Jonah White-Wilson

Class of 2025

Currently Studying: BBA in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications

Member Of: Blue CoLab, Excelsior Mentors Program, and Pace University Men's Lacrosse Team

Pronouns: He/Him

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Jonah White-Wilson is fully living the #LubinLife. Beyond being on the Pace University Men's Lacrosse Team and working on campus, Jonah took the knowledge he gained from his classes and his experience working at Pace Fit to start his own business, which focuses on delivering healthy food to his community. Between his entrepreneurial efforts, leadership skills, and internship with Dynasty Consulting, Jonah will be set up for success well before he graduates in 2025.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

I chose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business because I wanted to be prepared, in the right setting, for what I aspire to do. As a third-year student, I can attest that Lubin's professors are well-versed professionals in the business world. New York is the best place to be in order to grow in the field of business, and Lubin professors are the mentors you need to navigate it.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student?

I am a new member of the Blue CoLab team. Our mission is to provide Pace University and other communities with real-time water quality data. We believe everyone has the right to know what is in their water before they drink it to prevent water-borne diseases. Through information technology and the data collected from our own Choate Pond, students have created informative and unique projects like making music out of water quality data. Once I learned about this initiative on campus, I knew I had to get involved in any way I could. I brought my Lubin skills into this Seidenberg project and joined the communications team, which helps give a platform for this wonderful project.

You are spending the semester as a Marketing Intern with Dynasty Consulting. How will this experience aid in your post-graduation career search?

Dynasty Consulting is an amazing place that allows me to hone my skills, not only as a student studying marketing but as a salesman at heart. Dynasty Consulting provides real-life, hands-on experience that has helped me develop my communication skills. Being able to consult to brokers and financial advisors across the country is a demanding yet exhilarating task. I have been selling my entire life, and having the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced salesmen in the industry is an opportunity that cannot be replicated. I certainly would not have had this opportunity if I had not chosen the Lubin School of Business.

You worked with Pace Fit as part of the Center for Student Enterprise. What was your experience like?

Working at Pace Fit was an excellent experience for me. Being the Assistant Marketing Manager, while making what many said were "the best smoothies on campus," was a pleasure. It was always fun meeting and connecting with new people. I was also making the beloved TikToks for Pace Fit. The TikToks were filled with comedy while also serving as a marketing tool and a way to push our new smoothies to customers.

Tell us about your business, Acai on Wheels.

Acai on Wheels is a mobile acai business I started in the summer of 2023. Acai on Wheels is located in the Upper Marlboro area in my home state, Maryland. I walk around my neighborhood, knocking on doors and taking appointments from customers interested in ordering acai bowls. I make them fresh right on their doorstep. We also cater events such as concerts, birthdays, office parties, and more! I started this business because I realized there was a lack of healthy food options in my area, and there was no better time than summertime to connect with my neighbors and serve them fresh, organic acai. Serving my community is a great honor, and there aren't any other great-tasting healthy options within 20 miles. I wanted to be the one to give my community a sweet treat during the scorching hot summer months.

How have your Lubin classes helped you further the success of your business?

My Lubin classes have taught me many skills that I have applied to my own business, such as budgeting, marketing, and all the ins and outs of how to run a business. There are many pros and cons to starting a business, but being a part of the Lubin School of Business made the process easier by preparing me on what to expect. Having one-on-one meetings with professors and taking in the material provided has educated me on how to build a foundation to run my business effectively and with great profitability.

You are also a member of the Pace University Men's Lacrosse Team. How will your team building skills help you in the business world post-graduation?

Being part of the Pace University Men's Lacrosse Team gives me real insight into how to work on a team. I think of my team as one big family. We work together, we have disputes, we have success, and at the end of the day, we will always be together. That's what being on a team means—friendship. Being a leader while also being a follower of others gives me transferable skills for the business world that many other people will not have. Two of the biggest skills I've gained on the lacrosse team that will help me within the business world are handling adversity and communication. Those skills are pivotal in my own business and will be pivotal in future business ventures.

