The Scholars

2016 Scholars

John B. Claffey

John B. Claffey

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Aviation and Admiralty Section
John B. Claffey ’17 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. While in Washington, Mr. Claffey spent his summer working for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Aviation and Admiralty Section. Prior to coming to Temple, Mr. Claffey graduated from Catholic University with a B.A. in Politics and a minor in Rhetoric and Writing. Since before his college years, he has been interested in politics and public policy. Throughout his undergraduate and legal studies, Mr. Claffey has been interested in constitutional law and civil rights. Mr. Claffey’s policy interest for the summer is campaign finance and, specifically, eliminating individual campaign spending limits and reforming statutes related to Super PACs and lobbyists. After graduation, Mr. Claffey hopes to pursue a career in civil rights and constitutional law.
Nicholas Elia

Nicholas Elia

Federal Labor Relations Authority, Office of the Chairman

Nicholas Elia ’18 is a Beasley Scholar and a 2016 Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Mr. Elia earned B.S. degrees in finance and economics at Penn State. Before starting at Temple Law, he worked as a financial analyst for Exelis, a defense contractor in Herndon, VA. He also worked as a finance intern on Paul Zukerberg’s 2014 Washington, D.C. Attorney General campaign. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Elia is interning with the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the Office of the Chairman, performing research for Authority decisions in federal labor disputes. Throughout law school, he plans to also study tax policy, administrative law, international trade, and corporate law. Mr. Elia’s policy paper is focusing on the lack of access to basic goods and services—such as grocery stores, voter identification, and banking—in low income communities.

Regina Luczyszyn

Regina Luczyszyn

Americans United For Life

Regina Luczyszyn ’18 is a Conwell Law Scholar, and Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. While in Washington D.C., Ms. Luczyszyn was a legal fellow at Americans United For Life, a public-interest law firm specializing in comprehensive legal protection for human life. Her policy interest is to enhance legal recognition and protection for the unborn – specifically to ban discriminatory abortions based on gender or disabilities such as Down syndrome. Her other policy interests include human rights, infanticide, and religious liberty.

She serves as President of Christian Legal Society, Advisor to Temple University Students for Life Undergraduate Chapter, Vice-President of the Federalist Society, and volunteers for Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia. Prior to law school, Ms. Luczyszyn worked as a quality and regulatory compliance data analyst for the Hershey Company. She performed regulatory reviews using FDA and International regulations along with creating ingredient statements and nutritional labels. Ms. Luczyszyn graduated magna cum laude from Delaware Valley University with a B.S. in Food Science and Minor in Policy focusing on food insecurity.

Joe Baker

Joe Baker

World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency, Integrity Compliance Office

Joe Baker ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he is pursuing a J.D. and a Certificate in Business Law. Mr. Baker graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Finance. While at Penn State, Mr. Baker competed on both the Penn State Football and Rugby teams and was recognized as a three-time Collegiate All-America Rugby player. Mr. Baker also represented the United States in international competitions as a member of the USA Junior National Rugby Team. Prior to law school, Mr. Baker worked in the pharmaceutical advertising industry and was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of several multi-million dollar advertising campaigns. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Baker interned at the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency within the Integrity Compliance Office. His current policy interest is how currency manipulation affects the United States economy and policy recommendations to mitigate its impact.

Margaret Borski

Margaret Borski

House of Representatives Committee on House Administration

Margaret “Maggie” Borski ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School.  Maggie is a product of Northeast Philadelphia and earned her B.A. from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with dual majors in Political Science and Communications Studies.  Maggie was also a member and served as a captain of the nationally ranked Women’s Varsity Basketball team at Bloomsburg University that competes at the Division II level.  As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Maggie is working for the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration under the guidance of Minority Leader Robert Brady.  Her policy interests involve exploring gender equality, specifically focusing on equal pay or fair pay among male and female athletes.  At Temple Law, Ms. Borski is a member of the Women’s Law Caucus.  After graduation, Maggie hopes to pursue a career in either criminal law or government and politics.

Richard A. Camilleri

Richard A. Camilleri

White House Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President

Richard A. Camilleri ‘17 is a Conwell Scholar and Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law.  This summer he is a NEPA Oversight Intern with the White House Council on Environmental Quality within the Executive Office of the President.

