Sonya Williams of Cankdeska Cikana Community College

Sonya Williams’ educational and career goals are rooted in her commitment to justice, environmental stewardship, and service to underrepresented communities. She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree and ultimately become a criminal lawyer. “By representing clients throughout all stages of the legal process, from strategic planning to courtroom proceedings, criminal lawyers help protect constitutional rights and work to ensure fair trials,” she says, adding, “This type of representation is especially important for under-resourced communities, where a lack of competent counsel is often linked to harsher outcomes and more severe sentences. I want to be part of the solution by offering strong, ethical, and compassionate legal support.”

In addition to criminal law, Sonya aspires to practice environmental law, with a focus on land, air, and water protection. She is passionate about supporting sustainable practices and environmental justice, particularly in rural and tribal communities. She hopes to help foster food security through sustainable agriculture on tribal lands and work to ensure that clean water is accessible while reducing pollution in vulnerable areas.

To prepare for this path, she has earned a diploma in farm operations and management, an associate’s degree in natural resource management, and she is currently a student working toward an associate’s degree in pre-engineering at CCCC. Her next goal is to transfer to United Tribes Technical College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. Sonya says that completing this program will give her the scientific and technical foundation needed to understand environmental systems, advocate for stronger protection, and build solutions that support the community and public health. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend law school, where she will focus on both criminal and environmental law.

Ultimately, Sonya’s goal is to combine legal expertise with environmental and engineering knowledge to serve communities that face systemic challenges. She hopes to ensure fair representation, promote sustainable land use, protect natural resources, and contribute to long-term environmental and social well-being for future generations.