Staff Biographies
Randi O’Donnell ’10 (J.D.)
Managing Editor (2009-2010)Randi O'Donnell graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in English. She also holds a Master's in Social Work from Columbia University. At Hofstra, Randi is a Child and Family Advocacy Fellow. Prior to receiving her Master's degree, Randi worked as a paralegal advocating for welfare recipients and people in danger of eviction in Spanish Harlem, and as a counselor for a domestic violence hotline in Brooklyn. She also worked as an assistant family teacher in a group home for adolescent boys in Hawaii. Before she returned to law school, Randi was a social worker for the Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Rights Division, and worked with children and teenagers in foster care. She spent last summer interning at the Center for Family Representation in Manhattan.
Jessica Cygler ‘10
Managing Editor of Articles (2009-2010)Jessica graduated cum laude from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania with a dual B.A. degree in English Literature and American History. While at Lafayette, Jessica worked as a research assistant under historian Donald L. Miller. Her work included editing and compiling the endnotes on two World War Two narratives, one following the American 8th Force in the European Theater of combat, and the other following each of the D-days in the Pacific Theater. At Hofstra, Jessica is the Secretary of the Student Bar Association, and a member of Hofstra Law Women and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. During the summer of 2008, Jessica worked as a Law Clerk at Jeffrey Schecter & Associates, a matrimonial law firm, where she performed research, drafted a motion, and assisted with trial preparation.
Evan Michael Hess ‘10
Managing Editor of Articles (2009-2010)Evan graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Religion, with Honors (cum laude), and a B.A. in Political Science (cum laude). As an undergraduate, Evan completed an honors thesis on American Jewish traditions in addition to authoring a thesis as a Research Fellow for the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics on corporate environmentalism and public policy. A Child and Family Advocacy Fellow, Evan has engaged himself in a range of community service while in law school, including a tenure as an Advocate for the Unemployment Action Center, where he earned recognition as Advocate of the Year. Evan has clerked for the Los Angeles County Public Defender, the Ventura County District Attorney and, more recently, the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
Rebecca Moulton ‘10
Managing Editor of Articles (2009-2010)Rebecca graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with a B.A. in Sociology. While at Holy Cross, Rebecca served as a program director for a student run community service program where she helped run the Abby’s House Women’s Shelter in Worcester. This past summer, Rebecca interned with Judge Engel in the Civil Division of the Nassau County District Court.
Michael Terzuoli ‘10
Managing Editor of Articles (2009-2010)Mike graduated from Binghamton University in 2007 with a B.A. in Psychology. During his four year tenure, he participated in various extracurricular activities, including being an active member in his fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi. He helped organize a variety of community events, most notably an event which raised money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2006. He also participated and captained softball, basketball, and flag football intramural teams while at Binghamton, three activities which he attempts to pursue in his free time at Hofstra. As a law student, Mike has worked at a general practice firm in Garden City for the past year, and even worked as an intern in the summer of ‘08 on the Fox television show “Fringe.” While very interested in the field of Family Law, Mike hopes to one day work in the entertainment industry in some capacity. He is currently interning at DC Comics Legal Department, the studio behind the films “Watchmen” and “The Dark Knight.”
Christina Gaudio ‘10
Managing Editor of Notes & Comments (2009-2010)Christina Gaudio graduated from The University of Michigan in 2005 with a B.A. in sociology. While in college, Christina volunteered heavily in the Detroit Public School system. Upon graduation she worked for AmeriCorps developing an after school program which focused on mathematics and social justice issues for middle school students in southwest Detroit. Upon completion of her AmeriCorps service, Christina worked for a year as a bi-lingual children’s counselor and legal assistant at a domestic violence agency in New York. At Hofstra, Christina had served as the Vice President of Latino/a Law Students Association and Public Justice Foundation. She interned at Lawyers for Children, assisting in the representation of youth in foster care. Currently, Christina coaches a high school mock trial team and is a center associate for the Center of Family, Children and the Law.
Jenna Suppon ‘10
Managing Editor of Notes & Comments (2009-2010)Jenna Suppon graduated suma cum laude from the University at Buffalo with a bachelor of arts in both political science and history. During the summer of 2008 she worked for Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, where she worked primarily with medical malpractice cases. At Hofstra she is the Treasurer for the Italian Law Student Association (ILSA).
