Miami Scholars 2009
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Dean Lennon welcomes newest Miami Scholar, Class of 2012, Stephen Heymann, at Law Day on March 27th, 2009.

Cristina Berrios

Upon completing her Bachelors degree with a major in Economics and a minor in Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida, Cristina Berrios continued her education at UCF, earning a Masters in Public Administration. Throughout her studies, she has demonstrated a commitment to public service, making time to volunteer with various public and non-profit organizations, aiding the homeless, mobilizing youth in politics, and consistently providing quality HIV/AIDS services.  Prior to commencing her graduate studies, Cristina worked for a private firm where she gained major insight into legal writing and research. While gaining this knowledge, Cristina began to question the bureaucracy, which often proved incapable of providing one-stop guidance and seemingly paralyzed in by outdated, ineffective, and sometimes conflicting policies. This experience led Cristina to establish new professional goals --  after graduation from law school, she plans to work within government to develop positive legal solutions to inefficiencies affecting the under-represented.

Kathryn D. Demarco

As a student of The University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Hispanic Linguistics and minoring in Arabic, Kathryn has availed herself of work and study opportunities in Spain and Mexico.  Kathryn consistently demonstrated a sense of public service, offering her skills in Spanish to act as interpreter for a group enlisted to help the community of Saltillo, Mexico rebuild parts of old houses. Her exposure to the hardship of many Mexican citizens opened her eyes to the challenges faced within the country, particularly in the rural areas. From this, she developed an interest in the study of immigration law and policy and looks forward to studying law and exploring the ways in which she can promote access to justice as a lawyer.

Christopher Franich

For two years, Christopher has volunteered in Honduras with the Peace Corps. His primary objective was to ensure rural people’s practical access to potable water and basic sanitation, as well as underscoring the important roles in natural resource management, pollution mitigation, recycling, HIV/AIDS education and an array of other programs. With the hopes of working with the immigration community, Christopher plans to navigate the legal system with those who are largely ignored or underrepresented in the system, understanding that limited attention has exacerbated the problems they face. “I have learned the only solution is education and policy,” he says. “Education to alter the mindset of the people, and policy to ensure that these modifications ultimately become implemented.”

Stephen Heymann

After attending a Red Cross Youth Leadership Conference at Emory University, Stephan Heymann decided to dedicate his life to making a difference.  He organized the first youth group for his local Red Cross, serving as President and founding member.  Along with twenty other students, he was trained to assist with disaster response.  Before long, Stephen was forced to apply his newly-acquired skills when four successive hurricanes hit Florida.  His experiences volunteering during Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, Ivan, Charley and Katrina have resonated with Stephen.  Specifically, they have solidified his conviction to attend law school and engage in public service by aiding those facing great adversity. Stephen was recognized by the Governor of Florida with the Points of Light Award, Florida’s highest award for volunteer service.

Sarah G. Lamb

Sarah Lamb’s interest in pursuing a law degree evolved from her unique first-hand experience with the Peace Corps in Paraguay, where she served a rural health and sanitation volunteer for two years. Backed with a degree in History and Political Science from the University of Colorado, Sarah has repeatedly demonstrated her passion for helping those in need.  In addition to working with Legal Services of East Tennessee, Inc. where she served as a volunteer bilingual legal assistant in domestic violence cases, Sarah has also taught English for the Stael Ruffinelli Ortiz Institute in Paraguay.  Sarah enters the University of Miami School of Law excited by the opportunities to use her degree in a way that will benefit the underrepresented in the United States and abroad.

Valerie Lewis

While volunteering at The Village, a Miami rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol dependent individuals, Valerie Lewis was inspired to pursue a career in public service.  She interacted with mothers who had lost custody of their children, and needed support and assistance in navigating the legal system. Realizing these women are faced with many barriers, including limited resources at their disposal, Valerie hopes her legal education can help them in a profound and concrete way. While her public service work in Miami is significant, it is only part of a lifelong effort to help others. In addition to teaching in Santo Domingo, Valerie worked with local Girl Scouts to promote education about HIV/AIDS and volunteered at an AIDS clinic in Madrid, Spain during her study-abroad experience. Equipped with her education and career experience, Valerie feels it is her “moral obligation to protect those who are less fortunate or simply less informed through our legal system.”

