Inspiring Graduate | Edward Hakim Bellamy

What do a poet, a lawyer, and a kid from New Jersey have in common? More than you'd think-and for Edward Hakim Bellamy, it all starts with how you tell a story.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in South Jersey, Bellamy grew up a passionate Eagles fan and a self-described "beach guy." When he was a kid spending summers at the Jersey Shore-just "the Shore" if you're local-he dreamed of becoming a pediatrician. But his path, like poetry itself, would take unexpected turns.

Bellamy earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Lees-McRae College and started working in the pharmaceutical field. But the deeper he got into the industry, the more he realized it wasn't for him.

"My dad told me, 'Either get a job or go back to school.' So I went back to school," Bellamy said.

That decision brought him to The University of New Mexico, where he enrolled in the Communication & Journalism master's program in 2005. It was also where he discovered poetry.

"I became the City Slam Champion, and we won the National Poetry Slam Championship," he said. "That was really my baptism into New Mexico. We were touring, performing at colleges. Eventually, I became a part-time student."

Life continued to evolve. In 2007, Bellamy became a father, and his academic progress slowed. But he credits his mentors at UNM for helping him through.

"Dr. Ilia Rodriguez chaired my thesis committee. Dr. Karma Chavez stepped in when Dr. Rodriguez went on sabbatical-because I'd been in grad school so long," he laughed. "They stuck with me. I'll always be thankful. They were like, 'Come hell or high water, we're getting you out of here, kid.'"

Bellamy earned his master's in 2014 and went on to serve as deputy director for the City of Albuquerque's Department of Arts and Culture. The job offered stability and community impact-but it still didn't feel like enough.

"I wanted something with more influence on the issues I cared about," he said.

Law school wasn't part of his original plan. But after taking the LSAT twice and scoring well enough, he decided to apply-and got in.

"This has been truly transformative. As an artist, I was doing triage-responding to problems as they came. But now, stepping into law and policy, I get to ask, 'How do we stop these problems before they start?'"

Bellamy entered UNM's School of Law in 2022 at age 44. It wasn't a typical path, but it was the right one for him.

"I was told I was both crazy and brave-and both are true," he said. "But I'm passionate about making a difference. That's more important than a pension or a 401(k)."

Throughout his legal studies, Bellamy leaned into experiential learning. He spent a semester in Washington, D.C., working for Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, and served as a policy analyst during New Mexico's 60-day legislative session. Those opportunities cemented his calling.

"It was like Cinderella's slipper-it fit," he said. "Seeing lawmaking up close confirmed why I came to law school."

Bellamy recently accepted a position with the Law Office of the Public Defender. While policy remains his long-term goal, he's excited to begin practicing law and advocating directly for others.

Still, Bellamy's roots in poetry run deep. When news of his law school plans spread, friends in the artistic community pulled him aside.

"They said, 'Don't let them beat the poetry out of you.' And that's hard-because that's who I am at heart. Poetry is like an app running in the background. It's always on."

He credits poetry with helping him survive and thrive in law school.

"There's no time to write poems here, but poetry gave me tools. Free association, metaphors, deconstructing ideas and putting them back together. It helps me make sense of the world. It's how I learn."

That creative lens, he says, is now embedded in his legal thinking.

"Everyone wants to start like Beethoven-writing symphonies from day one. But first, you have to learn to play the piano. Law school taught me to play. Now I'm just starting to compose."

He reflects on the weight of being heard as a Black man in America, and the role poetry has played in amplifying his voice.

"Let's be real: no one's rushing to hear what a middle-aged Black man has to say. But poetry gave me a way in. When people give you the mic, you have to say something that matters-because they might not ask again."

As a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow and former Albuquerque Poet Laureate, Bellamy has performed across the country. But with a JD soon in hand, he knows people will listen differently now.

"When you put 'Esq.' or 'JD' after your name, the room changes. People pay attention. It's not just about the art anymore-it's about the impact."

As for his poetry, Bellmay said, "I'm sure there'll be lots of good law school poetry, but it has to wait till after graduation."

Bellamy's journey is deeply woven into the UNM community, and his oldest son graduated from UNM in 2024.

"It feels like every time I hit a transition, UNM had a place for me. That's beautiful. This university is braided into the fabric of my life. I'm grateful for all UNM has done for me, my career, and my family."

He leaves fellow Lobos with a final piece of advice: "In law school, they say the next three years will pass no matter what. I chose to become a lawyer. What are you going to do with your next three years?"

And before Bellamy officially graduates from UNM, he shares one final poem for the community. Watch here.