Wanda Haberl
Wanda (Christy) Haberl is a dedicated Criminal Justice and Corrections professional and a 2024 graduate of American InterContinental University. Inspired by personal experiences with injustice, Wanda is passionate about providing legal support to underserved communities and aspires to become a public interest attorney. Her ultimate goal is to offer free legal representation to individuals who cannot afford attorneys, helping ensure fair treatment and justice for all. Wanda draws inspiration from her family legacy, including ancestor Author Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, reflecting her deep-rooted commitment to justice and civic responsibility.
Wanda has been immersed in the cleaning and service industry since she was 12, learning the trade from her mother. She is the fifth generation in a line of professional cleaners, a tradition passed down from her great-great-great-grandmother. She took over her grandmother’s cleaning business after a stroke, managing it successfully from 2009 until three years ago. Wanda has extensive experience in commercial construction, residential cleaning, and property preparation, including painting for realtors. Alongside her cleaning career, she has excelled in retail and restaurant environments, quickly advancing from sales associate to managerial responsibilities due to her adaptability, work ethic, and eagerness to master all aspects of a business.
Approximately three years ago, health challenges from lupus prompted Wanda to shift her focus toward a long-held dream of practicing law. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she took a brief pause to plan the next steps in her legal journey and is now seeking funding to enroll in pre-LSAT courses. Wanda is eager to gain practical legal experience through internships and volunteer work while preparing for law school. Her combination of hands-on experience, leadership skills, and unwavering dedication to justice uniquely positions her to make a tangible difference in the lives of those most in need.
• American InterContinental University - BS, Criminal Justice and Corrections
• Soldiers' Angels
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my grandmother was my biggest influence. She was very strong and worked until she just couldn't do it anymore because she had a stroke. I'm the fifth generation of cleaning ladies, so it was passed on from my great-great-great-grandmother, and I've just always enjoyed it. It's something different. But honestly, I would say my most notable achievement has been growing spiritually. My husband passed in 2023, and it opened my eyes to a lot of my behavior and actions, and how they were not cool in the way I treated him. So I've been going through a lot of self-reflection and self-growth as well.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Honestly, it comes with a lot of responsibility. I would ask her if she was prepared and stable in her standing, her ground. And I would say to seek mentorship, or at least support. That's one thing that I haven't had, and I think if I would have, I could have soared a lot further, faster. From my retail management experience, I would also advise to keep it professional, because there is a thin line between managing and running and treating people properly, and being friends. When you're over people, it should strictly stay professional because it can open the door for a whole slew of things you don't want to have to deal with. That's from personal experience, my first managing job.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I have a passion for ensuring proper legal representation for all individuals. I've been done unjust several times, and it's a passion to try to make it to where everyone gets the proper representation they need. If you have two people that commit a crime, and one goes to court with a lawyer and one does not have any representation, the one with the lawyer most likely is going to get a slap on the wrist. The one without will either have to take a plea bargain or a lesser charge, or they don't get the same options as people with paid attorneys. I also feel strongly about supporting our soldiers. They go and fight for us, and they have to do things that we couldn't even imagine doing. When they come home, they either don't get the psychiatric help they need or the healthcare, and a lot of them lose their homes because they can't find jobs because of their mental state. I feel like there are certain things that should automatically happen, like housing and counseling to help them get back into society. They go do what they do, and then they come home, and they're forgotten and just discarded.
Locations
American InterContinental University
Massillon, OH 44646