TPI Alumni - Class of 2008
John Amann
John attended and graduated from the University of Michigan's College of Engineering with a degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering. He conducted human factors engineering research at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute before graduation. Before coming to Michigan State University College of Law, John interned for Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-9th) in Washington, D.C. During law school, John worked for the State of Michigan's Department of the Attorney General in the Licensing and Regulation Division in Lansing, Michigan and then in the Civil Rights/Driver's License Restoration Division in Detroit, Michigan. In July 2007, he began working at Aldrich Legal Services, PLLC, a small firm specializing in real estate law. John was an editorial board member of the Michigan State Law Review. When he's not busy with school, John enjoys going to the movies and watching and playing sports.
Wayne Beyea
Wayne holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Planning from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Administration Degree with a concentration in growth management, from the University of Maine. He is a professionally certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Wayne currently serves full time as an Associate Director with the Michigan State University (MSU) Land Policy Institute on campus. In this capacity he directs a statewide planning and zoning certificate training program for local elected and appointed officials. Prior to employment with MSU, Wayne worked as a professional community planner and economic development specialist both in the private and public sectors at the local, regional, and state levels. Wayne served as an Extern within the Michigan Attorney General’s office, Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division. In addition, he has served as an appointed Planning Commissioner and Zoning Board of Appeals member for his local community. Wayne enjoys fly fishing, kayaking, and backpacking and volunteers as a 4-H Community Leader for leisure activities.
Robert Brauker
After receiving his Bachelors from Alma College, Bob completed a Masters Degree in Blindness and Low Vision Studies from Western Michigan University. Bob then moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he worked for the Veterans Administration as a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist. In 2005, Bob started attending law school at Michigan State University. He has interned at the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service in Lansing, MI and National Council on Disability in Washington, DC. Bob In his free time, he likes to fish, cycle, and play guitar.
Ugo Buzzi
Ugo graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and then attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he obtained a Master of Science in Exercise Science with an emphasis in biomechanics and motor control. He then attended the University of Michigan where he completed a Master of Science in Human Motor Development investigating the development of walking in infants with Down syndrome and spina bifida. While attending MSU College of Law, Ugo has externed with the Honorable David W. McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and was a law clerk at the East Lansing firm of Oade, Stroud & Kleiman. He has also externed with the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. In addition to participating in the Trial Practice Institute, Ugo was a member of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board and a co-founding member of the Journal of Trial Practice & Advocacy.
Megan Connor
Megan graduated from James Madison College in Michigan State University in 2005 with a major in political theory and constitutional democracy. In college, Megan coached wakeboarding, figure skating and kickboxing. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and received the Michigan State University Outstanding Senior Award for community involvement and academics. In law school, Megan received the Bernard J. Scholarship upon her acceptance to the Trial Practice Institute. She was an associate editor of the Michigan State Law Review, and participated in a national environmental law moot court competition. She worked as a law clerk in the Lansing Tax tribunal, and also served as a summer associate in the law firm of Kaufman, Payton and Chapa. Megan deeply cherished her law school experience and looks forward to practicing the many skills the Trial Practice Institute taught her.
Emily Edick
Emily attended the James Madison College at Michigan State University for her undergraduate studies where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in May of 2005. After her undergraduate studies, Emily went right to law school where she is the Managing Editor of Production of the Journal of Medicine and Law. Emily also works as a law clerk for the Detroit-based law firm, DeWitt, Balke & Vincent, where she plans to pursue a career in employment defense litigation after graduation. In her spare time, Emily enjoys cheering on the MSU hockey team and going to the theatre.
Joel Freeman
Joel graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Secondary Music Education. After graduation, he taught band and choir in the public school system for two years before coming to Michigan State University College of Law. While at MSU College of Law, Joel was involved with the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board and the Trial Practice Institute. He has interned for Judge Osterhaven of the 56th Circuit in Eaton County, Michigan and the Prosecutor's Office in Barry County, Michigan. He interned for the Kent County Prosecutor's Office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his spare time, Joel enjoys spending time with his wife Christine and Dexter, his yellow lab.
Ben Fruchey
Ben graduated magna cum laude from Central Michigan University with a double major in environmental geology and hydrology. He received a Master's Degree in geology from the University of Wyoming and worked for ConocoPhillips in Houston, Texas. While at ConocoPhillips, he worked on the Prospect Generation Team and explored the Gulf of Mexico for new oil and gas fields. After leaving Houston, Ben worked as an environmental consultant for Conestoga-Rovers & Associates in Plymouth, Michigan and was involved with several environmental remediation projects. Ben is the Business Editor of the Journal of Medicine and Law. He interned with Justice Weaver of the Michigan Supreme Court, and is currently working for Keranen & Associates, P.C., a boutique firm specializing in construction law. In his free time, Ben enjoys golf and fly-fishing.
