Owen Sawyer '24

Why Bryant?

I chose Bryant because of the strong community base, as well as how much I loved the campus when I toured. I instantly felt at home.

What made Bryant stand out from other schools?

I really wanted a campus experience rather than a school in the city. On top of that, when I was looking at the research interests of the professors I would be studying under, I was really impressed that an institution known for business had such a talented politics and law faculty.

What led to your interest in the law?

I took a criminal procedure class in high school and immediately fell in love with the complexity and nuance of the law. I was interested in politics at the time and began researching the Supreme Court and different opinions.

Tell us about your internships. 

In 2021, I worked for the Rhode Island State Government as a member of a policy team working on finding state solutions to the then-rising number of hate crimes committed against AAPI communities. I also worked for them again in the summer of 2023 as an intake/investigative intern for the Commission for Human Rights.

Any favorite professors and courses?

My favorite professor at Bryant is Professor Bryan Knapp. He has really grown into a mentor for me.

My favorite class was Civil Rights and Liberties, taught by Professor Ilisabeth Bornstein.

What do you hope to get from your major-minor mix?

I chose marketing because I thought that a good job between undergraduate and law school would be on political campaigns. It could also assist in some areas of corporate law that I want to pursue following law school.

I chose sociology as my second minor after taking an intro course with Professor David Ciliberto in my sophomore year. I was really fascinated with the concepts that he was teaching, and thought it applied to some aspects of law. I hope to use all I have learned to better defend clients in the future and to assist them in any way I can.

How are you involved on campus?

I am president of the Bryant Law Society, vice president of Bryant Mock Trial, chairman of the Strategic Operations Committee, and senator for the Class of 2024 in Student Government. I’m also a member of Bryant’s chess club and intramural sports. I was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and Alpha Delta Kappa, the international sociology honor society.

Where do you like to hang out? 

My favorite spot on campus is the Student Government office. As a member, I spend a lot of time in the office and being able to take a break there saves me a lot during the semester. I also love to spend time by the campus pond when it’s nice out.