When honors student Gabriella DeVage received her degree in legal and paralegal studies last Saturday, she didn’t have to worry about the job market. She already had a desk waiting for her.
DeVage secured a full-time job as a legal assistant with Ward & Associates LLC, a Toledo practice specializing in personal injury and consumer advocacy work related to “lemon law,” debt defense and construction disputes.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2026 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
The post-graduation role is a direct promotion from the part-time work she already performs for the firm while balancing her coursework at The University of Toledo.
This chance to accumulate on-the-job experience reflects the extensive training for the legal profession that DeVage and her peers receive through their coursework. The focus it places on drafting assignments, conducting legal research and understanding how cases are put together has been indispensable.
One class that stood out in this regard for DeVage was Clinic Experience, taught by Nicole Spiros Tuori, J.D., a lecturer in the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education’s Legal and Paralegal Studies program.
“Professor Tuori emphasized critical thinking there and teaching us how to use real client forms and paperwork that are typically seen in a law office,” DeVage said. “I still use similar forms in my current position, and so I am thankful to have that background knowledge to be successful in my role.”
DeVage’s placement at Ward & Associates LLC was also helped along by the program’s requirement for an internship in the field before a student graduates. John Schlageter, senior lecturer for the department and its program director, helped her find it.
“Gabriella is an exceptional student — one who asks thoughtful questions, engages in complex discussions and applies her knowledge in ways that extend beyond the classroom,” Schlageter said. “But perhaps most outstanding are her character and integrity, which make her a role model who also embodies the very best qualities of an outstanding scholar.”
Beyond her career start, DeVage’s time at UToledo was also defined by her involvement with the Jesup Scott Honors College.
It all started at Jesup Jam, an orientation for Honors students that takes place days before their first fall semester. There, she met three close friends.
Together they explored campus, participated in game nights at their residence hall and even set up a pool in the middle of Centennial Mall during one spring semester.
The connections fostered in the then-Honors residential areas of MacKinnon, Scott and Tucker halls ultimately encouraged DeVage to become a resident assistant for Parks Tower, where she has served for the last two years.
Gabriella DeVage leveraged her coursework, internships and the Jesup Scott Honors College community to land a full-time role at a Toledo law firm before graduation.
“I have learned a lot about leadership and community connection in the role,” she said. “Getting to make others’ college experience better is what I strive for every day, and I treasure getting to see that impact firsthand.”
DeVage’s campus experience was further shaped by her participation in the Honors Learning Community. Its optional programming invites Honors students on affordable excursions off campus to see touring Broadway shows, sample northwest Ohio restaurants and enjoy Toledo Mud Hens baseball or Toledo Walleye hockey games.
“The Honors Learning Community has played a pivotal part of my time on campus and has truly broadened my scope of all that Toledo has to offer,” DeVage said. “I have gotten to try new foods, see several musicals and participate in activities that I wouldn’t normally choose for myself. I feel like I had my own little community in the HLC that I could be a part of and enjoy across my four years at UToledo.”
DeVage attended 27 Honors events over the last four years, drawing the attention of student program coordinator Jamie Lefevre.
“You learn a lot about a person’s character after attending so many events together, and to me, Gabriella is the model Honors student,” Lefevre said. “She embraces the challenge of new adventures, seeks to build connections wherever she’s involved and sincerely cares about the world around her. After seeing her dedication through involvement over the last four years, I can’t wait to witness the impact she’ll make in her legal career.”
Following graduation, DeVage is also preparing for a personal milestone. She is set to wed her fiancé, Paul Meyers, a senior in mechanical engineering.
The two met freshman year through a mutual acquaintance DeVage gained at Jesup Jam.
Looking back on the connections she made, DeVage said she is incredibly grateful for the experience:
“I wouldn’t have met Paul if I hadn’t come to UToledo. I am so lucky to have been a part of this wonderful campus community over the last four years.”