Emma Haas
Emma is from Piqua, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in English (High Honors) and History. During college, she interned with the Narcotics and Organized Crime Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. Emma was the senior articles editor of the Law Review. She interned with Judge David W. McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and with the Appellate Division of the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. She has worked as a research assistant for MSU Law Professors Craig Callen and Nancy Costello. Emma worked as a summer associate for Dykema Gossett PLLC and will clerk for U.S. Magistrate Russell Vineyard of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after graduation. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, swimming, and watching classic films.
Paige Harley
Paige graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University with a major in Social Relations and Policy with an emphasis in Economics. Paige worked as a summer associate for O’Rilly Rancilio in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and she currently clerks for Judge Ball at 54-B District Court in East Lansing. She was a co-founding member of the Journal of Trial Practice & Advocacy.
Kelly Heos
Kelly graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science-Pre Law. Kelly is also a member of the Inns of Court and the State Bar of Michigan Law Student Section Governing Council. Kelly participated in the Study Abroad Program in Ottawa, Ontario, where she externed for the Library of Parliament as a Research Assistant. For the past two years she worked for Church, Kristelis & Wyble P.C., a personal injury law firm. Kelly was active in the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. She competed in the University of Puerto Rico’s Trial Competition the National Student Trial Advocacy Competition.
Maureen Lorincz
Maureen was born and raised in Ohio and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Syracuse University. While at SU, she also minored in political science and philosophy and competed nationally for the school's mock trial team. Her first summer in law school, Maureen did an externship at the District Attorney's Office of Onondaga County in Syracuse, New York.
She currently works as a law clerk at Foster & Harmon, P.C. in East Lansing and has since February of 2007. Aside from being part of the Trial Practice Institute, Maureen was also a captain for one of MSU's mock trial teams. She competed at the Texas Young Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Dayton, Ohio.
Katie Lynwood
Katie is a third year student from East Lansing, MI. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Inter-Disciplinary Studies with a focus on law and society. She was a member of the Trial Practice Institute and also Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. She competed in Philadelphia at the American Access to Justice Trial Advocacy Competition in March. In the summer of 2007, she worked as a law clerk in Brighton, MI for a firm that specializes in mortgage and bankruptcy law. The previous summer she was a law clerk at a firm in Lansing, MI and worked on real estate and family law cases. She was also a judicial extern for Chief Judge William Collette of the Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan. In her spare time she likes to golf, travel and spend time with family and friends.
Jason Maus
Jason grew up on a farm in southwestern North Dakota. He graduated from the University of North Dakota where he earned a Bachelor of Accountancy while working various positions at UPS. Upon graduation, Jason continued to work at UPS two more years as a dispatch manager until he moved to East Lansing for law school. Jason is currently working in tax law; he splits his time between jobs at the Michigan Tax Tribunal and the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. He likes going home to spend time on his family’s North Dakota farm. In his free time, Jason enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities and has completed four marathons.
Aryn McCumber
Aryn played four years of division I soccer while pursuing her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University. After receiving her B.B.A., Aryn was a senior attorney assistant for the law firm of Trott & Trott, P.C. in Southfield, MI. In 2005, Aryn started attending Michigan State University College of Law. She was a competing member of the Moot Court and Advocacy Board and pursued a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. She has interned at Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation in Washington, D.C. and Deloitte Tax L.L.P. in Detroit, MI. Aryn will join Deloitte Tax upon graduation. In her free time, she continues to play competitive soccer and coach.
Dennis McShane
Dennis graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor's in Written Communication in 1991. He worked as an insurance agent for four years before deciding to pursue further education. He received a Master's Degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1997 before returning to Michigan as a volunteer teacher in Southwest Detroit. Dennis worked with several non-profit agencies in Detroit, including the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. After marrying his wife, Cara, in 2000 he returned to teaching at Holy Redeemer High School. Dennis pursued a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute and competed as a member of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. He has completed two criminal law externships in his tenure at MSU Law and plans to pursue a career as a Public Defender. Dennis spends time caring for his three children, ages 6, 3, and 1.
John O’Grady
John attended James Madison University where he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in History. Immediately following his graduation from James Madison University in 2005, John entered law school at Michigan State University College of Law.
John spent the summer between his first and second year of law school working for a small law firm in Richmond, Virginia specializing in criminal defense and personal injury. During the summer prior to John’s third year of law school John worked at a boutique law firm in Richmond, Virginia practicing exclusively in the area of insurance defense and serving some of the largest insurance companies in America.
John competed in the American Bar Association’s National Client Counseling Competition during his final semester of law school. In his free time John enjoys sailing, mountain biking, and is currently learning the sport of kiteboarding. John is also an avid car enthusiast.
