UMass Law Commencement Program 2020-2021

120th & 121st Commencement

Friday, June 11, 2021

Cressy Field UMass Dartmouth Dartmouth, Massachusetts

UMass Dartmouth Mission

Board of Trustees

UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant, public research university dedicated to engaged learning and innovative research resulting in personal and lifelong student success. The University serves as an intellectual catalyst for economic, social, and cultural transformation on a global, national, and regional scale.

Robert J. Manning, Chairman (’84, Lowell) R. Norman Peters, JD, Vice Chairman Mary L. Burns (’84, Lowell) Ryan P. Callahan (’21, Lowell) Peter Cruz-Gordillo (’21, Medical School) Robert Epstein (’67, Amherst)

UMass Dartmouth Vision

Stephen R. Karam Richard M. Kelleher (’73, Amherst)

UMass Dartmouth will be a globally recognized premier research university committed to inclusion, access, advancement of knowledge, student success, and community enrichment.

UMass School of Law Mission

UMass Law is the Commonwealth’s public law school. We are committed to providing an excellent, affordable, and accessible legal education. Our collegial community respects and promotes diversity in identity and ideas.

Our program balances legal theory, doctrine, skills, experience, and professionalism.

We strive to graduate competent, ethical, and creative professionals who exercise sound judgment. Our involvement in the legal community enables our students to thrive in a changing profession and to serve the needs of their future clients. We advance justice within and beyond the Commonwealth through our research, writing, teaching, learning, practice, and engagement with the profession.

The permanent record kept in the Office of the University Registrar for each student will certify the award of degree and carry his or her grades, averages, and honors (if any).

At commencement, students graduating with distinction are noted only if that distinction has been earned at the end of the previous semester.

The names appearing in the Commencement Program represent an unofficial listing of candidates.

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Narcisse M. Kunda (’21, Dartmouth) Robert Lewis, Jr. Michael V. O’Brien (’88, Amherst) Noreen C. Okwara, M.D. (’12, Boston; ’17, Medical School) Kerri E. Osterhaus-Houle, M.D. (’99, Medical School) Imari K. Paris Jeffries, BA, MEd, MA (’97, ’99, ’03, Boston) Kush Patel (’21, Boston) James A. Peyser Julie M. Ramos Gagliardi, MBA (’87, Dartmouth) Timothy V. Scalona (’20, Amherst) Elizabeth D. Scheibel, JD Steven A. Tolman (’99, Boston) Victor Woolridge (’80, Amherst) Charles F. Wu, MBA

The University of Massachusetts is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to, and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.

Honorees Kristine C. Goodwin (’20) Student Address

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ristine C. Goodwin (J.D. ’20) has worked for over twenty years as a senior executive in higher education, most recently as a vice president for student affairs. Having passed the bar exam in October, she was sworn into the Massachusetts Bar in January 2021.

Since that time, she has been working as an affiliate attorney with Justice Bridge Legal Center—UMass Law’s incubator program—representing low-to-moderate-income clients out of the Boston office and coordinating the practice’s Title IX services. While in law school, Kristine completed independent legal research on alternative/appropriate dispute resolution (ADR) and courses at Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation (PON). She also volunteered with the NAACP. In addition to being an attorney, Kristine is a mediator, workplace investigator, ombudsperson, trainer, and conflict/ negotiation coach. She owns and operates GoodWin Resolutions, LLC, a legal consulting, and law firm committed to equal opportunity in employment and education. Kristine and her husband, Bruce, have three adult sons and one daughter-in-law, and an adopted rescue dog named Boots. Kristine earned a B.A. from Westfield State University and a M.Ed. from UMass Lowell before graduating magna cum laude from the UMass School of Law in 2020.