Having a vast alumni network while also being on the lacrosse team provides many great opportunities. Pairing that with Career Services will open up so many doors for me after graduation. Pace University gives its students a leg up in the already-ultra-competitive business world.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite opportunity at Pace has been networking with alumni and working with Career Services. Having a vast alumni network while also being on the lacrosse team provides many great opportunities. Pairing that with Career Services will open up so many doors for me after graduation. Other universities cannot replicate this opportunity simply because New York is the "mecca" of business. Pace University gives its students a leg up in the already-ultra-competitive business world.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

Please, please, please go to as many events as possible and connect with as many people as possible! You never know who you may run into. Always look professional, hold great eye contact, and if someone gives you their information or connects you with someone, actually contact them! You only have four years at Lubin to soak up all the valuable information from extremely knowledgeable people, so do not waste it!

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

We can all agree that, in high school, choosing a university that helps you reach your goals is a difficult process. However, I would do it all over again, knowing that at the end of my four years, I would be able to say that I am a product of #LubinLife. Pace University has students and faculty from all over the world—kind professors helping you in all aspects of life and a community filled with friendship. I cannot thank my teammates, coaches, professors, classmates, and mentees enough for shaping my amazing experience at the Lubin School of Business. There is no place I'd rather be than at Pace University in the Lubin School of Business.

Connect with Jonah:

• Connect with Jonah on LinkedIn
• Follow Jonah on Instagram
• Follow Acai on Wheel on Instagram
• Visit Acai on Wheels' website
• Follow Jonah on Tik Tok

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Yomara Lopez

Class of 2012

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Yomara Lopez is a bilingual and investigative reporter, most recently for NBC Universal Telemundo in California, and three-time Emmy award winning journalist.

Please tell us more about your role and how your work is meaningful to you.

My role is to bring to light issues and concerns that are affecting the Latino community. The relationship and trust I’ve built with my viewers has allowed me to tell their stories and help them report crimes they were previously afraid to even speak about. Most importantly, my investigations have helped authorities reopen various cases of wage theft and human trafficking. One of my most recent investigations in San Jose, California, led the mayor of the city to propose an ordinance to prohibit homeless living next to schools. Investigative journalism is about affecting change with stories, and that’s why my work is so meaningful to me. If I’m not making a difference, I’m not doing something right.

Please tell us more about your Emmy wins and your role(s) leading up to them.

I won my first Emmy with Univision Sacramento in June of 2019 for my coverage of Camp Fire, the deadliest fire in the history of California. As part of this experience, I spent months in Paradise, a city that was wiped out by the fire, speaking to survivors and those who lost everything. This year, I won two Emmys with Telemundo in the Bay Area: one for best daily news report story for my coverage on a rat infestation problem in one of the biggest homeless encampments in Santa Clara County, and another for an educational piece on inmates getting a second chance in education through a college credit program at Elmwood Jail in Milpitas.

Why did you choose to major in the Bachelor of Arts in Communications?

Ever since I was a little girl, I enjoyed writing and was always curious about things that were happening in my community, and as I got older, I realized that journalism was a way that I could help those in need.

How has your degree prepared you for your career? How did you get started in your career?

The cinematography and video production classes taken at Pace helped me become a better multimedia journalist (MMJ), which means being able to shoot, write, and edit my own stories. My first job in the industry was behind the camera as an associate producer for the early morning shows on Telemundo 51 in Miami. From there, I obtained a job as a producer/reporter for an international channel called Hola TV, followed by work as an MMJ at Telemundo Oklahoma. I was also an MMJ at Telemundo Austin and Univision Sacramento.

Investigative journalism is about affecting change with stories, and that’s why my work is so meaningful to me. If I’m not making a difference, I’m not doing something right.

Why did you choose to attend Pace? Did you have any internships as a student?

I liked the program that Pace offered in communications, as well as access to internship opportunities for students (I always wanted to live in New York, so that was also a plus).