Abigail Phillips
Abigail graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachleor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. While at Northeastern, she co-oped at several places including the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and Harvard University. Upon graduation, she worked for Scientific Solutions, a small R&D company in Nashua, NH specializing in underwater acoustics, sonar systems, and harsh weather testing. Her work included four-week at-sea tests tracking grey whales during their winter migration off the coast of California and a collaborative project with the University of Maryland and the Navy researching fish auditory responses to sonar stimulus.
Abigail interned at the Winnebago County Public Defender's office in Wisconsin and the Resolution Services Center of Central Michigan in Lansing, MI. In her spare time, Abigail enjoys hiking with her Border Collie/Lab mix puppy and following Boston sports teams.
Irina Polozova
Irina graduated from Michigan State University Honors College with a major in philosophy and a specialization in Bioethics. She spent a summer studying Medical Ethics at the University College London in London, England.
She has earned a certificate in Child and Family Advocacy and pursued a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute Program. Irina is currently working for the Law Offices of Samuel I. Bernstein in Farmington Hills, Michigan, specializing in personal injury law.
Elizabeth Rohl
Liz graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Psychology and Legal Studies and a Certificate in Criminal Justice. During college, Liz interned at the Public Defender’s Office preparing and submitting pre-sentence investigation reports for clients. After graduation, Liz worked for the Wisconsin Department of Justice in the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General’s Office. She was active in the Trial Practice Institute and was also a member of the Moot Court Board serving as the Appellate Executive Director. She interned with the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis, MN doing criminal defense work. Liz enjoys playing tennis and spending time with friends and family.
Aaron-Michael Sapp
Aaron-Michael graduated from Ball State University with a B.A. in Business Administration. At Ball State, he received the Beta Gamma Sigma Award for Top Graduate from the Miller College of Business. After graduation, he enrolled immediately in Michigan State University College of Law. While in law school, he interned for the law firms of Barnes & Thornburg in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Jenner & Block in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Michigan State, he will return to Jenner & Block to begin working fulltime as a first year associate. In his free time, Aaron-Michael enjoys working out and playing basketball.
Jonathan Schopp
Jonathan graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Communication. During college he worked in radio and television broadcasting, covering sports in the Lansing and Detroit area. He then worked in the construction industry, helping design and complete home remodeling projects. Jonathan went on to acquire his Series 7, 63, 65, and Life, Accident & Health licenses. As a Financial Planner, Registered Investment Advisor, and financial consultant, Jonathan provided business and individual clients a myriad of financial advice and services. Jonathan also served as the Assistant to the Director of Wines for a South Carolina wine school prior to returning to Michigan State. During law school, Jonathan was a law clerk for Norman S. Miller, M.D., J.D., in East Lansing, Michigan.
Holly Stockton Battersby
Holly graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Economics and Spanish. She then began a career at Abercrombie & Fitch's corporate headquarters as an Allocator. After leaving Abercrombie & Fitch, Holly began law school. In addition to pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute, Holly was also a member of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. During law school, Holly clerked at two personal injury firms, Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. and Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen & Raitt, P.C. Holly completed an externship in the General Trial Division of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Holly enjoys running, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Jessica Wagner
Jessica graduated in 2005 from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri with a degree in Criminal Justice. After college, she decided to move back to Michigan for law school. Jessica was a member of the school's Journal of Business and Securities Law and the American Inns of Court.
Adrianne K. Whitehead
Adrianne K. Whitehead graduated from Michigan State University, James Madison College with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Relations and Policy. Adrianne also was the first student to participate in the James Madison College/MSU College of Law Three Plus Three Program. Adrianne was a law clerk at Legal Services of South Central Michigan from 2006-2007, and more recently, she was a law clerk at the Board of Veteran’s Appeals in Washington, D.C. Adrianne was a captain on a nationally competing mock trial team. Adrianne was also the treasurer of Women’s Law Caucus and a senator on the Student Bar Association at MSU College of law. She worked as a research assistant for Professor Frank Ravitch, who is working on a treatise regarding law and religion. In her free time, Adrianne enjoys playing tennis and going to Michigan State sporting events.
Kent Young
Kent Young was actively involved in both the Trial Practice Institute and Moot Court during his time at MSU College of Law. In the Spring of 2007, Mr. Young was in-house counsel for the Wagner Appellate Moot Court team when the team won the national championship. In the fall of 2007, Mr. Young was a captain for a moot court team at the San Diego National Criminal Procedure Tournament where he received an award for fourth Best Advocate out of 82 competitors. Mr. Young's team also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Criminal Procedure Tournament, placing tenth out of forty-one teams. Mr. Young was also a member of the ABA Appellate Moot Court Team. He has an avid interest in criminal procedure and received the jurisprudence award for the Advanced Criminal Procedure Course in the Spring of 2007. Mr. Young hopes to work in criminal law.