CLASS NOTES

1970s

Jordan Tannenbaum ’77 was appointed vice chairman of the U.S. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency whose mission is to promote the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of the nation’s diverse historic resources and to advise the president and Congress on national historic preservation policy.

1990s

Jason Dickstein ’92 negotiated an arrangement with the Chinese government that supports aircraft safety. His client, the Aviation Suppliers Association, is the first party outside of China that is recognized to perform CAAC-recognized safety audits for aircraft parts distribution (under the international standard, ASA-100).

1980s

Judith Kunzman Benderson ’82

received an honorable mention for Spirit of My Lost Brothers in the 2021 Friendship Heights Village Center art show, which also included her work entitled Hope.

Keith Costa ’83 has joined Barclay Damon’s Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Area in the firm’s New York City office. He is also a member of the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations Practice Area and Health and Human Service Providers Team. Costa has over three decades of experience as a bankruptcy and corporate restructuring lawyer. Additionally, he is a court-certified mediator for the U.S. bankruptcy courts in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. He has served as a mediator and arbitrator for high-profile bankruptcy cases, including the Madoff and Lehman Brothers bankruptcy cases.

Susan Mann ’86 is retiring from Microsoft September 30.

Scott W. Bermack ’89, a partner with Weber Gallagher in the firm’s New York office, was named co-chair of Weber Gallagher’s General Liability Practice group.

Myron Brilliant ’89 was recognized in Washingtonian Magazine’s 500 Most Influential People. Thomas J. Conte ’93, a partner at Mirick O'Connell, has been selected to the 2021 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. Conte has tried over 30 jury and bench trials. His expertise is in the areas of business, real estate, construction and tort-defense litigation.

John Marshall Cook ’93 has joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Washington, D.C., as a partner in the Construction Department.

Elisabeth Myers ’93 (shown above second from left) spoke at the inauguration of the International Center on the Prevention of Child Soldiers in Dakhla, Western Sahara, Morocco, on March 31. She highlighted the need to make international humanitarian and human rights law universal and more robust to prevent the exploitation of children as “child soldiers” and to hold state and non-state parties accountable for this extreme form of child abuse and child labor.

Marisa Cianciarulo ’98 has been named interim dean of Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law. She is the law school’s first female dean.

Richard Verma ’93, a former ambassador to India and an Indian American, was appointed to a White House body that advises the president on the effectiveness of the country’s intelligence community.

Eric J. Ascalon ’96 was named director of community relations for TerraCycle Inc. where he will lead its strategic partnership team to build relationships with communities and organizations. TerraCycle was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Companies” in 2022 and is the recipient of the United Nations’ Momentum for Change award for its work towards cleaning up ocean plastics.

Lynn Gefen ’96 has joined cannabis company TerrAscend Corp. as chief legal officer and corporate secretary.

Magda Theodate ’97 was appointed global head, procurement and contracts management, for INTERPOL, based in France.

Candace Beck ’99 has been elected president of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

2000s

Fatima (Mohyuddin) Khan ’01

joined Thompson Coburn as an immigration partner in the firm’s St. Louis, Missouri, office.

The Honorable Melinda L.

VanLowe ’02 was named a judge of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Meagan Bainbridge ’05, a shareholder and member of the Labor and Employment and Litigation groups at Weintraub Tobin, earned a certificate in workplace investigations from the Association of Workplace Investigators and is certified to perform impartial workplace investigations. She also was selected to participate in the Leadership Sacramento Class of 2022. Leadership Sacramento, a program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, develops community-minded business and civic leaders.

Gunnar Rosenquist ’05 founded and serves as chair of the Panel Appellate Working Group, a statewide coalition of attorneys on California’s 58 county misdemeanor appellate panels and appointment referral lists.

Mari Ferguson Cheney ’07 was promoted to associate director of research and instruction at Boley Law Library, Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

Erin Palmer ’07 is running for chairwoman of the D.C. City Council. Palmer is a former assistant general counsel for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and staff counsel to the Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. The primary election will take place on June 21.

John B. “Jay” Williams

III ’07 was named partner at Buckley LLP where he provides enforcement and litigation counsel to financial services companies and individuals navigating internal investigations, government investigations, and complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on consumer finance matters and electronic discovery. Thomas Millar ’09 joined Winston & Strawn LLP as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office and as a member of the Corporate practice with a focus in the firm’s Energy and Infrastructure industry group.

2010s

Shaun Kennedy ’10 was named partner at Holland & Hart LLP.

Christopher Lee ’10 joined Maynard Cooper & Gale as of

Remembering Isaiah Baker

FIRST ENCOUNTER CHANGED ALUMNA’S LIFE

Haven’t we all heard: “This [diet or skincare product….] will change your life?” While none of those products changed my life, my first Contracts class, with Professor Isaiah Baker, did change my life irrevocably.