Kevin Joseph Burchill (’21) Student Address

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evin Joseph Burchill (J.D. ’21) is from West Tisbury, Massachusetts with deep family roots in New Bedford. Kevin went to Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, received a Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University in International Affairs and Security Policy, and is ending his academic career at UMass Law as a Public Interest Law Fellow. Kevin has worked for the Bristol County and Cape & Island’s District Attorney’s Offices, assisting the public through the arduous court process. Through his time in the Human Rights at Home Clinic, under the mentorship of Professor Margaret B. Drew, Kevin honed his empathetic approach to practice cases in the probate and family court, with a focus on advocating for survivors of domestic violence. He also had the privilege of being Professor Gina L. DeRossi’s Teaching Assistant and took pride in mentoring students in oral advocacy and case management skills as it relates to family law. Kevin is sitting for the Massachusetts Bar in July and hopes to work in family law and domestic violence advocacy in any capacity that allows him to continue his career dedicated to being of service to others. Kevin is the son of Jane E. Burchill and the late Kevin R. Burchill, J.D. (Suffolk, ’92). He dedicates his speech to the memory of his father, who insisted that Kevin “Smarten Up and Be Good,” and to his mother, whose persistence and undying support have enabled him to succeed.

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Order of Exercises

Student Awards

Academic Procession

Academic Achievement Awards

Full-time student:

Daniel James Tocci ’20

Spencer K Schneider ’21

Part-time student:

Robert C. Devine ’20

Jocelyn Frawley ’21

The audience is requested to remain seated until after the processional has been completed.

National Anthem UMass Dartmouth university chorus under the direction of Professor Tianxu Zhou – Video Welcome Mark A. Fuller, Interim Chancellor Greetings from the Dean Eric J. Mitnick Video Greetings from the President of the University Martin T. Meehan Video Greetings from the Board of Trustees Stephen R. Karam

Clinical Legal Education Award (CLEA)

Kseniya Evgenyevna Ruzanova ’20

Sarah Accar ’21 External Legal Education Award (CLEA)

Lisa M. Raimondi ’21 Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Company (CATIC) Foundation, Inc. Award

Robert C. Devine ’20

Victoria M. Wood ’21

Greetings from the Alumni Association Brittany Raposa ’12, JD ’15

Dean’s Service Award

Johnny Ross III ’20

Sharon Jeanette Hazel ’21

Student Address Kristine C. Goodwin ’20 Kevin Joseph Burchill ’21

Pro Bono Award

Christina Yeajin Suh ’20

503.50 hours of pro bono work

Announcement of Awards Eric J. Mitnick Dean Hooding of the Candidates and Conferring of Juris Doctor Degrees Mark A. Fuller, Interim Chancellor Eric J. Mitnick, Dean Recessional

Natalie Nicole Newsom ’21 486.50 hours of pro bono work

St. Thomas More Award

Kyle J. Zacharewicz ’20

Daniel Justin Figueroa ’21 Student Bar Association Hon. Francis L. Larkin Amicus Award