Amanda Liepold
As a volunteer in the Youth Health Program in Tanzania, Amanda Liepold implemented and managed a sexual reproductive health education program in two rural villages within the epicenter of the AIDS pandemic in Tanzania. Working with school and community leaders, Amanda coordinated relief of the community health issues in the region by implementing targeted seminars and outreach efforts. In addition, she also worked as a fundraiser for Student Partnership Worldwide USA, a program that redresses issues relating to a lack of sexual health information, opportunities for young people and gaps in resources. By raising over $7000 for the agency, Amanda was able to directly assist with programming proliferation. In addition to her work in Tanzania, Amanda has demonstrated a commitment to service through work on the Kerry campaign, her internship with State Senator Taylor (D-Wisc) and student leadership in Alternative Spring Break programs.

Ashley Matthews

Ashley made a commitment to dedicate herself to service while an undergraduate student at Hampton University, where she earned her bachelors in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Political Science. She plans to use her law school education to realize her ultimate goal of starting her own non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization. She hopes to utilize the fields of broadcast, print and online journalism to draw attention to international human rights and public interest issues. In addiction she hopes to provide direct legal services and advocacy for those in need, while supporting policy changes in support of human rights legislation.  

Rashanda McCollum

Rashanda McCollum has always wanted to pursue a legal education. As a child, she was captivated by the idea of one day standing before a court of law and demanding racial equality and guarantees of civil rights. Rashanda attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a degree in English and Communication Studies.  As vice-president of the university’s chapter of the NAACP, she worked to raise awareness of the adverse effects of racial discrimination.   She has also immersed herself extensively in the legal world, both through her employment at the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as through volunteer work with the Urban League of Broward County. All of Rashanda’s work has provided her with unique life experiences and has fueled her desire to study law and serve the public interest: observing the impact of workplace discrimination on individuals with disabilities, identifying the flaws of the welfare system, and witnessing the ability of the law to help some while leaving others behind.

Liam McGivern

Liam McGivern has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to human rights and the defense of society’s most marginalized sectors. As a student at the University of Washington, Liam earned a Global Studies Degree, with a minor in Human Rights. This emphasis has allowed him to investigate and appreciate the diverse issues facing the international community. His insights were highlighted at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium, where he received the 2008 UW Library Research Award for a multimedia presentation entitled Justice Denied: Impunity During and After the Salvadoran Civil War. His achievements also include leading a human rights action group, participating in the Pacific Sociological Association and publishing work in the UW Department of Comparative History of Ideas Journal.

Elizabeth Rieser-Murphy

After graduating from the University of Delaware, where she earned a BA in International Relations, Elizabeth Reiser-Murphy joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a national and international program dedicated to working with marginalized individuals and groups by providing essential services and education. Based in four core values,  social justice, simple living, community and spirituality, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps provided an opportunity for Elizabeth to engage in hands-on work for those most in need. After her time with JVC, Elizabeth went to New York University and earned her Masters in Education. Elizabeth has a demonstrated commitment to social responsibility and looks forward to joining the Miami Scholars Program in the Fall.

Allison Saperstein

As a student majoring in History and Political Science at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the idea of law school was always a viable option for Allison Saperstein. It wasn’t until she took a class on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, however, that she understood the exact path she wanted to take in terms of her legal education. It was in this class that Allison became fascinated with human rights law and the way in which a legal education could provide her the opportunity to advocate for individuals’ most basic human and civil rights. Her interest in public service, specifically, was inspired by the volunteer work she performed at Safe House, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence. These experiences led her to seek employment, first at the Circuit Court of Baltimore City and, presently, at the U.S. Department of Justice-Civil Rights. As an employee at the Office of Special Counsel in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Allison has come to understand the broad spectrum of opportunity that a legal career in public interest has to offer and looks forward to expanding her knowledge in the area throughout her years at the University of Miami School of Law.

Anne Stevenson

A graduate of Tufts University with a degree in Political Science, Anne Stevenson is focused on public policy, benefits assistance programs and family law. Anne completed internships in politics and legislation, where she learned about pro-bono legal assistance and legal services programs designed to promote access to justice. As a student at Tufts, Anne established the Tufts Alliance for the Advancement of Mothers (TAAM). This Alliance was formed to address the marginalization of mothers attending school at Tufts including housing policies prohibiting children and the lack of support services available to families. TAAM was featured prominently in the national media and serves as a model for campuses across the country and heralded for its provision of pro bono legal assistance in the family courts. Anne is pursuing a career as a lawyer in order to use the law as a vehicle to advocate on behalf of disenfranchised families.