I had several internships through Pace, which included Telemundo Sports in Miami, CBS Newspath in New York City, and Telemundo in New Jersey. My internships were so helpful because they showed me what it was like to work in the industry and helped me decide that I wanted to be a reporter. Through my internship with CBS, I was offered a per diem position with 48 Hours to help translate information about illegal adoptions in Guatemala. It was then that I realized I wanted to be an investigative reporter.

Are there any challenges you have faced that you overcame and are proud of?

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and at 11, moved to Miami, Florida. Coming to the United States without speaking the English language was difficult, and I dealt with a lot of bullying growing up because of my accent. As I got older, I realized that my accent was part of my identity and I started to embrace it. I never thought I would be working as a bilingual reporter for Telemundo and NBC in the Bay Area and with the investigative unit team, but here I am living my dream. I never gave up and always believed in myself.

What advice would you give to our students, as they navigate their college life?

Take advantage of as many internships as possible, as they will provide you with a sense of what you want to do professionally. Most importantly, don’t give up on your dreams. There will always be hard days, but be persistent, stay focused, and believe in yourself. You’ll get there.

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The Pace University Art Gallery has received a $20,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), recognizing the quality of the gallery’s exhibitions over the past three years. The grant, which will support artist stipends and exhibit marketing, will take effect on January 1, 2024, beginning with an exhibit featuring contemporary comic book artists. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded over $80 million since Spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.

“Pace University Art Gallery is dedicated to developing local partnerships that are so critical to reaching a diverse audience,” said Pace University Art Gallery Director Sarah Cunningham. “The support from NYSCA will help us continue to provide enriching, meaningful exhibitions and programming and enhance our outreach to our downtown community.”

Since its launch in its current space on the ground level of 41 Park Row in 2019, the Pace University Art Gallery has sought to provide innovative, thought-provoking exhibits and programs that are free and open to the public. The rotating exhibitions have highlighted diverse artists and a wide array of subject matter, including a partnership with New York Latin American Art Triennial’s multi-site exhibit and an exhibition showcasing art by New York City sanitation workers.

The Gallery also received a grant from NYSCA in 2023. The Gallery’s first NYSCA-supported exhibit in February 2023 was Degentrification Archives, a collection of pieces from the Chinatown Art Brigade amplifying the stories of those impacted by the gentrification of Chinatown near Pace’s downtown Manhattan campus. During the exhibit, the Gallery hosted an artist panel discussion, a zine workshop, and the launch of the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) archive.

Throughout 2023, the Gallery hosted three more exhibitions supported by NYSCA. To Be Made Whole featured work from five artists who sought to explore identity through representational imagery using tangible textiles. A solo exhibition by Firoz Mahmud entitled Inscaping Legacies reflected upon the histories of the South Asian Bengal region, connecting his roots to immigrant communities in New York City.

The current solo exhibition, Mother Octopus, features the work of Mie Yim, who, by breaking apart her cute characters with abstraction, invites the viewer to deeply feel her subjects’ dynamic inner states rather than to gloss over their sweet facades. The exhibit also includes a mural, which features a deep-sea cephalopod brooding her eggs. The mural was created in collaboration between Yim and students in Cunningham’s Introduction to Museum and Curatorial Studies course.

This exhibit, which remains on view through Saturday, January 20, 2024, is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The artist will also give a talk about her work on Tuesday, November 28, at 2:15 p.m. The gallery is located in Lower Manhattan at 41 Park Row. All of the gallery’s exhibits and events are free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday–Saturday from 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. and by appointment.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $127 million in FY 2024. The Council on the Arts further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information, please visit the NYSCA website, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

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When Dan Ruben was a 2L he read a small article in the NY Times about a program at another law school where students were raising money to fund summer public interest jobs. A self-starter, committed to public interest, he thought this program was a great idea and decided to start a similar one at Haub Law, which today, we know as PILSO.

