Stay tuned for St. John’s Law centennial announcements!
FROM THE DEAN
Dear Friends,
As you’ll read in this issue of St. John’s Law magazine, last semester, I had the honor of joining several alumni for a roundtable discussion with students in the Law School’s new Leadership for Lawyers course.
We talked about our work in different practice settings, traced our paths to leadership positions, described our leadership styles, and shared how we face challenges and learn from mistakes. It was wonderful to be part of a conversation that helped students think about leadership as a key component of professional identity and develop their own authentic leadership style.
Designed and taught by Professor Christine Lazaro, Leadership for Lawyers is just one of the many innovative and foundational courses that anchor educational excellence at St. John’s Law. For almost 100 years, even as society and the lawyer’s role in it have changed, that excellence has propelled our graduates to great heights in the legal and business worlds.
In these pages, you’ll meet some of those graduates and learn how they are succeeding across practice settings, uplifting their communities, and animating St. John’s Vincentian mission of serving the greater good. You’ll also hear from alumni and students who are the first in their family to earn a law degree. Their first-gen experiences are part of a rich narrative, depicting the Law School’s past, present, and future commitment to opening the legal profession’s doors.
The stories shared ahead also spotlight the centers, clinics, and co-curricular programs that offer St. John’s Law students unmatched educational opportunities. Our school’s prominence is just as evident in the activities and achievements of our faculty. When you read about their work in and beyond the classroom, you’ll see how it enhances the Law School’s strong reputation and deepens its impact.
Inspired by these stories, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating St. John’s Law and the many accomplishments of our alumni, students, and faculty. I look forward to continuing that celebration as we mark our centennial later this year and welcome the Law School’s next century of excellence, prominence, and impact.
All the Best,
Jelani Jefferson Exum
Dean & Rose DiMartino and
Karen Sue Smith Professor of Law
St. John’s Law Magazine
Dean & Rose DiMartino and
Karen Sue Smith Professor of Law
Jelani Jefferson Exum
Associate Dean for Law School Advancement
Brian J. Woods
Associate Dean for Enrollment and External Relations
Trent Anderson
Editor-in-Chief and Lead Writer
Lori Herz
Copy Editors
Kate Hall
Claire Pollicino
Art Director
Jill Cuddire
Rose Creative Group
Please send comments to:
Editor, St. John’s Law
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Copyright 2025
St. John’s University School of Law
Dean Jefferson Exum with students at the 2025 Endowed Scholarship Reception
A New Law School Course Helps Students Build Leadership Skills
You won’t find historic speeches by Winston Churchill, Barbara Jordan, Martin Luther King, Jr., and John F. Kennedy in your typical law school course syllabus. But they featured prominently in presentations students gave in Leadership for Lawyers, a new course designed and taught by St. John’s Law Professor and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs Christine Lazaro.
“The speech exercise was especially impactful,” Professor Lazaro says. “Working in teams, the students considered what leadership looked like at critical points in history, carried forward in different ways by leaders with different styles. Identifying core themes that weave through all four speeches, the students reflected on lessons they could take away and incorporate as they develop their own leadership styles.”
Leadership for Lawyers is a timely addition to the Law School curriculum, Professor Lazaro points out, because the American Bar Association now requires law schools to provide substantial opportunities for students to develop a professional identity.
“This course is one such opportunity, as leadership style is a key component of professional identity,” she says. “Students assume leadership positions in co-curricular programs, with student organizations, and as teaching assistants. A number of classes also expose them to aspects of leadership. I wanted to provide meaningful leadership training in a course designed for that purpose. I also wanted to help students connect the soft skills of leadership with the practical lawyering skills they build at St. John’s Law.”
Students have responded enthusiastically to the new course. Highlights of the first semester included discussing and practicing wellness as a component of attorney wellbeing and competence. The students also participated in a Leadership Roundtable that brought attorneys from different professional settings together at the Law School. The presenters included St. John’s Law Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum and alumni Jim Herschlein ’85, Sabeena Ahmed Liconte ’06, José Pérez ’85, and Hannah Yu ’09. They traced their path to leadership positions, talked about their leadership styles, and shared how they move forward as leaders in the face of challenges and mistakes.
“The Leadership Roundtable made it clear that lawyers can lead in different ways,” Professor Lazaro shares. “The students were able to see their own potential through each leader’s story. As they experienced their distinct styles, they understood that there is space for authentic leadership.”
Christopher Colbert ’25 agrees that it was an impactful program. “The Roundtable exposed me to various perspectives on leadership skills,” he says. “My biggest takeaway from the experience is to find the area of law that aligns most with your passions, work hard and believe in yourself, and surround yourself with those who share your goals.”
Throughout the fall semester, Professor Lazaro fielded student reflections and feedback to improve Leadership for Lawyers, which she is co-teaching this spring semester with Adjunct Professor and Associate Dean for Student Services Eric Shannon. “I thoroughly enjoy teaching this unique course and working closely with students to evolve it,” Professor Lazaro says. “It’s very fulfilling to watch their skills and confidence grow as they cultivate their leadership style, and I look forward to seeing them become lawyers who lead and uplift the profession in the years ahead.”
From left: Jelani Jefferson Exum, Christine Lazaro, José Pérez, Hannah Yu, and Jim Herschlein
Not pictured: Sabeena Ahmed Liconte
FACULTY FOCUS
Here are just some of the recent activities and achievements of our outstanding St. John’s Law faculty. To learn more, please visit the Faculty Focus blog produced by Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship Eva Subotnik at stjohnslawseeinfra.com.
{ALLEN}
Two articles by Professor Renee Nicole Allen have been accepted for publication. Forthcoming in the Minnesota Law Review, “Legal Academia’s White Gaze” defines legal academia’s White gaze and examines how it’s an infrastructure of injustice for people racialized as Black. “The Whiteness of Wealth & Black Student Loan Debt” will appear in the Maryland Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class. The article examines the racial wealth inequalities created through law and policies that disproportionately disadvantage Black federal student loan debt holders.
{ARMSTRONG}
Professor Ashley B. Armstrong’s article, “The Stories We (Don’t) Tell: Using Case Briefing to Explore Bias and Oppression in the Law,” was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Legal Writing. She is also contributing to The SAGE Encyclopedia of Refugee Studies, a project led by the Critical Refugee Studies Collective. At the Legal Writing Institute’s (LWI) 2024 Biennial Conference, Professor Armstrong presented her research on testing generative AI platforms and participated on a panel about the contextual case method. As part of LWI’s Teacher Training Bootcamp 2.0, she presented effective classroom exercises, including drafting impactful preliminary statements.
