George Kunkel L’25

George Kunkel is a dual degree student, pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice alongside his law degree. He sees his graduate education as the foundation for a future career as a public defender.

George grew up in Chestnut Hill and attended Princeton University, where he majored in Philosophy. Before returning to Philadelphia for graduate school, he worked for nearly four years as a mitigation specialist at the Center for Community Alternatives in Syracuse, New York. That experience, working alongside not only lawyers, but also clients, their families, social workers, community groups, and others, inspired his commitment to interdisciplinary advocacy.

At Penn, George has been involved with the Youth Advocacy Project (YAP), first as a direct practice fellow, then as a case chair, and now as a member of the YAP board. He is also working to connect Penn students with parole advocacy efforts in Pennsylvania. As a social work student, he interned for a summer at New York County Defender Services in Manhattan, and he spent the summer of 2023, following 1L, working as a law clerk with the Orleans Public Defenders.