糖心原创

Michele Canny ’26 spent most of the last year researching assistance and services available to migrant women in Sicily as a Fulbright Scholar.

This story is part of a聽series of profiles聽on members of the incoming JD class of 2026 at 糖心原创.

Michele Canny 鈥�26 wants to use her law degree to fight for the values that are important to her, including protecting the rights of immigrants, wrongly convicted persons, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

鈥淲e have the power to change things and make a difference for people who face injustice and discrimination,鈥� Canny said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I hope to do with my law degree.鈥�

Before starting her first year at UC Law SF this fall, Canny traveled across the globe multiple times to visit Italy, where she spoke to migrants, heard their stories, did research, and grew passionate about issues of immigration.

Canny, 26, said she understands why many people choose to risk their lives migrating to foreign lands. Her mother fled her home country of El Salvador in the 1980s to escape a violent civil war.

鈥淚f we can separate ourselves from the anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric and see human beings for who they are — people who care deeply about their families as we do — we can build a better future,鈥� she said.

Canny said she chose UC Law SF based on glowing reviews she heard from friends and former colleagues about the school鈥檚 strong Latinx community and experiential learning opportunities. She was also drawn to the school鈥檚 location in the heart of a city known for its progressive values and not far from Antioch, California, where she grew up and her family still resides.

鈥淚 took this opportunity to not only go to an amazing school but also spend more time with my family here,鈥� she said.

Her interest in law was first sparked in high school when she participated in the California LAW Pathways Program. It allowed her to take introductory law classes, compete in mock trials, meet practicing attorneys and judges, and learn about different fields of law.

She went on to study sociology and Italian at Santa Clara University, where she volunteered with the college鈥檚 Rainbow Resource Center organizing events and trainings to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and issues.

After college, she worked with the as a communications associate. She helped promote the organization鈥檚 work through social media, assisted clients and attorneys, and advocated for legislative reforms to the criminal justice system.

鈥淗aving people in prison who were wrongly convicted of crimes harms our whole community and the credibility of our legal system,鈥� she said.

Canny first visited Italy in 2017 and again in 2018 through an undergraduate study abroad program. During two stints in the cities of Bologna and Brindisi, she volunteered with nonprofits that assist immigrants, had 鈥渄eep conversations鈥� with migrants, and helped them figure out what kind of work they wanted to pursue.

Canny returned to Italy in 2022 as a Fulbright Scholar to research assistance and services for migrant women in Sicily. Traveling to cities across the island, she charted how various nonprofits worked to meet the needs of female migrants, including women with children and those who experienced violence.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to make people aware that these organizations exist and are working to build bridges at a time when anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise in Europe,鈥� she said.

At UC Law SF, Canny said she is interested in getting involved with the Latinx Law Students Association and looking forward to exploring different areas of law, including civil rights, human rights, immigration, and international law.

鈥淚鈥檓 most excited about making connections that will give me more opportunities to work in the fields I鈥檓 interested in and meeting others who share those interests,鈥� she said.