My name is Nathan Vanderheyden, and I am a Senior Managing Editor for Volume 28. I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa for my undergraduate degree, majoring in Accounting and Finance, with a minor in philosophy.

During my 1L summer, I worked for the U.S. Trustee Program (“USTP”) in Des Moines, Iowa. The USTP is a division within the U.S. Department of Justice and oversees the bankruptcy system. After the injustices I witnessed that summer, I knew I wanted to write my student note about issues within bankruptcy law. Specifically, I wanted to highlight the racially disparate uses of Chapter 13 bankruptcies, preventing black debtors from getting the fresh start they deserve compared to white debtors with similar finances. This past semester, I interned for the honorable Thad J. Collins in the Northern District of Iowa bankruptcy court. During my 2L summer, I will work for O’Connor & Thomas, P.C. in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Journal of Gender, Race & Justice has been a perfect fit, providing me with resources and mentorship to improve my research and writing skills. Additionally, JGRJ has allowed me to get involved in the community through the Social Justice in Action committee. Most importantly, JGRJ has provided me with a close group of friends whom I cannot wait to keep working with.

After graduation, I plan to clerk for a bankruptcy judge and pursue a career as a bankruptcy attorney in the Midwest.