Championing Justice, Leadership, and Reform: SBS Outstanding Senior, Jenna Ortega ’25

Jenna Ortega — an Honors student and SBS Ambassador, graduating with a double major in law and philosophy and a minor in criminology — is the recipient of the SBS Outstanding Senior Award for spring 2025. The award is given to a graduating senior with a record of outstanding achievement, a history of active citizenship on campus and/or in the local Tucson community, and a demonstrated capacity for leadership.

For her Honors thesis, Jenna addressed reducing wrongful conviction cases in the U.S. by restructuring eyewitness identification instructions. Her research makes the case for using blind sequential lineups across the country — a key reform that could make eyewitness evidence more reliable and help prevent innocent people from being wrongly convicted. Jenna says wrongful conviction cases are known for being niche, and it is crucial to acknowledge and address errors in the justice system to better protect the innocent and restore lives.

“No one should ever be forgotten in a justice system that was designed to protect them,” Jenna said. 

“Each role Jenna has undertaken — whether in courtrooms, classrooms, or community centers — has been guided by a core principle: to advocate for those who are too often marginalized or forgotten,” said Megan Theesfeld, an academic advisor in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

Jenna counts Vannessa Buch, Andrew Shepherd, Richard Harper, Laura Clymer, and James Diamond among the faculty members who believed in her, supporting her without reservation. 

“When I told them I wanted to start my own clinic, be president in my sophomore year of college, and go to Harvard, they never once doubted me,” said Jenna. “They believed in me and all my wild dreams. I could not be more thankful for these professors and their support throughout my college years.”

Jenna, a first-generation Hispanic woman, has consistently blended service and initiative in ways that reflect a deep commitment to justice and inclusion during her time at U of A. In all three of her current roles — advocating for civil rights through the Restoration Clinic, supporting people with disabilities at SAAVI Services for the Blind, and mentoring aspiring Latino law students — Jenna has consistently sought out opportunities to amplify sidelined voices. 

“Through my work with marginalized communities — whether supporting blind students at SAAVI or representing clients in the Civil Rights Restoration Clinic — I’ve learned that real change starts with listening, understanding, and standing up for those who are overlooked,” Jenna said. 

“Working with them taught me something profound: People don’t just need resources, they need to be seen," Jenna said. "They need someone to advocate for them when the world refuses to.”

Jenna’s leadership experience is impressive. She has served as president in several student organizations — Criminal Justice Association, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Arizona Mediation — for three consecutive years, always working to create welcoming, purpose-driven communities. She also co-founded a university mediation club to open doors for underrepresented students interested in law. 

From starting volunteer programs like pen-pal initiatives for veterans, toy drives for children affected by crime, to pushing for fair employment practices for people with disabilities, Jenna has modeled leading with empathy. As an AmeriCorps Ally and with her judicial internships and externships in both government and nonprofit settings, she is already making an impact as a future legal advocate connected to her community.

After graduation, Jenna will head to Harvard to continue her education and then attend law school. Her goal is to open a wrongful convictions clinic that also works on death penalty reform. Big picture? She’s aiming for a seat on the state supreme court — driven to make real change from the top.

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