Student and Alumni Profiles

Professional Experience Prior to Law School:

Prior to coming to Penn Law, I worked with alumni and students as an Assistant Director in Penn Alumni Relations. I also worked for the Franklin Institute Science Museum on a part-time basis as a freelance researcher and writer for the Case Files Online Exhibit.

What I Am Hoping to Do With My Law Degree:

Following graduation, I will work as a law clerk for the University of Pennsylvania Office of the General Counsel. Starting in January, I will join Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld’s Washington, DC office as a Labor & Employment associate.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

The Pumpkin Carving Contest. Each year, the Law School hosts a pumpkin carving contest complete with hot cider and gingersnap cookies.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor Michael Knoll was one of my favorite professors. Professor Knoll's deep knowledge and obvious enthusiasm for the Tax Code inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and persist in taking Federal Income Tax.

My Favorite Course:

Administrative Law with Professor Matthew Adler was my favorite course both because of Professor Adler's contagious energy and because of my interest in government agencies. This course gave me a better understanding of the interplay among the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, and of the operation of agencies like the EPA and the SEC.

An Example of How the Law School's Cross-disciplinary Approach Influences My Legal Education:

I completed a joint degree, earning my J.D. and my M.S.Ed. in Education Policy. My joint degree allowed me to explore education policy issues, and to appreciate the intersections of law and policy.

Meaningful Cross-disciplinary Experience at Penn:

I am part of an interdisciplinary dinner group. This informal dinner group met weekly, and gave me the opportunity to meet graduate students from across the University and to learn about the interesting work they are doing. Activities like this gave me an appreciation for the breadth of scholarship taking place at Penn, and made me proud to be part of a University whose students are pursuing so many distinct, and yet related, courses of study.

Penn Law is known for its collegial environment. Why is collegiality important to a legal education? How has it affected your legal education?

Collegiality is important to a legal education because it makes the day-to-day experience of being a law student more enjoyable, and because it leads to strong professional relationships in the future. The friends I have made at Penn Law kept me smiling during finals, shared casebooks and outlines with me, and make me look forward to coming to the Law School. As a Penn Law alum, I look forward to staying in touch with my classmates and following their careers.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

The Avenue of the Arts,  where I have seen beautiful plays, operas and ballets at the Academy of Music, the Wilma and the Kimmel Center.

What I'm Most Proud Of:

I am proud of my involvement with Philadelphia Futures. Through this Philadelphia mentoring program, I mentored a Philadelphia public high school student who successfully went on to college.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

I was an active tour guide for Penn Law and was a member of the Post-Acceptance Committee during my 1L year. As a 2L, I served on the board of the Penn Law Women's Association. We were proud to host the Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell as the Keynote Speaker for our 2009 Annual Dinner this past April.

What I Did For Public Interest:

I volunteered for the Education Law Center. This Philadelphia non-profit is a wonderful advocate for students, working to bring about school reform, and specifically addressing issues relevant to students with disabilities, to students who are English language learners, and to foster care and juvenile justice.

I was an extern for the National Labor Relations Board. One of my favorite law school experiences, this externship enabled me to appreciate the intersections among the government and the private and public sectors of Labor & Employment practice.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

My favorite place on Penn's campus is the Fine Arts library. Featured in the movie Philadelphia, this beautiful library is both a quiet study space and a magnificent architectural feat. I love its open reading room, winding stair cases and stained glass windows.

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