Mr. Camilleri is originally from Barrow, Alaska, a small Inuit community on the northern tip of Alaska’s Arctic slope.  He received a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Syracuse University with a dual major in Policy Studies and Political Science.

Prior to law school, Mr. Camilleri worked in municipal government for the North Slope region of Alaska.  His work focused primarily in public administration and finance, though he served his final years as Chief Policy Advisor in the Office of the Mayor. His law and policy interests focus in Arctic Policy, including environmental and energy issues.

Elizabeth Casey

Elizabeth Casey

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

Elizabeth Casey ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Ms. Casey graduated from Swarthmore College in 2014 with degrees in Mandarin Chinese and Political Science. While at Swarthmore, she was awarded a grant to research developing environmental legal infrastructure and policies in Beijing, China. Working with various universities and NGOs in Beijing, she examined how these environmental policies contributed to Chinese rule of law and an emerging Chinese civil society. During college, Ms. Casey also interned with Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-17) at his District Office in Scranton. Additionally, she was a four-year member of the Swarthmore College Women’s Basketball team and a charter class member of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Ms. Casey also studied at the Middlebury College Intensive Chinese Language School.

As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Casey works as an Honors Law Clerk at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. At Temple Law School, Ms. Casey is a member of the International Law Society and the Secretary of the Temple Environmental Law Society. Additionally, she is a 2016-2017 Institute for International Law and Public Policy Fellow. Her policy interests focus on the environmental impact of international trade and investment agreements like the TPP and the TTIP.

Audrey Davis

Audrey Davis

Departmental Appeals Board of the US Department of Health and Human Services

Audrey Davis ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University, Beasley School of Law. Ms. Davis is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. A cum laude graduate of Furman University, she majored in Political Science with a concentration in Middle East and Islamic Studies. After a semester studying the European Union throughout Europe, Ms. Davis seriously considered attending graduate school for international relations. However, her eight years of work experience at a skilled-nursing facility sparked her interest in health law. At Temple, Ms. Davis is a member of the International Law Society and served on the Executive Board of the Health Law Society. She will be participating in Temple’s Elder Law clinic in the spring. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Davis is interning with the Departmental Appeals Board of the US Department of Health and Human Services. For her policy paper, she will be exploring Medicare benefits for skilled nursing facilities.

Mitchell Diesko

Mitchell Diesko

Schwartz & Ballen LLP

Mitchell Diesko ’18 is a Beasley Scholar and a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law where he is pursuing a JD. Mr. Diesko graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations Global Business. While at USC, Mr. Diesko worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Department of Justice in the Central District of California where he assisted in trial preparation for cases in the financial crimes unit. After competing for four years on the USC Trial Advocacy team, Mr. Diesko was awarded the Samuel Leibowitz Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Eager to continue his trial advocacy education Mr. Diesko enrolled at Temple Law School. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Mr. Diesko is working with Schwartz & Ballen LLP, a private law firm specializing in e-commerce, payment systems, and financial services regulation. During Mr. Diesko’s work he has developed a distinct interest in the causes of the 2008 financial crisis and his policy interest involves the securities market as well as stable market regulation.

Geminesse Dorsey

Geminesse Dorsey

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

Geminesse Dorsey ’17 is a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she is a 2016 Law & Public Policy Scholar. Ms. Dorsey is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor in Science in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Xavier University of Louisiana and Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively. Prior to law school, Ms. Dorsey gained over 10 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In her personal time, she volunteered with different organizations including Child Advocates, Inc. of Houston, Texas. This particular experience inspired her policy interests in preventing the exploitation of children, sexual violence against women, and human trafficking of both women and children. As a law student, Ms. Dorsey fulfills the role of an Admissions Ambassador while remaining an active member of multiple student organizations. She currently serves as a board member of the School Discipline Advocacy Service, advocating for students throughout the Philadelphia area, and is an active member of both the Student Public Interest Network (SPIN) and the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). In her second-year of law school, Ms. Dorsey was chosen to serve on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Board of BLSA as parliamentarian.  As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Dorsey is interning at the Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Aviation and Admiralty Section. In her spare time, Ms. Dorsey’s personal interests include volunteering in the community, kickboxing, travelling, and following New Orleans Saints football.

