Meet CFCC's 2015-2016 Student Fellows
Interested in becoming one of our student fellows? Contact CFCC at cfcc@ubalt.edu.
Ashley Bond
Laurie Culkin
William Donley, II (Clay)
Kayla Faria
Charisse Lue
Amanda Odorimah
Jordan Posner
Kelsie Potts
Sonya Sadjadi
Angela Snyder
Juliette Spencer
Janee Thames
James Torrence, Jr.
Danielle Wiggins
Born and raised in Southern Maryland, Ashley Bond knew that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. As she completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Towson University, Ashley developed a love for the law. During her second year of law school, she became a Rule 16 Student Attorney at the University of Baltimore Bronfein Family Law Clinic, where she represented low-income clients in custody cases and protective order hearings. Ashley enjoyed this program so much that she returned to the clinic for a second semester. This fall, Ashley hopes to develop her litigation skills as she practices as a member on the National Trial Competition Team. Additionally, this semester she will begin her work as a Student Fellow for the Center of Families, Children, and the Courts. She believes that this experience will allow her to see the family unit from a new perspective. Upon graduation in May 2016, Ashley will take the Maryland Bar exam in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others through family law.
Laurie Culkin is a third year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is a 2013 graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with a B.A. in Health and Human Services and Sociology, concentrating in community mental health. Prior to law school, Laurie was a counseling intern with Buffalo Psychiatric Center, working with clients with major psychological disorders. After enrolling in law school, Laurie interned with the Women's Law Center of Maryland in the Trafficking Victims Post-Conviction Advocacy Project and with the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City. Laurie is currently a University of Baltimore Public Interest Fellow, and she clerks for Maryland Legal Aid in the Legal Assistance for Victims Project. After graduation, Laurie would like to continue to work with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Clay Donley is a third year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He has worked in various legal positions, from interning under judges to clerking for a number of private practice lawyers in Maryland. Currently, he is working in compliance at Johns Hopkins University within their athletic department. Working for the Deputy Director of the JHU athletics department, Clay does a wide variety of activities, ranging from the organization of data input of JHU student-athletes to potential legal issues facing the sports and college landscape.
Kayla Faria is a second year law student from Rhode Island who comes to the Student Fellows Program with wide-ranging work experience. As a student attorney, she has litigated child welfare cases in the Rhode Island Family Court and Family Drug Treatment Court, and she has represented clients in the University of Baltimore’s Bronfein Family Law Clinic. She has testified before the Maryland General Assembly, lobbied Congress, and coordinated the National Girls and Women in Sports Day event on Capitol Hill. As an intern at the National Women’s Law Center, she promoted anti-bullying outreach initiatives and lobbied to increase athletics opportunities for girls. Kayla also has worked as a reporter for Capital News Service, where she covered crime, courts, and social justice, and for several newspapers, focusing on education and government. Kayla received a B.A. in journalism and women's studies from the University of Maryland College Park.
Charisse Lue earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Anthropology from Hofstra University in her native town of Long Island, New York. Seeking higher education and a chance to broaden her horizons, Charisse came to Maryland to earn her Master’s degree in International Development from Towson University, while serving as a Graduate Assistant. Her postgraduate work included Program Management for NEW HORIZONS, a nonprofit in Washington D.C. whose mission is permanent supportive housing and case management for victims of domestic violence and homelessness. In 2011 Charisse applied her education and skills to community development for West Baltimore as a Community Liaison. As the liaison, she utilizes her professional experience in economic development to perform as the Workforce Development Outreach lead for the Public Involvement team and helped shape the Maryland Transportation Authority’s Workforce Development program designed to increase workforce opportunities in transportation and construction for Maryland residents. Charisse is looking forward to continuing her career in domestic violence and community development upon completing the J.D. program at the University of Baltimore Law School in 2016.
