The Scholars

2014 Scholars

Steven Arose

Steven Arose

Small Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Division
Steven Arose ‘16 is a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Mr. Arose is pursuing a joint JD/MBA degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Fox School of Business. He is a graduate of Villanova University where he received a B.A. in Economics. While at Villanova University, Mr. Arose worked at the Italian Parliament in Rome where he developed his interest in public policy and its effect on international business. As a student at Temple Law School, Mr. Arose has served as the treasurer for both the International Law Society and the National Lawyers Guild. At the Fox School, Mr. Arose is a Fox Board Fellow and will serve as a non-voting board member of the Philadelphia VIP organization as part of that program. Mr. Arose has continued to explore the intersection of public policy and business as a Law & Public Policy Scholar. Mr. Arose is interning with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the office of Entrepreneurial Development, and his policy paper explores the relationship between foreign investment and national security.
Nicholas Barnes

Nicholas Barnes

Federal Trade Commission, Division of Marketing Practices

Nick Barnes ’16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law and Public Policy Scholar. While in Washington, Mr. Barnes spent his summer as a Law Clerk for the Federal Trade Commission in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Marketing Practices. His law and policy interests include criminal litigation, consumer protection, federal drug policy, and the relationship between advancing technology and law enforcement techniques. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Barnes worked as a paralegal in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. There, he was involved in a number of successful prosecutions, including a bicoastal crystal methamphetamine organization, an international carjacking ring, and a complex scheme to defraud victims of the Holocaust. Mr. Barnes is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He earned a B.A. in English and Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was Commodore of the Men’s Heavyweight Crew Team, a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, and a research assistant in the Political Science Department.

Amanda Cappelletti

Amanda Cappelletti

Policy Paper: Pennsylvania’s Children: An Examination of the Law Guiding Nutrition in Child Care Facilities and the Barriers to Setting Healthier Standards

Amanda Cappelletti ’17 is student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she is a Beasley Scholar and pursuing a joint JD/MPH degree. Ms. Cappelletti graduated cum laude from Chestnut Hill College with a B.S. in International Business, Language, and Culture with a focus in Spanish. Prior to law school, Ms. Cappelletti worked as legal assistant for a property subrogation firm. She took the investigative lead on large losses, completed the demand packages, and handled all matters involving the claim until it was ready to be filed in court. Ms. Cappelletti also worked for a mortgage foreclosure firm where she filed judgments and writs of execution for sheriff’s sales, and aided in the mediation and conciliation process for individuals trying to save their homes. While in law school, Ms. Cappelletti is an active member of several student organizations. She is currently a board member of the Health Law Society and the Student Public Interest Network (SPIN). As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Cappelletti interned with Child Care Aware of America. Her current policy focus is the nutritional regulations and requirements of day care centers in Pennsylvania.

Christopher Carney

Christopher Carney

Internet2

Christopher P. Carney ’15 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Mr. Carney earned his B.S. in Business Administration with specialization in Management Information Systems from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. Before arriving at Temple, Mr. Carney worked for his family business performing public construction contracts in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has worked extensively with a variety of state agencies and public institutions, including Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, SEPTA, The Philadelphia School District, The College of New Jersey, and more. As a result of his experience performing public contracts, Mr. Carney is familiar with public administrative requirements, including environmental standards, collective bargaining agreements, minority participation, workers’ compensation, bidding processes, public bonding requirements, and litigation. Mr. Carney chose to pursue a law degree to enhance his ability to make a difference in his community. Since beginning law school, he has revived a long held interest in technology and chosen to specialize in intellectual property and Internet-related legal issues. Through his research as a Law and Public Policy Scholar and his internship with Internet2, an advanced technology community, Mr. Carney is exploring the forefront of the cyber-related policy issues facing our planet today.