Kimya Forouzan

Kimya Forouzan

Kimya Forouzan ’19 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law where she is pursuing a dual JD/MPH. During her time in Washington, she is developing several judge-led programs aimed at improving courts’ responses to gender-based violence cases in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and MENA region countries through the International Association of Women Judges. Ms. Forouzan graduated cum laude from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where she was a student in the University Honors Program and majored in Global Public Health, with minors in Spanish and Women’s Studies. During her time as a student at GW, Ms. Forouzan paved a career as an experienced non-profit professional. Most notably, she coordinated communications efforts at Cancer Support Community and served as a Development Associate at Polaris, an NGO focused on human trafficking. She was also a student Title IX advocate and successfully petitioned the university to include mandatory sessions on sexual violence during their freshmen orientation. At Temple, Ms. Forouzan is Co-President of the National Lawyers Guild and Vice President of Law Students for Reproductive Justice. She also works as a policy intern at Temple’s Institute on Disabilities. Her current policy focus is the intersection of gender-based violence and public health.

Jessica Friedman

Jessica Friedman

Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation & Policy Development

Jessica Friedman ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Ms. Friedman graduated from the University of Delaware in 2014, receiving both an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies with a minor in History, and a Master’s Degree in Teaching.  Prior to attending law school, Ms. Friedman worked as a high school English teacher in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as a Legislative Intern to PA State Representative Mary Jo Daley.  While at law school, Ms. Friedman has become involved in a number of clubs and organizations and is currently the Vice President of the Jewish Law Student Association, Chairperson of the National Lawyer’s Guild Gender Justice Committee, and an active member of the Student Public Interest Network, the Health Law Society, and the School Discipline Advocacy Service.  In Washington, D.C., Ms. Friedman interned at the Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation & Policy Development, pursuing an interest in K-12 public education policy and reform.  Ms. Friedman’s specific policy interests include special education and improvement of nationwide public education.

Gabrielle Green

Gabrielle Green

AEquitas

Gabrielle Green ’18 is a Conwell Law Scholar and a 2016 Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University, Beasley School of Law. Ms. Green graduated from the University of Delaware, with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Interpersonal Communication and a minor in Sociology. Ms. Green was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar while at the University of Delaware, where she presented her research on “The Comparative Analysis of the Recidivism Rates in Female Drug Offenders.” She studied abroad in Granada, Spain and worked for the University’s Admissions Office, as well as Residence Life.  She also spent time working on developmental programs for at risk youth at the Boys and Girls Club in Delaware. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Green is working for AEquitas, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of justice in sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and human trafficking cases. Her policy interests are centered around criminal justice reform and juvenile justice. At Temple Law, Ms. Green is the Public Relations Chair for RISE (Racial Injustices Socially Eradicated), is a member of BLSA (Black Law Student Association), a member of SDAS (Student Disciplinary Advocacy Service) and a member of CLS (Christian Legal Society).

Michael D. Krebs

Michael D. Krebs

Internet2

Michael D. Krebs ’18 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar and a student at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Mr. Krebs graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maine’s Honors College with a B.A. in International Affairs. After graduating, Mr. Krebs interned at MediaGlobal, a non-profit news agency based in the United Nations, where he published articles on issues affecting the world’s least developed countries. He subsequently volunteered as an analyst for the crowd-sourcing consulting firm WikiStrat and later worked under the direction of a search engine start-up CEO. While juggling these responsibilities, Mr. Krebs also assisted disabled clients as a legal writer by drafting hearing briefs, appellant comments, and other legal memorandum.

His legal interests include telecommunications, internet privacy, voting rights, telemedicine, and healthcare reform.  This summer, Mr. Krebs will be interning at Internet2, a non-profit telecommunications firm that provides backbone networking for research and educational institutions. His policy research interest is in universal telemedicine regulations.

Anika Forrest

Anika Forrest

Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy

Anika Forrest ’17 is a Conwell Scholar and a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Ms. Forrest served for two years on the executive boards of the International Law Society and the Student Public Interest Network. She is also a fellow for the Institute for International Law and Public Policy.