Camille D. Evans ’20

Maria M Lim ’21 Thurgood Marshall Social Justice Award Michael A. Cain ’20

Maria M Lim ’21

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2020 School of Law

Eric J. Mitnick Dean

Lauren S. McCarthy* Alice M. McDermott* William P. McGuire Joshua D. Melo

Juris Doctor Recipients

Annette Mendoza

Oluwatobi Adedokun

John Monahan Mullen**

Markus M. Aloyan

Julio C. Murillo Garcia*

Robert T. Ball Jr**

Brynna M. Patel

James Charles Black

Christine Powers

Michael A. Cain

Kiersten M. Reider*

Brenton S. Callaghan

Flannery duRivage Rogers**

Tyler M. Chaisson*

Johnny Ross III*

Beyanid Cole

Kseniya Evgenyevna Ruzanova

Caroline S. Constance

Mark Salomone*

Alex M. Couto*

Jocelyn Tyra Carmen Small

Evan James Dean

Marcio Soares

Robert C. Devine***

Ilan Stern

Colleen Marie Doyle

Christina Yeajin Suh

Kayleigh D. Ellison

Natalie M. Tafuri

Camille D. Evans

Daniel James Tocci***

Aleah I. Fisher**

Nayomi Ivelisse Vazquez

Colleen Patricia Flores*

Alexander David Vitale

Ingrid Banessa Gonzalez Mejia

Brittany Rae Wescott**

Kristine C. Goodwin**

Michael John Westerman

Joseph F. Grillo*

Kurt Eric Wichman

Tyler Andrew Hicks

Debra A. Wilmer

Daniel William Jackman*

David S. Wilson**

Talia Cheyenne Johnson*

Jenna M. Winslow

Jamie Jordan

Kyle J Zacharewicz

Ryan W. Kelly** Bailey E. Kraus Mary Brigh Lavery** Ayesha Malik Teresa Marie Erika Nicole Martinez

Honors designations *** Summa Cum Laude ** Magna Cum Laude

* Cum Laude

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2020 Recognition

Academic Fellows

Robert T. Ball Jr

Alice M. McDermott

Daniel James Tocci

Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity Award

Teresa Marie

Public Interest Law Fellows

Michael A. Cain

Beyanid Cole

Caroline S. Constance

Colleen Marie Doyle

Jamie Jordan

Bailey E. Kraus

Mary Brigh Lavery

Teresa Marie

Flannery duRivage Rogers

Christina Yeajin Suh

Natalie M. Tafuri

Debra A. Wilmer

Jenna M. Winslow

Kyle J. Zacharewicz

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Law Review Board

Editor-In-Chief

Mary Brigh Lavery

Managing Editor

Flannery duRivage Rogers

Executive Articles Editor

Aleah I. Fisher

Executive Notes Editor

Robert C. Devine

Business & Conference Editor

Lauren S. McCarthy

Lead Editors Robert T. Ball Jr Ryan W. Kelly Brittany Rae Wescott David S. Wilson

2020 Recognition

“Servant of Justice Award” for performing 100 hours of pro bono or community service

Oluwatobi Adedokun

Robert T. Ball Jr

Brenton S. Callaghan

Kayleigh D. Ellison

Ayesha Malik

Johnny Ross III

Faculty and Staff Marshals

Faculty Marshal Kevin Connelly Staff Marshal Sandra Leger Silva

“Leader for Justice Award” for performing 200 hours of pro bono or community service

Michael A. Cain

Beyanid Cole

Caroline S. Constance

Colleen Marie Doyle

Jamie Jordan

Bailey E. Kraus

Mary Brigh Lavery

Teresa Marie

Erika Nicole Martinez

Flannery duRivage Rogers

Jocelyn Tyra Carmen Small

Marcio Soares

Christina Yeajin Suh

Natalie M. Tafuri

Debra A. Wilmer

Jenna M. Winslow

Kyle J. Zacharewicz

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2021 School of Law

Quan N. Le MaryAnn Reilly Lemon Celia Laine Rogers Lesh Maria M. Lim Brooke Michelle Loneker Eve M. Madden** Sadia A. Mandli Cymone Martin Mercedes Martinez* Alyssa Faye McCartney** Michael V. McVeigh Teresa Melendez Padilla Matthew Metcalf Anthony V. Moser Alexandria Rita Murphy Sedri-Ann S. Murray Braeden Newman* Natalie Nicole Newsom** Gregory James O’Neill** Kellie M. Otteman Abigail R. Peckham*** Margot L. Pera* Daniel A. Picketts Lisa M Raimondi** Pedro M. Raposo Dominique T Rapoza Samantha E. Reid** Antonio J. Reyes Ashley Taylor Rix* Timothy Edward Robinson III* Gabriella Angela Russo Michael A. Santi Spencer K. Schneider*** Laurie Jaclaude Senat Ricardo J Serrano Jay M. Shenk* Stephanie A. Simon Matthew R. Stevens*** Shareefah Dorosa Thomasina Taylor** Laura A. Trevino* Judson S. Watt Thomas David Aaron Wazlavek* Wendy W. Weston Victoria M. Wood**

