The Scholars

2012 Scholars

Jared Burns

Jared Burns

National Association of Wheat Growers, International & Legislative Affairs
Jared Burns ’14 is a law student at Temple University, James E. Beasley School of Law. At Temple Law, Jared is a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution Society, Treasurer of the International Law Society, and the founder of Temple Law’s team for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court competition. During the summer of 2012, Jared worked for a lobbying group representing America’s wheat producers, the National Association of Wheat Growers, where he researched public policy issues surrounding the concept of “sustainability.” Originally from Iowa, Jared obtained his B.A. from the University of Iowa, where he majored in Philosophy, minored in Latin, and received an interdisciplinary certificate in Law, Politics, and Economics. He currently lives in Philadelphia, PA.
Andrea Anastasi

Andrea Anastasi

SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders)

Andrea Anastasi ’14 is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a law student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. She has served on the Student Bar Association as her law school section’s Senator and as the President of OUTlaw. Before arriving at Temple, Ms. Anastasi worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Public Health Associate, specializing in disease intervention. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, she worked with the Federal Policy Director of Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) and clerked for President Judge Emeritus McEwan of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Ms. Anastasi ultimately has aspirations of using her law degree to effect positive change in public policy for the LGBT community.

Patrick Bianchi

Patrick Bianchi

U.S. Small Business Association, Office of General Counsel

Patrick Bianchi ’14 is a law student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. He has written about the privatization of state-run alcoholic beverage control stores, and his first legal policy paper is a normative analysis of the social and economic benefits and disadvantages of the potential privatization of the Pennsylvania liquor store system. Patrick’s legal interests include securities law, corporate tax, banking, and financial regulation. Prior to law school, Patrick worked for three years in the Boston area for a boutique consulting firm, specializing in information systems management for commercial banks. Patrick earned a B.A. from Boston College and is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. In his spare time, Patrick enjoys skiing, golfing, traveling, and trying new restaurants. Originally from Havertown, PA, Patrick is an avid Boston College and Philadelphia sports fan.

Erin Bramhall

Erin Bramhall

US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel

Erin Bramhall ’14 is a graduate of Drake University and a law student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Before arriving at Temple, Ms. Bramhall worked at the Larson Shannahan and Slifka Group (LS2group), a bi-partisan public relations, public affairs and government affairs firm. During the 2008 presidential election, Ms. Bramhall worked on the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Campaign in Des Moines, Iowa where she helped coordinate opportunities for students and community volunteers to become involved in the political process. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, she worked as a Legal Intern for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C. Ms. Bramhall intends to use her law degree to effect positive change in public policy to benefit active duty military, veterans and their families.

Ximena Flores

Ximena Flores

Democratic National Committee, Voter Protection Institute

Ximena Flores ’12 is a native New Yorker. Always an avid traveler, Ximena has lived in a number of countries, including Mexico (where she was born), Nicaragua, China and Switzerland. Having grown up just north of Manhattan for most of her formative years, she moved to the mid-west for college where she attended the University of Michigan and received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Peace and Social Justice. After college, Ximena moved back to Philadelphia, where she is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law.

As a Law &Public Policy Scholar, Ximena has had the opportunity to merge two of her passions; policy and law. Ximena has always been interested in civil and human rights and public policy, and her multifaceted experience as a Law & Public Policy Scholar has allowed her a deep and integrated understanding of the intersection of these fields. Ximena’s internship with the Voter Protection Department of the Democratic National Committee has provided her with insight into this intersection as it impacts one of the basic rights of citizenship. As a newly naturalized citizen, Ximena was honored to be working to protect the fundamental American right to vote, especially during an election year.

Christina Gilfillan

Christina Gilfillan

AEquitas, The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women

Christina Gilfillan ’13 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a double major in English and Political Science. As a child, Christina lived in Africa and now has a strong interest in international and human rights law, especially human trafficking law. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Christina interned with AEquitas: A Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women. When Christina is not working or in school, she enjoys drawing, painting, and spending time with her cat, Mokona.

Bill Hunter

Bill Hunter

National Alliance for Fair Housing, Federal Public Policy and Communications

Bill Hunter ’13 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. During his internship as a law and public policy analyst for the National Fair Housing Alliance, Bill conducted extensive research into federal and state housing laws to guide the National Fair Housing Alliance in their development of fair housing strategies and in their efforts to provide the public with an accurate portrayal of fair housing in the United States. He used his experience at the National Fair Housing Alliance as the basis for his research paper: The Fair Housing Act and the Need for Disparate Impact.