“To get the program off the ground, I went knocking on the office doors of every faculty member. I was surprised and very pleased that nearly all of them took out their checkbooks and made a contribution,” said Dan. “I realized that this idea could grow beyond fundraising at the level of a single school.” Dan describes starting PILSO as the highlight of his law school career. “The issue driving it—the lack of adequate legal representation for so many Americans—is so compelling, the need is so great, that I imagined such an organization could be successful on a national scale. I realized almost right away what I’d be doing when I graduated.”

In 1993, Dan launched Equal Justice America. His goal upon founding EJA was “to put as many law students and graduates as possible to work on behalf of people in need.” Dan wanted to help law students committed to public interest get hands-on experience that would help them achieve their career goals and thereby the greater good.

“I wanted to see our EJA Fellows become inspired by the work and turn their Fellowship experience into careers devoted to helping others in need. The organization started off modestly but has grown exponentially. In the summer of 1994, EJA awarded five law student fellowships. Since then, more than 6,000 law students have served as Equal Justice America Fellows working with more than 700 legal aid programs across the country. “So many of our EJA Fellows have done exactly what I had hoped. They’ve devoted their careers to public interest and provide shining examples of how the benefits of our program long outlive the duration of each individual fellowship.”

In more recent years, EJA has started funding post-graduate fellowships. “We currently have post-grad EJA Fellows advocating for domestic violence victims, veterans, young people trying to avoid the school to prison pipeline and human trafficking survivors,” said Dan. “Another post-grad EJA Fellow’s work is focused on civil rights, racial justice and ending the criminalization of poverty.”

In 2000, Equal Justice America partnered with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University to establish its Disability Rights Clinic. “I was grateful to the Law School and wanted to give back.” One of EJA’s Board Members, David Santacroce, was the very first student at Pace to respond to Dan’s call to his fellow students for help launching PILSO. “David and I had conversations with Professor Vanessa Merton way back then and the EJA Disability Rights Clinic was the result of those conversations.” The Clinic was launched with a major grant and an ongoing commitment from EJA.

Over the years, the EJA Disability Rights Clinic led by Professor Gretchen Flint and more recently Professor Patricia Angley, has helped develop so many students into public interest attorneys and as a result helped so many low-income individuals with disabilities.

When Dan started law school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. “I was looking for a way to try to do some good. When I had that great success in getting Pace faculty to support PILSO I knew that I was on to something and that I had found a way to use my law degree in a constructive way that would help lots of people who really needed it.”

Over the years, PILSO has remained steadfast in their commitment to helping students launch careers in public service. The student run organization runs public service networking events, career panels, and also collaborates closely with the thriving Public Interest Law Center (“PILC”). PILC was formed at Haub Law in 2009 to unite and expand the public interest programs and career opportunities at the Law School and has continued to grow and expand their initiatives.

In the early 2000’s, Haub Law and PILSO recognized Dan and his trailblazing efforts of founding PILSO and Equal Justice America with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “Dan has done more for the practice of public interest law in this country than any other Pace Law graduate,” Haub Law Professor Vanessa Morton wrote in an email to her faculty colleagues, which was read at the dinner that honored Dan.

Today, Dan is confident he made the right career path for himself in founding PILSO and ultimately, EJA. “The U.S. Constitution rightly guarantees that criminal defendants will be provided with legal counsel. There is no such right to counsel for people who are unable to afford lawyers in legal matters involving basic human needs - such as shelter, sustenance, safety, health, and child custody.

The Legal Services Corporation estimates that 80% of the legal needs of low-income people are not being met. “That justice gap needs to be closed,” said Dan. “Unfortunately, what EJA is able to do is really just a drop in the bucket. Legal aid programs need to be better funded to meet the need. However, in our own small way, I believe EJA has contributed to a better and more just legal system by encouraging students to make careers serving others and giving them the opportunity to get the experience necessary to have successful public interest careers. Countless thousands of individuals struggling to keep it together in difficult and often desperate situations have received help from our EJA Fellows during their Fellowships and during their careers as public interest attorneys.”