{BARRETT}
Professor John Q. Barrett published an essay, “Felix Frankfurter, Collector of People,” in the Touro Law Review. He participated in Brown Revisited, a digital recreation of oral arguments in the historic U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education presented by Oyez. Professor Barrett lectured in person or online at Hennepin Co., Touro Law School, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division, Essex Co. (MA), Chautauqua Institution, Duquesne University, George Washington University, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the Brandeis Bar Association. Most of those lectures are on YouTube. He also participated in an Academic Exchange Mission to Israel.
{BOYLE-LAISURE}
Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure co-authored Persuasive Advocacy in Action: A Workbook for Law Students (Carolina Academic Press). St. John’s engagement with the Federal Bar Association was the subject of her co-authored UMKC Law Review article, “Merging the Bench, Bar, and Law Schools: How a Student Scholars Program Achieves Professional Identity Through Scholarly Writing, Mentorship, and Presentation,” and of her presentation at LWI’s 2024 Biennial
Conference. Professor Boyle-Laisure’s book chapter, “’The Times They are a Changin’: Lessons Imparted from the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the Current-Day Climate Movement,” appears in Generational Politics in the United States (University of Michigan Press). Her article, “Undoing Undue Influence: How the Doctrine Can Avoid Judicial Subjectivity by Omitting the Vulnerability Element,” was published in the American Journal of Trial Advocacy, and she presented at a workshop at the International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference.
{CHERRY}
Professor Miriam Cherry wrote book chapters for two edited volumes, one for The Oxford Handbook of the Law of Work (Oxford University Press) and the other for The Future of Labour: How Disruption, Technology, and Practice Will Change the Way We Work (Stockholm Chamber of Commerce). She also turned in a report for the United Nations – International Labor Office on “The Status of Gig Workers in the United States.” Professor Cherry gave a presentation on the gender wage gap at the Annual NYU Conference on Labor & Employment Law and at the 2024 Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference. She also presented on non-competition agreements at the New York State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section Fall Meeting.
{JIM}
At the LWI’s 2024 Biennial Conference, Professor Louis Jim participated in a discussion group on teaching first-generation students, and in another discussion group on assessing student performance. He was also a panelist at the New England Legal Writing Conference, where he addressed minimizing and eliminating implicit bias in moot court competitions.
{MALAVÉ}
Professor Evelyn Malavé is the Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Criminal Procedure Section. She will serve one year as Chair-Elect and then, per the bylaws, become Chair the following year. The Criminal Procedure Section is relatively new at AALS. In its first few years, it has organized an annual Junior Scholars Conference, hosted various works-in-progress workshops, and presented an engaging lineup of panels at the AALS Annual Meeting.
{MONTANA}
Professor Patricia Montana was a guest on Professor Mark Movsesian’s Legal Spirits podcast. They discussed her successful legal challenge against the Cedar Grove (NJ) School District for surveying students about their religious identities and other sensitive matters. Professor Montana and other parents sued the district for violating student privacy laws, including the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment. The U.S. Department of Education recently ruled in the parents’ favor. The full podcast episode is available at lawandreligionforum.org.
{MOVSESIAN}
Professor Mark Movsesian presented his paper, “Status, Belief, Conduct, and Message,” at the 7th International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies Conference at the University of Notre Dame. He also participated in panels on Religious Freedom in American History at Princeton University and presented on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent school prayer decision at a symposium hosted by St. John’s Journal of Catholic Legal Studies. Professor Movsesian continued to host his Legal Spirits podcast on cases and issues in law and religion and launched the Denise ‘90 and Michael ‘91 Mattone Center for Law and Religion’s YouTube channel, including a new video series on Landmark Cases in Law and Religion.
{SALOMONE}
Professor Rosemary Salomone was interviewed on the Language on the Move, America the Bilingual, and Global Dispatches podcasts about her award-winning book, The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language (Oxford University Press). Excerpts from the book appeared in Time magazine and in The Millions, an online literary magazine. On a book tour in the UK, she spoke at Oxford University and University College London, was interviewed by Monocle Radio, and was a featured speaker at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival. The book also featured prominently in a recent article in The New Yorker magazine. Professor Salomone led a panel discussion on Inclusive and Nondiscriminatory Education Policies in a Time of Mass Migration at the Symposium on Language Rights for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions hosted by the Study Group on Language and the United Nations and the NGO Committee on Language and Languages. She was also quoted in an Education Week article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lau v. Nichols, which she discussed in her book, True American: Language, Identity, and the Education of Immigrant Children (Harvard University Press).
{SELBY}
W.S. Hein has published Professor Courtney Selby’s co-authored work, Sports Betting: A Legal Research Guide. The guide explores the rapidly evolving landscape of sports betting law in the United States and offers guidance for scholars and practitioners conducting research in the area. Professor Selby’s co-author is Christopher B. Anderson, Deputy Director for Library Services at St. John’s Rittenberg Law Library.
{SUBOTNIK}
As a member of the AALS Section on Intellectual Property Law’s Executive Committee, Professor Eva Subotnik helped plan a panel on Intellectual Property Professors’ Roles: Legal Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence for this year’s AALS Annual Meeting. She also joined a panel discussion on The Afterlife of Art: Posthumous Moral Rights & Copyright hosted by the Center for Art Law.
{SUNDHOLM}
Professor Benjamin Sundholm’s paper, “Navigating the Frontiers of MedTech,” was recently published in the Arizona State Law Journal. It analyzes doctrinal reforms that are needed in response to the use of adaptative and opaque artificial intelligence systems in medicine. Professor Sundholm workshopped the paper at the Seventh Junior Faculty Forum for Law and STEM at Penn Carey Law School.
{WADE}
Professor Cheryl Wade contributed a chapter on “Race and the American Corporation: The Rhetoric of Anti-Racism and Diversity in the Twenty-First Century” to The Oxford Handbook of Race and Law in the United States (Oxford Academic). She also contributed a chapter on “Formalizing Compliance to Reduce Board Exposure to Civil and Criminal Liability” to The Law of Fraternities and Sororities (Carolina University Press). Professor Wade delivered a keynote lecture for the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law’s centennial celebration and was the keynote speaker at a Widener University Commonwealth Law School conference presenting A Modern Examination of the Expansive Existence of Systemic Racism. She also presented her book, Predatory Lending and the Destruction of the African American Dream (Cambridge University Press), at The Legal Aid Society’s Black History Month Celebration.
