WORK EXPERIENCE
Coordinator, University of Osnabrück Foreign Law Program, Osnabrück, Germany (2010 – present)
Responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the law faculty’s foreign law program, comprised of sections covering: American Law, English Law, French Law, Spanish Law, Polish Law and Chinese Law.
Lecturer for American Law, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany (2008 – present)
Lectures/seminars created and given as part of the law faculty’s new (2008) foreign law program. Course offerings include: Introduction to American Law, U.S. Constitutional Law, American Private Law, and American Administrative Law. Also gave lectures in 2011/2012 to students in the English Law section on common law methodology and the English legal system.
Lecturer, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany (2004 – Present)
Lectures/seminars created and given as part of the university’s foreign law program, run jointly by the law school and language center. Courses include: The Common Law Legal System, Common Law of Contract, American Constitutional Law, Common Law Tort, Legal Research and Writing, and Conversation and Presentation Skills for Lawyers.
Language Consultant, Germany (2016 – Present)
Private language instructions for individuals and groups. Legal text proof-reading and translation from German to English.
Lecturer, Universität Osnabrück Language Center, Osnabrück, Germany (2007-2008)
Lectures/seminars created and given as part of the university’s legal English certificate program, run jointly by the law school and language center. Courses include: American Constitutional Law, Institutions and Rights in the Anglo-American Legal System, Private Law, and National Security and Civil Liberties.
Executive Director, ACLU of Eastern Missouri, St. Louis, MO (1999 – 2004)
Responsible for overall management of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) affiliate office, including overseeing the work of a Legal Director, Lobbyist and two additional staff positions. Responsibilities included: development of fundraising campaigns, membership recruitment, grant writing, public speaking, press relations, creation of public education material, budget and investments management, cultivating partnerships with community groups, and organizing events.
Adjunct Professor, Webster University, St. Louis, MO (2004)
Led seminar on National Security and Civil Liberties during 2004 summer semester.
Executive Director, ACLU Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (1995 – 1999)
Responsible for overall management of Nebraska’s ACLU affiliate office, including overseeing and working with a staff of two. Responsibilities included: lobbying Nebraska’s Unicameral legislature, development of major gift campaign, cultivation of membership, public speaking with an emphasis on addressing high school and college students, press relations, recruitment of volunteer attorneys, development and oversight of intake system, creation and upkeep of ACLU Nebraska web site, editing of ACLU Nebraska’s quarterly newsletter, and creation of public education material.
Staff Attorney, Lakeshore Legal Services, Inc., Clinton Twp, MI (Jan. 1994 – Nov. 1995)
Extensive litigation in housing, public benefits, property rights and consumer law with limited exposure to family law. Established outreach education program with local homeless shelters and transitional housing programs. Instrumental in forming tenant associations in numerous subsidized housing projects throughout Macomb County.
EDUCATION
University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück Germany (2010-2015)
- Completed PhD. Thesis: Religious Liberty in Germany and the United States: A Comparison
Michigan State University College of Law, Detroit, MI (1990 to 1993)
- Graduated Cum Laude, December 1993
- Research and Writing Graduate Assistant, 1993
- Dean’s List: Fall 1991, Spring 1992, Fall 1992, Spring 1993, Fall 1993
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (1986-1990)
- Major: Bachelor of Arts from James Madison College, Metropolitan Studies.
- Minor: Labor Relations.
- GPA: 3.3 overall (Top 25%)
- Coursework: Race Relations, Social Movements, Political Theory and the Welfare State; Economic Theory: Women in the Work Force; History of LaborRelations; Domestic Relations.
- Overseas Studies: Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION
Democrats Abroad Germany, Münster/Osnabrück Chapter Chair (2016 – present)
FFA (University of Muenster Foreign Law Program) Curricular Committee – alternate member (2007 – present)
Common Law gGmbH – executive director (2006 – 2011)
Michigan State Bar Association – inactive member
Nebraska State Bar Association – inactive member