Prof. Josie Cruz-Meléndez holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University, a Juris Doctor from University of Puerto Rico School of Law, and a Masters of Legal Letters from Harvard Law School. Her career has spanned a range of roles from litigator, appellate strategist, business consultant and coach, higher education counsel, and independent investigator of corporate, workplace and government misconduct allegations.

Although her career path has been diverse, the underlying principles guiding her work have remained consistent: justice, prevention, social responsibility, and integrity. These values inform both her professional practice and her approach to teaching, where she emphasizes practical application, ethical decision-making, and thoughtful engagement with real-world challenges.

Most importantly, Prof. Cruz-Meléndez is deeply committed to her animal rescue organization and sanctuary. Through this work, and through the children’s books she has written about the rescued pets of the sanctuary, she focuses on advocacy, healing, and the transformative power of rescue, highlighting the mutual impact of caring for animals and building a more compassionate world.