“The Miami Scholars Public Interest Program is comprised of dedicated and extraordinary students at Miami Law. Their passion for justice, intellectual curiosity and motivation drives Scholars to effectuate change in agencies and communities near and far.”
~Marni Lennon, Esq. Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono Director, HOPE Public Interest Resource Center Lecturer in Law
Established in 1997, the Miami Scholars Public Interest Program brings exceptional students with a passion for public service and social justice to the University of Miami School of Law. Miami Scholars are selected based on their outstanding academic credentials and demonstrated commitment to public service and advocacy.
The Miami Scholars Public Interest Program offers its students exclusive opportunities for legal advocacy training and advising from the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center team of attorneys, including individualized curriculum advising and career planning assistance. Miami Scholars receive mentoring by upper-division Scholars and public interest and pro bono attorneys.
Miami Scholars are awarded an annual scholarship and are provided with a stipend for public interest work that is performed during their first or second year summer. Tuition awards are automatically renewed if the scholar remains in good standing.
As an alumna with a legal career dedicated to public service, I am excited to watch the continued expansion of the Miami Scholars Program. It now affords even more students the opportunity to find their passion, do what they love, and serve our community with vigor and spirit.
~Fara Gold, JD ’03
Attorney Advisor, Office on Violence Against Women, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC
The Miami Scholars Program connected me with a network of students and alumni dedicated to public service and social justice. Having this community made law school a much more fulfilling experience, and helped me develop a network that has guided me into my career. With the support of the Miami Scholars Program, I was able to take summer internships across the country to work on environmental justice issues and connect with alumni and professionals doing similar work. The community that the program creates for its students and alumni is invaluable.
~Katrina Tomas, JD ’19
Earthjustice San Francisco, CA
Beginning law school in the fall of 2020 presented unique challenges and opportunities, but I am so grateful for the Miami Scholars Public Interest Program. The HOPE Public Interest Resource Center's incredible and dedicated team problem-solved to build a strong community. The Scholars program provided me with great friends and inspiring role models, as well as public interest programming that exposed me to a wide range of legal leaders who challenge injustice and center people's needs. I benefited from training, support, and funding. This included a summer stipend so that I could work with the Capital Habeas Unit at the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Florida, an opportunity that cemented my desire to become a public defender.
~Myles Crandall, JD ’23
Assistant Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida, Miami, FL
Krystell Fienco graduated from the University of Florida in December 2021 with a B.A in Criminology, B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Computer and Information Science. While at UF, Krystell interned with various non-profit organizations including Equality Florida, Pace Center for Girls, and Eradicating the School to Prison Pipeline (E-STOPP). Following graduation, she worked as a legal assistant at an immigration firm, where she focused on providing translations, obtaining client information, and preparing forms for the attorney to review. During the spring semester of her 1L year at Miami Law, Krystell began volunteering with Chainless Change, a non-profit that serves individuals affected by the criminal justice system. During her 1L summer, she worked as a law clerk with a firm specializing in Americans with Disabilities Act cases. Krystell joined the Race and Social Justice Law Review as a 2L and is serving as the Writing Competition Editor during her 3L year. During her 2L summer, Krystell was a law clerk with a criminal defense firm, working on a variety of cases involving the SEC, the Department of Children and Families, and government officials. As a 3L, Krystell is continuing her membership in the Hispanic Law Student Association and First-Generation Law Association, serving as a board member of If/When/How and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and participating in the Children and Youth Law Clinic.
Janeal Fordham graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College in May 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science. While there, she served as an AmeriCorps Service Member with Hands On Atlanta, was a Breakthrough New York Teaching Fellow, and worked with The Center for Education Reform in Washington, D.C. She also interned at The Davis Bozeman Law Firm, supporting partners with trial preparation and community engagement. Upon graduation, she served as a Gallard Fellow at The Branson School in the Bay Area, where she was a U.S. History teacher, an Admissions team member, and affinity space advisor for the Women of Color and Black Student Union groups. As Branson’s Director of Community Engagement, Janeal’s programming led to more than 12,000 community service hours. At Miami Law, Janeal has served as the David P. Catsman Fellow for the Center for Ethics and Public Service, creating a series on law practice management, a civil rights workshop, and other events with the Center’s Legal Profession Program. During her 1L summer, she served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Peter Russin of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. As a 2L, Janeal worked as a Special Projects Fellow for the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority and participated in the inaugural cohort of the Cyber Policy Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. As a 2L, Janeal joined the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law as a legal intern and has worked with the Educational Opportunities Project on the fallout from the SFFA v. Harvard & UNC decision and the increasing number of classroom censorship laws across the country. As a 3L, Janeal is continuing this work through Miami Law’s D.C. Semester in Practice externship program.
Angelo Gomez graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University in May 2022 with a B.S in Communication and Political Science. As a 1L at Miami Law, Angelo was on the Dean’s List and contributed 75 pro bono hours, volunteering with HOPE’s Alternative Winter Break with Catholic Legal Services in Miami and HOPE’s Alternative Spring Break with ProBar in Harlingen, Texas. During his 1L summer, Angelo served as a law clerk with the Tenants' Rights Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami, focusing on eviction defense for low-income clients. As a 2L, he participated in the Immigration Clinic, representing a client in a merits hearing for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention against Torture. He was also selected for HOPE’s Public Interest Leadership Board. During his 2L summer, Angelo received a fellowship from Funding Florida Legal Aid to serve as an intern with the Detention Program at Americans for Immigrant Justice, where he represented a detained client in a bond hearing at the Broward Transitional Center. As a 3L, Angelo is serving as a fellow with the Immigration Clinic, vice president of the Christian Legal Society, student leader for Miami Law's International Refugee Assistance Project chapter and is continuing his work with the Public Interest Leadership Board.
