{"id":228131,"date":"2026-06-11T13:17:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T17:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=228131"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T17:17:52","slug":"game-changer-how-bloomfield-helped-turn-a-love-of-video-games-into-a-law-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2026\/06\/11\/game-changer-how-bloomfield-helped-turn-a-love-of-video-games-into-a-law-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Game-Changer: How Bloomfield Helped Turn a Love of Video Games into a Law Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ciara Donaldson \u201924 never imagined she could turn a love of video games into a pathway to law school. At Bloomfield College of Montclair State University<\/a>, that unexpected turn became her plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came for game design, but Bloomfield helped me discover I could rewrite the rules of the game as a lawyer,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Through Bloomfield\u2019s internship program, Donaldson landed a role where a supervisor casually mentioned that some lawyers specialize in video game law \u2013 an eye\u2011opening moment that showed her she could turn her interest in games into a future legal career.<\/p>\n

Double majoring in Game Programming<\/a> (BS) and Creative Arts & Technology<\/a> (BA) with a concentration in Game Design and Development, Donaldson gained both creative and technical skills. Ranked nationally by The Princeton Review<\/em> as a top undergraduate game design program and No. 2 in New Jersey<\/a>, Bloomfield gave her the foundation for internships and opportunities to present her research at national conferences.<\/p>\n

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The community, the support and the things I was able to accomplish at Bloomfield changed what I thought was possible for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

From the beginning, Bloomfield was the place that made sense, Donaldson says. \u201cIt was strong in my major, affordable for my family and close enough that my parents in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, could still see me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like many students at Bloomfield, she credits the college\u2019s close\u2011knit community with making a real difference \u2013 from small class sizes and easy access to professors to strong peer connections across diverse backgrounds and faculty mentorship that helped her grow more confident.<\/p>\n

Today, as a Help Desk Analyst with the New Jersey Courts in Trenton, she is gaining hands\u2011on experience in the legal system while preparing to begin law school at Widener University Delaware Law School.<\/p>\n

\u201cBloomfield brought me out of my shell and showed me I could achieve things I never thought were possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready to Start Your College Journey?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since Bloomfield College officially became Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, students have gained expanded academic options, more student life activities and access to Montclair\u2019s resources while still keeping their home base on a smaller campus. Learn more about Bloomfield College of Montclair State University<\/a>.<\/p>\n