As good litigators know, memories don’t represent absolute truths; recollections fade, fragment, and fray. I don’t remember whether law school began in August or September, nor do I remember the names of many colleagues or the name of that initial case. Nevertheless, I do remember—with absolute clarity—how my life changed. After Professor Isaiah Baker briefly addressed logistics and expectations, he asked for a volunteer to present the first case. One of a few people who raised their hands, I was chosen. Inquiring minds might wonder: “Why was that one encounter life-changing, and why did I volunteer?” I didn’t want to dread being called on four nights a week for four years, so I vowed to face my fear of stuttering that first night. And, that fear of stuttering was far from random; I’d lived with stuttering my entire life. I think it was Professor Baker’s commanding presence that made me realize—better now than later!

I don’t recall ever not stuttering as a kid, I remember being mocked and teased whenever I was expected to speak. For reasons still unknown to me, my late father frequently hid a tape recorder nearby and forced me to listen to my dinnertime stuttering. After leaving home for college (where I only took lecture classes, so I could avoid attention) my stuttering eased, but I still dreaded meeting new people, speaking in public, and making work phone calls.

Once Professor Baker called on me, I foolishly assumed that he’d ask me for the facts before moving on to another student. That was not to be. At one point, he responded to my vague explanations: “Well, Weinberg, I’m confused.” I answered, “Well, Professor Baker, so am I.” I had only the slightest understanding of the case and no appreciation for the Socratic method. The good news? I never once stuttered. After class, several classmates congratulated me; none knew either my history or my reason for volunteering. The fear of and the act of stuttering were gone. Clearly, that evening did change my life.

Now, 40 years later, I am “stutterfree.” Before law school, I regularly dodged the limelight. Post-law school, I’ve had many opportunities to be front-and-center and relished nearly all of them.

I remember Professor Baker’s booming voice, froth of white hair, and remarkable intellect. But, after reading his recent obituary, which revealed the extraordinary life and careers he’d had, I only wish I’d known him better. But with a full-time career, law school, and a baking gig, I spent little discretionary time on campus. I once visited his office to explain the impact of that first night; I’d like to believe that my memory of his appreciation is accurate.

President Joe Biden, singer/songwriter Carly Simon, and England’s late King George VI, among others, managed their stuttering; I was fortunate to have found Isaiah Baker!

In the Jewish tradition, at someone’s death, we say, “May their memory be for a blessing.” While I know that Isaiah Baker was not Jewish, I offer that prayer for his family.

NANCY KIRSCH ’85

Nancy Kirsch, nee Weinberg, earned her J.D. from AUWCL in 1985. Since graduation, she has worked as a law firm associate, general counsel to a Rhode Island-based diversified textile company, a journalist and freelance writer.

Amy Cohen ’91

SEASONED COUNSELOR MENTORS GRADUATES

Amy Cohen’s (’91) career is challenging, fulfilling, nontraditional, and filled with changes. She did not initially intend to pursue law. An international relations major, she worked in the international hotel industry until her growing interest in combining business and law propelled a switch. To prepare for law school, she became a paralegal in Skadden Arps’ New York office while studying for the LSAT, and more than three years after college graduation, she was a first-year student at American University Washington College of Law.

Cohen’s education confirmed she was most attracted to business law, and private practice was the best way to deepen her knowledge. For five years, she practiced corporate and intellectual property law at Stradley Ronon’s Philadelphia’s office. But in 1996, a compelling call shifted her career trajectory: She was hired as associate general counsel by Comcast Spectacor, then-owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Sixers, which was ready to launch a new regional sports network through a joint venture with the Philadelphia Phillies. For the next 20 years, as Comcast’s sports entertainment and sports media empire grew, her responsibilities increased until, after Comcast’s acquisition of NBCUniversal, she was named senior vice president, business and legal affairs, NBC Sports Group and senior vice president, strategic partnerships, NBC Sports Regional Networks. Cohen had achieved the NBC Sports Group’s then-most senior female executive position.

“It was a fun environment to work in, and I became a sports fan, but an interest in sports is not what makes for a successful career in this demanding industry. Rather, having a solid legal foundation and a keen work ethic, as well as an ability to deal with different types of people and personalities, will be what propels you. In my case, that foundation involved contracts and licensing and intellectual property, corporate, employment, real estate, and financing law,” she said.

Her life transitioned unexpectedly in 2017 when personal and family needs obliged her to resign her position and return with her family to Philadelphia from Stamford, Connecticut. Now that those pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic have eased, she is ready to transition to her next chapter.

