Meet CFCC's 2014-2015 Student Fellows
Interested in becoming one of our student fellows? Contact CFCC at cfcc@ubalt.edu.
MaKayla Hanington
David Hornstein
Maria Iliadis
Milos Jovanovic
Matthew LaFontaine
Kevin Lauerman
Janelle Riddick
Nicole Rush
Samantha Sammartano
Ashley Sewell
Brittany Strickland
Bryan Upshur
Tammy Vaughn
Sheena Williams
Lauren Wood
MaKayla Hanington is a second year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She graduated from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Law and Policy. During her undergraduate career, she interned with a judge who focused on juvenile justice issues at the Dauphin County Courthouse. This struck her interest in working within family law. Last summer, MaKayla interned at the Baltimore City Office of the Public Defender in the Misdemeanor Jury Trial Unit, specifically working on non-support cases. This year, she will be a teaching assistant, helping teach law to high school students, with an organization called Community Law in Action. Given her passion for public interest, MaKayla is the service chair for UBalt's Family Law Association and Phi Alpha Delta, as well as the Hallmark Events Coordinator for the Student Bar Association. She hopes to work in the field of family law with a focus on juvenile justice and mediation.
David Hornstein is a second-year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a degree in Criminal Justice. He has a strong interest in family law as well as in taxation. David is on the Journal of Land and Development, and he hopes to one day have specialties in family law, real estate law, and tax law. He volunteered last year with CFCC's Truancy Court Program and looks forward continuing with the program this year. He also is interning with Master Hope Tipton at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City during the fall 2014 semester.
Maria Iliadis is a third year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she is enrolled in the Center for Families, Children and the Courts Student Fellows Program. She is very interested in CFCC's Truancy Court Program because she thinks it is a great way to address a problem in the community. Through her work experiences in Baltimore City, she has seen first hand the impact that truancy has on the youth.
Milos Jovanovic is a third-year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.
While in college, Milos served as a mediator with the Maryland Attorney General's Office, and he since has interned with a number of government agencies, including the Maryland State Ethics Commission, the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, and the Honorable Wanda Keyes Heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He has been a law clerk with the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore City since late May. Last year, Milos served as a tutor in CFCC's Truancy Court Program, and he is interested to pursue family law, criminal defense, and trial advocacy in general.
Matthew LaFontaine is a third year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While in college, Matt interned for the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore City. Matt also has interned with the lobbyist firm of Alexander & Cleaver in Annapolis, where he learned a great deal about the state legislative process. Currently, Matt is a law clerk for a Baltimore City criminal defense firm. Although his background is focused mainly on criminal law, Matt has a deep appreciation for the family structure, and this has sparked his interest in family law.
Kevin Lauerman enrolled at the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2012 and now enters his third year with the intent of gaining practical experience in multiple areas of law. He acquired knowledge pertaining to family and the law after completing Professor Babb's "Family Law" and "Child and the Family" courses throughout the 2013-14 academic term. This past summer, Mr. Lauerman worked for a well-respected solo practitioner in central New Jersey, where he gained substantial exposure to plaintiffs' civil litigation. Prior to that, he completed an internship with a prestigious New Jersey-based firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer. Mr. Lauerman cites his prior involvement in community-related services, his eagerness to help those in need of assistance, and his overall interest in pursuing a career in family law as the primary reasons for his enrollment as a CFCC Student Fellow. He graduated from the University of Delaware and earned his Bachelor of Science from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics in 2012. His primary interests include running, playing soccer, keeping updated on current affairs, and attending sporting events as often as possible.
Janelle Riddick is a second year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Janelle graduated from the University of Baltimore with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. Prior to law school, Janelle interned with the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention in the Juvenile Justice Policy Unit. Janelle currently is a law clerk with the Legal Aid Bureau in the Children in Need of Assistance unit. At the University of Baltimore, she is the Historian for the Black Law Students Association and Treasurer for the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. Janelle is interested in working with juveniles in the criminal/juvenile justice system and in family law.