Amanda Odorimah is a second-year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology and her M.Ed. from the University of Maryland at College Park. Prior to entering law school, Amanda had the opportunity to work with at-risk youth through various community programs and soon realized that she had a passion for helping children and families. Part of her decision to attend law school was based on her desire to offer legal assistance to court-involved youth and their families. After law school, Amanda hopes to pursue a career in the area of family law.
Jordan Posner is a third year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Until coming to Baltimore two years ago, he lived in the Philadelphia area. After attending Muhlenberg College, he decided to take his passion and love for politics and the judicial system to the next level, and he enrolled in law school. After graduating this year, Jordan is highly motivated to practice employee-side labor and employment law. Inspired by his previous volunteer experience with the Truancy Court Program, Jordan was eager to enroll in the CFCC Student Fellows Program to further his knowledge of court reform and to explore issues facing Baltimore.
Kelsie Potts is in her third year at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Currently, she works as a part-time law clerk for the Law Office of Susan Carol Bell, LLC. As a law clerk, she is primarily exposed to family law issues. At times she assists on personal injury claims, as well as some criminal issues. After her first year of law school, she interned for a judge and was able to observe the family law docket firsthand.
Sonya Sadjadi is a second year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is interested in a mix of family, criminal, and corporate law. As a way to enhance and widen her understanding of family law, she enrolled in the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts Student Fellows Program. She previously completed her Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice with a concentration in psychology and a Master’s Degree in legal and ethical studies, both from the University of Baltimore. She is excited to be back at UBalt and part of the center’s mission.
Angela Snyder is a second-year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She graduated from Towson University in 2014 with a B.S. in Family Studies and Human Services. While in college, Angela interned at the Maryland CASA Association, which trains and oversees volunteers working as Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected foster children in Maryland, and at the U.S. Dream Academy at Pimlico Elementary Middle School, which provides services to inner-city youth with incarcerated parents. During summer 2015, she interned in the Legal Services Division of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, working mainly with adult guardianship cases. Angela is interested in practicing family law, providing preventive services to high-risk families, and working on public policies impacting families and children, with a special interest in improving outcomes for low-income families in Baltimore.
Julie Spencer grew up in the Baltimore area and received her bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice. She did her final paper on juvenile recidivism, and it really touched her heart. Julie grew up with a legal background, assisting in her family's law firm in her teens and again as an adult. She is so excited to be a part of children's lives and to provide as much guidance and help as possible to give children some hope and encouragement. She initially believed she wanted to focus on criminal law but has since changed her mind to family law. She looks forward to being a part of the CFCC Student Fellows Program and helping in any way possible.
Janee Thames is a second year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Janee graduated Cum Laude from Morgan State University with a B.S. in Social Work. Prior to law school, Janee worked as a foster care social worker and a youth development specialist for DC’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. Janee has eight years of experience working with at-risk youth in urban communities. This past summer Janee interned for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services Legal Department in the CINA unit. At the University of Baltimore, she is the Director of Programming for the Black Law Students Association. Janee is interested in becoming a child welfare attorney. She also has a passion for working on human trafficking policy.
James R. Torrence, Jr. is a second-year law student at University of Baltimore School of Law and anticipates completion in May 2017. Carving a public interest career, James is a former CEO Gradate Fellow to the Chief Academic Officer for Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) where he assisted with principal accountability and classroom size research. Prior to joining the City Schools’ Academic team, he served as the Campaign Manager and Acting Chief of Staff to former State Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell. Throughout his career, James has continually strived to improve the lives of low-income and underserved Baltimoreans. With that in mind, he wishes to establish a nonprofit law firm to serve the needs of low-income and underserved residents.
Danielle Wiggins is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to attending the University of Baltimore School of Lawl, she was living in Georgia and worked at an early learning center as a childcare provider. She decided to attend UBalt because of its family law program. She is interested in divorce, custody, and mediation. This past summer, she interned at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, a non-profit organization that provides pro-bono attorneys to low income clients. She enjoyed her time there so much that she is continuing to work there through the fall semester.