Bill received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College in 2011. At Boston College, Bill concentrated his elective courses in finance and accounting, a concentration he continues at Temple Law in his study of business and transactional law.

Mary Jones

Mary Jones

Rural Water Resource Council and AEquitas – The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women

Mary E. Jones ’14 earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico in 2008 and a B.A. in Philosophy in 2009. She volunteered at the UNM Campus Crisis Line while in school and also as an EMT in Moriarty, New Mexico. After graduation, she worked in an administrative and writing role within the private sector of nuclear and defense contracting before moving to Toyama, Japan to teach English. Upon completion of her teaching contract, she traveled through Europe before coming to Temple University Beasley School of Law. She is on the executive board of several student organizations, a member of the Temple Law Review, the Jessup International Moot Court Team, and a co-founder of the Dispute Resolution Society. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mary interned with AEquitas: a Prosecutor’s Resource and the National Rural Water Association.

John Iannacone

John Iannacone

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Enforcement Division

John Iannacone ’12 was born and raised in Philadelphia. After earning a BS in Finance from the Pennsylvania State University, he began his professional career in the Audit Practice of KPMG, LLP. John soon transferred into KPMG’s Forensic Investigations Practice, where he spent over three years performing anti-money laundering and bank fraud investigations, as well as assisting with government contract compliance engagements. John left his position with KPMG to attend Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he is actively involved with the Student Public Interest Network and also counsels 1L students through the law school’s Academic Core Enrichment Program. He pursued his international interests as a Global Scholar through an internship with the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, Italy. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, John worked at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Michael Blake Jones

Michael Blake Jones

Doyle, Barlow & Mazard

Michael Blake Jones ’12 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. As a Scholar, Michael interned as a law clerk for Doyle, Barlow & Mazard PLLC. His legal work included conducting legal and factual research, crafting legal theory, and drafting a complaint for a multi-million dollar lawsuit with state and federal claims. He also drafted blog posts for the firm’s antitrust and hospitality blogs.

Michael served as an ACE Counselor during his second year of law school. In that role he mentored first year students in methods to succeed in law school and tutored them in their substantive courses.

Before attending law school Michael graduated from the James Madison College at Michigan State University. He received a B.A. in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy. As part of his degree, Michael worked for the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office in Michigan. In between college and law school Michael worked for Bed Bath & Beyond as a bridal consultant helping couples prepare their bridal registries.

Lucas Michelen

Lucas Michelen

D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings and AEquitas – The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women

Lucas Michelen ’13 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where is he also a Beasley Scholar. Mr. Michelen graduated cum laude from Temple University with a B.A. in Political Science and a double minor in English and Criminal Justice. He was recently selected to serve on the board of Temple Law’s chapter of The National Lawyers Guild.

Prior to law school, Mr. Michelen gained valuable insight into various areas of litigation through his experience working with George H. Newman, a noted criminal defense lawyer who practices at both the state and federal levels. In addition, Mr. Michelen served as a constituent service assistant to State Representative Brendan Boyle during the 2008 election. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Michelen served as a policy research intern for AEquitas, a publicly funded organization involved in influencing legislation affecting violence against women. He also interned with the D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings.

Jason Lamb

Jason Lamb

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Agency, Public Computing Centers and Sustainable Broadband Adoption

Jason Lamb ’12 brings more than 10 years of combined experience in technology and law to the Law & Public Policy Program. He has a strong academic and professional background in computer engineering, IT and technology & intellectual property law. After receiving his BS in Computer Engineering from Drexel University in 2001, Mr. Lamb founded and ran an IT firm named PeopleTech LLC for 5 years, growing it into a stable business that continues to operate. Mr. Lamb later transitioned to ACI Technologies, a Department of Defense contractor, where he headed up the IT Department and led several application development projects. During this time, Mr. Lamb also helped launch several entrepreneurial ventures in the areas of media services, real estate, and patent product improvement. While in law school, Mr. Lamb has focused his studies on technology law, corporate law and litigation. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Lamb interned with the the National Telecommunication Information Agency (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce where he worked on Public Computing Centers and Sustainable Broad Band Adoption.

