The Pro Bono Program is administered by a 12-student board and one faculty supervisor who work throughout the year with community partners, legal aid offices, law school student groups, professors, alumni, private attorneys, and fellow students to facilitate individual pro bono projects, special clinics, and group trips in which students can participate. Each February, the director for the following academic year is chosen by interview process by the current board from those currently serving board members who apply for the position. Applications for open board positions are then solicited from the student body each March, and open positions are filled by interview process by the current board.
Officers
Director
Bethan Eynon, 3L (Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12 - 1 p.m.)
eynon@email.unc.edu
Bethan grew up in the Youngstown, Ohio area and graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelors of Science in Journalism, a minor in Sociology and a Women Studies Certificate. She believes that law offers a unique way to explore social justice and equal rights issues, and was attracted to UNC Law because of its commitment to public interest law and pro bono work.
During the 2010-2011 school year, Bethan served as one of the two Special Trips Coordinators, facilitating the Wills Project in rural Central and Eastern North Carolina. She looks forward to expanding her role in the Pro Bono Program as its director and is proud to lead such a talented board of coordinators. Bethan has interned with the Honorable Beverly Scarlett at the Orange/Chatham District Court, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, the North Carolina Attorney General's Office (State Agencies Section) and the UNC Center for Civil Rights. In her free time, you can find her riding her bike in the North Carolina countryside.
3L Class Coordinator
Carla Hermida, 3L (Office Hours: Thursdays, 3 - 4 p.m.)
cmhermida@gmail.com
Carla grew up in Fort Lauderdale and graduated from Duke University in 2006, where she majored in Public Policy with a minor in Psychology. Upon graduation, Carla worked as a missionary in Costa Rica where she spent eight months working with disadvantaged and abandoned children. Afterwards, she joined the Teach for America Corps in Charlotte, where she had the privilege of teaching middle school math for two years.
For the past two summers, Carla returned to Charlotte and interned at Alston & Bird. Carla is excited and honored to continue working with her class as the 3L Class Coordinator. She can't wait to see how the Class of 2012 will set the most records of any graduating class in school history. In her free time, Carla can be found planning her wedding, traveling, hanging out with her bible study, eating snacks and cheering for Duke basketball.
2L Class Coordinator
Meriwether Evans, 2L (Office Hours: Thursdays, 3 - 4 p.m.)
mtullevans@gmail.com
Meriwether grew up in a small town west of Fort Worth, Texas and graduated from Emory University in 2005 with a B.A. in English and Anthropology and an M.A. in English. After graduating, she decided to do something completely different and work in the entertainment industry. During her three-year adventure of living in Los Angeles she had the opportunity to work in every facet of film production, from story development to premiere.
In 2008, her interest began to shift toward social justice and law, specifically issues of immigration and rural poverty. Participating in the Pro Bono Wills Trip in Moore and Richmond Counties was an amazing start to her law school career, which reaffirmed her dedication to helping her fellow students find rewarding pro bono projects. Meriwether is inspired by great movies, moving books, horses, delicious food, her wonderful husband, and her dedicated colleagues and professors here at UNC Law.
1L Class Coordinator
Joey Polonsky, 1L (Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10 - 11 a.m.)
joey.polonsky@gmail.com
Joey grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish. After graduation, Joey led a group of volunteers to Honduras, where they educated middle and high school students about HIV/AIDS. Joey subsequently worked on NC Senate campaigns throughout the 2010 election cycle.
Joey was attracted the the Pro Bono Program because it allows all interested students to gain practical experience, while making a serious and lasting impact on local communities that are frequently under-served and overlooked by the legal system. In his free time, Joey can be found cooking, running 200-mile, 36-hour relay races and cheering on all things UNC with his fiancee and their two dogs.
Alumni Outreach Coordinator
Annie Bryan, 2L (Office Hours: Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
annie.bryan@gmail.com
Annie grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Event Management. After graduation, she moved to Charlotte and began working for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in fundraising, event planning, and volunteer management.
After a few years in Charlotte, she and her husband moved to Chapel Hill where she began law school at UNC and her husband began Business School. During her first year in law school, Annie was happy to discover she could use her passion for helping others by volunteering for Pro Bono projects. As the Alumni Coordinator for the Pro Bono Board, Annie is excited to help alumni continue their commitment to Pro Bono and UNC after graduation and throughout their careers.
Annie loves running, reading, and spending time with her husband Josh and their new puppy, Mac.
Public Relations Coordinator
Tanner Kroeger, 1L (Office Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
tanner.kroeger@gmail.com
After growing up in North Carolina, Tanner graduated from North Carolina State University with an English degree in May 2007. He earned a master's degree in United States history from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2010. Prior to law school, he interned with Advocates for Children of New York, an education advocacy group in New York City, and he completed two full terms of AmeriCorps service. The first term was with Chicago Public Schools' Homeless Education Program, where he served as the program's development coordinator. The second term was with Hands On Charlotte, a nonprofit organization focused on volunteer mobilization, where he managed the organization's Strategic Partner Initiative.