Lindsey Graham graduated with honors from the University of Missouri in May 2018 with a B.A. In International Peace Studies and a minor in Leadership and Public Service. Following graduation, Lindsey began her public service career working as a paralegal with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, launching a pilot program to bring housing resources to families facing eviction in the Kansas City Public School District. She then served as a Peace Corps Community Health Volunteer in Ecuador, where she partnered with Fundacion Pachamama to support indigenous midwives working to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the Amazon Rainforest. After her Peace Corps service ended, Lindsey took a full-time position with Fundacion Pachamama to continue supporting the work of indigenous midwives. As a 1L at Miami Law, Lindsey partnered with a fellow Miami Public Interest Scholar to re-activate Miami Law's Chapter of If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice and later served as Executive Co-Chair. During her 2L year, she participated in Miami Law’s Human Rights Clinic, supporting class action litigation in corporate accountability. She is also a member of the International Moot Court Team, and participated in Moot Madrid, a competition conducted solely in Spanish. Lindsey spent her 1L and 2L summers working as a law clerk for Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and is enhancing her legal Spanish while studying abroad in Madrid during the fall semester of her 3L year.
Cameron Helm graduated cum laude from the University of Miami in May of 2022 with a B.B.A. in Economics and a minor in Political Science. While an undergraduate, he served as Chief Justice of the Student Government Supreme Court, was president of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and volunteered as a teaching assistant for introductory business courses. During the spring of 2022, Cameron received
the W.T. McElrath Award in recognition of service to the Miami Herbert Business School. He spent his undergraduate summers as an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives, at two Miami-based law firms, and with the Innocence Project of Florida, which works to find and free the innocent and wrongly incarcerated in Florida prisons. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, he served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Monica Gordo of the Florida Third District Court of Appeal. During his 2L summer, he worked as a summer associate at a boutique firm in St. Petersburg.
Addiel Pérez graduated magna cum laude from Rollins College in May 2022 with an A.B. in Political Science. He conducted novel research with the political science faculty, focusing on political psychology, race politics, and public opinion. He presented his paper, "Public Perceptions of the Capitol Riot: A List Experiment," at the 2021 American Political Science Association Annual Conference & Exhibition. As a 1L at Miami Law, Addiel was a member of the Dean's List. During his 1L summer, he served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Darrin P. Gayles of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. As a 2L, he was a Junior Staff Editor for the University of Miami Law Review, where he wrote a note discussing West Virginia v. EPA, the Inflation Reduction Act, and its intersection with U.S. climate policy. He also participated in the Environmental Justice Clinic, serving underrepresented communities and assisting legal non-profits partnered with the clinic. During his 2L summer, Addiel was a summer associate in the Energy & Project Development practice group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in the New York office—a firm consistently highly ranked for its pro bono practice. He engaged in the financing and development of renewable energy projects. As a 3L, Addiel is serving as a Staff Editor on the University of Miami Law Review and is spending his fall 2024 semester at IE Law School in Madrid.
Dillon Richards graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in the fall of 2016 with a B.A. in Journalism, majoring in Digital and Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Spanish. Prior to law school, Dillon worked as a television journalist. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Dillon served as an intern with the Broward County Public Defender’s Office and served as an extern with U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe in West Palm Beach during his 2L year. During his 2L summer, Dillon worked as a summer associate for the commercial litigation firm Quinn Emanuel in their Miami office. Dillon is a Senior Notes & Comments Editor on the University of Miami Law Review. His student comment was selected for publication in Volume 79 of the law review. He has earned multiple awards, including the Director’s Book Award for Excellence in Litigation Skills, the CALI Excellence for the Future and Dean’s Certificate Awards for Substantive Criminal Law, and the CALI award for Legal Communication and Research II.
Alexandra Santamaria received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA in 2018. She submitted a thesis titled, "Be not a philosopher, but amidst all your philosophy, be still a man: A Resolution of Human Epistemology." Following graduation, worked as a legal assistant for Justice For All Immigrants (JFAI) in Houston, where she assisted attorneys representing immigrants in detention facilities who sought immigration bonds, paroles, asylum, and cancellation of removals. She supported several grants, including the Deportation Defense Houston Collaborative, the Church World Service Asylum Project, and Harris County’s Immigrant Legal Services Fund, and was awarded a grant from the National Justice for Our Neighbors to work on the Caminamos Juntos Asylum Seeker Project at the border in Nogales, Mexico. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, Alexandra interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida in the Special Prosecutions Divisions, focusing on child exploitation, human trafficking, and gangrelated violence. As a 2L, Alexandra worked with the immigration firm Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt in Miami. She was also a member of the International Moot Court Program (IMCP) and competed in the Willem C. Vis East International Arbitration Competition in Hong Kong, where she received honorable mention for best oral advocate. Her team also placed #12 for best oral advocate team out of 144 teams that competed in 2024. During her 2L summer, Alexandra returned to JFAI as a legal intern, working on the removal defense litigation team and assisting in USCIS immigration cases. During her 3L year, she is continuing with JFAI, participating in the Immigration Clinic, and competing as an IMCP member.
Diego Troncoso graduated from the University of Central Florida in May 2021 with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations. At UCF, he served the student body in a variety of leadership positions. As a student senator, he created initiatives focused on student homelessness, bringing more resources to the university's free food pantry, and lobbying at the state level for the university's legislative priorities. He also served as the university's Academic Affairs Coordinator and Scholarship Chairman and was appointed to various university committees, where he made ongoing strides to make UCF a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible institution. Prior to law school, Diego volunteered with the Housing Unit at the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Diego worked as a litigation summer associate at Holland & Knight in Miami, where he focused on consumer protection and government compliance matters and had an article published regarding a recent Consumer Financial Protection case. During his 2L year, Diego took part in a judicial externship, volunteered with CABA's Immigrant Children's Program for unaccompanied minors, served as a Miami Law Ambassador, and participated in the Black Law Student Association. Diego also worked as a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for the Honorable Darrin P. Gayles. During his 2L summer, he returned to Holland & Knight. Diego received the Director's Book Award for Excellence in Litigation Skills I and was on the Dean's List during his 1L and 2L years.