Equal Justice America is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, please consider a donation.

Eric Brown has become accustomed to balancing work, school, and responsibilities throughout his life. Eric grew up in a single parent household where his mother instilled in him the importance of an education. “My mother and grandmother’s backgrounds trace back to Puerto Rico,” said Eric. “They both worked from a very young age but were never pushed to pursue any sort of education beyond high school. After my mother finished high school and had my brother and me, she did start her college degree, but it was difficult as a single parent to continue while also working and raising two children alone. From a young age, she encouraged me to place a priority on my education.”

After Eric finished high school, he moved away from home and attended Manhattanville College while also working part-time. “I am the first to attend and graduate college in my family. After college, I also obtained my master’s degree from Seton Hall. Receiving my JD will be my third higher education degree.” Eric originally aspired to be a dentist, but quickly learned that he did not enjoy the coursework as much as he anticipated. “I was bored, but then one day I attended a job fair and met a professor who invited me to take a political science course. I fell in love with the curriculum and decided to pursue a degree in it.”

Shortly after graduating from college, Eric took the police department exam and began a career in law enforcement. Once he decided to attend law school, Eric sought out the perfect setting for him to do that – one where he could continue his job as a police officer and further his education. Haub Law was the perfect fit with its flexible part-time program. “I have worked part-time throughout all my educational pursuits. It has allowed me to honor my upbringing, provide for myself, and my family.”

Eric acknowledges that the busy schedule of being a part-time law student along with a police officer is not without its struggles at times, but also very rewarding. “Having the experience as a police officer has been very beneficial, it allows me to see both sides of the law and view things more objectively. While I am constantly on the go, my outlook has always been positive and that anything is possible if you stay focused and humble. This is especially true if you stay confident in yourself while never being afraid to ask for help.”

For Eric, help when he needs it, has been readily available at Haub Law. “I personally love the extra support that is always given by the staff and professors here. And, my classmates are amazing, they are always willing to help one another out. The level of comradery is extraordinary.” In particular, Eric is thankful for the support he has received from the Honorable Daniel D. Angiolillo, who is the Jurist-in-Residence at Haub Law and also, Dean for Students Angie D’Agostino. “Both of these individuals have instilled so much wisdom in me and so much support. In my life, I have learned that the right people will always show up when you need it and that has proven very true here for me.”

As a part-time student, Eric is set to graduate in 2025 from Haub Law. He spent his spring 2023 semester as a judicial extern for the Honorable Adam Silvera, an Administrative Judge in the Civil Division of the New York State Supreme Court. As far as future goals, Eric is taking it one day at a time. “I really enjoy my career in law enforcement, but I can also see myself in the private sector. I try to have an open mind about the future.”

Joining the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2023 as an Assistant Professor of Law, Professor Camila Bustos is one of Haub Law’s newest faculty additions. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Professor Bustos shares a passion for human rights law and climate change law. Prior to joining Haub Law, Professor Bustos was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Human Rights at Trinity College and a Clinical Supervisor in human rights practice at the University Network for Human Rights. She also served as a term law clerk to Justice Steven D. Ecker of the Connecticut Supreme Court and as a consultant with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). At Haub Law, she will be teaching an International Human Rights Seminar, an Environmental Law Survey course, and the Environmental Law Seminar: Climate Change & Migration. Learn more about Professor Bustos and the fresh, innovative perspective she brings to her research, scholarship, and the classroom in this Q&A.

Let’s jump right in, can you tell us a bit about your background?

I am originally from Bogota, Colombia and I moved to Miami when I was thirteen. This period in my life was deeply formative and continues to inform how I navigate and approach my personal and professional life. My time in Miami exposed me to different languages, cultures, and ways of thinking, which has always made me intellectually curious about meeting new people and traveling to new places. In addition to having Spanish as my native language, I have been learning Portuguese. I also try to stay connected to Latin American issues as much as I can (news, culture, music, etc.).