Rachel Cook

Rachel Cook

Federal Communications Commission, Office of Commissioner Michael O'Rielly

Rachel Cook ‘16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law & Public Policy scholar. She spent seven years on Capitol Hill prior to law school working for three different Members of Congress, most recently for Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07). As a Senior Legislative Assistant for Rep. Meehan, Ms. Cook’s areas of expertise included healthcare, tax, and judiciary policy. She advised the Congressman on relevant legislative proposals, assisted in preparation for Committee hearings and advancing his legislative agenda, and worked with stakeholder groups. Ms. Cook drafted legislation to combat counterfeit drugs, provide increased access to veterans’ treatment courts, and prevent gun trafficking. Ms. Cook was also instrumental in advocating for regulatory reform of organ procurement policies that had a discriminatory effect on certain children seeking lung transplants. Prior to her work in Congressman Meehan’s office, Ms. Cook was employed at a boutique lobbying firm specializing in consulting for defense and technology companies. Ms. Cook is currently working as a Summer Legal Clerk for the Federal Communications Commission in the office of Commissioner Michael O’Rielly. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, her research is focused on telecommunications policy with a particular interest in the regulatory structure surrounding how Internet Service Providers (ISPs) manage traffic over their networks — colloquially referred to as “net neutrality”. Graduating cum laude from American University, Ms. Cook received her B.A. in International Studies and Spanish Language and Latin American Area Studies.

Harris Cornell

Harris Cornell

Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Aviation and Admiralty Section

Harris W. Cornell ‘16 is a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Mr. Cornell graduated from Clemson University in 2011 with a degree in American Politics and a minor in Economics. Prior to law school, Mr. Cornell worked in Chicago for Mayer Brown LLP, conducting production metric analysis and corporate family tree research. While at law school, Mr. Cornell has been active in a number of student organizations, including the American Constitution Society, the Business Law Society, and the Federalist Society. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Cornell interned with the Aviation and Admiralty Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. His policy paper is Simple Economics and Why Social Security is Running Dry.

Rhiannon M. DiClemente

Rhiannon M. DiClemente

Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)

Rhiannon DiClemente ’16 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. While in D.C., she is working to promote global sexual and reproductive rights and health through U.S. foreign assistance reform as a legal intern at the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE). Ms. DiClemente graduated summa cum laude from The George Washington University with a B.A. in International Development and Latin American Studies. After graduation, she worked to advance women’s economic empowerment and political participation internationally through internships at Vital Voices Global Partnership and the National Democratic Institute. Later, as Program Director with Learning Enterprises, Inc., she coordinated a volunteer English program in rural Panama. At Temple Law, Ms. DiClemente is the Chair of Temple Law Students for Reproductive Justice and Co-chair of Temple’s National Lawyers Guild chapter. Ms. DiClemente also volunteers with the Philadelphia Women’s Center and the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Assistance Program.

Bryant Eng

Bryant Eng

Department of Justice, Community Relations Service

Bryant Eng ’16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he is a Law & Public Policy Scholar. Mr. Eng is active in several student organizations and serves on the executive board of the Temple Law chapter of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. Mr. Eng has also served as a VITA certified tax planner with Temple Law’s tax faculty. Prior to law school, Mr. Eng earned a B.A. in Political Science from the Florida Atlantic University. While at Florida Atlantic University, Mr. Eng served as a student representative in the Florida Atlantic Student Government and as a staff writer for the University Press. Mr. Eng also played basketball and was a member of the men’s heavyweight crew team during his time as an undergraduate student. He is interested in public service, and spent the summer of 2014 as a legal intern at the Department of Justice Community Relations Service.

Merlin George

Merlin George

Policy Paper: The Family and Medical Leave Act and Low-Income Families

Merlin George ’15 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Prior to law school, Ms. George earned a B.A. from the University of Connecticut with a double major in Political Science and History. During law school, Ms. George participated in Temple’s Public Health Law and Policy Practicum where she worked with the Public Health Management Corporation, a nonprofit health institute striving to improve public health through partnerships with a variety of community-based organizations. She has previously interned for the Honorable Karen Shreeves-Johns at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. George interned at the Public Employee Relations Board, which resolves labor disputes between agencies of the District government and labor organizations. Her law and policy interests include employment/labor and healthcare.