Stephanie Sherry ‘10
Peer Reviews Editor (2009-2010)Stephanie received her B.A in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Mass Communications and Behavioral and Social Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 2006. She received honors recognition for her thesis, entitled Hitler’s Racial Ideology: the Ideas Behind the Holocaust. This past summer, Stephanie worked at the Law Offices of Edward Weissman, a commercial litigator in New York City. After her first year of law school she worked at Legal Services of Greater Miami in the Women Prisoner Reentry Program. She helped Women Prisoners with civil legal matters before their release from prison. Upon receiving her Juris Doctor, Stephanie would like to combine her interests in sports and law.
Shana Barone ‘10
Page Proofs Editor (2009-2010)Shana Barone graduated from the SUNY College at Fredonia Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She relocated to Manhattan in 2001, and has been performing in NYC, regionally, and nationally for eight years. Shana's interest in children and families stems from teaching a music program for toddlers, and her interest in law comes from her father, an attorney and judge in Buffalo, NY. Last year she was part of Hofstra's AAJ Trial Team, and has interned at Safe Horizon's Brooklyn Mediation Center, the Nassau County DA's office, and at the Center for Family Representation in Manhattan. Currently, Shana is an intern in the New York County Public Defender's Office, appearing in Manhattan's Integrated Domestic Violence Court. Shana plans to pursue a career in the crossover areas of criminal and family law, focusing on domestic violence and child welfare.
Melissa Broyles ‘10
Executive Research Editor (2009-2010)Melissa graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts in Financial Economics and a minor in Sociology from Moravian College and Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. During college, she was involved with the Pre-Law Club and Omicron Delta Epsilon. After completing her first year of law school, Melissa interned at The Swaby Law Firm, LLC.
Meghan Dawkins ‘10
Executive Research Editor (2009-2010)Meghan Dawkins graduated from Stony Brook University with a bachelor of science in Health Science and Sociology. During her first year of law school she enjoyed working with the Unemployment Action Center and Courtroom Advocate Project. During the summer of 2008 she worked at the Medicare Rights Center in Manhattan. This semester she is externing at the Nassau County Family Courts and looks forward to her work with this journal.
Mariya Kolchina ‘10
Executive Research Editor (2009-2010)Mariya graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College with a dual B.A. in Political Science and Russian. While at Hunter, she has been a president of the Russian Club and an active project leader of NYPIRG. During her first year she has been an advocate for the Unemployment Action Center. This past summer she interned with the New York State Supreme Court Judge Honorable Deborah Kaplan and also volunteered in a non-profit organization, New York Environmental Law and Justice Project, where she helped to represent a large community in Southwest Brooklyn. Currently, she is externing at New York County District Attorney's Office, and she is also a President of Environmental Law Society at Hofstra.
Catherine Fiorentino ‘10
Communications Editor (2009-2010)Catherine Fiorentino graduated magna cum laude from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in 2007 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. She received many honors in college including Dean's List for 4 years, the Stanley Jarolem Award for Legal Studies, the Honors Program and Merit Fellowship & the Student Affairs Emerging Leadership Award. She was also very involved in campus organizations including the Kappa Theta Epsilon National Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Student Government Association, Inter-Residence Council, Pre-Law Association, Student Affairs Student Advisory Council and the Cooperative Education Program. While in college she interned for the Honorable Arthur D. Spatt at the Federal District Court in Central Islip. Along with being Communications Editor for Family Court Review, she is also President of the American Association for Justice and a member of the Intermural Trial Advocacy Team. She is currently working at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
Philip Rydz ‘10
Business Administrator (2009-2010)Philip Rydz grew up in North Miami Beach, FL and graduated from the University of Florida in May of 2006 with a B.S. in Finance. During his junior year, Phil was able to study abroad in Seville, Spain for 4 months and traveled extensively through Europe during his time there. At Hofstra, Phil has been a part of Latino Law Student Association (LaLSA), moot court association, events coordinator for the Public Justice Foundation, and is currently a student advocate in Hofstra's Criminal Justice Clinic. This past summer Phil was a summer associate in the Queens District Attorney's Office, working in Criminal Court. Phil was able to conduct two hearings and produce several motions. Aside from his legal interests, Phil enjoys cheering for the Florida Gators and his south Florida sports teams.