My time growing up in Miami also showed me the arbitrariness of borders and the way in which having legal status can transform someone’s life. Growing up in a city of immigrants and being an immigrant sparked my interest in immigration law – its development, limitations, and opportunities for change.

During college, I spent a lot of my time between research and advocacy spaces. I researched international climate politics, while engaging in fossil fuel divestment campaigns. I became interested in how law and policy can be leveraged to tackle problems like climate change. Afterwards, I spent two years working for a Colombian human rights organization before returning to the States for law school.

Your research interests and areas of expertise include human rights law, environmental law, international environmental law, and climate change law – what is it about those areas that hold your interest?

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that humanity faces, if not the greatest. As with other environmental problems, climate change is inherently a global problem that requires international cooperation in addition to strong domestic action. These areas seek to understand how global politics and policies may hinder or facilitate progress.

I see environmental issues, including climate, as intrinsically human rights issues. They entail a range of impacts with severe consequences for the fulfillment of human rights, necessitating decisive State action to protect people and ecosystems.

Further development of human rights and environmental law is essential to hold accountable the most powerful actors behind the crisis, namely fossil fuel companies, carbon-intensive industries, ultrarich individuals, and top-emitter States. Despite its limitations, I am interested in how law can be leveraged by affected communities and individuals alike to seek justice in a deeply unequal world.

What are some of your current research interests and projects?

I am interested in continuing to think and write on the legal protection gap for climate displaced people at the international and domestic levels. I am also interested in further exploring the duties of States— as rooted in human rights law or ethics more broadly—to climate displaced people. My forthcoming article Climate Change and Internal Displacement in Colombia: A Tragedy Foretold? looks at the development of separate protection regimes for internally displaced people.

While there is a legal framework for those displaced in the context of armed conflict (e.g., think about abuela in the Disney movie Encanto), individuals displaced by environmental and climate events fall under the disaster policy framework. Through the case study of Gramalote, Colombia—the first municipality in Colombia displaced by climate-related events—I argue States must protect the right of populations to stay in place and return when possible.

I have also been researching the implications of climate change for the legal profession writ large, looking at the ways in which the climate crisis requires a transformation in how lawyers practice law and conceive of their professional responsibility. I am keen to explore legal ethics through a comparative perspective, focusing on the UK and the US for now. I am currently working on a book chapter for the forthcoming publication Educating lawyers for climate and environmental justice: theory and practice (2024).

You have recently published articles on climate migration and displacement – can you speak a bit more about that research area and the overall big picture impact you see that having on different people/groups and society as a whole?

Although exact figures on climate displacement projections vary, climate change will continue to force people to move internally and across borders. This is a tremendously complex issue, with implications for administrative, immigration, and international law, among others. I am keen to contribute to this debate for a few reasons.

First, climate change disproportionately impacts groups that have been historically marginalized or discriminated against. Displacement often impacts individuals with more limited resources to adapt and whose high exposure to climate risk might push them over the edge.

Second, the scale of the challenge requires scholars and practitioners to collaborate on policy gaps and potential solutions.

The last few articles I published focused on climate migration and displacement from different angles: (1) how do climate displaced people experience climate catastrophes, relocate, and establish new lives after displacement; (2) how does human rights law apply in the context of environmental and climate displacement in Central America and Colombia; and (3) what legal avenues, domestic and international, are available to protect climate displaced people whether internally or across borders?

Why did you want to become a professor?

It’s a bit of a funny story. For years, my partner had encouraged me to think about becoming a professor. I’ve always been intellectually curious and most of my professional experience before joining Pace involved significant research and writing. Before seriously considering academia, I was already writing articles “for fun” with colleagues. Even then, I thought I would practice law for several years before considering an academic position.