St. John’s J.D. students reap the rewards of that unique curriculum. After completing a prerequisite, foundational course, they can take advanced LL.M. classes towards their J.D. elective requirements. The Law School also offers a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program that allows students to receive both degrees in as little as seven semesters. “Whatever degree pathway they choose, our students benefit from a program that produces leaders of the bankruptcy bar and bench,” Schwartz says. “I’m particularly proud that, year after year, several of our J.D. and LL.M. graduates are hired as clerks for influential U.S. bankruptcy judges.”
Now settled into her directorship, Schwartz is grateful for her predecessors who made their vision for the Center for Bankruptcy Studies a reality. Having celebrated the ABI Law Review’s 30th anniversary recently, and with new programming on the agenda, she looks forward to the work ahead, and to collaborating with St. John’s Law alumni who make up the Center’s inaugural Advisory Board. “The Center for Bankruptcy Studies is thriving, but there are opportunities to do even more to benefit our students, our alumni, and the wider bankruptcy community,” says Schwartz. “I’m eager to take the lead on that expansion, and can’t wait to see all we accomplish.”
Recent U.S. Bankruptcy Court Law Clerks
Through the years, with knowledge and skills gained as J.D. and LL.M. students in our acclaimed bankruptcy program, many St. John’s Law alumni have earned judicial clerkships in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. That group includes these recent graduates:
Class of 2023
• Alex Bisogno (J.D.), Hon. Stacy L. Meisel, District of New Jersey
• Chazz Coleman (LL.M.), Hon. Thomas Horan, District of Delaware
• Ilayna Guevrekian (J.D.), Hon. Lisa J. Beckerman, Southern District of New York
• Sean Johannsen (J.D./LL.M.), Hon. Jil Mazer-Marino, Eastern District of New York; Hon. Sean H. Lane, Southern District of New York
• Aaron Kaplan (J.D.), Hon. Stacy L. Meisel, District of New Jersey
• Yorlibeth Martinez (J.D.), Hon. Pamela W. McAfee, Eastern District of North Carolina
• Karra Puccia (LL.M.), Hon. Lisa J. Beckerman, Southern District of New York
• Michael Solimani (J.D.), Hon. Alan S. Trust, Chief Judge, Eastern District of New York
“For nearly 17 years, as an adjunct professor, I’ve closely observed the quality of the lawyers being trained at St. John’s and, thus, have hired numerous law clerks from there. Those individuals have been well suited to take on the challenges of a federal judicial clerkship, which include research, time management, and interpersonal skills, in addition to a strong foundation in the fundamentals of bankruptcy law and practice. My St. John’s law clerks are part of my judicial family, and it’s been a pleasure to watch them grow and succeed in their post-clerkship legal careers.”
— Hon. Alan S. Trust Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDNY
• Tyler Talton (LL.M.), Hon. Lisa J. Beckerman, Southern District of New York; Hon. Karen B. Owens, District of Delaware
Class of 2024
• Annmarie Gruick (J.D.), Hon. Karen B. Owens, District of Delaware
• Caitlin Marino (J.D.), Hon. Jil Mazer-Marino, Eastern District of New York
• Dennis Mossberg (J.D.), Hon. J. Kate Stickles, District of Delaware
• Howard Poon (J.D.), Hon. Wendy A. Kinsella, Chief Judge, Northern District of New York
• Salvatore Salerno (J.D.), Hon. Alan S. Trust, Chief Judge, Eastern District of New York
• Lauren Shoemaker (J.D.), Swing Clerk, Hon. Alan S. Trust, Chief Judge, and Hon. Jil Mazer-Marino, Eastern District of New York
Class of 2025
• Michaela Balboni (J.D.), Hon. Thomas Horan, District of Delaware
• David Batkiewicz (J.D.), Hon. Alan S. Trust, Chief Judge, Eastern District of New York
• Jae Hwang (J.D.), Hon. Anthony Scarcella, Eastern District of New York
• Jenna Marshiano (J.D.), Hon. John Sherwood, District of New Jersey
To learn more about the Center for Bankruptcy Studies, please visit stjohns.edu/law/bankruptcycenter
Hannah Yu ’09 COMBATS HATE CRIMES IN MANHATTAN
ver the last five years, there has been a surge in reported hate crimes across New York State, with New York City seeing the biggest spike. That rise is all too familiar to Hannah Yu, who spends her days prosecuting offenders, seeking justice for victims, and educating the public as Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit at the Manhattan District Attorney’s (DA) Office.
It’s a leadership role rooted in Yu’s experience growing up as the first-born child of Korean immigrants. “I became aware at a young age that life can be very challenging for immigrants and minorities,” she says. “My parents instilled in me the values of hard work, helping others, and contributing to society, so I knew I wanted to be a lawyer who could advocate for those without a voice. But lawyers can be of service in so many ways, and I didn’t know how I would use the privilege of law to benefit others until I got to St. John’s.”
In law school, Yu participated in competitions and programs through the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute. As a student in the Prosecution Clinic, she honed her advocacy skills working alongside Assistant District Attorneys (ADA) in Queens. “From then on, I knew I wanted to be a prosecutor,” says Yu. “It just took me some time to get there after graduation because I worked at a law firm and completed a federal clerkship before joining the Manhattan DA’s Office.”
Yu rose through the ranks as an ADA handling violent street crimes, sexual assault cases, homicides, and other serious crimes. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was supervising more junior ADAs in Criminal Court when she started seeing a dramatic increase in hate crimes, particularly anti-Asian hate incidents. “It’s often said that a hate crime has two victims: the individual who was harmed by the hateful criminal conduct and the community the victim is a member of,” Yu notes. “I wanted to do my part to combat hate crimes and seek justice for all victims.”
After starting in the Hate Crimes Unit as a Deputy Chief, Yu became Chief in August 2021. “In this role, I’ve learned that hate doesn’t discriminate,” she shares. “Over the last few years, all our Manhattan communities have been impacted. We have seen increases in hate incidents across almost all categories, but especially against the LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Muslim communities, as well as against migrants.” While her job can be quite challenging, Yu finds it deeply rewarding.
