Dhenu Maru

Dhenu Maru came to the United States from India when she was 10 years old with her family. At that age, Dhenu didn’t fully understand what it meant to leave home and start over somewhere new. Once they arrived though, the differences were impossible to miss. Everything felt unfamiliar, and it pushed her to ask questions about where she came from, what traditions meant to her family, and how her heritage shaped who she was becoming. Like many immigrant children, Dhenu also faced bullying from classmates, and those moments stayed with her. Over time, they deepened her respect for the courage it takes to build a life in a new country. That experience is a big reason she chose to become a lawyer. Learning the law felt empowering because the legal system provides real protections and rights, even if it can seem intimidating when you don’t understand it. She went on to earn her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and after graduating, Dhenu knew she wanted to use her training to help other immigrants navigate the same challenges and opportunities her family once faced.