Eric J. Mitnick Dean

Juris Doctor Recipients Sarah Accar Enoch Nii Adotei Allotey* Maria J. Backman Abbey M. Barr* Vladeric Belizaire* Stefan Belliveau Victoria Lynn Bendza* Amanda L. Bourgeois Thomas M. Brennan** Brendan M. Burchell Kevin J. Burchill Rebecca Nicole Cecconi Eric D. Chiasson Kyla L. Collette Derek N. Connors** Tara M. Cullen Dylan M Dalbeck Laurel Dane* Jenna T. Dean Nicholas Damian DeMarco** Jessica Lynne Dusenberry Alexandra Farmer Jayde B. Ferguson Daniel Justin Figueroa Jocelyn Frawley*** Victor Y. Gevirtz Jennifer Giabbai** Connor P. Gillen* Jonathan R. Goldman Richard M. Grace Sharon Jeanette Hazel Richard Steven Hickey Brandon Paul Hunt* Jared Hunter Molly K. Hyland** Shamar O. James Youjeen A. Kang Stephen Michael Kaye* Reaz N. Khan Benjamin D. Klub Nicholas S. LaFlamme Christopher Andrew Lanen** Ruth Mosely Lavache 8

Honors designations *** Summa Cum Laude ** Magna Cum Laude

* Cum Laude

2021 Recognition

Academic Fellows

Victoria Lynn Bendza

Laurel Dane

Molly K. Hyland

Natalie Nicole Newsom

Margot L. Pera

Samantha E. Reid

Ashley Taylor Rix

Victoria M. Wood Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity Award

Sharon Jeanette Hazel Public Interest Law Fellows

Kevin J. Burchill

Rebecca Nicole Cecconi

Jocelyn Frawley

Jennifer Giabbai

Sharon Jeanette Hazel

Youjeen A. Kang

Reaz N. Khan

Ruth Mosely Lavache

Maria M. Lim

Mercedes Martinez

Teresa Melendez Padilla

Alexandria Rita Murphy

Gregory James O’Neill

Shareefah Dorosa Thomasina Taylor

Thomas David Aaron Wazlavek

Victoria M. Wood Law Review Board

Editor-In-Chief

Abigail R Peckham

Managing Editors

Jocelyn Frawley

Shareefah Dorosa Thomasina Taylor

Executive Articles Editor

Lisa M. Raimondi

Executive Notes Editor

Gregory James O’Neill

Business & Conference Editor

Alyssa Faye McCartney

Technology Editor 2019-2020

Christopher Lanen

Lead Editors Thomas M. Brennan Derek N. Connors Nicholas Damian DeMarco Eve M. Madden Laura A. Trevino

Staff Editors Molly K. Hyland Samantha E. Reid Ashley Taylor Rix Matthew R. Stevens

“Servant of Justice Award” for performing 100 hours of pro bono or community service

Samantha E Reid

Gabriella Angela Russo

“Leader for Justice Award” for performing 200 hours of pro bono or community service Kevin J Burchill Rebecca Nicole Cecconi Jessica Lynne Dusenberry Jocelyn Frawley Jennifer Giabbai Sharon Jeanette Hazel Molly K Hyland Youjeen A Kang Reaz N Khan Ruth Mosely Lavache Maria M Lim Mercedes Martinez Teresa Melendez Padilla Alexandria Rita Murphy Natalie Nicole Newsom Gregory James O’Neill Abigail R Peckham Lisa M Raimondi Spencer K Schneider Shareefah Dorosa Thomasina Taylor Laura A Trevino Thomas David Aaron Wazlavek Victoria M Wood

Technology Editor Spencer K. Schneider 9