Nicole Vahlkamp graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland Honors Program with a B.A. in Government & Politics and Economics. Led by her passion for other cultures and interest in economics, Nicole pursued her master’s in Business Administration in Tel Aviv, Israel, graduating from Bar Ilan University with concentrations in International Business and Finance. After working for Procter & Gamble in Israel for a number of years, Nicole returned to the United States, and to her hometown of Chicago, where she graduated from the University of Chicago with her master’s in Public Policy. She worked for the Government Accountability Office, researching and auditing processes within the Department of Defense, and with various non-profit organizations as an independent consultant. During the summer of 2022, she interned at the Office of the State Attorney in Florida’s 20th District in Charlotte County, where she assisted with trial research, preparation, and deposition summaries. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, Nicole interned in the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. As a 2L, Nicole served as president of the Cardozo Jewish Legal Society, vice president of the Insightful Mind Initiative, and a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board. She also served as a judicial intern with Judge Altman in the Southern District of Florida and as a member of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review. As a 3L, she is continuing her role with Cardozo and is a member of the Federalist Society.
Christina Velazquez graduated summa cum laude from Florida International University in 2021 with dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and Women's & Gender Studies. After graduation, Christina moved to Chicago where she advocated for increased protections for domestic violence survivors and investments in services. During her 1L year at Miami Law, Christina received the HOPE Excellence in Legal Advocacy 1L Award for her over 90 hours of pro bono work with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative, and ABA ProBAR. During her 1L summer, she worked as a law clerk and Helliwell Fellow with the Tenants' Rights Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami and research assistant for Professor Coker. As a 2L, she interned with the Dade Legal Aid Family Law Division and Coast to Coast Legal Aid Family Law/Victims of Crime Unit and served as Professor Schnably's research assistant. She also volunteered with the Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida Pro Bono Unit and led the Alternative Spring Break Pro Bono Project with the Women in Distress Injunction for Protection Project. During her 2L summer, Christina returned to the Dade Legal Aid Family Law Division as an FFLA Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellow. As a 3L, Christina continues to serve on the Public Interest Leadership Board and the executive board of If/When/How. Additionally, she is leading the Child Advocacy and Family Law Society, is a member of the International Moot Court Program, and is serving as a certified legal intern during the fall semester with the Office of the Regional Counsel Dependency Division.
Olivia Zukowski graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami in May 2021 with a B.A. in Ecosystem Science and Policy and Political Science and a minor in French. She was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and was the top graduate in the political science department. She received her Master of Public Administration from the UM in 2022. As a 1L at Miami Law, Olivia worked with the Center for Ethics and Public Service on the Health Disparities Project. She attended meetings with the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance to identify legal issues the community was facing and worked on an interactive presentation to engage Alliance members with the CARES Act. She also participated in planning for the Black Health Summit. During her 1L summer, Olivia served as a legal intern with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Miami Office, focusing on employment discrimination matters. Olivia was awarded the Squire Patton Boggs Fellowship during her time at the EEOC, allowing her to work with legal professionals at the intersection of law and policy. During her 2L year, Olivia was selected for the Honor Council and the University of Miami Law Review. She also served as a Dean’s Fellow for Elements and took part in the legal writing program through Exchange for Change at Everglades Correctional Institute. During her 2L summer, Olivia was a summer associate at Carlton Fields, working on business litigation and pro bono matters. As a 3L, she is serving as vice president of the Honor Council, as well as supervisor of elections. She is also the 11th Circuit Editor of the University of Miami Law Review.
The Miami Scholars Program allowed me to take abstract ideas from the classroom and put them into action as early as my first semester. I am so grateful to have participated in meaningful pro bono opportunities that took my personal interests into consideration and showed me the value of public interest work. My community of fellow Scholars, faculty, and alumni provided me with countless resources and support as I adjusted to the legal community more generally. I would not be where I am in my law school career today without the HOPE Office and the Miami Scholars Program!
~Olivia Zukowski, Class of 2025
The Miami Scholars Program was the deciding factor in my choosing to attend Miami Law. Not only did it allow me to further cultivate the career I wanted, but it also carved out a community for me within law school. The program served as a constant (and refreshing) reminder that a public interest legal career can truly take any shape. The HOPE Office was always a source of guidance and reassurance, for which I am eternally grateful.
~Sawyeh Esmaili, JD ’17
Senior Counsel, Reproductive Rights & Health National Women's Law Center Washington, DC
The Miami Scholars Program gave me a base of support, programs, mentoring, and encouragement in an environment that does not always emphasize doing public interest work. I could not imagine law school being as fulfilling and even enjoyable without this wonderful cohort of students, staff, and agents for change
~Thomas Voracek, JD ’19
Administrative Law Project Attorney Legal Services of North Florida Tallahassee, FL
The Miami Scholars Program is the reason that I chose to attend the University of Miami School of Law, and I'm very happy that I did. The support and encouragement that I received enabled me to be active in the community while maintaining high academic standards. It's an exceptional thing when you're surrounded by a group of people similar to you in their passion for public service, but with an incredible amount of diversity of life experience.
~Madeline Seales, JD ’20
Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender, Los Angeles, CA
Victor Alvarado graduated summa cum laude from Florida International University in May 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology, where he was a Dean’s List honoree and a member of the FIU Honors College. He was involved with the Dialogues of Democracy Club at Miami Dade College and served as a secretary for the advocacy organization F.A.I.R. (Fight, Advocate, Inform, and Resist), where he addressed critical social issues such as immigration reform and police brutality. He interned with the LGBTQIA+ non-profit Equality Florida, advocating against the Anti-Trans Sports Ban and supporting the Equality Act. After graduation, Victor worked as a College Success Coach at Miami Dade College, assisting students with college resources and immigration-related processes. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, he was a Law Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, working with Ferox Strategies in Washington, DC. As a 2L, he is serving as the Public Relations Director for the Disability Law Students Association and participating in the Human Rights Clinic.