Ms. Forrest earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Davidson College. While attending Davidson, Anika was awarded the Bonner Scholarship, a national community service social action fellowship, and partnered on educational accessibility projects for underserved communities. Additionally, during her undergraduate years, Anika participated in a domestic exchange at Howard University and studied abroad at the John Felice Rome Center in Rome, Italy. While in Rome, she volunteered with the Sant’Egidio Community, where she recognized the urgency to join those who acknowledge social justice as a borderless issue. After undergrad, Ms. Forrest joined the Office of Admission at Haverford College as an Admission Counselor and Co-Coordinator for Multicultural Recruitment. As a 2015 Philadelphia Diversity Law Group Fellow, Ms. Forrest worked at FMC Corporation, a global chemical and manufacturing company. Her work at FMC included data privacy, international trademark, and transactional projects.

Ms. Forrest is passionate about international development, which combines her interest in international business and international human rights. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar she is interning with the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy.

Matthew Howell

Matthew Howell

Senator Tammy Baldwin, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Matthew Howell ‘18 is a Law and Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law.  While in Washington, Mr. Howell spent his summer working as a Law Clerk for Senator Tammy Baldwin as part of her Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee staff.  In particular, Mr. Howell worked on the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management.  His law and public policy interests include international terrorism and domestic security, specifically related to understanding and combatting terrorist groups in the 21st century.  Mr. Howell graduated maxima cum laude from La Salle University with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics and a minor in Leadership and Global Understanding.  Mr. Howell has been able to travel to many different countries through his undergraduate education, which included cultural exchange trips to Israel, Palestine, Morocco, and Cuba.  Prior to law school, he worked in a management consulting firm developing strategic plans for a variety of clients including non-profit and governmental entities.

Sam Lapin

Sam Lapin

Congressional Research Service

Sam Lapin ’17 is a law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University, Beasley School of Law. He is a Note and Comment Editor on the Temple Law Review and wrote his law review comment on the tax treatment of businesses’ lobbying costs. Prior to law school, he worked as a staff assistant to the Chairman of the Montgomery County (PA) Commissioners, Josh Shapiro, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013 with degrees in political science and rhetoric and communications.  While in Washington, Sam interned with the Congressional Research Service where he focused on tax policy.

Gregory P. Mazmanian

Gregory P. Mazmanian

Department of the Interior, Office of Civil Rights in the Employment Complaints and Adjudication Division

Gregory P. Mazmanian ’18 is a Law and Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. Mr. Mazmanian’s policy interests include civil rights and procedures used by federal agencies to insure and advance those rights. While in Washington, Mr. Mazmanian is interning at the Department of the Interior, Office of Civil Rights in the Employment Complaints and Adjudication Division. In addition to being a full time student at Temple, Mr. Mazmanian works as a teacher’s assistant teaching a Legal Studies class to undergraduate students. He also serves on the executive board of the School Discipline Advocacy Service, an organization which provides advocacy services to Philadelphia students in school district disciplinary hearings. As Network Chair, Mr. Mazmanian has worked to expand this organization to other local law schools assisting them to found or grow their chapters. Prior to law school, Mr. Mazmanian graduated from Villanova University in 2012 with a B.A. in education and history and worked in education in both Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Ashley Rotchford

Ashley Rotchford

National Immigration Forum

Ashley Rotchford ’18 is a Beasley Scholar and a Law & Public Policy Scholar. Ms. Rotchford graduated with a B.A. in Religious Studies with Honors from Gettysburg College, and a minor in Anthropology. She is a member of Theta Alpha Kappa, the Religious Studies Honors Society. Ms. Rotchford studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt where she concentrated her senior thesis on the tensions between Coptic Christians and the Muslim Brotherhood. Prior to entering law school, Ms. Rotchford spent a summer as a refugee department intern at the International Institute of Connecticut. She then took a position as an e-commerce marketing assistant at a large numismatics company. Her experience in college and post-graduation compounded her commitment to protecting immigrant and refugee rights in the United States. Ms. Rotchford chose to attend law school to further her interests in domestic and international immigration issues. While in law school, Ms. Rotchford has been active in numerous student organizations. She is the residing president of the National Lawyers Guild at Temple, and is the chair of the Immigration and Human Rights Committee. As a Law & Public Policy Scholar, Ms. Rotchford is serving as a policy and advocacy intern at the National Immigration Forum, a non-profit organization focused on the promotion of the rights of noncitizens in the United States.