When not studying Mr. Lamb spends his time serving as Vice President of the Christian Legal Society at Temple Law, serving as Minister at New Life Worship Centre in Lansdowne, PA, volunteering at the Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia and spending time with his wife Melinda of nine years and his two young children Angelique and Carl.

Alyssa Noronha

Alyssa Noronha

U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control

Alyssa Noronha ’13 is a Temple Law & Public Policy Scholar. Originally from the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Ms. Noronha attended The George Washington University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She is spending her third year of law school at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill.

Ms. Noronha’s interests lie in working in public service, particularly in the fields of immigration, national security and intelligence law. While in law school, Ms. Noronha worked for numerous government agencies. During her first year summer, she worked for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. While taking classes during her second year, Ms. Noronha was a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, based in Philadelphia, PA. Most recently, Ms. Noronha worked as a Research Analyst for the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C. in the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Michael Olson

Michael Olson

The Law Offices of Irena I. Kapinski

Michael Olson ’13 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Mike received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska. He is interested in International Law and Trade and is committed to improving the economic situation of his home country, the Philippines, where many members of his family still reside. In pursuit of this commitment, Mike moved from Nebraska to Philadelphia to seek out more options for international law related occupations, and will complete his J.D. at Temple’s Japan campus. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Mike interned with an immigration firm.

Sean Rust

Sean Rust

National Council of State Legislatures and DC Lottery & Charitable Games Control Board

Sean Rust ’13 graduated cum laude with a B.B.A. in Economics from Temple University in 2010. While an undergraduate, Mr. Rust worked at a Philadelphia Councilman’s office as assistant to the legislative aide and served as a file clerk for the zoning and land use department of Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, and Ellers. He also spent five years as a Research Associate at Econsult Corporation, an economics-consulting firm in Philadelphia. After starting law school, Mr. Rust became a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University, Beasley School of Law. He worked as a Federal Affairs Intern at the National Conference of State Legislatures, and a Legal Intern for the Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board at the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rust has appeared on Fox News to discuss the structure of unions in America, and published several blog posts on Forbes online Op/Ed section.

Ryan Shovlin

Ryan Shovlin

Office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey

Ryan Shovlin ’14 is an evening student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Ryan grew up in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and prior to law school, received a B.A. in Art & Art History from Bucknell University. After studying appropriation art and working as a DJ on the weekends, Ryan became increasingly concerned that amateur creators were not adequately protected under current intellectual property laws, and entered law school determined to initiate change. Ryan is an avid photographer, but also enjoys listening to electronic dance music and tinkering with computers in his spare time. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ryan interned with the Office of Senator Toomey.

Adrian Stepanian

Adrian Stepanian

House Judiciary Committee and the Armenian Assembly in America

Adrian Stepanian ’13 is from Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He is currently a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law and a Beasley Scholar. Adrian also received his undergraduate education at Temple University. In college, Adrian was active in school groups and Philadelphia non-profit organizations, all while managing to graduate with Latin and Phi Beta Kappa honors. During college, he also spent a summer in D.C. as an undergrad working in the office of U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley.

As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Adrian worked at the United States House Judiciary Committee as a legal intern and also spent time working with the Armenian Assembly of America.

Divya Vasudevan

Divya Vasudevan

O’Donnell, Schwartz & Anderson

Divya Vasudevan ’12’s academic and professional pursuits have centered around one central question: What are the solutions for reducing inequality? She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Vassar College in 2004, and continued her studies at the University of Chicago where she earned a Master’s Degree in the Social Sciences in 2005. Divya joined Teach For America in 2005. During her two years teaching in the South Bronx, Divya learned how to craft creative solutions to address complex social problems. She carried these skills with her to Chicago, where she worked as a public affairs consultant for three years. During this time, she helped develop communications strategies for nonprofit and government agencies such as the Housing Authority of Cook County and Chicago Department of Public Health.

Divya has continued her commitment to social justice as a student at Temple Law, where she served as the Senior Production Editor of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review and worked with the Student Public Interest Network. As Special Events Chair of the Women’s Law Caucus, Divya designed events to help students understand the challenges that women continue to face in the legal profession. She has worked as a legal intern at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Juvenile Law Center, and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Divya interned for O’Donnell, Schwartz & Anderson, a union-side labor law firm inWashington, D.C.