to speak on their behalf. Co-president has been a natural extension of my work as a 1L representative, since we have more direct contact with administration than anyone else in the school. I also knew it meant that I'd get to talk to a lot of new people and as I've already established, that's a driving force for me.”

Q: What do you want the student body to know about you, as a person and leader?

Cabrera: “Leading with trust, honesty, and accountability is very important to us. Being accountable and honest is of the upmost importance as a student leader. Building trust in those around you, regardless of backgrounds is also important. I hope that this accountability, honesty, and trust translates well into leadership throughout this year.”

Hagerman: “I hope that everyone feels comfortable to come to me with any issues that they have with the institution. I've worked on things as small as getting Red Bull in the Eat Shop and as big as trying to make a forum for all the student organization heads to get together and talk about issues around the school. I seriously want students to feel they can come to me with any concerns they have.”

Q: What goals do you hope to accomplish in this role? 

Cabrera: “Besides a great Halloween party and Barrister's Ball, Jude and I plan to tackle initiatives most important to law school students. Last year, the Iowa Student Bar Association was able to raise awareness around food insecurity issues in the law school. We plan to build up this awareness effort and shift focus on the betterment of law student mental health, in conjunction with the UCS embedded therapists. Jude and I also plan to establish strong relationships with the Iowa State Bar Association as well as the American Bar Association so that students have the maximum resources for success as future attorneys. Of course, we are ultimately accountable to the student body at large, and if they voice new priorities, we will adapt to them.”

Hagerman: “I am trying to expand our ability to act as liaisons between administration and the rest of the students. I think that we're doing a good job organizing the events that the Iowa Student Bar Association is responsible for, but I've always had a feeling that I would not have nearly as good of an understanding about what administration does if it were not for my time with the Iowa Student Bar Association. I am hoping to do what I can to make students feel connected to the administration and hopefully give them a better idea of what goes on behind the scenes.”

Q: What does the future of the Iowa Student Bar Association look like to you?

Cabrera: “The future of ISBA is bright! With a 1L class of over 180 students, our law school community has grown substantially. We are excited to mentor the next generation of student leaders in the law school and watch as the Iowa Student Bar Association grows in effectiveness in the coming years.”

Hagerman: “I'm not sure. I don't want to proclaim that Nick and I are making massive sweeping changes to the organization, but I do hope that future classes will continue ideas we're starting like the Student Organizations Council. I think we already do a good job at being mentors and liaisons between students and administration, but anything we can do to further the sense of community that students feel at Boyd Law is very important to me. Like Nick said, I think the future of ISBA is very bright.”

The ISBA is ready for an exciting year under the leadership of Cabrera and Hagerman. Their shared vision of enhancing student representation, fostering connections, and tackling critical issues promises a vibrant and supportive law school community.