Cohen volunteers as an alumni mentor for AUWCL students and graduates by sharing her perspectives on career advancement, work-life balance, and navigating professional transitions.

“My path has not been one that I foresaw when I started at WCL or even my first legal job. Ultimately the legal foundation you get from WCL, along with hard work, dedication, and professionalism, will create opportunities and pay off,” she said.

AUWCL alumni mentors share their professional and educational experiences to help guide the school’s lawyers-in-training. If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please contact Matthew Pascocello at mpasco@wcl.american.edu.

counsel in the firm’s Correctional Litigation practice in Huntsville, Alabama. He represents clients in federal and state courts in civil and criminal matters, as well as administrative law matters, probate matters, political law, and government relations.

Kate Kovarovic JD ’11/MA

’12 provides legal advice and communications for Operation Sacred Promise, a nonprofit assisting with the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans following the country’s August 2021 withdrawal. The group, which had evacuated about 1,000 people by early January 2022, has 10,000 remaining on their waitlist.

Vassilis Paliouras ’11 is a bank resolution expert at the Single Resolution Board (SRB) in Brussels. The SRB is an independent agency of the European Union, performing the role of the resolution authority for the major banks within the European banking union. Like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the United States, the SRB is tasked with promoting financial stability and protecting the taxpayer in the event of bank failures.

Mary Gardner ’12 was named partner at Venable LLP.

Benjamin Horowitz ’12 was named partner at Venable LLP.

Beka Feathers ’13 published “Re: Constitutions: Connecting Citizens with the Rules of the Game,” a nonfiction graphic novel that explores what it means to be a citizen of a constitutional society. The book uses constitutions from around the world to illustrate how having a fundamental law impacts daily life.

John Nadolenco ’95

REFLECTION AND RE-ENGAGEMENT

When American University asked for Alumni Board applicants in 2018, John Nadolenco ’95 knew it was time to answer that call and re-engage with the school.

“I got to a certain point where I was able to reflect on the things that helped me along in my career. This was an opportunity for me to get involved with the school,” he said.

“I really appreciate the foundation that I got at Washington College of Law.”

Today, his volunteer portfolio includes advisory board chair of the Technology, Law and Security program and creator of a diversity initiative that is now part of a larger program allowing summer interns to work in Silicon Valleybased technology companies including eBay and Google and at major law firms.

Nadolenco is managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Los Angeles office and a renowned civil litigator specializing in class action defense, including technology and privacy cases. He chose to study at AUWCL because of its excellence in clinical programs.

“I strongly suspected I wanted to do litigation when I went to law school. I got into the appellate advocacy program and worked very closely with Professor Ira Mickenberg. It confirmed that litigation was what I wanted to do,” he said.

Nadolenco is still learning from AUWCL professors and credits them with expanding his knowledge base.

“When I was getting involved with the Alumni Board, I started paying attention to the website to see what WCL was doing in my practice area and reaching out to professors. One professor in particular recommended two expert witnesses that we retained for a cyber security case we tried in summer 2021. The WCL professors’ research and social media postings are invaluable sources of information for me,” he said.

He urges WCL graduates to stay connected with the University and the law school.

“AU does an amazing job with Washington, D.C.,-based and regional events. Even if you’re not attending, you can still monitor what’s going on.”

Ifeanyi O. Ezeigbo ’14 has joined Goodell DeVries as an associate in the firm's Medical Malpractice group, where he represents health care providers and health care institutions in malpractice litigation. Ifeanyi is an active member of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, where he has served on the Communications and News Journal Committee. He is also a member of the Monumental City Bar Association. Ifeanyi was named to the Top 40 Under 40 by the National Black Lawyers Top 100 for 2020 and 2021. Matthew Hansel ’14 was named partner at Hanzen LaPorte LLP.

Meredith Renegar ’14 was named partner at Wilcox & Savage PC.

Eric A. Love ’16, an associate in the Private Funds group at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, was selected to participate in the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) 2022 New York Fellows Program. CUP’s mission is to inspire, elevate, and empower the next generation of diverse business and civic leaders. Makia Weaver ’16 joined Lerch Early Brewer as an associate in the firm’s Family Law practice.

Chauna Abner ’17 joined the Baltimore office of McGuireWoods as an associate. Her spouse, Castell Abner III ’17, joined Venable LLP in December 2021.

Taylor Sweet ’19 joined Cranfill Sumner LLP as an associate based in the firm’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office. She will focus her practice on civil litigation.

2020s

Alex Apollonio ’20 was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.

Lauren Ingram ’21 joined Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa as an associate in the firm's Business Law and Transactions practice group.