2012-2013 Student Assembly | Board Members
| President: Megan Daic Megan currently serves as the 2012 - 2013 President of the Student Bar Association, and previously as 1L Representative. She also represents the Law Center as a member of the Blakely Advocacy Institute's Mock Trial Team. During the 2012 – 2013 academic year, she has competed at CACJ in San Francisco, as well as at the White Collar Crime Tournament in Washington, D.C. in which she advanced to the semi-finals. In 2011, she advanced as a quarterfinalist in the Hippard Open Mock Trial Competition, hosted by the Advocates, and she and her partner won the Hippard Novice Mock Trial Competition in 2012. In 2012, she advanced to the finals of the Hippard Open Mock Trial Competition. She is also Membership Chair for the Advocates, as well as a Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor, and member of the UHLC Honor Council. Outside the Law Center, she interns for the Harris County District Attorney's office, and previously interned at the Dallas County District Attorney's office in the felony court division. Megan is originally from Long Beach, California, but she spent most of her childhood in Houston, and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2007 with a degree in Government and minor in Spanish. In 2008, she interned on Capitol Hill for a Texas Congressman. Since then she has worked as a Junior Research Analyst for a political polling firm, as well as held various positions within two different national non-profit organizations. In 2010 she started a half-marathon training program for the Houston Gulf Coast Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, and helped the organization raise over $110,000 in one season. Megan enjoys reading, cooking, wakeboarding, and spending time with her Brittany Spaniel, Bella. |
| Vice President: Katy Gray Kathryn Gray (Katy) serves as the Vice President for the Student Bar Association for the term of 2012-2013. Katy was previously a 1L Representative for the year of 2011-2012. Katy's job as Vice President consists of coordinating the 1L mentoring program, while serving as a mentor, and facilitating SBA elections. Katy is a dual-degree J.D. /MBA Candidate and attends both UHLC and Bauer School of Business. Katy is involved in the University of Houston's Mock Trial Team. In the fall of 2012, she participated in the Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico where she was recognized for receiving top individual scores. Katy also worked as a Research Assistant in the UHLC Lawyering Skills and Strategies Department where she focused on creating class simulations. In the summer of 2012 Katy interned with several Harris County Civil District Courts. Prior to law school Katy graduated from The University of Texas at Austin receiving a B.B.A. in Business Management. After receiving her undergraduate degree Katy worked for Pearland Independent School District as the Federal Grants Special Project Coordinator. Katy is a born and raised Houstonian who likes playing sports, reading, and volunteering for her local Church. |
| Bookswap Director / 2nd Vice President: Justin Ratley |
| Secretary: Adam Robertson I was born and raised in College Station and moved to Austin to attend St. Edward's University for my undergraduate work. After college I worked for a year before coming to UHLC. Since then I've been actively involved in various student organizations, including SBA, the Advocates, and of course SELO or Sports and Entertainment Law Organization. In addition, I am a member of the Mock Trial and ADR competition teams. I'm currently clerking for a local plaintiff's form trying to hone my skills in litigation. When I'm not involved in either school or work I enjoy spending time with my dog, Sasha. She is a little chow/lab mix that was found abandoned outside of the law school last February. Besides that, I enjoy being active playing basketball, football, softball, and golf. As always, GO SECTION B! |
| Treasurer: Cameron Dernick Cameron currently serves as the Treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and previously served as a 1L Representative. This past summer, he accepted an invitation to join the Houston Journal of International Law as an editorial board candidate. Cameron is a native of the Houston area, having grown up in Tomball, Texas. In college, he was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha (the National Political Science Honor Society), served as a District Intern for U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, and worked as an Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner of a downtown Austin law firm. In 2010, he graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Government and minor in Economics. Since enrolling at UHLC, he has worked as a law clerk for a Houston based personal injury litigation firm. Cameron is also an Eagle Scout, cooking enthusiast, and college football fanatic. |
| Internal Affairs Director: Kelly Hickman |
