Experience

HUMAN RIGHTS, RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION FOR

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Legal Counsel

  • Jun 2023 - Present

• Staff Attorney

  • Sep 2022 - Jun 2023


Rhode Island Attorney General's Office
• United States
• Law Enforcement
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Special Assistant Attorney General

  • Apr 2019 - Sep 2022


Melick & Porter, LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate

  • Dec 2017 - Apr 2019

  Conducting litigation defense from inception to resolution including client consultation, discovery, motion practice, court and other tribunal appearances, taking depositions, achieving settlement through negotiation, mediation or arbitration; conducting research and drafting memoranda for partners; specializing in general liability, professional liability and retail licensing; representing clients in state court and before state agencies and municipal boards. Conducting litigation defense from inception to resolution including client consultation, discovery, motion practice, court and other tribunal appearances, taking depositions, achieving settlement through negotiation, mediation or arbitration; conducting research and drafting memoranda for partners; specializing in general liability, professional liability and retail licensing; representing clients in state court and before state agencies and municipal boards.



Leadership for Educational Equity

• United States
• Education Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Public Policy Fellow, Office of Governor Gina Raimondo; Rhode Island Department of Education

  • Sep 2016 - Aug 2017

  Selected through competitive interview process to work with senior-level policy leaders to impact policy change; conducted research; drafted memoranda, guidance, regulations and statutory language; analyzed legal issues to advise decision-makers; designed and conducted stakeholder engagement; compiled and reported constituent feedback. Policy issues included educators’ responsibilities for undocumented families, post-secondary education for incarcerated persons, state implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act, regulation of charter networks, and statutory protections for LGBTQ+ persons. Show less



Arizona Court of Appeals

• Administration of Justice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Judicial Law Clerk

  • Aug 2015 - Aug 2016

  Selected through competitive interview process for one-year position for appellate judge; drafted opinions, decisions and memoranda for assigned cases; researched pertinent legal issues and briefed judge; presented drafts to panel at conferences; revised drafts for publication; attended oral arguments and hearings and performed bailiff duties as assigned. Legal issues included Constitutional protections for criminal defendants, termination of parental rights, access to unemployment benefits, protection of trade secrets in civil discovery. Show less



Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender

• Rule 38 Certified Limited Practice Student

  • Jan 2015 - May 2015

  Represented indigent clients at all phases of the court process under supervision of a licensed attorney, including sentencing hearings, preliminary hearings, motion to suppress, cross examination at bench trial, and closing at bench trial. Succeeded in getting charges dismissed for lack of evidence at a preliminary hearing. Represented indigent clients at all phases of the court process under supervision of a licensed attorney, including sentencing hearings, preliminary hearings, motion to suppress, cross examination at bench trial, and closing at bench trial. Succeeded in getting charges dismissed for lack of evidence at a preliminary hearing.



Maricopa County Superior Court

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Extern

  • May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Drafted orders for civil cases at all stages of litigation, including motions for reconsideration, motion to designate vexatious litigant, motions in limine and others; conducted legal research and briefed judge; attended proceedings. Drafted orders for civil cases at all stages of litigation, including motions for reconsideration, motion to designate vexatious litigant, motions in limine and others; conducted legal research and briefed judge; attended proceedings.



Arizona House of Representatives; Democratic Staff Office

• Legal Intern

  • Jan 2014 - May 2014

  Selected as only Democratic staff legal intern through competitive interview process; Summarized proposed House bills and presenting to the caucus; assisted counsel in House Judiciary and Rules committees; researched legislative history and case law relating to bills; composed memoranda on legal issues. Selected as only Democratic staff legal intern through competitive interview process; Summarized proposed House bills and presenting to the caucus; assisted counsel in House Judiciary and Rules committees; researched legislative history and case law relating to bills; composed memoranda on legal issues.



Teach For America

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Resource Room Specialist

  • May 2013 - Jul 2013

  May 2014 - July 2014 May 2015 - July 2015 Served as Institute resource librarian: Assisted Corps Members in identifying resources aligned to summer school objectives; provided lesson planning support for Secondary English, Math and Special Education; worked with Resource Room team to create, maintain and break down a physical resource center at the Institute site. May 2014 - July 2014 May 2015 - July 2015 Served as Institute resource librarian: Assisted Corps Members in identifying resources aligned to summer school objectives; provided lesson planning support for Secondary English, Math and Special Education; worked with Resource Room team to create, maintain and break down a physical resource center at the Institute site.



Achievement First

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Teacher

  • Jan 2010 - Jun 2012

  Amistad-Elm City High School (Jan. 2010 - June 2010) English I Teacher Elm City Middle School (Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2010) 5th, 6th Science Long-term Substitute Achievement First Amistad High School (Jan. 2011 - June 2012) Special Services Coordinator Achieved commended performance on Special Education Praxis exam; designed a referral process to align with New Haven Public Schools Special Services Department's identification and evaluation process; sat on the school behavior team and worked with student struggling behaviorally one-on-one; reading intervention students averaged over 2 years reading growth in 2010-11. Show less

• Director of Transportation & Special Events; External Interviewer

  • Jan 2010 - Aug 2010

  Coordinated corps member transportation to summer school sites across New York City; worked with director of institute operations to plan and execute all-corps events for 500-700 people; collaborated with other members of the operations team to staff all-corps events; managed two interns and supported them in planning and executing several smaller events.

• 2008 Corps Member

  • 2008 - 2010

  Selected as one of 3700 corps members from a pool of nearly 25,000 to teach for two years in an under-resourced area.Achieved commended performance on English Praxis exam; Students achieved “measurable gains” for 2008-09 school year.

• Director of Corps Communications - Philadelphia Institute

  • Apr 2009 - Aug 2009

  Developed and maintained communication systems for the institute site; managed Operations Coordinators; directed institute closing ceremony.



Houston ISD

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• English I Teacher

  • Aug 2005 - May 2008

  ASPIRE Award recipient for 80%+ students proficient or higher on 2008 Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills. Reading Department Chair, 2007-08, worked with department and state TAP to develop reading curriculum. ASPIRE Award recipient for 80%+ students proficient or higher on 2008 Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills. Reading Department Chair, 2007-08, worked with department and state TAP to develop reading curriculum.



Girl Scouts Of Eastern Oklahoma

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Center Director

  • May 2007 - Aug 2007

  Center Director (May 2006 - August 2006) Unit Leader (May 2003 - August 2003) Unit Leader/Waterfront Staff (May 2002 - August 2002) Center Director (May 2006 - August 2006) Unit Leader (May 2003 - August 2003) Unit Leader/Waterfront Staff (May 2002 - August 2002)