FGLS BOARD 2020-2021
Get to know our board! If you're a prospective applicant or a recently admitted student, please reach out to ANY of us should you have any questions! Seriously... reach out! We know what it is like to be in your shoes and would love to serve as a resource.
LEDA MOROCHINA
Co-President
Leda is a 2L from Las Vegas, NV. She earned her BA in English Literature from the University of Chicago. During her 1L summer, she was a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court of Nevada. Leda is also a student attorney with the Entrepreneurship Clinic. She is a first generation college and law student and also a first generation American. Being a part of FGLS is important to her because she wants to pay forward everything she’s gained as a member. In her free time, she likes eating sushi, watching too much Netflix, and playing amateur bartender. Email at her about anything and everything at ledamoro@umich.edu!
JESSICA PADUGANAN
Co-President
Jessica is a 2L from Phoenix, Arizona who is a first-generation college student, law school student, and American. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelors in Sociology and a minor in Interdisciplinary Human Rights. Prior to law school, Jessica worked with the Department of Justice as a paralegal helping to prosecute bribery and foreign corruption.
Here at Michigan, Jessica is a member of the Michigan Access Program (MAP), a volunteer with the MLaw COVID Corps, and is an Associate Editor for the Michigan Law Review. She is also a student attorney with the Veterans Legal Clinic and a Senior Judge for the Legal Practice Program. Her interests include poverty law, decriminalizing homelessness, exploring local diners, running, international travel, and practicing Portuguese. Email: jpadugan@umich.edu
OLIVIA VIGILETTI
Vice President
Olivia is a 2L living in Ypsilanti, MI. She is a first-generation college and law student, earning her BA in Political Science and African Studies from the University of Michigan. She spent 6 years doing community organizing and development in Detroit and Ypsilanti before returning to school. Always resistant to leave community work, she is still the part-time Communications Director for Dawn Farm. Olivia plans to continue to pursue public interest work as a movement lawyer. She loves serving on the FGLS board because she believes, wholeheartedly, in supporting education for those who don’t typically have access. Email: okayv@umich.edu
KIMBERLY PARRY
Treasurer
Kimberly is a 2L and a first-generation college and law student from northern California. She graduated in 2016 from the University of California, Davis, earning her B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. During her 1L summer, she was an appeals intern at the Los Angeles County Counsel. Kimberly is an associate editor for the Michigan Technology Law Review, a student attorney with the International Transactions Clinic, and a First Year Information (FYI) leader. She is happy to answer any of your questions and can be reached at kmparry@umich.edu.
LAUREN COLE
Secretary
Lauren is a 2L first generation law student. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Lauren also lived in Indiana before going back south to study history and Spanish at the University of Georgia. She then worked as an immigration paralegal in Chicago. Lauren loves finding ways to travel on a budget and reading comic books of all kinds, though superheroes are overly present on her bookshelves. FGLS is important to her because of the transparency it gives when working through unclear issues that law school presents.
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LEXI ANDRE
Events Chair
Lexi is a 3L first-generation college graduate from Sterling Heights, Michigan. She did her undergrad in classical languages and literatures at University of Michigan. Originally interested in international human rights law, she spent her 1L summer interning at the Law Reform and Development Commission in Namibia and her 2L winter semester externing at the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva. She spent her 2L summer working for Family Law Project in Ypsilanti. Her post-graduation plans are still TBD. Lexi is happy to talk about bad grades, the financial pressures to go into big law, and failing at OCI.
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COLLIN KELLY
Events Chair
Collin is a first-generation college student and law student from Detroit, Michigan. A double wolverine, Collin graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 with degrees in political science and economics. Prior to law school, Collin worked as a community organizer and political activist before teaching high school. The First Generation Law Students provided Collin with a sense of community at Michigan Law, and he hopes to pay that forward and help guide future first-generation students any way he can. Collin loves local politics, Michigan sports, Detroit basketball, and goofy sitcoms. email:kellycj@umich.edu.
HANNAH BERL
OCP Chair
Hannah is a 2L, originally from Western New York. Prior to law school, she earned her B.S. at Cornell University and then spent five years working in real estate finance in Washington, D.C. Hannah is also an Associate Editor on the Michigan Law Review and a Project Coordinator for the pro bono Property Tax Appeal Project. Outside of class, she is an avid baker, amateur yogi, and podcast enthusiast. Hannah believes strongly in the power of community and social support, and she views FGLS as a vital resource for first-generation law students navigating law school and the legal profession. She is grateful to have served as a 1L Rep and excited for her new role as OCP Chair! Email: hberl@umich.edu
KARLY JUNG
Mentorship Chair
Karly is a 2L who immigrated from South Korea to Ann Arbor, Michigan with her family as a toddler. She is a first-gen law student and a double wolverine. Outside of law school, Karly is a huge fan of hiking, DIY art projects, and ice cream. Karly is ecstatic to offer support and friendship to the FGLS community as a member of the board.