One of its greatest rewards, she says, is helping victims feel seen and heard. “Unprovoked violence is always traumatic, but the trauma has another layer when that violence is coupled with slurs or offensive remarks about an individual’s identity,” Yu explains. “It leaves victims feeling like they don’t belong. In a city as diverse as New York City, no one should feel like they don’t belong, and no one should be afraid to walk down the street because of their identity.”
Collaborating with a talented team in her office and at the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is another aspect of her job that Yu finds rewarding. “Some of our investigations are very complex and require a true team effort, often under intense time pressure,” she says. “I’m very proud of the extraordinary work of the prosecutors and analysts in our Unit, and I’m grateful for our partnership with the NYPD, which also extends to educating the community about hate crimes.”
While her job keeps her very busy, Yu still finds time to support St. John’s Law. She is teaching at the Law School this semester, and regularly returns to campus to talk to students about her career path. “So many people, at St. John’s and beyond, have offered me support and mentorship,” she says. “There isn’t a lawyer in New York City who doesn’t have a jam-packed schedule. But for law students and newer attorneys, a single conversation can be life altering or career shaping. My life and career have benefitted from those conversations, so now I’m happy to pay it forward.”
OPENING DOORS:
FIRST- GEN AT ST. JOHN’S LAW
For almost 100 years, St. John’s Law has opened doors to opportunity for students who are the first in their immediate family to go to law school. A growing presence and voice in the legal community, first-generation lawyers often encounter unique challenges in law school and when they enter the field. Here, alumni and students reflect on their first-gen experiences.
MATTHEW CALLAHAN ’19TCB, ’22L
Associate, Banking and Finance Group, Otterbourg P.C.
The perennial question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” never stumped Matt Callahan. From a young age, he wanted to be a lawyer. No one in his family had gone to law school, but he saw that many of the world’s business and government leaders had a legal education and believed that a law degree would benefit him in any career he pursued.
With that conviction, Callahan left Oceanside, CA and moved across the country to attend St. John’s University, where he excelled in his undergraduate studies and as the manager of the men’s basketball team. When it came time to apply to law school, St. John’s Law was the obvious choice. “Living 3,000 miles away from home in the greatest city in the world is a wonderful experience, but it also has its challenges,” he says. “I was very intentional about building a strong support system when I came to New York. I knew I would need it to succeed in law school.”
Working hard, Callahan earned that success. After his second year at the Law School, he was a summer associate at Otterbourg P.C. and as a 3L he served as Editor-in-Chief of the New York International Law Review. Despite those achievements, he struggled with imposter syndrome. “As a first-generation law student, there were so many little questions and experiences that I didn’t relate to or understand,” he shares. “My family is incredible, but they couldn’t offer any insights on the benefits of clerking, interning, or participating in a clinic. I had to figure that out.”
As he navigated his way as a law student, Callahan realized he wasn’t alone in feeling out of place. “Other students were having the same experiences I was, and I formed a friend group with fellow first-gen law students who felt comfortable asking each other questions and bouncing ideas off each other,” he shares. “That community truly made a difference for me, and I’m grateful that St. John’s Law is a place where students make the space, and take the time, to care for one another in that way.”
Now, as he builds his legal career at Otterbourg, Callahan still strongly identifies as a first-generation lawyer. “I like to think there is an underlying sense of grit that exists in everything I do,” he says. “I’m very proud of where I come from, and how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am. I want to continue to show that grit, and to use it as a motivating tool as I strive to meet my goals in business and in life.”
SAMANTHA D i CICCO ’21
Associate, Banking and Finance Group, Otterbourg P.C.
Samantha DiCicco learned a lot about hard work and perseverance from the corner booth she occupied as a child in her parents’ Long Island pizzeria. When she moved out of that corner spot to serve customers from behind the counter, and then went on to college and St. John’s Law, she took a strong work ethic with her.
As motivated as she was, DiCicco didn’t know what to expect as a first-generation law student. But she chose to attend St. John’s largely because of its vast alumni network. So, that’s where she put her focus. “Brian Woods, the Associate Dean for Law School Advancement, was a huge help,” DiCicco says. “With his input, I created my own inner circle of alumni—young, accomplished professionals I could turn to for help, advice, and even to pass along my resume. That’s ultimately how I landed my first job right out of law school at Otterbourg P.C., where I now practice.”
While she made fruitful alumni connections, DiCicco also gained practical knowledge and skills. She participated in the Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic, worked as a Summer Products Law Intern at Apple in Cupertino, CA, and served as Executive Notes and Comments Editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review. Those experiences helped to prepare DiCicco for her current work in Otterbourg’s Banking and Finance Group. They also shaped her outlook on her first-gen status.
“I originally thought that being a first-generation law student put me at a disadvantage to my peers who have lawyers in their circle of family and friends,” she explains. “But I changed my mind as soon as I realized that St. John’s Law is packed with more resources than I could ever imagine. I just needed to put in the work to utilize them. Faculty and administrators are there to help you navigate your career path throughout the three years of law school and beyond. So, my biggest piece of advice to current and future students is: Don’t be afraid to take advantage of that help whenever and wherever you need it.”
DiCicco perceives that same level playing field as she practices law today. “I truly believe once we leave law school and enter the professional world, we’re all experiencing what it’s like to be a fulltime lawyer for the very first time,” she says. “But that experience can be challenging, and I make a conscious effort to be available for younger associates at my firm, as well as St. John’s Law students, because I know firsthand how important and influential a network can be.”
KEITHA DUHANEY ’24
L aw Clerk, Consumer Finance Services and Business Litigation Practice Group, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Growing up in Brooklyn, Keitha Duhaney had a passion for advocacy—whether it was standing up for classmates who were being bullied or helping truancy offenders at the Red Hook Community Justice Center. Early on, she set her sights on becoming a lawyer, with the support of steadfast champions and wonderful role models.
“My mom has always been my biggest supporter,” says Duhaney. “She planted the idea of becoming a lawyer in my head and assured me that it was an attainable goal, even though we didn’t have any lawyers in our family. Another major influence was Justice Cynthia Baldwin, a fellow Penn State alumna and the second African American woman to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Her success as a Black woman in law was incredibly powerful for me, offering a tangible example that it was possible for someone like me to thrive in this field. Her belief in me, her encouragement, and her mentorship have been invaluable, and I’m forever grateful that she took me under her wing.”
Accepted to St. John’s with a full-tuition scholarship, Duhaney immersed herself in law student life. Among other activities and achievements, she was a Senior Staff Member of the Moot Court Honor Society and the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development, the Vice President of the Corporate and Securities Law Society, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion. Although very much part of the Law School community, Duhaney also faced challenges as a first-generation law student. But, once again, people who believed in her offered guidance.