Natalie Askowitz graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University in May 2023 with a B.A. in Social Policy & Practice and Sociology and a minor in Business. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in 2023. In New Orleans, she was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and volunteered by facilitating glass recycling, caring for rescue animals, providing rain barrels to communities in need for NOLA floods, and helping administer COVID vaccinations to Hispanic communities. She organized a weekly volunteer program to sing and interact with nursing home residents, specifically those with dementia. She taught local three to five-year-old’s how to read and write as a volunteer though 826 New Orleans. In Miami, she interned with the non-profit organization Opportunity for All Floridians, working to enforce equitable policymaking in Florida. She also worked on a Florida congressional campaign, conducting policy research with a focus on climate resiliency, civil rights, housing affordability, and healthcare. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, Natalie served as an intern with the Florida Justice Institute, drafting memos and motions, attending court hearings, and participating in client intake with the goal of advocating for safe prison conditions and protecting the rights of the unhoused community in Florida.
Natalie Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in May 2022 with a B.A. in Legal Studies with departmental honors and a minor in Human Rights. She wrote an honors thesis titled "Frontline Work in a Time of Crisis: Child Welfare Decisions Under Pandemic Policy." As a 1L at Miami Law, Natalie served as a Public Interest Leadership Board member and received the HOPE Excellence in Legal Advocacy 1L Award for completing the most pro bono hours in her firstyear class (over 90 hours of pro bono work with Americans for Immigrant Justice, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the Colorado Office of the Child’s Representative, Women in Distress, and the Health Equity Project for the Center of Ethics and Public Service). During her 1L summer, Natalie worked with The Door - Legal Services Center
in New York, a non-profit that offers holistic services to young people, working on the Detained Minors Project and the Pro Bono Project. She also worked as a summer research assistant for Professor Corbin and helped develop a Family Advocacy Pro Bono Project with EJW Fellow Alexandria Cinney, JD '22, and 3L Christina Velazquez. As a 2L, Natalie is serving as co-chair of If/When/How, vice president of Miami Law’s National Lawyers Guild chapter, secretary of the Criminal Law Society, and an advocacy committee chair for PILB. She is also participating in the ABA COREJ Schoolto-Prison Pipeline Project, serving as Junior Staff Editor of the Race and Social Justice Law Review and taking part in the Innocence Clinic.
Natalie Hollander graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida in August 2020, earning a B.A. in Environmental Science and minors in both Agricultural and Natural Resource Law and Economics. She published two manuscripts: Analyzing the Possibility of the United States Developing a Fully Renewable Electricity System and Understanding Public Attitudes Towards Partial Restoration of the Ocklawaha River. She received the Outstanding Scholar Award for her graduating class for exemplary scholarship demonstrated throughout her undergraduate career. Following graduation, Natalie became a STEM Teacher at the Museum of Discovery and Science, where she developed and implemented various educational programs to empower over 22,000 students to increase their involvement within STEM-based education, with a specific focus on underprivileged youth. She received the MUSE Silver Award for one of her co-written educational programs and the Outstanding Presenter Award from Broward County for her presentation to over 800 students on environmental sustainability at the Broward County Annual Youth Climate Summit. Natalie has also served as an Environmental Educator at Mounts Botanical Garden. In collaboration with the Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District, Natalie delivered an environmental science program to Palm Beach County high school students titled Ambassador of the Wetlands. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, she interned at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence Felonies Unit. During her 2L year, Natalie is participating in the Human Rights Clinic and serving as a Junior Staff Editor on the University of Miami Business Law Review.
Jodi Nicole Kain graduated cum laude from the University of Miami in May 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Law. She was a co-founder, vice president, and events coordinator for the University of Miami’s first local chapter of Ignite, a national nonpartisan organization for women in politics. She was on the Dean’s List and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and the political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. She previously served as an intern for US Senator Dan Sullivan in Washington, DC, working with constituents from her home state of Alaska and advocating with US agencies on their behalf. Following graduation, Jodi worked as a legal assistant and then a paralegal at an appellate law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a 1L at Miami Law, Jodi won the CALI Award for Family Law. During her 1L summer, she worked as a law clerk with the Vasquez de Lara Law Group family law firm, where she observed hearings and mediations, assisted attorneys with legal research, and drafted legal memoranda and pleadings. As a 2L,
Jodi is participating in the Children and Youth Law Clinic and serving as a Junior Staff Editor with the University of Miami Business Law Review. She is a member of the Society of Bar and Gavel and the Cardozo Jewish Legal Society and holds executive board positions within the International Law Society, Children and Family Law Society, and OUTLaw.
Hannah LaBovick graduated from Yale University in May 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science. Seeking ways to serve her community, she returned to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she joined a midterm Congressional campaign. She worked in underrepresented communities in Martin and Saint Lucie Counties, educating voters on their rights to make their voices heard. She then served on various 2020 Democratic Presidential campaigns, continuing her work in underserved and underrepresented communities, and ultimately working in Arizona with the team that helped turn Arizona blue. After the election, Hannah moved to Washington, DC, where she worked for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this role, Hannah served as the conduit between White House experts and staffers on Capitol Hill, who worked to create legislation that is inclusive and accessible to all communities. As a 1L at Miami Law, Hannah found a new blend of passionscommunity service and sports. During her 1L summer, she worked with the New York Red Bulls soccer organization. Hannah’s goal is to work for a sports-related foundation, assisting underserved communities through access to sports and education.
Yorciana Lasprilla graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University in 2022 with a B.A. in International Relations and Certificate in Pre-Law Studies and a concentration in Latin American Relations and Policy. She was a Florida Medallion Scholar, Gold & Blue Scholar, and the Army Ursano Scholarship recipient. She was a Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society member and on the Dean's List. She was a part of LATAMfocused research projects led by the State Department at FlU's Gordon Institute for Public Policy. These projects focused on the intersectionality of climate change, international law, and women's rights to highlight the lack of enforcement of legal code. While at FIU, she took part in multiple internships, including project manager at a non-profit, a community organizer at a grassroots political organization, an international trade specialist for the US Trade Office of Galicia, Spain, and an intern for Senior Trial Counsel for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. She completed her last semester of college in Washington, DC, interning for the DOJ's United States Marshal Service, where she assisted the Audits/Internal Control Team with their work with the US Attorney's Office. As a 1L at Miami Law, she joined the Hispanic Law Student Association and Criminal Law Society. During her 1L summer, she interned at the Office of General Counsel for the United States Marshal Service in Arlington, Virginia. As a 2L, she is externing in the office of the in-house counsel at The Swatch Group in Miami.