| ABA Representative: Nandini Kavuri Nandini Kavuri currently serves as the American Bar Association Representative for the Student Bar Association. She also serves as the President of South Asian Law Students Association and as a 1L Student Mentor at the University of Houston Law Center. Since enrolling at UHLC, Nandini has had internship experience with a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the law firm Coane & Associates, and the National Labor Relations Board. Prior to attending law school Nandini graduated from Texas A&M University receiving a B.B.A. in Marketing and a Minor in Women's and Gender Studies. Nandini is originally from Newfoundland, Canada, but has spent most of her life growing up in Dallas, Texas. In her free time, Nandini enjoys painting, running, and Indian classical dancing. |
Large Events Director: Morgan Bellmor |
Small Events Director / Social Director: Amanda Schramm |
| Texas Bar Liaison / External Affairs Director: Jim Silliman Jim currently serves as a board member of the State Bar of Texas, Law Student Division. In this capacity, he serves as the Texas Bar Liaison to the Student Bar Association, where he previously served as the President, Treasurer and 1L Representative. He also represents the Law Center as the student coach to the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team, having previously competed as a speaker and writer. Outside the Law Center, he clerks part-time for the law firm Brown Sims, P.C., and he clerked part-time during his 2L year for the law firm Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C. Jim is a native of Houston and graduated with Honors from Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and German. In May 2006 he moved to Washington, DC and served as a Legislative Assistant, for over four years, to a Texas Congressman. He handled a portfolio including Banking/Financial Services, Tax, Budget, 2nd Amendment Rights, Housing, Labor, Retirement Security/Pensions, Government/Election Reform, Postal, Social Security, Military/Defense, and Veterans Affairs. During his time on Capitol Hill, Jim led efforts in the drafting and advocacy of Public Law No. 110-363—theBoy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act—signed by the President on October 8, 2008 (minting 350,000 one-dollar coins providing seven million dollars to expand Scouting) and H.R. 4586—theTBI Treatment Act—passed unanimously through the United States House of Representatives on May 27, 2010 (authorizing a fifty million dollar treatment reimbursement program making cutting-edge brain injury treatments available to soldiers and veterans). Jim is an outdoors enthusiast and enjoys cycling, camping and hiking with his wife and golden retriever. |
| Intramurals Director: Drew Willey |
2012-2013 Student Assembly | Representatives
3L Representative: Russ Gifford |
| 3L Representative: Courteney Taylor Courteney Taylor is a 3L rep for SBA for the 2012-2013 school year. This year Courteney is the Executive Editor of the Houston Journal of International Law, and her comment will be in HJIL's Volume 35, Issue 2, to be published this winter. She is also the winner of the Antroy Arreola Writing Award for the Houston Journal of International Law. During the 2011-2012 school year, she was the social director of SBA, and alongside that, she was a 1L mentor, the Vice President of LawHorns, a UHLC Student Ambassador and a candidate for the Houston Journal of International Law. Courteney currently works part time in the oil and gas and international law field, and has previously held positions in other Texas firms and also at a law firm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Courteney graduated with two degrees from the University of Texas at Austin: a B.J. in Print Journalism and a B.S. in Public Relations. |
| 3L Representative: Courtney Walsh |
| 2L Representative: Jason Beesinger |
| 2L Representative: Amy Demmler |
| 2L Representative: Tim Dyer |
2L Representative: Audrey Huffman |
| 2L Representative: Katy Odom Katy Odom currently serves as a 2L Representative for the Student Bar Association. She also is a member of the Blakely Advocacy Institute’s Moot Court Team and will compete in the 2013 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. She is involved in the Immigration and Human Rights Law Society at UHLC and serves on the event planning committee. This past summer, she interned for Justice Martha Hill Jamison on the 14th Court of Appeals and Federal Magistrate Judge Nancy K. Johnson. In 2011, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Government and Geography and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor fraternity. While in college she worked as a legislative aide to State Representative Mark Shelton. Katy enjoys archery, reading and spending time with her dog, Betty. |
2L Representative: Laura Wheeler |
| 2L Part-Time Representative: Jason Esparza Jason currently serves as the Part Time Representative for SBA and is an active advocate for law students in the part time program. He also serves as a 1L student mentor and Ombudsman of the Evening Law Students Association, having previously served as a 1L Representative. Jason is from the Houston area, having graduated in 2009 with a BBA in Management from the University of Houston. While an undergrad, he was a member of the Bauer Pre-Law Society. Since graduating, he has worked in various positions at a marketing firm. In his spare time, Jason enjoys reading, movies, and learning about wine-making. |
| 2L Part-Time Representative: Shane Gilroy |