“When I struggled with preparing for finals, Senior Director of Academic Achievement Katy Piper helped me create a plan,” Duhaney recalls. “When I doubted that I belonged in law school, Vernadette Horne, the Law School’s Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, lifted my spirits. When it came time to apply for jobs, I turned to Career Counselor Sara Drew for advice. After the loss of my brother, Associate Director of Student Services Melissa Kubit Angelides and Dean of Students Eric Shannon helped me navigate my classes while grieving. Finally, when I was studying for the bar exam, Professors Rachel Paras and Kathy Simone worked with me for an entire year and I passed on my first try. There are too many names to mention, but at every turn, someone in the St. John’s Law community was there for me.”
Having made her dream of becoming a lawyer a reality, Duhaney is now in her first year of practice at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. As she moves along her career path, she is eager to help other first-gen law students and lawyers. “I understand the importance of mentorship, and I make it a point to be available,” she says. “Community is everything, and leaning into the St. John’s Law community is key to succeeding in the legal profession and beyond.”
MICHAEL HENRY ’97
S enior Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer, Wafra Inc.
Michael Henry says he had just the rude awakening he needed when he was a rising St. John’s Law 2L working for the summer at a New York City law firm. Most of the other summer associates came from top law schools, where they were a year ahead of him. Not only were they very bright, they were socially connected at high levels.
“It was the first time I realized that the legal profession is oftentimes a game of ‘inside baseball’ with ‘old friends’,” says Henry. “While I was generally welcomed and treated well that summer, I still felt profoundly like an outsider. I was largely clueless about my chosen career.” His naivete was understandable. Growing up, Henry didn’t have family or friends who were lawyers. So, when he decided in college to pursue a law degree, he had no lodestar to follow.
Fortunately for Henry, he found guidance at St. John’s Law. “My friends and I formed a great study group,” he shares. “It was also very affirming to have some diverse professors, and to meet Reginald Rasch ‘95, who was two years ahead of me. He offered valuable lessons on navigating St. John’s and deciphering law firm culture as a young Black associate. The St. John’s Black Law Students Association—with members comprising the broad Afro-Caribbean diaspora—was also a huge source of community and support, which inspired me to serve as its President as a 3L.”
Now, almost 30 years later, Henry has built a thriving career at the intersection of law and finance as a senior executive at Wafra. With wisdom gained from experience, he keeps close ties to his St. John’s Law community. “Some of my most fulfilling moments in life have been courtesy of other St. John’s Law alumni,” he says. “Many of them are first-gen lawyers—people like Preston Demouchet ’11, who drafted my will, and like Reginald Rasch, Darryl Gibbs ’00, Felix Chevalier ’97, and others who helped fund a Law School scholarship. The list goes on and on.”
Henry also values and forges connections in the wider legal profession. “I’ve come to understand the importance of engaging with, and actively contributing to, the legal community and its many layers, whether it means serving on the St. John’s Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, helping to create a pipeline from high school to law school, or providing career support to attorneys of color. Being a first-generation lawyer has taught me how to help build tables that allow a broader section of the population to sit and eat, and for that I’m truly grateful.”
ALISON HNATOW ’25
As President of the First Generation Law Student Association, Alison Hnatow has an unofficial motto: “It’s not that serious.” She borrowed the saying from her student mentor, who repeated it often when Hnatow was a 1L trying to navigate the newness and nuances of student life at St. John’s Law—from taking classes and studying, to participating in co-curricular programs and student organizations, to networking with alumni and other practitioners in the field.
“Especially when you’re a first-generation law student with no reference points, the stress can build quickly,” Hnatow notes. “But most of the time, the thing that feels monumental and world-ending probably isn’t. Over my three years at the Law School, I’ve learned how to keep things in perspective, and how to ask for help. This is one of the most supportive communities I’ve ever been part of. While law school is notoriously competitive, I’ve never encountered anyone here who views another person’s success as detrimental to their own. We believe that when one St. John’s Law student succeeds, we all succeed.”
Hnatow got a preview of that community ethos when she received her acceptance package from St. John’s, which included a personal letter from the Dean of Admissions. “I was really surprised,” she says. “It felt so personal, and I’ve found that personal touch has continued throughout my time at the Law School.” Hnatow also found personal connection when she joined the Women’s Law Society and met her student mentor. “Having a student one year above you to help you make sense of the entirely new world that is 1L is so important,” she says. “I can’t stress how invaluable and instrumental she has been to my success.”
The St. John’s Law alumni who coach Hnatow and her teammates as they represent the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute in mock trial competitions are also a vital resource. “They are phenomenal and always go above and beyond, not just in preparing us for competitions, but in offering career and law school help,” she says. “We have so many opportunities in law school. The downside is that sorting through all those options can be overwhelming. Alumni have helped me identify and pursue activities that will support my career as a criminal defense attorney.”
That career will begin this fall, when Hnatow joins Brooklyn Defender Services full time in their Criminal Defense Practice. She looks forward to supporting St. John’s students as she gains experience in the field. “Although first-gen law students and lawyers aren’t a monolith, we share a drive to be the first in our families to succeed, and make a difference, in the legal profession,” she observes. “That common calling is something to recognize, facilitate, and celebrate.”
RYAN IGLESIAS ’21
A ssociate, Insurance Recovery + Counseling Practice, Pryor Cashman LLP
For Ryan Iglesias, being a first-generation lawyer isn’t just part of his identity, it shapes how he sees the world and approaches the law. It’s also a constant reminder of where he started, of the sacrifices he and his family made, and of his obligation to honor the journey that began when he was a boy growing up in Elizabeth, NJ.
“My parents gave me the freedom to chart my own course, while reminding me that education is both a privilege and a responsibility,” Iglesias says. “My older brother, Raymond Iglesias ’22, was my greatest inspiration. I attended law school first, but it was his unwavering determination to become an attorney that gave me the courage to take the leap. Together, my parents’ sacrifices and my brother’s example illuminated the path for me to follow.”
That path took Iglesias to St. John’s Law, where he found a closeknit community of students, faculty, and administrators, along with obstacles to overcome. “Being a first-gen student means starting from scratch—no roadmap, no professional connections, and no one in your immediate circle who can demystify the complexities of law school or the legal profession,” he says. “I had to learn it all: how to study, how to network, and how to navigate the unwritten rules of the profession.”