Yale Margolis graduated from The Tannenbaum College with a B.A. in Religious Studies. He received a graduate certificate in Police Leadership, followed by an M.A. in Criminal Justice with dual specializations in Police Administration and Criminology and Deviance in 2012, a Master’s in Public Administration: Inspector General Program, with a specialization in Inspection and Oversight in 2014, and an Advanced Certificate Post Baccalaureate in Terrorism Studies in 2015, all from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Yale received his Doctorate in Public Administration from West Chester University in 2021, where he was initiated into the Pi Alpha Alpha Society, the international honor society for Public Affairs & Administration. Yale’s dissertation focused on Field Training Programs in Policing titled Examining the Implementation Fidelity of a Police Field Training Officer Program: A Program Evaluation Perspective: A Mixed Methods Approach. Yale served as a member of the New York City Police Department and was assigned to Police Service Area 2 of the Housing Bureau for 10 years before retiring. He was a field training officer for new probationary officers. He attended Tenants Association meetings and Governing Boards and met with community leaders to work collaboratively on community issues. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Yale served as a legal intern at the Broward County State Attorney’s Office in the Homicide Unit, where he reviewed discovery, case files, depositions, and video evidence and worked on a triple homicide and first-degree murder case. He is participating in the Social Justice & Public Interest Concentration.
Albany Muria graduated from the University of Miami in May 2021 as a Civic Scholar with a B.A. in Public Administration and a minor in Human and Social Development. She was part of the inaugural cohort for the U Dreamers Program, which allowed outstanding DACA students to be eligible for financial aid at the university. She served as president of Get Out the Vote, where she led various voter registration initiatives and educated the UM community on their voting rights during the 2018 and 2020 elections. Throughout undergrad, Albany received various scholarship awards and was tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society. After graduation, Albany volunteered with the Miami-Dade County Office for New Americans, assisting with TPS applications for Venezuelans and annual naturalization workshops. As a 1L at Miami Law, Albany volunteered with the ACLU of Florida’s Detention Database program and the St. Thomas University Human Rights Institute. During her 1L summer, she worked on employment visas at the immigration firm of Beltran Brito Casamayor. As a 2L, Albany is continuing her immigration advocacy and her involvement in increasing voter participation in the 2024 election.
Angela Rose Myers graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in 2018 with a B.A. in Africana Studies and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. In 2019, she became the 2nd vice-president of the Minneapolis NAACP and was elected as the youngest president in the group’s history in 2020. That year she also became a Josie Johnson Leadership Fellow with the African American Leadership Forum. Angela Rose
graduated from The University of Minnesota in 2023 with a master’s degree in Human Rights. She was awarded the President’s Student Leadership & Service Award and the Mary A. McEvoy Public Engagement & Leadership Award for her work with victims of police brutality. In 2022 and 2023, Angela Rose and a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota notified the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and other UN entities about the human rights abuses perpetuated by the police in Minnesota, utilizing testimony from impacted individuals. This work culminated in a country visit to Minneapolis from the UN-Expert Mechanism on Law Enforcement and Racism in April 2023. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, Angela Rose worked as a law clerk for the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, where she aided the state’s Cannabis Expungement Board. At Miami Law, she is a co-president of the ACLU-UM chapter, community relations chair for the Black Law Students Association, and the critical reading group librarian for the National Lawyers Guild-UM chapter. In the community, she serves as board secretary for Win Back 501(c)3, board chair for the Minnesota Freedom Fund Action, advisory board member of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, and volunteer for The Reinvestigation Work Group, an independent, community-led team that investigates police misconduct.
Radha Patel graduated magna cum laude from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Political Science with minors in Legal Studies and International Affairs and a certificate in Constitutional Studies. Prior to law school, she worked as program coordinator at the nonprofit The OwlSwap Sustainability Initiative, creating and operating community-serving and environmentally sustainable resources for disadvantaged students. She was also elected to the Presidential Commission on Sustainability as the secretary and a voting member. She later wrote a children’s book, with the support of Ambassador Dho Young-Shim, entitled Sustainable Habits Cure Our Planet which aims to instill a generational change in how we consume clothing and how it affects the environment. As a 1L at Miami Law, Radha participated in an Alternative Spring Break Project with the Office of the New York County Defender Services, where she performed legal research, assisted in writing a manual, and observed court proceedings. During her 1L summer, she served as an intern at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, where she drafted court documents and assisted attorneys during trial and calendar calls. She also participated in the Judicial Internship Academy (JIA) with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, writing a bench memorandum, participating in a mock oral argument before a federal judge, and observing several trials. As a 2L, she is serving as a Junior Staff Editor on the Race and Social Justice Law Review and on the executive board for SWANALSA.
John Rincon graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University in 2020 with a B.A. in Philosophy and minors in English and Economics. At FIU, he volunteered with Exchange for Change, a non-profit organization that educates incarcerated students, where he taught philosophy and prepared course materials during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, John taught mathematics and philosophy at a private school in Miami for three years. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, he was a research assistant for Professor Kunal Parker where he researched statutory development in the American Antebellum period and served as
a summer law clerk at the United States Attorney’s Office in Miami, where he worked on research and writing projects related to complex federal white-collar offenses. As a 2L, John is serving as an extern for the Honorable Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, participating in the Investor Rights Clinic, and serving as a Junior Staff Editor on the University of Miami Law Review.