Erin Rose Dunn ‘10
AFCC Cooperation Manager (2009-2010)Erin Dunn graduated from the University of Florida in 2007 with a B.S. in Accounting. While in college she was chosen to be a University Scholar through which she received a stipend to write a thesis entitled "The Perceived Cost-Benefit Relationship of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act". At Hofstra, Erin is the president of the Tax Law Society and a member of Hofstra Law Women. Since the summer of 2008, Erin has interned with Judge Ellen Greenberg at Nassau County Family Court where she conducts legal research on family law issues related to child support, juvenile delinquents, abuse, and neglect. After law school, she would like to pursue a career that will combine her interests in accounting and law.
James Alexander Lewis V ‘10
Associate Research Editor (2009-2010)James graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Psychology and Journalism & Media Studies. He authored an Honors Thesis entitled Contrasting Colors: Analysis of Media Representations of African Americans. At Hofstra, James is the President of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), which raises awareness about issues unique to minorities and strives to increase the minority presence in the legal community. In Summer 2008, James interned at Prudential Insurance through the New York City Bar Diversity Fellowship. From 2008-2009, he also acted a Research Assistant to Professor Folami, studying means of restoration of the local voice in democratic discourse. In Spring 2009, James completed the Law Reform Advocacy Clinic. This past summer, he interned at the US Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey and he currently serves as the Diversity Affairs Coordinator for the Student Bar Association (SBA).
Sasha Minton ‘10
Associate Research Editor (2009-2010)Sasha Minton graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 2003 with a B.A. in history. From 2003 to 2005, Sasha worked with the child welfare initiative at the Foundation Consortium for California’s Children and Youth, a non-partisan resource that brought together philanthropy, community organizations and government agencies to improve public policy and practice for children and youth. From 2005 to 2007, Sasha worked with the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles on a national initiative that conducted education and outreach to judicial leaders, government officials, and the public in raising awareness about the need to implement the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care’s recommendations. Sasha is currently a Child and Family Advocacy Fellow. During the past two summers, Sasha has interned at the Alliance for Children’s Rights in Los Angeles and the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice in Jamaica, New York.
Mercedes Moses ‘10
Associate Research Editor (2009-2010)Mercedes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a B.A. in Legal Studies, and a minor in Sociology. As an undergrad, Mercedes was a graduate of the university’s honors college and a mentor for incoming students. Mercedes was also trained by the university’s Student Government Association to be a judicial advisor to students who were alleged to have violated the university’s Code of Student Conduct. After her first year and second year of law school, she worked as an intern at the Youth Advocacy Project, in her hometown Boston, MA.
Staff Editors 2009-2010:
Lauren Barth ‘11
Lauren Barth graduated from Indiana University in 2008 with a B.S. in Exceptional Needs Education. Throughout college, Lauren worked with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and volunteered in the Bloomington community. A Child and Family Advocacy Fellow, Lauren is currently engaged in research addressing the role of consultants involved in forensic custody evaluations, planning for the ABA Summit on The Fostering Connections Act, and is involved with the Hempstead High Mock Trial Program. During the summer of 2009, Lauren interned with the Honorable Jane Pearl in Manhattan and Bronx Family Courts.
Stephanie Conti ‘11
Stephanie graduated with distinction from Penn State University with a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health. During her time at Penn State University, Stephanie worked as a volunteer for a number of organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Cure Autism Now, Healthy Campus 2010, and the Center for Substance Abuse. In her junior year, she was able to study abroad in Sydney, Australia and travel throughout the country. This past summer, Stephanie interned at the Nassau Health Care Corporation where she negotiated, drafted, and executed contracts, researched and wrote corporate-wide policies, and observed courtroom and arbitration hearings.
Andrew Ford ‘11
Andrew graduated with honors from the University of West Florida with a BA in Social Work with a minor in Child Welfare. During his time there he was admitted to Phi Alpha, the national social work honor society. Prior to law school he was an Child Protective Investigator for the Department of Children and Families where he investigated physical and sexual abuse of children under the age of 12. After his first year of law school, he interned at Covenant House NY, a homeless shelter for youth. Upon graduation, he plans on pursuing his interest in family law.