As he found his way in law school, Iglesias’ faith sustained him in moments of doubt and hardship. “I believed that being at St. John’s was not an accident, but a calling,” he says. “God opened the door, and I needed to step through it with diligence and trust in His plan. I was also blessed with incredible people who walked alongside me.” One of them was Yalda Khwaja ’21, who is now Iglesias’ fiancée. “Her brilliance, perseverance, and friendship transformed my law school experience,” he says.
Brought together by a shared identity and purpose, Iglesias, his brother, Khwaja, close friend Mohammed Hassan ’21, and other first-generation students looked to create meaningful change at St. John’s Law. With the support of the Law School’s leadership, they launched the Student Bar Association (SBA) Diversity Committee and the First Generation Law Student Association, among other initiatives. Iglesias also made a difference through his contributions to the New York International Law Review, the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion, and the SBA.
Reflecting on a journey into the legal profession defined by grit and grace, Iglesias offers this advice to first-generation St. John’s Law students: “It all will work out. The anxiety about exams, fear of not landing the right job, and weight of expectations will fade. In their place, you’ll find a career and a purpose beyond anything you could have imagined. When you look back, let your story be one of faith, resilience, and kindness—a testament to what is possible when you hold fast to who you are and where you come from.”
SADIA KAUSER ’25
Working as a file clerk at a small debt collection firm during college, Sadia Kauser was drawn to the struggles of the debtors, whose stories often resonated with her. She also appreciated how lawyers used their discretion to negotiate fair settlements and balance the needs of all parties. Recognizing her interest in advocacy and serving the public, and witnessing how the legal profession could facilitate it, Kauser looked to a career in the law.
When it came time to apply to law school, she was impressed with St. John’s alumni network and bar prep program. She also appreciated the practical opportunities afforded by the Law School’s in-house and partner clinics. Ultimately, receiving a full-tuition scholarship made the decision to attend St. John’s Law easy for Kauser. She could now pursue public service without the burden of significant student debt.
As she adjusted to law school, Kauser made creating community a priority. “During my 1L year, I was involved with affinity groups such as the South Asian Law Students Association, the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, the Black Law Students Association, and OUTLaws and Allies, which offer academic workshops, career counseling, and networking opportunities in a relaxed setting,” she says. “I also joined the Public Interest Law Student Association. As a 2L, I became active in the First Generation Law Student Association and helped to reestablish the Muslim Law Students Association, which allowed me to connect with alumni who share my religious and first-generation identities.”
Participating in student organizations helped Kauser manage some of the challenges law school presented. “It was hard to adapt to the particularized thinking required to do well academically,” she shares. “Although I worked with attorneys before attending St. John’s, I was unaware of the hierarchical nature of internships, the importance of post-graduate clerkships, and the many expenses associated with legal studies beyond tuition. My fellow students, along with alumni, professors, and administrators who understood the struggles that can arise in law school, made me feel seen and less alone.”
Outside of St. John’s Law, Kauser expanded her connections and built lawyering skills while interning in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and at the U.S. Department of Justice. She also gained advocacy experience in the Law School’s Prosecution Clinic and Economic Justice Clinic. Complementing her work in the field, Kauser was selected to serve as a Public Interest Center Fellow, supporting the Center’s mission of cultivating the next generation of lawyers who use their law degrees to drive meaningful change.
“I’ve learned some valuable lessons as a first-gen law student at St. John’s that I’ll pass along to anyone who seeks my advice,” Kauser says. “The biggest takeaway is that it’s so important to speak to people. Isolation limits opportunities to connect with others who may share similar experiences. Building these connections can provide reassurance and inspiration, reminding you that if they have navigated and succeeded in this journey, you can too.”
ADEN KHAN ’26
Aden Khan’s dual identities as the son of Pakistani immigrants and a U.S. citizen played a pivotal role in his decision to become a lawyer. Born in Jacksonville, FL, he spent his early childhood in Lahore, Pakistan and then moved back to the United States with his family when he was in sixth grade. The rule of law in his two worlds stood in stark contrast to one another.
“I went from living in a place of unimaginable limits and deficiencies to a country where privilege and opportunity abound,” Khan says. “That experience became the catalyst for my keen interest in adding law student and, eventually, lawyer to my list of identities. One doesn’t merely go to law school. One gets to go to law school. There is a vast population of eight billion people on earth, so it’s a privilege to pursue a service-driven vocation that equips you to be an agent of positive change.”
St. John’s offered Khan everything he was looking for in a law school, from a diverse Queens location to impressive academic programs, diverse student organizations, and individualized attention. “I knew I would have an unparalleled, practical, clientcentered experience,” he says. That experience has included Khan’s involvement in the Muslim Law Students Association and South Asian Law Students Association. He also serves as Secretary of the First Generation Law Student Association and on the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion.
As he builds his professional credentials at St. John’s Law, Khan approaches the undertaking with perspective and wisdom that come from lived experience. “Being the first in my family to graduate college and pursue a law degree has taught me to embrace the unknown,” he shares. “There is a lot they don’t teach in class—how to outline, prepare for exams, or navigate internships. I understand the power of asking for help. Stepping out of my comfort zone to seek advice from alumni and others who have walked this path before me has been invaluable.”
Last summer, as the recipient of an alumni-supported Summer Public Interest Fellowship, Khan interned at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he built practical knowledge and skills on assignment in the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. This past fall, participating in the Law School’s National Celebration of Pro Bono observance, he teamed with alumni and other students to provide legal support to low-income New Yorkers through the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers Program.
“I’m grateful for those opportunities,” Khan says. “They confirm my belief that no one succeeds alone. We all need supporters and mentors, and most people are more than happy to guide you—you just have to ask.” He carries that conviction and spirit of generosity as he continues his law school journey and looks forward to starting his legal career. “I’m committed to paying it forward—to lifting up other first-generation students in the future and helping them find their own paths to success.”
ASHLEY KLOEPFER LAVOIE ’11
Training Director, Criminal Defense Practice, Brooklyn Defender Services
When she was in college, the idea of working in a helping profession appealed to Ashley Kloepfer Lavoie. She just didn’t know which career path to take. While social work was an obvious choice, she also enjoyed reading case law and attending lectures for her undergraduate Constitutional Law class. The television courtroom dramas that she loved from a very young age also drew her to the law.