Ashley Rock graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University in December 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology and Political Science and a minor in Public Health. She volunteered with Orleans Public Defenders in Downtown New Orleans in the fall of 2018, assisting with first appearances in criminal court. During the summer of 2021, Ashley worked as a legal intern at the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor in Newark, New Jersey, where she conducted legal research on immigration law. After graduation, Ashley worked as a paralegal at the insurance defense firm of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP in White Plains, New York, where she drafted discovery demands and various pleadings. As a 1L at Miami Law, Ashley joined the Cardozo Legal Society and Health Law Association. During her 1L summer, she served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Andrew E. Krause, United States Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of New York, performing legal research and drafting reports, recommendations, and orders. As a 2L, Ashley is working as a law clerk for The Injury Law Firm.
Jake Solomon graduated summa cum laude from Binghamton University, State University of New York School of Management with a B.S. in Accounting and Management Information Systems. He served on the School of Management Diversity Board. His passion for helping others started at age fourteen when he founded his own small business, Smart Choice Protein, creating gluten free, vegan, and health-conscious products. Throughout college, Jake took part in internships for individual members of the New York State Senate and Assembly, participating in campaigning and community events, and assisting in the resolution of constituent problems such as tax and unemployment issues. He also served as Fundraising Chair for Corazoncitos, which informed the campus community about current issues in Latin America and raised money for non-profit organizations assisting children in Latin America. Upon graduation, Jake became the Coordinator of Legislative and Community Affairs for the New York State Assembly, where he assisted constituents in resolving issues, organized community service projects, and managed daily activities in the district office. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Jake served as an intern in the felony division of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, where he drafted legal memos, performed research, attended trials, and observed plea negotiations. As a 2L, Jake is serving as a HOPE Liaison for the Cuban American Bar Association, the Activist Chair for OUTLaw, and as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Darrin P. Gayles of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The Miami Public Interest Scholars Program has given me a community that I can lean on during my law school experience. My Scholars family made my entry into law school much more enjoyable, knowing I have mentors, faculty, and fellow students who are willing to help and encourage me throughout this process. Every meeting, conversation, and exchange is a breath of fresh air as we share our experiences and passions to improve the world around us.
I chose Miami Law because of the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center and Miami Public Interest Scholars Program. The guidance I have received through the Scholars Program and HOPE Office has been instrumental in shaping my comfort and confidence in approaching law school as a first-generation student. The Scholars Program has also given me a community of exceptional students and staff who genuinely want to help and support me academically and personally.
~Natalie Gonzalez, Class of 2026
The Miami Scholars Program has provided me with an invaluable network of enthusiastic faculty, mentors, and fellow students who share and support my passion for social justice and public service. It has helped to keep me grounded as I navigate this first year of law school, reminding me of why I applied and the work I will be able to pursue.
~TJ Idera, Class of 2027
Max Ackerson graduated as an Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholar and Foote Fellow from the University of Miami Herbert Business School in May 2024 with a BBA in Economics and Political Science and a minor in Business Law. He is a 2024-25 Rumsfeld Foundation Graduate Fellow. While in college, he interned in the Office of U.S. Representative Andy Barr, serving the constituents of Kentucky’s Sixth District and supporting the congressman’s legislative agenda on the House Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees and the Select Committee on Competition with the Chinese Communist Party. He also served as a legislative affairs summer associate at impact investing firm Advantage Capital, pursuing the expansion of New Markets, Rural, Low Income Housing, and Solar tax credit legislation to facilitate much-needed capital investment in small businesses, affordable housing, and renewable energy within our nation’s most underinvested zip codes. As an executive office intern at Concordia, he supported the nonprofit’s executive team in convening governmental, nonprofit, and business leaders to initiate dialogue and public-private partnerships tackling our globe’s most pressing issues. Max hopes to use his law degree to protect and promote biodiversity in unique habitats like Florida’s Everglades.
Natalie Bombino graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a B.S in Criminology and a minor in Business. While in college, she participated in the World of Affairs Program where she researched and proposed solutions to human rights issues from an international perspective. As a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, she volunteered for the Legal Aid Foundation to assist low-income families in accessing their legal rights. Natalie also spent her summers in Miami-Dade as a judicial intern for the Honorable Maria Verde. She assisted in a variety of court proceedings including the Drug Court Program, which provides defendants with resources to overcome substance abuse problems. After graduation, she worked as a full-time legal assistant at a family law firm where she drafted legal documents and guided clients through challenging divorce, paternity, and domestic violence matters. Natalie plans to utilize her law degree to continue advocating for clients in the areas of family law or criminal litigation.
Alexander Brenner graduated from Gonzaga University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, with concentrations in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Throughout college, he served as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, working to build homes for the homeless youth of Spokane, Washington. He also served as a mentor with Athletes for Kids, a foundation focused on teaching life skills to adolescents with disabilities. There, he helped to develop tools and mechanisms to help improve the mentors’ communication and engagement with the children facing the most challenging disabilities. As a member of the Gonzaga Baseball team, he focused on giving back to his community every weekend during the off-season, including participating in city-wide trash pickup, food distribution to the homeless, and aiding with supply chain management in local food and clothing
banks. Alex hopes to use his law degree to serve as a leader in the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system, engaging directly in legislative processes that shape healthcare policies for the greater good.
Robert Carilli graduated from Florida State University in December 2023 with a B.S. in Business Management. He was a member of the Dean’s List and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. Prior to college, Robert volunteered with Breakthrough Miami, assisting children from underserved communities to hone their academic abilities for the upcoming school year. While in college, he interned for Zeus Sustainable Energy, where he worked to build financial models and business plans for a successful zero-carbon energy platform, partaking in conferences, strategy sessions and discussing ideas for the sustainable energy transition. He also volunteered at the Palm County Food Bank, dedicating his time to packaging essential food items for those facing hardship. During his final semester at college, Robert volunteered with the Guatemala-Mayan center, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of uprooted Hispanic families, where he tutored elementary school children, helping to enhance their reading comprehension and mathematical proficiency. Robert hopes to use his law degree to advocate for environmental issues and sustainable development.
