Having grown up there, is Georgia often on your mind?

Every now and then I pine for a quintessential Georgia experience from my childhood: navigating thorny bushes on a blackberry picking expedition, or drifting off to the buzzing of June bugs or a whippoorwill’s call. However, there are plenty of Georgia’s natural beauty that are easy to leave behind: suffocating humidity, gnat season, and needing to check for ticks after a walk.

Let’s hear about your kids!

Jules is a wonderfully brilliant and weird four-year-old. She plays a mean air guitar to Rock You Like a Hurricane, her favorite song

You are the president of the Middle Eastern Law Students Association. The group has had a busy year, yes?

Absolutely! I have been so happy with our organization’s accomplishments. We have been trying hard to hear students’ needs and meet them the best way we can through keeping the Boyd community connected. We’ve tried especially hard to put on events during Covid times like park day, the belly dancing fundraiser, and the diversity panel to keep spirits alive. I feel honored to be able to help run an organization that has worked so hard to put these events and fundraisers together.

How did

You recently were named Pro Bono Student of Distinction by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. What did that recognition mean to you?

I was surprised to have been named the winner of the award, and it really came out of the blue. This recognition to me means that every action we take and everything we do matters and that it all really is a team effort. I would not have been able to volunteer and help as many people as I did if were it not for the opportunities that the immigration clinic and Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada offer students. The work of the clinic and LACSN is highly

You work as a firearms analyst for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Sounds fascinating! Tell us more.

I have worked for the LVMPD Forensic Lab for 12 years. I test fire evidence firearms and microscopically compare the test fired bullets and cartridge cases to those in evidence to determine if they have been fired from the same gun. Then I testify as to my findings. I think I am the only law student that shoots guns for a living!

Having grown up in Detroit, what do you love most about the city?

I have lived in Las Vegas for 14 years, but Detroit will always be my home. There is

How have you enjoyed your time at Boyd -- pandemic notwithstanding -- since transferring from the West Virginia University College of Law?

Absolutely. Notwithstanding the fact that bonds and friendships that develop in a law student's first year are irreplaceable, I can't begin to express my gratitude for the welcoming culture that Boyd extends to transfer students. The faculty, students, and staff all seem happy to be of assistance. It's a shame that the pandemic had to happen when it did. Many additional friendships and experiences that I could have shared were stolen from me. I hope those

Tell our readers about your experience coaching a debate team in China.

I worked with high school-age students in Shenzhen, which is a large city in southern China. While interning with the Washoe County DA as an undergrad, everyone recommended I take a gap year. I was really involved with college debate, so this was a perfect opportunity for me. The travel opportunities were incredible, and I loved (and still do!) coaching debate. Like the law, debate can be very interdisciplinary, which keeps things interesting. We had the opportunity to debate a number of great topics, including universal

As president of Society of Advocates, what do you believe are the organization's noteworthy accomplishments this year?

This was a year of many firsts for Society of Advocates. We held our first virtual Client Counseling Competition last fall, our first virtual Nevada Justice Association Mock Trial and Schreck Gaming Law Competitions this spring, and we will hold our first virtual Clark County Bar Association Moot Court Competition this year as well. At the same time, many of our members competed virtually for the first time in competitions all over the country. These activities are the

What was it like growing up the youngest of 13 siblings?

Growing up with 12 siblings was simultaneously one of the most rewarding and chaotic experiences. Being the youngest, I was able to see 12 different people walk 12 different paths of life. That’s 12x the life lessons! They were quintessential in making me the person I am today. When you’re one of thirteen children, it’s hard to be selfish. I was conditioned to always think of others.

What takes a native Californian to New York for college and to Las Vegas for law school?

I absolutely loved growing up in California. The calm, laid-back

How have your linguistics studies as an undergrad at Cal been helpful to you in law school?

Getting my degree in linguistics has been beneficial in the transition into law in numerous unexpected ways. The first being in statute interpretation because a lot of the linguistic study that I did in undergrad involved breaking language into its smallest components and understanding how each individual portion functioned to create the overall meaning. This helps in statute interpretation because I am able to figure out how each part of the statute impacts the overall meaning.

And you played rugby

What brought you from your native Illinois to Nevada?

As much as I’ll miss the Prairie State, there’s a charming beauty in the West that attracts a nature nut like myself. After spending a couple summers in Reno, I grew fond of the unique character of Nevada and its expanding opportunities, Boyd being an excellent example. Plus, it was in the 20’s when I left Illinois last week and 70 when I returned to Vegas. Do I need to say much more?

How are you enjoying serving as a first-year rep on the Student Bar Association?

It’s been a privilege to serve on SBA, which has provided me the