Unique connection leads to supreme experience

As a student, Ben Bailey never took a class from Georgia Wralstad Ulmschneider, but calls the Department of Political Science’s emeritus associate professor, “The greatest blessing I have received from PFW, for sure. I would go so far as to say she is the biggest reason why I am here right now.”

“Here” is finishing as an Indiana Supreme Court Clerk before joining Fort Wayne law firm Barrett McNagny in October. A political science and economics double major who graduated in 2019, Bailey thought he was more interested in working for local government, maybe as a politician, during his time on campus, crediting Mike Wolf, department chair, and James Toole, associate professor, as big influences.

Bailey had shoved the thought of becoming a lawyer to the back corner of his mind, even working at a local brokerage firm for a year after graduation. Eventually, however, he decided to talk to Wralstad Ulmschneider, mostly out of curiosity because she has a long history of advising students considering law school. Bailey thought she could help him decide whether the legal field was right for him. They had met once previously when Bailey was applying for a Fulbright Scholarship, and Wralstad Ulmschneider was on the award committee.

“She is so willing to talk to and help any student who knocks on her door,” Bailey said. “There was no reason for her to give me as much help as she did. She has been with me every single step of the way, spending probably 100 hours with [me] on the phone over the last few years.”

Wralstad Ulmschneider said she loved Bailey’s varied background, which includes playing in a blues band, serving as a Wildcat Baseball League coach and site director, and his enthusiasm for recreational running. Those qualities simply added to his thoughtfulness and presence, she felt.

“He’s such an interesting guy,” Wralstad Ulmschneider said. “He’s going to be great because he has what I think of as the key skills, abilities, and character qualities in abundance. His honesty, integrity, and humanity; his kindness, his ability to analyze, his logical skills, and his ability to apply facts to theory are amazing. I could tell he was going to be really good.”

After putting out some feelers about law school before graduating, Bailey hesitated and now had questions.

“I think I know myself well enough to know that at that time my interest was not serious enough to follow up on,” Bailey said. “I probably would have let it drop if she didn’t jump on me, push me, make it really clear what I needed to do and when.”

Finally convinced, Bailey followed Wralstad Ulmschneider’s suggested step-by-step processes, and before too long was receiving acceptance letters and scholarship offers. He chose to attend Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law before working summer associate positions at Barrett McNagny and the firm that was previously called Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath.

Once the decision for law school was made, Wralstad Ulmschneider said Bailey devoured information, met with her former students and advisees through emails and in person, and studied more books than necessary. He also continued to regularly connect with Wralstad Ulmschneider via text messages or at local coffee shops when he was in town. He didn’t get intimidated by the process but became more excited and hungrier with each step.

Bailey was already committed to working at Barrett McNagny after graduation when clerking for Indiana Supreme Court Justice Derek Molter became an option. He again asked Wralstad Ulmschneider for advice, and she encouraged him to accept the opportunity and spend the extra year in Indianapolis.

“He was worried that if he wanted to do that and if the firms in Fort Wayne would want him to,” Wralstad Ulmschneider said. “I told him, `Trust me, Ben, I know the answer.’ It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m so excited for him.”

Bailey said he will focus on real estate and economic development at Barrett McNagny when he starts this fall.

“The biggest thing is I want to be involved in plans and the development of Fort Wayne,” Bailey said. “I’m very passionate about Fort Wayne, the city, and the community, especially the downtown area.”

Now Bailey has an amazing year of unparalleled experience setting him up for success in his chosen field. Along with a desire to get reacquainted with the PFW Department of Political Science, he has no doubts, only expectations, confidence, and gratefulness from his time with the court and looking ahead..

“The love professor Wralstad Ulmschneider has for her students is awe-inspiring,” Bailey said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone more perfectly suited for her career.”