Sloane Crockett graduated from Belmont University in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. She was a member of the Social Work Student Association and Phi Alpha Honor Society. She completed multiple research projects, including one that examined the barriers faced by individuals experiencing homelessness upon their efforts to reenter society. Sloane was selected to be Belmont University's representative at the National Association of Social Work’s Day on the Hill where she presented an advocacy initiative focused on researching and correcting sentencing disparities in Tennessee. As a sophomore, Sloane interned at the Jean Crowe Advocacy Center in Nashville, TN, where she helped victims of domestic violence navigate the judicial process. From there, she took a keen interest in the criminal justice system and began focusing her studies on the development and consistent growth of mass incarceration in America. As a junior, Sloane interned with the Tennessee Office of the Post Conviction Defender, where worked with indigent individuals on death row as they appealed their death sentences. As a senior, she completed her field placement at the Middle District of Tennessee’s Office of the Federal Public Defender where she was as a social worker for individuals who were being charged criminally in the federal system. Sloane also founded Portrait of a Prisoner, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing individuals who are incarcerated with a platform to tell their life stories and helping to dismantle systemic biases by shedding light on the humanity of every individual who participates. Sloane hopes to use her law degree to continue advocating for indigent individuals in the justice system as a public defender specializing in capital cases and championing criminal justice and prison reform.
Olivia Dill graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire in 2024 with a B.A. dual major in Political Science and International Affairs and a minor in Italian Studies. She was a member of the University Honors Program and the Dean's List and served as a COLA Scholar. She was a member of the Model United Nations team and the captain of the Women's Club Volleyball team. She wrote her senior thesis on the impact of climate change on migration from Central America. She was a member of the Hamel Scholars Program, a leadership, academic, and service-based scholarship where she conducted volunteer work throughout the Durham community. She received the following awards: Italian first- and second-year outstanding student award, International Affairs Department outstanding student award, Granite State Development Corps Scholarship, Thomas B. Trout Scholarship, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society, Phi Beta Kappa of New Hampshire, and Caroline L. Gross Memorial Award. She studied abroad in the summer of 2022 in Bologna, Italy. In the summer of 2023, she interned for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch's Access to Justice (A2J) program, conducting research for and rewriting their Language Access Program, proposing new ways for remote interpreting in the NH courtrooms for hard of hearing and English Second Language individuals, finding new translation assistance technologies, and translating legal brochures into plain language. Olivia hopes to use her law degree to pursue a career as an immigration attorney.
Katrina Erwin graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University in 2020 with a B.S. in Mass Media Communication Studies and a minor in International Affairs with a concentration in Public Administration. She spent the four years prior to law school dedicated to advancing climate justice at the local, state, and federal levels through her role as Youth Advocacy Program Manager at The CLEO Institute. Katrina has devoted significant effort to recruiting and training advocates to testify at commission meetings in support of urgent climate action, while also actively engaging in the drafting and lobbying of climate and energy legislation. Among her notable achievements are securing over $300,000 in funding for the City of Miami's Office of Resilience, helping to pass a resolution to include two youth voting members on the City of Miami's Climate Resilience Committee, and collaborating with The CLEO Institute's legal and executive teams to facilitate a youth-led dialogue with Florida Power & Light on its environmental impact. Additionally, Katrina initiated and served on Miami-Dade County's inaugural youth mayoral round table, contributed to the passage of Leon County's first-ever county-wide climate emergency declaration, and played a key role in organizing the largest youth climate lobby day at the Florida State Capitol. Katrina serves as a member of the Coral Gables Sustainability Board and was recognized as a 2023 and 2024 Aspen Future Climate Leader. Katrina hopes to use her law degree to serve frontline communities and promote awareness of their rights and protections.
Tali Faerman graduated summa cum Laude from the University of Florida in May 2023 with a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science and a minor in English. While at UF, she was a part of the Political Science Junior Fellowship program, assisting Professor Andrew Janusz in researching racial politics in Ecuador. Tali also co-authored and published a paper within the Electoral Studies political science journal titled Electoral Colorism: Candidate Skin Color and List Placement in Ecuador. As part of her International Studies major with a concentration in Europe, Tali conducted research on the effects of Holocaust distortion in Eastern and Central Europe. She wrote her senior thesis Holocaust Distortion and the Promotion of Nationalist Agendas in Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine, which was recognized with the highest honors. Tali was also a part of the Pre-Legal Honor Society where she served as one of the community service chairs. She helped organize bi-monthly community service events to give back to the local Gainesville community, collaborating with organizations including the Child Advocacy Center and GRACE Marketplace. Since she was young, Tali has supported the Cooperative La Juanita within the community of La Matanza, an impoverished region in Argentina. She helped establish an English program at the local preschool by creating video lessons and collaborating with the on-site teachers. After graduation from college, Tali worked as an Anti-Human Trafficking Casework Intern for the International Rescue Committee, helping survivors of human trafficking acquire essential resources, such as housing, food, and clothing. Tali hopes to utilize her law degree to advocate for international human rights.
Avery Hall graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University in May 2023 with a B.A. in Communication Studies and minors in Nonprofit Studies and Human Development & Family Studies. While at Kent State, she served as the chair of the May 4th Task Force, a historic group dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1970 National Guard shootings on campus, where she led yearly commemorative ceremonies and was selected to act as the 2022 and 2023 Keynote Student Speaker. Additionally, she served as the vice president of the Lambda Pi Eta Honors Fraternity, community service and membership chair of Kent Student Ambassadors, and a programming board member for Undergraduate Student Government. She had opportunities to create local advocacy initiatives through her position as a Community Partner Advocate alongside the university, where she worked with nonprofits such as ACCESS Inc., Haven of Rest, and Luther House of Kent to promote education and youth involvement for those experiencing housing insecurity in Northeast Ohio. Upon graduation, she was selected by the Kent State Alumni Association for the Golden Flash Award, which highlights recent alumni with substantial contributions to the Kent community. With interests in exploring the intersections of juvenile advocacy and health law, Avery hopes to use her law degree to act as an advocate and to effectuate change in the lives of individuals within her community.
