Since her subsequent graduation from New York Law School, Nicole M. Mozee of the University of Delaware’s Class of 2013 has worked as a law clerk at Collins and Associates in Wilmington, Delaware. Her commitment to serving the state of Delaware, leadership qualities, and superior academic credentials were recently recognized with an Alford Excellence Award from the Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware Bar Association.

A McNair Scholar and Grossman Memorial Award recipient, Mozee helped lead the University’s first Multicultural Greek Congress executive board as a sister of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc.

Looking back on the many roles she took on during her time at UD, Mozee reported in on her most valuable experiences in an interview with the Division of Student Life.

Q: When you received the University Student Centers’ Grossman Memorial Award in 2013, one of your nominators described you as navigating your campus involvement with grace and integrity while maintaining an outstanding academic record. Have these experiences proven valuable to you in the years since graduation?

Mozee: Overall, I had a great time at UD. I was a McNair Scholar and a double-major in political science and Spanish studies with a minor in psychology, and worked in Admissions as well as Residence Life and Housing as a Blue Hen Ambassador and a resident assistant. I also served in roles in the Cultural Programming Advisory Board, Campus Alliance de La Raza, Black Student Union, Chi Upsilon Sigma and the Multicultural Greek Congress. My experiences as a McNair scholar and a member of Greek Life have definitely been valuable to me. Within McNair, I grew as an academic and as a researcher, and developed a passion to learn as well as a unique approach to it that ultimately helped me get into law school. Greek Life taught me a lot about community, professionalism, and especially resiliency, all of which eventually carried through into my other experiences and are still with me today.

Q: Have these experiences shaped or enhanced your career choices? 

Mozee: The bulk of my work today is post-conviction release motions, meaning that we help people who have been convicted of crimes and sentenced by reviewing their cases to see if there have been holes in the process and determine whether we can help them reduce their sentencing. I also handle a few criminal juvenile cases, typically within Family Court. From my participation in Chi Upsilon Sigma, I learned how to be one person and balance multiple tasks simultaneously within time constraints. As one person at a small firm, I don’t receive every case we take on but the load can get overwhelming at times. From the time that I joined my sorority until graduation, I never had more than one or two sisters on campus with me; both then and now, learning how to structure one’s time and work accordingly has proven key.

Q: What have been the biggest changes between life at UD and life now? 

Mozee: I always envisioned myself as a public interest attorney working with nonprofits, providing free legal services or practicing some form of civil rights law, and wanted to return to Delaware after law school to do that. I am also still personally and professionally involved with UD, serving as the alumni adviser to the Xi Chapter of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc. Compared to my years as an undergraduate member, I believe that the climate has changed and the sense of camaraderie is different. UD still struggles with diversity as an institution, but now I help current students navigate their involvement in support of this Greek experience that has been so integral to our professional development.

Q: What advice do you have for current students who may be interested in following a similar path?

Mozee: Take advantage of all opportunities that surround you at this vital point in your life because these experiences help you grow as an individual. Pay it forward, and remember there is always more to do, more to learn and more to achieve.

Meet the Greeks on Feb. 17

The Multicultural Greek Congress, or MGC, is the umbrella council for all cultural and ethnic based fraternities and sororities at the University of Delaware. Many MGC chapters, such as Chi Upsilon Sigma, welcome interested members of all ethnicities.

The biannual Meet the Greeks reception on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. in Pearson Hall will kick off the spring member intake period, and allow students to meet representatives from all MGC chapters.

About the Division of Student Life

The Division of Student Life includes the Career Services Center, Center for Black Culture, Center for Counseling and Student Development, New Student Orientation, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Student Conduct, Residence Life and Housing, Student Health Services, Student Services for Athletes, Student Wellness and Health Promotion, and the University Student Centers. For more information about Student Life, visit the new website.