Kevin Hill

Kevin Hill

Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Office of Enforcement Operations

Kevin R. Hill ’16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law and Public Policy Scholar. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Hill graduated cum laude with departmental honors, earning his B.A. in Legal Studies from Park University in Missouri. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Hill worked for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Bureau of Prisons as a Correctional Officer and Diversity Program Manager. The intersection of these duties fostered his interests in sentencing and prison program reform, leading to his decision to attend law school in order to effect change in the arena of public safety enhancement through reentry reform and recidivism reduction. Mr. Hill’s current policy focus is sentencing reform and merit based prison programming implementation. Mr. Hill has always had a commitment to public service and public interest, which led to his enlistment and service in the United States Marine Corps, and later to working in law enforcement within the Department of Justice. He has also worked as a volunteer for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, established a partnership between Temple Law School and the Philadelphia Veteran’s Court to provide mentors and support for veterans in the court treatment process, and continues to serve as a Christian Legal Services volunteer at the Ayuda Clinic in Philadelphia. Mr. Hill is a co-founder of Temple Law School’s Service-Members Law Association, an organization that serves veterans in the Philadelphia community and educates students on veterans’ issues. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Hill interns at the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Office of Enforcement Operations. His work includes conducting legal and factual research on matters relating to electronic surveillance and emerging technologies, as well as coordinating responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and Special Administrative Measures complaints.

Liz Hines

Liz Hines

National Fair Housing Alliance

Liz Hines ’17 is a 2014 Law and Public Policy Scholar, pursuing both a J.D. at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and a Master of Public Health at Temple’s College of Health Professions and Social Work. During her time at Temple, Ms. Hines has held leadership roles in the Women’s Law Caucus, the Health Law Society, and Phi Alpha Delta. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Hines interned at the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), a non-profit organization working to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people. Ms. Hines graduated cum laude from Amherst College in 2008, with a B.A. in American Studies and a concentration in premedical studies. Shortly after graduating, Ms. Hines moved to Philadelphia, where she worked in public education as a high school math teacher. After completing her tenure with Teach For America, Ms. Hines was a senior clinical research assistant at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she investigated disparities in access to and outcomes of healthcare in the United States. As a teacher and researcher, Ms. Hines saw first hand the extent to which inadequate access to healthcare limits the opportunities and life choices of individuals in the United States. She is pursuing a J.D./M.P.H. with the goal of shaping healthcare policy and law.

Ariel Martin

Ariel Martin

Office of Congressman Fattah

Ariel Martin ’16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she is a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Ms. Martin is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Louisiana at Monroe in Monroe, Louisiana. Ms. Martin is also a Certified Fraud Examiner. Prior to law school, Ms. Martin gained professional experience in finance/accounting, compliance and fraud examination. Most recently, she worked as an Internal Auditor for one of the nation’s largest public school systems, where she completed multi-million dollar complex audit engagements. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Martin is working at the United States House of Representatives in the Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah. Her policy interest involves enhancing fiscal responsibility in public education. At Temple Law, Ms. Martin is an Admissions Ambassador, President of Temple Alternative Break, and Treasurer of the Black Law Students Association. She is also a member of the Student Bar Association Budget Committee, the Business Law Society and the School Discipline Advocacy Service. In addition, she serves as the Regional Treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association, a volunteer with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and Head Writer for the South Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ms. Martin was recently awarded the Sandy M. Brown Memorial Scholarship from the National Black Law Students Association for her essay on improving the economic gap between minorities and non-minorities. Ms. Martin personal interests include New Orleans Saints football, travelling and learning to speak Spanish.

Paul J. McLaughlin Jr.

Paul J. McLaughlin Jr.

Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Aviation and Admiralty Section

Paul McLaughlin is a rising 2L at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Paul graduated cum laude from Temple University where he earned his certification as a Secondary Social Studies teacher, with an emphasis on World History. Since graduating, Paul has spent time working as a Civics teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, in Special Education in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, and as an English Teacher for a private English school in Jinan, China. Since starting law school, Paul has been involved with the School Discipline Advocacy Service, first as an advocate and a 1L Outreach Representative, and now as the Intake Manager. Paul is spending his summer as an intern at the Department of Justice Aviation and Admiralty Section. His primary policy interest for the summer lies in Offshore Oil Drilling, and Avenues to Incentivize the Least Environmentally Harmful Methods of Drilling. He is loving Washington so far, and plans to fully explore the myriad of museums, intern softball leagues, pho restaurants, and free jazz concerts on the mall as much as he can.