Teju (TJ) Idera graduated from East Stroudsburg University in May 2022, with a B.A. in Chemistry and minors in Psychology. She served as an intern for the United States District Court’s ReNew Court Program in Newark, NJ. She assisted in helping to reduce recidivism and improve public safety by creating benchmark goals for the program’s formerly incarcerated participants, while gaining valuable insights into the criminal justice system and complexities of reentry programs. Driven by a profound dedication to social justice, she began to volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Hudson County, NJ and became a Certified Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Advocate in Osceola, Florida shortly after, where she advocated for the rights and well-being of children in New Jersey’s and Florida’s legal systems. TJ hopes to use her law degree to continue fostering change and empowering marginalized communities.
Anthony Labrador graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami in May 2021 with a B.S. in Health Sciences and a minor in Biochemistry/Classics. He served as club treasurer for UM´s Chemistry Club, organizing outreach events such as STEM Saturdays at the Overtown Youth Center and demonstrations at the Frost Science Museum. Outside of school, Anthony became involved in Cuba Primero, a program supporting Cuban freedom. He arranged media broadcasts and public gatherings advocating for the freedom of Cuba. During the summer of 2024, he coordinated the travel of hundreds of volunteers to Washington D.C. to support the July 11th protests in Cuba. Following graduation, Anthony served as an intern with The Gallardo Law Firm, where he conducted legal research and assisted attorneys in providing legal relief to immigrants. Anthony hopes to use his law degree to protect the legal rights of immigrants and preserve their right to proper healthcare.
Camilo Daza Manga graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California in May 2022 with a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science, with a concentration in cross-national and regional politics with a focus on China and Latin America. While in college, he taught health education classes in under-resourced high schools and organized a Spanish-language nutritional education program in his hometown to help uninsured patients. At USC, Camilo was appointed to a task force to help define processes for reassessing campus building names and symbols. He also served as assistant editor of the opinion section of USC’s student newspaper, where he pushed for discounted transportation passes and the elimination of plastic beverage bottles on campus, both of which were later implemented. Camilo engaged with Congressional staff while in school to advocate for legislation to protect students’ constitutional freedom of association rights. During the 2020 election, he helped to create a youth-led political media movement focused on progressive policy and later worked with the NALEO Educational Fund, a non-profit organization that advocates for Latino participation in the American
political process. Following graduation, Camilo moved to Washington, D.C., where he continued to employ advocacy strategies and interfaced with foreign ambassadors, members of Congress, and senior executive branch officials to help his clients work to protect free speech across the political spectrum, promote the growth of green energy, expand pathways to higher education for underserved students, and advance inclusive economic initiatives across the globe. Camilo hopes to use his law degree to work at the intersection of international law and public policy.
Arianne Ontiveros graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California in May 2023 with B.A. degrees in Law, History, & Culture and Communication Studies. She served as the Panhellenic President, overseeing the largest women’s organization at the University and working directly with university administration. She also co-founded the digital platform Trojan Herstory which was created to connect women-identifying USC students and alumni. She graduated with the Order of Troy Award which recognizes exceptional student leaders. Upon graduation, she returned to her hometown of El Paso, Texas, where she delved into her love for public interest work and digital media, as well as giving back to her community. She worked as a writing specialist at her local community college and volunteered with a local non-profit immigration agency, Las Americas, and contributed to their digital media creation. She began an all-women’s run club, Girls Run the 915, meant to help fill the gap in the sport of running and give women a safe space to run. Her club averaged around 175 members per event and was featured in several local publications. Arianne hopes to use her law degree to continue giving back to border communities like her own and help others realize that humanity transcends borders.
Serena Patel graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in June 2024 with a B.A. in Political Science and Communication and a minor in History. She was a member of Delta Gamma, serving as Director of Service Hours, Director of Fundraising, and VP Foundation. In these roles, she worked with national and local organizations to create new volunteer opportunities for chapter members and organized numerous fundraising events on behalf of the Delta Gamma Foundation and non-profit organizations that serve the visually impaired community, such as the Blind Children’s Center in Los Angeles and Guide Dogs of America. She also volunteered with (Tote)ally Loved, a charitable organization that gives back to single mothers, since its founding in 2020. Serena worked as a legal intern for Engel & Davis, a trusts and estates firm in New York, where she gained insight into the realm of probate, inheritance, estate planning, and charitable donations. She hopes to pursue a legal career in which she continues to serve the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, creating a positive impact on both individuals and communities at large.
Kameron Walton graduated from the University of Central Florida in August 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science. He was a member of the President’s List and studied abroad in São Paulo, Brazil. There, he worked with various non-profit organizations, including Rotary International and Cidades Sem Fome. While working with Rotary International, he served the rural communities of São Paulo by assisting them with the cultivation of crops and vegetables. While serving with Cidades Sem Fome, Kameron assisted in agricultural projects that helped create urban gardens and a source of income for local residents. He also worked as an intern with the Peace Institute, assisting international college students in the U.S. with the development of life skills. Following graduation, he worked as a clerk at the State Attorney's Office in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Orange County. There, he was promoted to trial legal assistant, managing an extensive felony and misdemeanor caseload, serving as a translator and interpreter, drafting legal documents, and helping prepare cases for trial. Kameron hopes to use his law degree to pursue a career in community advocacy at the intersection of law, business, and international human rights.
The Miami Public Interest Scholars Program was central to my decision to attend the University of Miami School of Law, as I was eager to continue pursuing my passion for advocacy and public service during law school and beyond. The program has given me access to personalized career advising and unique professional opportunities, and most importantly, the chance to connect with students, faculty, staff, and alumni from diverse backgrounds who share a strong, shared commitment to public service.
~Camilo Daza Manga, Class of 2027
"Never
~Margaret Mead