Hofstra Law Announces 2009 Public Justice Foundation Fellows

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hofstra Law's Public Justice Foundation (PJF), a student-run organization dedicated to the public interest, has selected its 2009 PJF Fellows.

PJF fellowships enable recipients to take nonpaying jobs in the public sector that they otherwise may be unable to accept due to financial constraints.  The premise of the fellowship program is the support of legal services to underrepresented individuals, groups or interests.

"We are proud of these students and of the Public Justice Foundation," said Amy E. Bedell, Director of Public Sector Career Planning.  "PJF members work diligently all year to raise money through various fundraising initiatives including the Annual Gala Goods and Services Auction.  They truly believe in their motto:  Help Us... Help You... Help Others." 

Hofstra Law was named one of the country’s best public interest law schools by preLaw magazine, a national publication aimed at prospective law students.  Among the 75 law schools that made the list, Hofstra ranked 11th.

Michael J. Ende, Assistant Dean for Career Services and Bedell announced the 2009 PJF Fellows and the organizations where each is working this summer:

Douglas M. Arnett ‘11  Innocence Project (New Orleans, LA)

Shana Barone ‘10  Center for Family Representation (New York, NY)

Meghan Dawkins ‘10  The Legal Aid Society Health Law Unit (New York, NY)

Aaron T. Deacon ‘11  Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (White Plains, NY)

Allison Dersch ‘10  Sanctuary for Families (New York, NY)

Courtney C. DeWitt ‘11  Disaster Accountability Project (West Hartford, CT)

Mary Ann Harvey ’10  Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest (Lincoln, NE)

Corinne Kizner ‘11  Legal Aid Justice Center, JustChildren Program (Charlottesville, VA)

Ashley Lorance ‘10  Center for Human Rights & Global Justice, NYU School of Law (New York, NY)

Jeffrey Philip Miller ‘11  Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (Islandia, NY)

Mercedes Moses ‘10  Youth Advocacy Project (Roxbury, MA)

Madelyne L. Mostiller ‘11  The Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Division (Brooklyn, NY)

Kera Murphy ‘10  Mental Hygiene Legal Service, 2d. Dept.    (Mineola, NY)

John Papadopoulos ‘11  Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (Hempstead, NY)

Jade S. Preshia ‘10  Lawyers for Children, Inc. (New York, NY)

Pamela Rubin ‘11  Mental Hygiene Legal Service, 2d. Dept. (Mineola, NY)

Philip Rydz ‘10  Queens County District Attorney’s Office (Kew Gardens, NY)

Julie Schaul ‘10  Mental Hygiene Legal Service, 2d. Dept. (Mineola, NY)

Stacy Schechter ‘10  New York City Police Department, Legal Bureau (New York, NY)

Pani Vo ‘11  Unemployment Action Center (New York, NY)