When Michelle Thompson walked into the Eleventh Judicial District Attorney's Office as a SJC intern, she expected to learn about the criminal justice system.
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She never imagined she'd be building a career or training the next group of SJC interns.
"It's come full circle," Thompson said. "I was the one asking questions, trying to learn everything I could. Now I'm the one helping new interns find their confidence."
Thompson graduated from SJC in Fall 2025 with an Associate of Arts in Human Services - Generalist. Although she originally planned to pursue a career in counseling, everything changed during her final semester when she enrolled in criminal justice courses.
"I was introduced to criminal justice, and it was a whole new world," she said. "That's when I knew I wanted to pursue it."
Looking for a service-learning placement, Thompson was encouraged by instructor Dawn Myers to consider the District Attorney's Office. She joined the Victim Advocate Division as an intern, where she assisted victim advocates by preparing court paperwork, organizing case files and helping ensure victims received timely information about hearings and court proceedings.
"I thought I was just pushing paperwork," Thompson said. "But those tasks allowed the advocates to spend more time helping victims. I could see that even the small things made a difference.”
Thompson continued at the office through SJC’s paid internship program, working 20 hours a week while finishing school. As graduation approached, a full-time legal assistant position became available; she applied and was hired on.
Today, Thompson serves as a legal assistant, working with attorneys, victim advocates, law enforcement agencies and courts throughout New Mexico.
“Michelle consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic from day one. What began as an internship quickly evolved into the performance and ownership we expect from a full-time employee,” said District Attorney Jack Fortner. “Her growth is a clear example of why our partnership with SJC is so valuable. College interns who approach the opportunity with seriousness and drive become some of our strongest future team members.”
Her transformation from intern to mentor became especially evident this year as the District Attorney's Office welcomed a new group of SJC interns and Thompson was asked to train them.
"I think I was more excited than they were," she said with a laugh. "I told them not to think they were 'just interns.' The work they do is important. Every task helps the team, and every task ultimately helps victims."
Thompson hopes her story encourages students to embrace internships and remain open to unexpected opportunities.
"I never planned on working at the District Attorney's Office," she said. "One opportunity led to another, and it changed the direction of my career."
Thompson is considering continuing her education with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. For now, she's focused on enjoying her career and helping future SJC students begin theirs.