“Eventually, I decided to go to law school,” Kloepfer Lavoie says. “Although my passion still leaned toward social work, I recognized that many lawyers work in client-centered, helping capacities.” Holding an intention to become one of those lawyers, she enrolled at St. John’s Law, which was near her home in Floral Park, NY. It didn’t take long for Kloepfer Lavoie to realize that becoming an attorney would be a bigger challenge than she anticipated.
“I think the main hurdle was my limited understanding of what a lawyer’s life entails,” she says in retrospect. “I didn’t have access to lawyers who could explain the different practice areas and career paths to me. My knowledge of lawyering came solely from depictions in TV shows, movies, and the news. There was no one to follow or help me navigate this path. It seemed like my only resource at that point was my will to become a lawyer.”
The will to achieve can be a powerful motivator and, harnessing it, Kloepfer Lavoie focused on what she could control: studying diligently and taking advantage of all that St. John’s Law offered. “I joined the Journal for Civil Rights and Economic Development to enhance my writing and research skills,” she recalls. As a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, I honed my ability to speak in public and think on my feet. I was also thrilled to be selected for the in-house Child Advocacy Clinic, as its work blended law and social work in a way that felt right for me.”
With the legal knowledge and skills she honed at St. John’s, Kloepfer Lavoie positioned herself as a highly qualified job candidate and secured a full-time position at Brooklyn Defender Services, one of the country’s largest public defense providers. Rising to leadership positions there over the last 14 years, she has achieved her dream of being a lawyer who helps people in need. Now, as Training Director in the organization’s Criminal Defense Practice, she supports other lawyers as they work for the greater good.
Looking back on her law school experience, Kloepfer Lavoie says: “I wish I had known that St. John’s Law was filled with professors, administrators, and alumni who were happy to offer guidance. I stood in my own way. But hindsight is 20/20, and I’m thankful that I can give back to the St. John’s community today, and help students find their place in the profession. It’s a tremendous gift to advocate for others.”
LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
RICHARD F. HANS ’93 Finds Fulfillment as a Law Firm Leader
The views of Midtown Manhattan from Rich Hans’ office window couldn’t be more different from the underwater vistas he glimpsed as a young naval submarine officer. But he has gained perspective on leadership from both vantage points that now guides his work as Managing Partner, Vertical Operations at the global law firm DLA Piper.
“I learned much from my time at the U.S. Naval Academy and in the submarine fleet,” Hans says about his early leadership lessons. “I was blessed to serve under some exemplary leaders, and suffered under some who didn’t know how to lead. We hear the phrase ‘servant leadership’ a lot these days, but it captures the spirit of true leadership. Leadership is more than a title, and much more than simple management. It’s about commitment to a mission, whether of your team or your wider organization, and then training and empowering your team and its members to fulfill that mission and allowing them to be the best version of themselves.”
With that insight, Hans completed his full-time naval service and enrolled at St. John’s Law, where he excelled academically, served as an editor on the St. John’s Law Review, and found inspiration on his career path. “Everywhere I looked, I saw St. John’s Law alumni leading and setting the example for others,” he shares. “I saw our alumni in the judiciary or in practice taking the lead on significant legal issues. They were at the helm of big and small law firms, in senior government positions, or otherwise engaged in their communities. That set the bar high.”
Following in the footsteps of those alumni leaders, after graduation Hans rose through the ranks at top New York law firms. For the past 16 years, he has been in leadership roles at DLA Piper, including New York Office Managing Partner; Global Co-Chair, Financial Services Sector; and Chair, Veterans and Military Families Resource Group. Today, he manages the firm’s vertical operations, which include its Corporate, Finance, Private Equity, and Tax practice groups. “I’ve been lucky to serve in a variety of roles here at the firm, but also to learn from a long line of strong leaders,” says Hans. “Along the way, I’ve tried to make sure that what I’m doing serves the firm’s strategic goals and allows my colleagues to better serve our clients.”
While it has come with opportunities, law firm leadership has also presented challenges for Hans. None was greater than guiding DLA Piper’s New York office through the shift to remote work in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was a lot of uncertainty and people were scared,” he recalls. “So, I dedicated myself to communicating frequently with our lawyers and business professionals, trying to put their minds at ease. I was blessed with a great team
around me, and we worked closely to make sure the transition was seamless. It was heartening and exciting to see how everyone pulled together and helped turn a dark time into a successful and transformative era for the office and the firm.”
Even with the demands of law firm leadership and practice, Hans has offered his time and talents in service to alma mater through the years. He was President of the St. John’s Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and currently serves on the Mattone Center for Law and Religion’s Advisory Board. He also established the Hans Family Fire, Police and Military Endowed Scholarship Fund to generously support St. John’s Law students who have a service background.
“St. John’s opened many doors for me along the way, and I’ve been blessed because of it,” Hans says. “I want to give back by paying it forward, and to the extent I can help open the door for others— especially veterans, police officers, and firemen—I want to do so.
Today’s St. John’s Law students will be tomorrow’s leaders in and beyond the legal profession. It’s an honor and a privilege to continue this proud leadership tradition.”
DENISE M. MIRANDA ’96 Takes a Lead on Fighting Discrimination S
upporting and uplifting vulnerable and marginalized communities is a common thread weaving through Denise M. Miranda’s near 30-year legal career. Today, she fights discrimination, promotes justice, and ensures equity for almost 20 million people as Acting Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Commissioner Miranda’s commitment to public service took root as she grew up in the Bronx with parents who were New York City public school educators. “As the first generation born outside of Puerto Rico, I was raised with an acute understanding that my childhood experiences were very distinct from the experiences my parents had,” she says. “I attended private Catholic school and we owned our home in a middle-class neighborhood. I was a Girl Scout and took private piano lessons for years. Despite these privileges, I experienced discrimination, often in these very same spaces. I also didn’t have to look very far to understand the reality and consequences of ‘bad choices’ for people who looked like me. The intersection of all of those experiences led me to pursue the law with the goal of promoting a more fair and equitable existence for historically marginalized communities.”
Keeping that goal in sight, Commissioner Miranda attended St. John’s Law, where she was drawn to criminal law and family law classes that, she notes, “dealt with real life problems and the complexities of human beings.” After graduation, she worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx DA’s Domestic Violence and Sex Crimes Bureau, and then as an attorney with the Network for Women’s Services. Following some time in private practice, she became Managing Director of the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project and, in 2017, was named Executive Director of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
Nominated to her current leadership role in March of 2024, Commissioner Miranda welcomes the opportunity to lead the state agency that is dedicated to enforcing New York’s Human Rights Law and freeing the state of discrimination. “Many hardworking New Yorkers rely on the Division as their only source of information and recourse,” she explains. “Here, they can pursue their matter without hiring an attorney and get the justice they deserve.”
