Katherine Santamaria Mendez

Kathy recently graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she served in many leadership roles including Director of the Immigration Law Clinic, Writing Associate for the Journal of Public Policy and Practice, President of both the Immigration Law Student Association and the Latine Law Student Association, and Student Representative for the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association. Furthermore, Kathy worked as a MN Justice Foundation Fellow for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota where she assisted in many humanitarian cases and advocated for the Driver’s License for All Bill.

Originally from El Salvador, Kathy personally knows the complexities of navigating the immigration system. Kathy always strives to use her legal knowledge along with her personal lived experiences as an immigrant to be a zealous advocate for her clients. Before law school, Kathy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chicano/Latino Studies from the University of Minnesota. As an undergraduate, Kathy served as a Cabinet Member on the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota–a partnership between the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and the Governor’s Office–where she advocated for various legislative solutions with the goal of eliminating disparities for young women of color.

During her free time, Kathy enjoys trying new recipes, learning about the ocean, and exploring parks with her son.

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, University of Minnesota

• Spanish