ERIK HOLMVIK
Outreach/Alumni Chair
Erik is a 2L from Chevy Chase, Maryland. He graduated from Stanford University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Political Science. Erik was a varsity letter-winning athlete with Stanford Men's Crew. Erik is a first-generation American and law student of Norwegian descent. Before attending law school, Erik worked as a Legal Assistant at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C. in Washington, D.C., and then as a Retail Buyer for Walmart eCommerce in San Bruno, CA. During his 1L summer, Erik returned to Kellogg Hansen as a summer associate. Erik is also an Associate Editor with the Michigan Business and Entrepreneurial Law Review.
"I have benefitted from mentorship and guidance at every step of my academic and professional journey, very often from other First Gen students and practitioners. FGLS allows me to continue the tradition of uplifting and empowering others to achieve their full potential."
ARIELLA STAFANSON
Public Interest Chair
Ariella is a 2L from Oakland, California. She is a first-generation college and law school student. She earned her BS in Community and Regional Development, Minor in Human Rights from the University of California, Davis. Ariella is also on the board for the Student Rights Project, and Women Law School Association. During her 1L summer she worked at the Oakland City Attorney's Office in the Civil Rights Affirmative Litigation Unit as well as working on re-entry petitions for local Michigan youth who were expelled. Her interests include, but are not limited to, data and law, regulatory law, and the power of local government all within the public interest umbrella. She's an avid cafe patron, backpacker, and trivia night fan. If you know where to get a good breakfast burrito, please let her know. Email: ahstafan@umich.edu
EMMA MCGINN
Social Media/Marketing Chair
Emma is a first-generation college and law student from Lansing, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2016 with a B.A. in English and a secondary major in Spanish. Prior to law school, she worked for the State of Michigan. During her 1L summer, she worked as a dependency intern at the Los Angeles County Counsel. Emma is an Associate Editor for the Michigan Business and Entrepreneurial Law Review. She greatly appreciates the candid advice and guidance provided by FGLS. She is happy to answer any questions and can be reached by email at emcginn@umich.edu.
COURTNEY PETERSEN
Wisdom Chair
Courtney is a 3L first generation college/law student from Iowa and former FGLS co-president. She is pursuing a dual J.D./M.S.W. degree focused in human rights law, immigration and asylum law, and general public interest litigation hoping to pursue a career abroad after graduation. During 1L summer she worked at the Legal Assistance Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, during Winter 2020 semester she externed at the Legal Resource Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, and during 2L summer she interned at Just Atonement, Inc. doing human rights litigation. Throughout her time in law school she has deeply valued the FGLS community as a space where she felt welcomed and supported and has been involved with the executive board since her 1L year. Courtney is happy to answer any questions about things you don't know or don't even know you don't know (#firstgen amirite?) Email: courtp@umich.edu
COURTNEY SHIER
Wisdom Chair
Courtney is a 3L from Sault Sainte Marie, MI (a small border town in Michigan's Upper Penninsula). She graduated in 2017 from the University of Michigan, earning her Bachelor's in Business Administration. During her 1L summer, she was a summer associate at Miller Johnson in Grand Rapids, MI and during her 2L summer she was a summer associate at Jenner & Block in Chicago. While at MLaw, Courtney has been a student attorney with the Veterans Legal Clinic, a Senior Judge for the Legal Practice Program, and a co-President of FGLS during the 2019-2020 school year. In her free time she likes to play volleyball, read post-apocalyptic novels, and get way too competitive at board games. Email her at cbshier@umich.edu about any and all things FirstGen!
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CHELSEA GRIMALDI
Wisdom Chair
Chelsea is a first-generation college and law student from Waterford, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2016 with a BA in Elementary Education. Chelsea is thankful that she was able to take advantage of the programming and support of the FGLS community as a 1L and is excited to pay it forward as a 3L. In her free time, she enjoys getting outside, trying new things, and laughing with her loved ones.
Email: cgrimald@umich.edu
MATT PRESTON
Wisdom Chair
Matt Preston is a 3L, a first-generation high school graduate, and a second-generation Mexican-American. Matt is a Senior Editor on the Michigan Law Review and a Peer Tutor. He has also worked as a Student Attorney for the Michigan Workers' Rights Clinic and was the President of the Michigan Law Veterans Society. He worked his 1L and 2L summers as a Summer Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in Palo Alto. He has lived in FL, TX, MEX, IN, OK, VA, CO, CA, LA, KWT, KGZ, AFG, and now MI.
He earned his triple-major degree from IUPUI in Philosophy, Political Science, and Latino Studies after serving two years in the US Air Force as a C-17 loadmaster and six years in the US Army as an Apache helicopter crew chief and downed aircraft recovery team operative. Matthew spends his free time producing hip-hop music, collecting rare books, and grilling and gardening with his partner Francy at their home in Ypsilanti. After law school, he will serve as a law clerk in the Eastern District of Michigan.
"Being a part of FGLS is important to me because it allows me to make things easier for others who have to 'figure it out' like I did. Educational success partly depends on having a dependable social network, and I love being a part of that network for others. You can ask me anything! And if I don't have the answer, I can probably tell you where to find it."