At age 25, third-year Law student Adam Trusner has already experienced more of the world than most would in a lifetime.
With a father in the United States Air Force, Trusner was born in Greece and moved all over the United States and across the globe. He attended the University for his undergraduate education, receiving a degree from the College. He is now completing a joint JD/PhD program. He hopes to ultimately receive a doctorate in history, specializing in modern Europe and the European Union as well as a juris doctor degree.
Trusner currently acts as a teaching assistant and teaches his own ENWR class on the Iraq wars. He said his military interest has been well served by the University Law School.
"One of the best things about going to U.Va. Law is that there is a partnership with the Army Law School," Trusner said.
Last spring he took the "Law of War" class at the Army's legal training center in Charlottesville. There, he had the opportunity to meet many different people, some of whom were veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Some people there had had actual battlefield legal experience like advising commanders about what our proper role was, especially dealing with the insurgency and the difficult legal issues that come up that way," Trusner said.
After taking the course, Trusner said it made him think about how difficult teaching a class on the Iraq wars would be. Nevertheless, he said he always thought teaching seemed interesting. Leading an ENWR class allows him to come into contact with various students from all different backgrounds, which allows for better debate and discussion, Trusner said.
"I love a challenge, so that is what made me want to do it," he said.
Because of his military upbringing, Trusner has experienced numerous different cultures and walks of life.
As a teenager living in Japan, Trusner not only played semi-professional soccer at 14 and 15, but modeled as well.
"I got to model for a while, but mainly because any blonde-haired, blue-eyed person can model in Japan," Trusner said.
Trusner is currently involved with the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, which he joined as an undergraduate student. He also plays softball on two teams; one with fellow history graduate students and the second with other Law students, though he noted the two teams never play against each other.
"It's fun and it's a good stress release to get out and hang with your friends," Trusner said, calling softball "the law school addiction" at the University.
Once he receives his JD/PhD, Trusner said he plans on becoming an active duty attorney in the United States Marine Corps, known as the JAG or Judge Advocate General Corps.
"Doing a topic like this, we have really good debate and discussion and it kind of opens people's eyes," Trusner said of his class. "I've learned a lot from it ... a whole new perspective."
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