Diana Gambone ‘11
Diana Graduated from McGill University in ’07 with a Bachelor degree in Social Work and a minor in Italian Language and Literature. Throughout her undergraduate degree and thereafter, Diana worked for Children’s Social Services in Montreal, working both with abused and neglected children as well as juvenile delinquents. In the summer after her first year at Hofstra she interned for a judge in Nassau County Family Court. This year, she has become an active member of Hofstra Law Women as the Social Events Coordinator of the group.
Alex Golant ‘11
Alex graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2007 with a bachelor of arts in Government and a minor in English. This past summer he interned for the Honorable Justice Anthony I. Giacobbe at the Supreme Court in Staten Island. During the summer he was involved in several gaurdianship hearings over mentally incapacitated persons.
Meghan Horton ‘11
Meghan graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Northeastern University in Boston, MA with a B.S. in criminal justice. During her undergraduate career she was involved in various organizations and honor societies, most memorably her sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma. She spent her cooperative education periods working full time as a case manager at Crowe, Paradis & Albren, L.L.P. and as a federal law enforcement intern with the Coast Guard Investigative Service in Boston. Meghan has a criminal law concentration here at Hofstra and is secretary of Hofstra Law Women. She spent this past summer interning with the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division for the E.D.N.Y and is currently an extern with the Nassau County Attorney’s Family Court Bureau. Upon receiving her J.D., Meghan wishes to pursue a career in either criminal prosecution or federal law enforcement.
Tricia Lynch ‘11
Tricia graduated cum laude from Marist College in 2008 with a B.A. in English and a Paralegal Certificate. In college, Tricia worked as a research assistant for the Hudson River Valley Review, and she volunteered as a peer tutor in her school’s writing center. She is currently the Vice President of Hofstra Law Women, Vice President of Communications for Sports and Entertainment Law Society and Social Coordinator for SBA. This past summer, she interned at Sharifov & Russell, L.L.P. where she worked on criminal defense and matrimonial cases. Upon graduation, Tricia hopes to pursue a career in criminal defense.
Jeffrey Miller ‘11
Jeffrey Miller graduated from American University with a B.A. in Law and Society. In college, Jeff was a member of both Active Minds, which focused on disability awareness, and the university’s pre-law chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. As both a Public Justice Foundation and a Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Fellow, Jeff interned at Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, a public interest organization in Islandia, New York. Jeff is currently the secretary of the Public Justice Foundation and an active member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Health Law Society, and a Kaplan PMBR campus representative.
John Mulroy ‘11
John Mulroy graduated cum laude from Michigan State University with a B.A. in history and English. While at Michigan State, John was a walk-on member of the MSU football team. During the summer of 2009 John interned at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in Detroit where he worked in the Domestic Violence unit.
Bryn Ostrager ‘11
Bryn Ostrager graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in psychology. Prior to entering law school Bryn interned for two summers at Lawyers for Children in Manhattan, New York, where she learned about the foster care system. This past summer Bryn interned for the Honorable Stacy D. Bennett in the Nassau County Family Court. She conducted legal research on family court issues including custody, visitation, and family offenses. She also observed settlement conferences, hearings and trials in Family Court. After law school Bryn intends to pursue a career in family law.
Robert Spataro ‘11
Robert Spataro graduated magna cum laude from the University at Albany in 2008 with a B.A. in Political Science and Criminal Justice. This past summer, Robert was awarded the Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Fellowship and worked in the Office of the Nassau County Attorney as a “Housing Advocate.” There, he dealt with state and local foreclosure issues, as well as housing and employment discrimination complaints. At Hofstra, Robert is a member of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society. Robert has a deep interest in both Criminal and Family Law, and hopes to pursue a career that combines both of these areas. Aside from his legal interests, Robert is an avid New York Mets and Rangers fan.
Sean Wilsusen ‘11
Sean graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University with a dual Bachelor of Science degree in psychology/biology. He also holds a Masters in biology from Queens College. While studying at Quinnipiac, Sean presented empirical research at several student and professional conferences: Conditioned Place Preference Conditioning With Elicited 55-KHZ Ultrasonic Vocalizations as the Reinforce; Directional Bias in the Planaria (Dugesia tigrina) Before and After Regeneration. He also completed an Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship at Quinnipiac: Diminution of the UR in Human Trace and Delay Eyeblink Classical Conditioning. Before attending law school, he was involved with pharmaceutical research at Stony Brook University Medical Center and basic science research in the Molecular Endocrinology lab at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (North Shore University Hospital).