However, the opportunity to teach an undergraduate class and work closely with undergraduate and law students was transformative. I realized how amazing it was to be surrounded by students and how much more deeply I was able to think about issues when teaching and facilitating enriching discussions. Having a profession where you can teach, think, write, and collaborate is such an exciting and privileged career. Although becoming a professor was unexpected in some ways, I feel incredibly lucky to have joined the Pace community.

As a professor you are tasked with teaching students, but what have you also learned from them in return?

I love this question. I am going to cheat and quote Claudia Goldin, who recently won the Nobel economics prize for her groundbreaking work on wage inequality. During an interview, Goldin emphasized the role of students in her research:

“I am a professor; I am a teacher. I am standing here because I have my students. And my students are my muses; my students are the individuals I depend upon to listen to my ideas and react to them. Everyone should realize that teaching is the handmaiden of research. Research is knowledge creation; teaching is knowledge diffusion. And we do both.”

I learn from my students in every single class. They bring unique and fresh perspectives to new and old problems; they challenge me to crystallize my thinking and ideas. They make me a better thinker and scholar. Most importantly, they make me a better person by helping me question my own assumptions, biases, and paradigms.

What advice do you have for law students – generally and more specifically to those who want to gain experience in human rights law?

First, I would encourage students to try learning a second or third language if they can. While English remains the lingua franca in many international spaces, understanding other languages will open doors to different regions of the world and areas of practice. It also demonstrates humility and intellectual curiosity, which any future employer would value.

Second, I would advise students to engage with all the critical scholarship on human rights law. There are significant foundational and theoretical questions underpinning human rights practice. To name a few, are human rights universal? If so, what do we mean by that? Can human rights be a transformative project despite some of its practical limitations and historical origins? Reading critical approaches to international law (i.e., TWAIL or feminist critiques) makes us better human rights scholars and practitioners.

Third, find what you are passionate about. Human rights law is a broad area, encompassing a range of issues from racial discrimination, armed conflict, gender equity, environmental protection, etc. There are also different points of intervention: local, national, and international. I encourage students to think creatively about “human rights”, their own set of skills, and in what capacity they would like to contribute their talents.

You also co-founded Law Students for Climate Accountability (LSCA), a national law student-led movement pushing the legal industry to phase out fossil fuel representation and support a just, livable future – can you talk about what led you to found this movement and the importance of it? And, your best advice for how students can effect this type of very impactful push towards change like you did/have.

Like many others in my generation, I decided to go to law school to use the law to work on climate change issues. While I found the 1L doctrinal courses interesting, I found myself frustrated at both the failure of most 1L curriculums to address climate issues and the collective pressure to go work at a corporate law firm after law school.

While law firms are not monoliths, many of the largest and most prestigious firms conduct extensive lobbying, litigation, and transactional work on behalf of the fossil fuel industry. In response, a group of us decided to explore the ways in which “Big Law” upholds the fossil fuel economy and often hinders climate action by producing the first-ever Climate Change Scorecard.

Since 2020, LSCA has grown into a national and international movement, with colleagues in the UK, Canada, and Australia working on similar initiatives to hold the legal industry accountable. We have produced four iterations of the Climate Change Scorecard and have organized students across dozens of campuses in the United States.

My advice to students is to remember their own power to effect change. The legal profession and legal institutions are by default small “c” -conservative and resistant to change. It takes persistent and organized efforts to change social institutions, but it is possible.

As an undergraduate student, I remember several administrators and professors told us that fossil fuel divestment was simply “impossible” and would never happen. Today, more than twenty universities have partially or completely divested their endowment from fossil fuels and the movement has only continued to build momentum.

While I understand the pressure students face in securing a job after graduation, students shouldn’t forget that they hold the power of their talent.

Aside from law, how do you spend your spare time?

I love spending time with my dog Spice and must admit a lot of time goes into walking, brushing, and cuddling him. I also enjoy running and spinning —I am a huge Peloton fan (sorry not sorry). Aside from that, you can find me singing and dancing to Bad Bunny or Taylor Swift on repeat, going on walks and hikes across Connecticut, and attending concerts and music festivals with my partner.