Despite the demands of her daily work, Commissioner Miranda still finds time to lead by example in her community. She is a member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, the Latina Mentoring Initiative, and other service-oriented organizations. She also returned St. John’s Law recently, where she
addressed students and alumni as they helped New Yorkers in need at a Pro Bono Working Lunch. It was a meaningful homecoming.
“Being back at St. John’s was particularly momentous because it provided an opportunity to meet Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum, the second woman and first African American to lead the Law School in its nearly 100-year history,” says Commissioner Miranda. “Her commitment to a mission-focused education is inspiring. I believe that, under her leadership, the Law School will continue to be elevated as a preeminent institution with a strong commitment to values of diversity and equity.”
With that same commitment, Commissioner Miranda looks forward to the work ahead of her at the Division of Human Rights, which just launched an ambitious “Call Out Hate” campaign to combat hate and bias in communities across New York State. “As Commissioner, I have the opportunity to ensure that the Division meets its mandate, abides by its mission, and operates with assurance and competence,” she says. “It’s truly an honor and privilege to be entrusted with this responsibility.”
SECOND ACTS AYANNA THOMAS ʹ15
Honors a Legacy as a Charter School Lawyer
Work hard. Go to college. Change the world! is the motto inspiring student success at Democracy Prep Public Schools, which was founded in Harlem 20 years ago and now operates a network of charter schools in New York, Nevada, and Texas. Serving a diverse population, Democracy Prep strives to empower young people with the skills and values they need to flourish as community leaders who strengthen American democracy and have global impact.
The school’s compelling mission strongly appealed to Ayanna Thomas, who started as Democracy Prep’s General Counsel in August. It was a natural next step on a career path in education law that she forged at St. John’s over a decade ago. “I always knew I wanted to practice education law, so much so that I became the President of the student-run Education Law Society,” Thomas says. As she gained practical experience as a student, she also benefited from the Law School’s strong alumni network.
“During my first week at St. John’s Law, I attended a career panel where I connected with Alan Hodish ‘89, a school law attorney who was genuinely invested in my success,” Thomas explains. “He connected me with Bernadette Gallagher-Gaffney ’89, who was in-house counsel for a school district in Nassau County, and she hired me as her intern. After my internship, Bernadette introduced me to Howard Miller ’90, who practiced school law at Bond, Schoeneck & King PPLC (BSK), which led to the job offer that launched my full-time legal career.”
For the next nine years, Thomas built a practice at BSK focused on counseling K-12 public, private, and charter schools as well as colleges and universities. Clients sought her advice on student and employment matters and on other issues impacting their operations. She also represented schools in adversarial proceedings before administrative agencies and in state courts. Thomas enjoyed the work as she rose from associate to partner at the firm. But when presented with the opportunity to join Democracy Prep, she knew she had to seize it.
“I was inspired by my late aunt, Dr. Doreen Land, an educator who helped to launch a charter school in Harlem,” says Thomas. “She was a passionate advocate for ensuring all children receive a quality education regardless of their zip code. I realized that working directly with a charter school network was the most meaningful way to truly honor her and continue her legacy.” Now months into her new role, Thomas is sure she made the right career decision.
Each day, she finds, offers new ways to make a difference and help move Democracy Prep forward as an organization. “It’s exciting to serve a mission of cultivating well-rounded citizens who are eager to change the world,” Thomas shares. “It reminds me of St. John’s Vincentian mission of uplifting others. Work never feels like a job. Also, classroom visits always warm my heart and serve as a reminder of why our work is so important.”
As busy as her new job keeps her, Thomas still finds time to return to St. John’s Law and share career experiences and insights with current students. “I believe it’s my duty to give back and pay it forward, just like the St. John’s Law alumni who have played a pivotal role in the advancement of my career,” she says. “I also give back because I genuinely care and want to see students from a range of backgrounds succeed and thrive in their careers. As an alumna and an education lawyer, I truly believe representation matters.”
John Beling ˈ88
Plays the Long Game for Environmental Protection
WHILE THE RECENT LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES destroyed lives, homes, and landscapes some 3,000 miles away, John Beling followed the horrific news with a depth of understanding gained from his many years at the frontline of the fight to protect the environment.
As Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Beling works to ensure that the agency’s policies and programs are coordinated, effective, and result in measurable environmental improvement. It’s the latest in a long line of public service roles Beling has taken on to address the climate crisis, including: Assistant Attorney General, Environmental Protection Division, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; Senior Enforcement Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Assistant Attorney General, Vermont Attorney General’s Office, Environmental Protection Division; Deputy Regional Director, MassDEP; and Commissioner, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, among other jobs.
Beling traces his call to public service to a college internship with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where he was a complaint mediator and helped consumers who had been poorly treated. At St. John’s Law, he continued to explore work in the public interest. “Outside the classroom, I learned by doing as an intern with the Legal Aid Society and its Prisoners’ Rights Project, the Manhattan DA’s Office, and the Criminal Court,” Beling says. “Those practical experiences helped me secure full-time work as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where I spent five years building knowledge and skills after law school.”
Moving north to New England, Beling shifted his career focus to environmental law and policy as he worked for government agencies in Massachusetts and Vermont. “Vermont and Massachusetts are very different states in some ways, but they have a common commitment to environmental protection,” he explains. “Both states are leaders in responding to climate change, whether by taking steps to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, dealing with the ravages of extreme weather, or responding to challenges posed by ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS. Both also take a lead on implementing environmental justice principles to ensure that traditionally overburdened communities are treated fairly in environmental permitting decisions.”
As he has served the public through the years, Beling has seen floods, wildfires, extreme heat, and other occurrences compel concerted action across state lines nationwide in the face of the climate crisis. That perspective informs his current work helping to lead MassDEP. “I collaborate with an extraordinarily talented group of people, starting with leadership and extending to our dedicated and hard-working staff,” he shares. “It’s a challenging time for environmental protection across the country, and similarly minded states like Massachusetts and Vermont will continue to lead the fight to create a clean and safe environment for future generations. Once, when I was frustrated by a setback, a colleague reminded me, ‘it’s a long game.’ It is indeed a long game, and one I’m proud to be playing.”