Nyssa A. Kruse

Prior Experience

Nyssa brings a strong background in First Amendment and media law, developed through roles with the First Amendment Clinic at Cornell Law School and as a research assistant for Professor Joseph A. Tomain at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. At the clinic, Nyssa drafted briefs in state and federal courts on issues such as public records access and anti-SLAPP protections and advised journalists on potential legal concerns before publication of news stories. During her time with Professor Tomain, Nyssa conducted research on defamation, free speech and facial recognition technology. She also gained practical experience as a summer associate at a Midwest-based law firm.

In addition to her legal work, Nyssa served for three years with the Incarcerated Individuals Legal Assistance Project, progressing from volunteer to student director. In these roles, she coordinated pro bono outreach to prisons, guided a team of more than 50 volunteers and responded to legal inquiries from incarcerated individuals. 

Before law school, Nyssa worked as a journalist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where she reported on breaking news and managed audience engagement strategies. She was also editor-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student during her time as an undergraduate. Her journalism background taught her to be a clear and concise writer, a skill she now uses as an attorney.

Personal Interests

Outside of the office, Nyssa is an avid reader of romance, fantasy and literary fiction — she’s on pace to finish more than 40 books this year. She’s a devoted IU women’s basketball and Detroit Tigers fan, a loving cat mom to her two tabbies, and an enthusiastic collector of vintage Pyrex and china dishes.