Nicole Rush is a third year law student at the University of Baltimore. Nicole graduated from Elizabethtown College with a B.A. in Political Science. While in college, she interned with Congressman John Sarbanes and with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. At UBalt, Nicole has completed work as a student attorney in the Disability Law Clinic. She is a member of the Women's Bar Association and serves as Acquisitions Manager for the Journal of International Law. She is currently a law clerk at Azrael, Franz, Schwab & Lipowitz, LLC. Nicole would like to practice family law after she graduates.
A transplanted Long Islander, Samantha Sammartano received her bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she continued graduate coursework in Sports Management prior to enrolling in law school at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Samantha has spent the past decade working with at-risk youth, victims of child abuse, and those experiencing intimate partner violence in various contexts. Most recently, Samantha served as a legal intern and victim advocate at HopeWorks of Howard County, a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for sexual and domestic violence survivors. Additionally, Samantha has spent much of her time promoting crime deterrence theories for juveniles, primarily by stressing the importance of sport and education in the lives of America's youth.
Ashley Sewell is a third year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Ashley graduated from the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Ashley has interned with the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City in the Major Felonies Unit, where she found a passion for criminal law. This past summer, she interned at the State's Attorney's Office for Worcester County. Currently Ashley is a member of the Black Law Students Association, and Phi Alpha Delta. Ashley is interested in criminal law, and juvenile justice.
Brittany Strickland is a second year student of the University of Baltimore School of Law. Brittany graduated from the University of Maryland in College Park with a B.A. in Arts and Law. Prior to law school, she initiated the installation of a curriculum-based mural project that now spans the early childhood education wing at the Banner School in Frederick, Maryland, symbolically representing the importance of art in education. Brittany's interest in children and education, along with a passion for family related issues, drove her decision study law at University of Baltimore in particular. Over the summer, Brittany interned for the Hon. Edward Hargadon in the Baltimore City Juvenile Division, where she was introduced to the Operation Safe Kids (OSK) Court. Brittany is a staff editor for the University of Baltimore Law Review and is a board member of both the Family Law Association and University of Baltimore Students for Public Interest. Upon graduation she is plans to continue her focus on family law matters.
Bryan Upshur is a second year stduent at the University Of Baltimore School of Law. He graduated from Morgan State University with a degree in Political Science. Bryan recently completed an internship in the Baltimore City Family Division. He enjoys working on issues that impact families, especially those that directly impact children. Currently, Bryan is also serving as Parliamentarian for the Black Law Students Association, as well as the 2L Representative for University of Baltimore Students for the Public Interest (UBSPI).
Tammy Vaughn is a second year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She graduated from Mars Hill College in 2000 with a B.S. in Social Work and a concentration in psychology. She then obtained her M.S.W. from University of South Carolina in 2001, later completing her L.I.S.W. She served in the United States Army after completing graduate school. After her service and prior to returning to school, she worked for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and later the Department of Veteran Affairs. This past summer, she interned in court administration and case management offices at the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. For the 2014-15 academic year, she will continue her learning experience by working with Judge Ronald Silkworth and in the office of court administration at the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Additionally, she will be preparing for the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court competition in the spring.
Sheena Williams is a native of Savannah, Georgia, and a second year J.D. Candidate at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Upon completing undergraduate studies at Georgia State
University, Sheena traveled to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where she served as a Youth and Community Development volunteer for the United States Peace Corps. After returning to the United States, Sheena worked briefly as a youth career coach for the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. As a law student, she is involved with the Black Law Student Association, the Family Law Association, Outlaw, and the Lawyers Campaign Against Hunger. She also currently works as a Research Consultant for the Safe and Sound Campaign in Baltimore City. After graduation, Sheena plans to join the Legal Aid Bureau and practice issues pertaining to child abuse, child custody, and juvenile justice.
Lauren Wood is a second year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal Communications with minors in Legal Studies and Interactive Media. In Lauren's first year at UBalt, she volunteered in CFCC's Truancy Court Program. This summer, she worked as a law clerk at Project HEAL, assisting attorneys representing children in special education-related matters. Currently, Lauren is a staff editor for the University of Baltimore Law Review, Vice President of the Family Law Association, Vice President of UBSPI, a Graphic Designer for SBA, and a faculty research assistant.