Janelle Brown-Peters
Janelle Brown-Peters is the Assistant Director of Admissions at California Western School of Law, where she helps prospective law students find their place in law school and works to create better access to higher education. She is also the Co-Founder of Torero Urban Scholars at the University of San Diego, a reentry-focused program supporting system-impacted students through higher education. Janelle’s career reflects a commitment to equity, mentorship, and community impact, informed by her experiences serving in the Army National Guard and spending over a decade in the hospitality industry before transitioning to higher education. Her professional focus centers on law school admissions and expanding access for system-impacted and formerly incarcerated students. While earning her Master’s in Higher Education Leadership at the University of San Diego, she researched support services for formerly incarcerated students, laying the foundation for Torero Urban Scholars. Over the past nine years in higher education, including six years in law school admissions, Janelle has helped launch programs that increase student access, retention, and success, integrating her expertise in student services, recruitment, and reentry-focused initiatives. In addition to her work in higher education, Janelle is a licensed financial professional and educator, running national programming to teach financial literacy and independence. She values faith, community support, and empowering students along their education-to-career journeys. Outside of her professional work, she loves spending time with family and friends and enjoys water activities, dancing, sports, and television/movies bringing the same energy, dedication, and passion to her hobbies as she does to her career.
• Licensed Financial Educator
• University of San Diego - MA, Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas - BS, Hospitality Administration/Management
• Cuyamaca College - AA, University Transfer Studies
• Member, Staff Belonging and Community Committee California Western School of Law
• Member, Black Alumni Network University of San Diego
• Advisor, System Impacted Law Student Association (SILSA) California Western School of Law
• Advisor, Black Law Students Assocation (BLSA) California Western School of Law
• Co-Founder, Transfer Coalition Initiative
• Board Member, SISU Freedom Foundation
• Volunteer, City of Hope International Church
What do you attribute your success to?
She attributes her success to being a woman of faith and to having a strong network of family and friends who encourage and propel her forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Embrace the parts of your story you may feel embarrassed about; those experiences can become your superpowers and add unique value.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunity and priority around reentry work: building, funding, and scaling programs that support formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students; creating pathways in higher education and engaging institutions nationally.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith, community and family support, and empowering students to achieve their educational and career goals.