Meet Our Staff

Sylvia Novinsky, Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs

In its ongoing commitment to public service, Dean Boger has appointed Sylvia Novinsky as the school's first Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs. Novinsky has been with the School of Law since 1996, after practicing public interest law representing migrant farm workers and immigrant workers in Virginia and New York. She served as the school's first public interest career counselor and in 2000, became the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. In her new role, she will combine these varied experiences to counsel, advise and support students interested in public service and public interest law, as well as continuing to foster the school's pro bono activities.

"As a great public law school, our tradition of public service is deep-rooted and core to our mission," noted Dean Novinsky. Upon graduation, approximately 20% of the class goes on to pursue careers in the public sector. While in school, approximately 50% of the student body performs pro bono service. Still, there are challenges for students and graduates who want to do public service, particularly as debt burdens at all law schools increase. "Helping students identify avenues for pursuing their commitments to pro bono and public service, and supporting them while they are doing so, is crucial," said Dean Novinsky. "Our students are following in the footsteps of many great Carolina Law alumni who have gone on to serve our state and the nation and we want to make sure we support them as they incorporate these values of serving the public in their own educational pursuits and legal careers."

Sylvia K. Novinsky 
Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs
919.962.7813
4070 Van Hecke-Wettach Hall

Dorsey Ballard, Student Services Coordinator

Dorsey Ballard is the Student Services Coordinator at the UNC School of Law. Hailing from New Bern, NC, Dorsey did her undergraduate work at Appalachian State University, graduating in 2007 with a B.S. in Apparel & Textiles. Prior to her arrival at UNC Law, Dorsey spent the last year as an Americorps volunteer, serving as a college counselor at James Bowie High School in Austin, TX. Dorsey currently resides in Chapel Hill, NC, and enjoys spending time with her fiance and two yellow labs, triathlon training, live music, and complaining about wedding planning (suggestions welcome).

Dorsey Ballard 
Student Services Coordinator
919.843.9871
5022 Van Hecke-Wettach Hall

Meredith A. Flowe '10, Public Service Fellow

Meredith is a 3L at Carolina Law who is planning to pursue a career in public interest law. As the Public Service Fellow, she works on many public service related projects including the weekly Public Service Newsletter, the Peer Mentor/Mentee Program, summer grants, spring public interest OCIs, public interest retreats, the public service website, and other public service initiatives at the law school.

Meredith A. Flowe 

Rusty Jacobs '10, Research Assistant

Rusty came to Carolina Law in 2007 after ten years as a print and broadcast reporter, including a six-year stint at North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, an NPR-affiliate serving listeners from Greensboro to the Outer Banks. Rusty is a proud member of the law school Trial Team and the Holderness Moot Court Team; a Gressman-Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award winner; and has undertaken several pro bono projects, including case review for the UNC Innocence Project and client assistance with the Community Legal Project. He has interned with the Wake County Public Defender's office and most recently with the Office of the Wake County District Attorney.

Rusty Jacobs