UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — ML Brown, a doctoral candidate in special education in the Penn State College of Education, has been selected for the Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) PLUS Guided Journey Program, a competitive national initiative designed to support aspiring law students as they prepare for the law school application process.
The PLUS Guided Journey Program provides participants with academic, financial and advising resources intended to support access to legal education. These include LSAT preparation support, application guidance, mentorship and opportunities to connect with a national network of peers and professionals.
Brown said the selection comes at a meaningful point during doctoral study.
“This opportunity represents an important next step for me,†Brown said. «Prior to coming to Penn State, as a non-traditional and neurodivergent student, I often had to navigate academic and professional spaces without clear pathways or tailored support. Since being here, I have gained meaningful support and structure, and this program will extend that support by providing access to resources and mentorship as I prepare for the law school application process.»
Brown's academic work is grounded in special education, with a focus on understanding how educational systems shape the experiences of marginalized students with disabilities. His research examines how teacher perceptions and decision-making influence educational access and support, particularly for Black and brown students with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Brown said an interest in law grew out of this academic work, particularly in understanding how policies and legal frameworks influence educational systems and student experiences.
“My work in special education has consistently brought me to the edge of systems that I cannot fully change through research alone,†Brown said. “Pursuing law is a natural extension of my doctoral training and provides another way to engage with those systems.â€
In addition to doctoral studies, Brown is a participant in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Project SACRED: Socially and Culturally Responsive Education for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders — a federally funded program that supports doctoral students preparing for leadership roles in special education research, policy and practice. Brown is also a Health Policy Research Scholar with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an initiative that supports emerging leaders working at the intersection of health, policy and equity.
Participation in the LSAC PLUS program will provide structured support as Brown prepares for the next stage of academic and professional development.
“I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of a community of scholars who are working toward similar goals,†Brown said. “The program offers valuable guidance as I think about future steps and how to continue building on my academic training.â€
Brown expects to graduate from Penn State in summer 2027 and will apply this fall for the 2027 law school admissions cycle. After earning his juris doctorate, he plans to integrate his doctoral training in special education with his legal education to shape policies and systems that better support students with disabilities and expand educational access.