Zachary Morgan

Zachary Morgan

Doyle, Barlow, & Mazzard

Zachary Morgan ’15 is a Law and Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. Hailing from outside of Philadelphia in Glen Mills, Mr. Morgan has always had an interest in politics, public policy, and the law. He received his B.A. in Political Science in 2011 from Washington College in Chestertown, MD after three years of study and was active in many organizations on campus. During a semester abroad in London, Mr. Morgan studied at the London School of Economics and completed an internship with two Members of Parliament. After graduation, he pursued his passion for public service by volunteering with City Year, an AmeriCorps program, where he worked with underserved students at a struggling high school in North Philadelphia. While at Temple, Mr. Morgan has focused on policy courses and transactional law. He also spent a semester interning in the Mayor’s Office of Policy Planning and Coordination for Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Morgan spent the summer at Doyle, Barlow & Mazard, a boutique firm specializing in antitrust and international trade. His research interests include public/private partnerships in infrastructure projects and the Affordable Care Act. After graduation, Mr. Morgan hopes to continue a career in public policy and the political arena.

Serena M. Nguyen

Serena M. Nguyen

Aequitas: A Prosecutor's Resource on Violence Against Women

Serena Nguyen ’16 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park with a B.A. in Communication. Throughout her undergraduate career, Ms. Nguyen was passionate about Asian- Pacific American issues and women’s rights, organizing events to raise awareness about human trafficking and the Dream Act. Prior to law school, Ms. Nguyen interned at the State’s Attorney Office for Montgomery County, Maryland and Naval Sea Systems Command. These various experiences fueled Ms. Nguyen’s continuing commitment to public policy and public service. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Nguyen served as a policy research intern for AEquitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women, a non-profit organization involved in influencing legislation affecting violence against women. Ms. Nguyen’s other legal interests include international law, criminal law, and maritime law. Her policy paper involves domestic violence and military families.

Jason B. Reeves

Jason B. Reeves

Office of Senator Robert Casey

Jason B. Reeves ’16 is a student at Temple University, Beasley School of Law, and a 2014 Law and Public Policy Scholar. While at Temple, he co-founded the Temple Service-members Law Association, and is currently serving as its President. He is also involved in many other organizations, including serving on the board of the American Constitution Society and the Student Public Interest Network. Before law school, Jason served in the U.S. Army and National Guard for a total of nine years. While enlisted, he served two Deployments as a Combat Engineer in Iraq with the 101 Airborne (Air assault) and the 56th Stryker Brigade. Jason received numerous decorations for his service including the Combat Action Badge and a Bronze Star nomination. Jason received an associate degree in Liberal Studies, summa cum laude, from Lackawanna College, and a bachelor of arts degree in Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Misericordia University. Jason started the Lackawanna College Veterans Association, and served as President of Phi Sigma Tau International Honor Society while attending Misericordia.

Cheri Snook

Cheri Snook

Law Offices of Irena I. Karpinski

Cheri Snook ’15 is a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Ms. Snook graduated from Southern Virginia University with a B.A. in Theatre with a technical emphasis, a B.A in Business Management, and minors in English and Philosophy. Prior to law school, Ms. Snook worked for five years as a theatre technician for theatre companies in Bucks County and surrounding areas. Her responsibilities included designing lights, building sets, and running sound. Ms. Snook always knew she wanted to go to law school and was interested in federal policy and the working of the federal government. Through her experiences in law school, she found a new interest in National Security. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Snook was a legal intern at the Law Offices of Irena I. Karpinski, specializing in immigration work and family law. Her policy paper involves balancing the national security need for telephony metadata with privacy interests.

Megan Stupak

Megan Stupak

Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy

Megan Stupak ’15 is a Beasley Scholar and a 2014 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Ms. Stupak graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Political Science, with a concentration in Comparative Politics and a minor in French. Prior to entering law school, Ms. Stupak worked in the health and human services industry. She has also studied abroad in Paris and Rome. These experiences have clarified her commitment to expanding the availability of health care, not only in the US, but also globally. Ms. Stupak chose to attend law school in order to further her interests in global health care issues. While in law school, Ms. Stupak has been active in numerous student organizations, including the International Law Society and the Women’s Law Caucus. She has also served as a policy intern at the National Nursing Centers Consortium, where she focused on policy and advocacy initiatives to increase access to health care in the US. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Stupak is serving as a project officer at the Institute of Multi-Track Diplomacy, a non-profit organization which promotes a systems-based approach to peacebuilding and to facilitating the transformation of deep-rooted social conflict through education, conflict resolution training, and communication. Her policy paper is exploring the intersection of water security, global health and interstate conflict.