MEET OUR NEW FELLOWS & SCHOLARS

Detroit Mercy Law recognizes incoming students for their excellence and potential through scholarships each year and welcomes donations of time and financial support from alumni and friends to help us in our mission of educating the complete lawyer.

DEAN’S FELLOWSHIPS are awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated excellence prior to law school through academics, leadership, professionalism, and service.

The STEWART & LYSAGHT SCHOLARSHIP, named in honor of the co-founders of the Canadian & American Dual JD Program, supports exceptional Dual JD students each year.

The HENRY H. TARRANT AWARD FOR BLACK STUDENT EXCELLENCE is named in honor of the first known Black graduate of Detroit Mercy Law, who graduated in 1922.

The PHILIP J. McELROY SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to an incoming law student in honor of the late distinguished graduate’s lifelong commitment to education.

Sponsor A Student

Help support future Detroit Mercy Law fellows and scholars by funding one, two, or all three years of a student’s legal education.

Contact Julie Hein, Director of Development, heinja@udmercy.edu to learn more.

Donate to the School of Law udmercy.edu/donate/law

Payton Armstrong

Dean’s Fellow

B.S., Political Science, Wayne State University

Armstrong is interested in pursuing civil rights law and international law. She chose Detroit Mercy Law because of her connection to the mission. She looks forward to continuing her education in the city of Detroit.

Jared Colthurst

Stewart & Lysaght Scholar

B.A., Criminology, University of Windsor

Colthurst looks forward to joining the law school communities at both Windsor Law and Detroit Mercy Law as a student in the Canadian & American Dual JD program. He plans to help others recognize societal inequities and to better support victims of sexual assault.

Craig Luca

Dean’s Fellow

B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University

Luca worked as a Patent Analyst and Patent Classification Specialist prior to law school. He looks forward to using his background to advance new ideas and innovation.

Zahara Madahah

Henry H. Tarrant Scholar

B.A., English, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Madahah worked as a police officer in the Detroit Police Department. She is a recipient of the DPD’s Women in Blue Officer of the Year Award and the Detroit City Council’s Spirit of Detroit Award. She looks forward to continuing her commitment to the city of Detroit and its residents.

Briyhan Martin

Dean’s Fellow

B.S., Pharmaceutical Science, University of Michigan

Martin plans to use her foundation in health sciences to help those who have suffered because of injustice in the medical system. Originally from Detroit, she attended a Jesuit high school in Atlanta, Georgia. She was drawn to Detroit Mercy Law because of the Jesuit influence.

Maxim Musyj

Transnational Law Fellow

Philip J. McElroy Scholar

B.A., Law and Politics, University of Windsor

Musyj is interested in emerging fields of technology law. He plans to practice securities litigation in the areas of digital assets and blockchain. He led the planning of a food drive in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that delivered 2 million pounds of food to those in need.

Carelis Rios-Santiago

Dean’s Fellow

B.A., Political Science, Eastern Michigan University

Rios-Santiago is passionate about social justice and plans to bring empathy and compassion to her practice of law. She is interested in pursuing housing law issues to help Detroiters stay in their homes.

Analise Robinson

Dean’s Fellow

Henry H. Tarrant Scholar

B.A., Criminal Justice, Grand Valley State University

Robinson plans to use her law degree to bring justice to those who have been wronged. She was inspired to pursue the law because of many influential figures and hopes to be influential to others in the future.

Rachel Schulte

Intellectual Property Law Fellow

B.S., Physics, Eastern Michigan University

Schulte has experience as a Patent Classification Specialist working with private companies that perform contract work for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She plans to use her background in STEM to be a patent attorney.

Stephanie A. Thomas

Henry H. Tarrant Scholar

B.S., Psychology, Howard University

Prior to pursuing law school, Thomas held a position with the US Federal Government. She is a Detroit native and looks forward to advocating for others in the city.

Mentors

Thank you to our alumni who served as mentors to our 2021 fellows and scholars for contributing your time and talent.

Amanda Brithinee '20

Mickey Chichester '07

Rebecca El Badoui '20

Jailah Emerson '20

Yafeez Fatabhoy '18

Kristin Fernandez '19

Katherine Ganick Christy '21

Jewel Haji '19

Kristina Joseph '14

Stephen Kim '97

Deanna Kossaras '13

Hon. Denise Langford Morris '82

Khadijah McFadden '19

Sam Niskar '20

Aaron Pattison '20

Hon. Kristina Robinson Garrett '10

Hon. Marlena Taylor '09

Nolan Yaldo '11

If you are interested in helping recruit and mentor future students, please contact the admissions team at lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.