Anthony Sierzega

Anthony Sierzega

Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of General Counsel’s Office of Legislation and Regulations

Anthony Sierzega ’18 is a Law and Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is currently working at the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of General Counsel’s Office of Legislation and Regulations. At Temple Law, Anthony is a member of the School Discipline Advocacy Services organization, a volunteer at with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, and member of the Political and Civil Rights Society. His main legal interests include increasing public housing access and affordability and the relationship between neighborhood gentrification and public housing availability.

Anthony is a 2015 graduate of Ursinus College, where he received departmental honors in Politics and History for his research on the development of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment and the dangers that recent decisions present to the modern American regulatory state. While at Ursinus, Anthony served as President of the Student Government and Captain of the Track and Field team.

James Shygelski

James Shygelski

James Shygelski ’17 is a Law and Public Policy Scholar at Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. He is currently a McCleary Law Fellow for the Human Rights Campaign. Through this position, Mr. Shygelski hopes to develop a plan for increasing access to healthcare for members of the LGBTQ community.  At Temple Law, Mr. Shygelski is the President of the Philadelphia Legal Network and serves on the Executive Board for Temple’s chapter of the Women’s Law Caucus. He is also a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, through which he has won the 2015 Samuel L. Polsky Moot Court Competition, Temple’s inaugural Regional Appellate Advocacy Competition, and competed as a finalist in the I. Herman Stern Moot Court Competition.

Mr. Shygelski earned his B.A. from the University of Scranton with a major in History and a minor in Theatre. There he was awarded the Michael B. Badzinski Memorial Scholarship for exemplary service and character.

Amy Skiles

Amy Skiles

Aviation and Admiralty Section in the Torts Branch, Civil Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice

Amy Skiles ’17 is a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Prior to law school, Ms. Skiles earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Business from Loyola University, Maryland.  After completing her undergraduate education Ms. Skiles moved to England and received a Master of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Management from Newcastle University.  It was during her pursuit of her master’s degree that Ms. Skiles developed her interest in law and policy.  Ms. Skiles chose to complete her dissertation on a Comparison of the Agri-Environmental Policies of the Untied States and the United Kingdom.  Ms. Skiles is and active member of student organizations at Temple, serving as a Senator for the Student Bar Association and is a member of the executive board of the Temple Environmental Law Society. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar Ms. Skiles is interning with the Aviation and Admiralty Section in the Torts Branch, Civil Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice.  Ms. Skiles’ primary policy interests are criminal justice reform and environmental policy.

Kevin Todorow

Kevin Todorow

Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations

Kevin Todorow ’18 is a Beasley Scholar and a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University, Beasley School of Law. While in D.C., he worked for the Department of Justice’s Office of Enforcement Operations, which oversees a host of sophisticated investigative tools and supports US Attorneys’ offices across the country. Back at Temple, Mr. Todorow is an active member of the Federalist Society and the International Law Association. In 2011, Mr. Todorow graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Economics, a B.A. in Literature and a Minor in International Studies. Between college and law school, Mr. Todorow worked his way up from an intern to a supervising copywriter in pharmaceutical advertising. His policy interests include the effective limits of federal power, extraterritorial application of U.S. law and bipartisan legislative action.

Alejandra Whitney-Smith

Alejandra Whitney-Smith

Alejandra Whitney-Smith ’18 is a Conwell Scholar and a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Ms. Whitney-Smith graduated from Rutgers University in 2015 with a B.A. in Communications and Women and Gender Studies. During her time at Rutgers University, Ms. Whitney-Smith interned at various agencies such as the Department of Public Health, where she worked on analyzing the root causes of domestic violence in Delaware. Her policy interests include prison labor reform as well as the school-to-prison pipeline. More specifically, Ms. Whitney-Smith hopes to further study school discipline policies as it correlates to juvenile incarceration rates. At Temple Law, she is part of the Black Law Students Association and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ms. Whitney-Smith’s personal interests include watching sports, traveling and DIY crafting.