Kory Nelson, ’85 BS, ’89 JD

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law

Parker, CO

After separating from the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca, I entered Arizona State University with a major in justice studies. An internship at the Tempe Justice of the Peace exposed me to the work of a prosecutor and my criminal law studies helped me assist the prosecutor. My professors encouraged me to apply for law school and I was accepted at ASU. I was the first second-year law student admitted to the prosecutorial clinic and later was awarded the Truman R. Young Memorial Prosecutorial Fellowship — the best prosecutorial training program in the nation. I was conducting DUI jury trials and assisted in a federal bank robbery trial! With this experience, I achieved my dream of securing a career as a prosecutor in Colorado — closer to my family and my favorite pastime of skiing. My ASU professors provided me with the education, skills and confidence to realize my dream career, which lasted 34 years and six months and just recently ended with my retirement. I realized that ASU provided me with the best training in the nation and the confidence to pursue my dream. I owe all my success and happiness to that ASU undergrad and graduate prosecutorial program.