| 1L Representative (Section A): Davut Atik Davut currently serves as a 1L representative from section A. Before attending UHLC, Davut graduated from UT Austin with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Islamic Studies. He has been active in intercultural and interfaith dialogue, serving as President of both Turkic Cultures Student Association and University Interfaith Council at UT. Davut enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and soccer, currently serving as the Captain of Law Center's coed soccer team. |
| 1L Representative (Section A): Pooneh Momeni Pooneh currently serves as on the Student Bar Association Board as a 1L representative for section A. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011 with a bachelor in journalism. Before attending UHLC, Pooneh interned for the 232nd Harris County Criminal Court and worked full-time at a small law firm in Houston. Upon graduation, Pooneh intends to pursue a career in litigation. She enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her Chiweenie, Petey. |
| 1L Representative (Section A): Matthew K. Trawick Matt proudly serves on the SBA Board as a 1L representative for section A. Before attending UHLC, Matt received his MS in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Texas Tech University, and his BA in Environmental Studies (King Scholar) from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. Upon Matt's graduation in 2015, he intends to practice in the field of environmental and energy law. In addition to serving on the SBA Board, Matt is a member of The Advocates and the Intellectual Property Student Organization. |
1L Representative (Section B): Megan Mikutis |
| 1L Representative (Section B): Mary Prejean Mary Prejean is a Representative of the Class of 2015's B Section. In addition to her participation in the Student Bar Association, she is also an active member in the International Law Society, the Immigration and Human Rights Law Society, and the Aggie Law Society. Mary is a native of southern Louisiana, but has called Houston home for over 10 years. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009 where she obtained her B.S. In Psychology. Since her graduation, Mary has done marketing and management in the Food & Beverage Industry. Mary enjoys movies, baking, and organizing social events. |
| 1L Representative (Section B): Michael Ryan Michael is currently a 1L representative for section B. He also holds the position of 1L rep for the Christian Legal Society and is a member of the Aggie Law Society. Michael is originally from the Houston area, Sugar Land specifically. He went to Texas A&M for his BA in History and continued at A&M with his MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. He used these degrees to teach World Geography in the Cy-Fair school district from 2009-2012 before changing gears and heading to law school. Throughout his college and professional careers he has dedicated his spare time to working with youth through his church and with special needs individuals. Michael is a passionate fan of all Houston sports franchises and enjoys cooking in his spare time. |
| 1L Representative (Section C): Melissa Broadway Melissa is currently serving as IL representative for section C. She is originally from Dallas, Texas. She graduated with her BS in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and then went on to get her MS in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She worked as a research scientist in the field of biomedical science before coming to law school. Melissa is passionate about the Harris County Court Appointed Special Advocate nonprofit, Child Advocates, Inc., and she has been a guardian ad litem for four children for the past year and a half. |
| 1L Representative (Section C): Mark Jessup Mark is currently serving as a 1L Representative for Section C. He is originally from Meadows Place, Texas, where he still lives with his older roommates. He graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M with his BA in Political Science. He is currently on the Mock Trial team and an officer in the Christian Legal Society. Mark has no legal experience, but thoroughly enjoys Musical Theatre, Fencing, Swimming, Tap Dancing, Rock Climbing, Journaling, and Running Marathons. He is a 2nd Degree black belt, published poet, has a poodle and he hopes to fight for freedom through International Justice Mission upon obtaining his Law Degree |
| 1L Representative (Section C): Monica Raspino Monica is currently serving as a 1L Representative for Section C. She is originally from Harlingen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated with high honors from the University of Texas with a degree in Political Communications and a certificate in Business. While in Austin, Monica interned for the Texas House of Representatives and worked at the criminal law firm, Dunham and Jones. She also volunteered with the Eastside Community Connection food bank and Dance Marathon, benefiting Dell Children's Hospital. She enjoys cooking, dancing, and playing with her yellow labrador, Jackson. |
1L Representative (Section E): Caroline Kuipers |
1L Representative (Section E): Dana Lizik |
1L Representative (Section E): Bianca Lopez |