Tanner is an uncompromising fan of the NC State Wolfpack and the Carolina Panthers. When not watching the Red and White, he enjoys cooking, running, playing racquetball and spending time with friends and family. He is engaged to Krista Meier, who is a member of the Class of 2015 at Elon University's physician assistant program.
Group Projects Coordinator
Elizabeth Morgan, 3L (Office Hours: Thursdays, 1 - 2 p.m.)
elizabeth.d.morgan@gmail.com
Elizabeth is from Greensboro, North Carolina, and graduated from UNC in 2009 with majors in English and Sociology. Growing up with a passion for serving others, she was drawn to Carolina Law's public service commitment and is excited to have the opportunity to continue her service to others through Pro Bono work.
Participating in the New Orleans winter break trip and the Eastern NC Wills Trip confirmed her desire to be involved in the Pro Bono Program through a leadership role. As the Group Projects Coordinator, Elizabeth is excited to have the opportunity to work with student group leaders to create new pro bono projects and help improve existing ones. Outside of the law school, Elizabeth's interests include cooking local food, sailing and spending time with family and friends.
New Project Development Coordinator
Lauren Cranford, 3L (Office Hours:
Thursdays, 1 - 2 p.m
.)
laurencranford@gmail.com
Lauren grew up in High Point, North Carolina, and graduated from NC State University in 2006 with degrees in Biochemistry and Biological Sciences. After working for three years for the Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Program at Duke University Medical Center, she chose Carolina Law to bring together her interests in the legal and medical fields. As the New Projects Coordinator, Lauren's first priority will be to launch UNC Law's new Medical-Legal Partnership in connection with the UNC Children's Hospital and Legal Aid of North Carolina. The partnership is designed to simultaneouly solve both legal and medical issues.
In her free time, Lauren can be found cooking, reading, traveling, or watching nearly any kind of sports, especially Atlanta Braves baseball.
Winter Break/Spring Break Projects Coordinator
Shonaka Ellison, 3L (Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10 - 11 a.m.)
uncprobono@gmail.com
Shonaka grew up in Lauringburg, North Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Prior to law school, she worked as Assistant Director of Admissions at NC State University. Her experience there exposed her to the needs of various communities throughout North Carolina, and led her to UNC Law for a career in public interest law. During the summer after her 1L year, she interned at the Guilford County Public Defender's Office and Legal Aid of Durham. During the summer after her 2L year, she worked at the Wake County Public Defender's Office. Shonaka is passionate about education equality and indigent defense. She has been involved with the Pro Bono Program since 1L year, and is very excited about being the Winter and Spring Break Coordinator this year.
Attorney Projects Coordinator
Yolanda Fair, 2L (Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1 - 2 p.m.)
uncprobonoprojects@gmail.com
Yolanda grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and attended Tufts University, where she majored in International Relations. During college, Yolanda became involved in anti-modern day slavery advocacy, and continues her involvement at UNC Law. After her 1L year, Yolanda interned with JusticeMatters, a legal services nonprofit in Durham, and with Byalik, P.C., a New York-based firm.
After law school, Yolanda hopes to combine her involvement in anti-human trafficking advocacy with her legal education. Yolanda is excited to serve as the Attorney Projects Coordinator and hopes to encourage and expand pro bono involvement by connecting students and attorneys in all legal sectors. Outside of law school, you can find Yolanda playing capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts, playing music or teaching the five-year-olds at her church, Calvary Chapel of Cary. Yolanda is an avid UNC basketball fan and loves anything French.
Special Trips Coordinators
Andrew Brown, 2L (Office Hours: Wednesdays, 9- 10 a.m.)
andrew.brown.david@gmail.com
Andrew was born in Philadelphia but has called North Carolina home since he was five years old. He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008 with a dual degree in Peace, War and Defense and Political Science. Before law school, Andrew managed several victorious campaigns for Justices and Judges on the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. During the summer following his 1L year, Andrew served as a Blackstone Legal Fellow and clerked for the Honorable Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. at the North Carolina Supreme Court. He participated in several pro bono projects during his 1L years, and decided to get more involved after attending the 2011 spring break Wills Project trip to Eastern North Carolina. Andrew's interests include international mission work, drumming, and most of all, hanging out with his beautiful wife Jenn, and their dog, Rainy.
Adam Parker, 2L (Office Hours:
Wednesdays, 9- 10 a.m.
)
mr.adam.parker@gmail.com
Adam grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and graduated from Louisiana State University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Arts in mass Communication and a minor in Economics. While living in Louisiana, Adam worked in the Louisiana State Legislature and on multiple political campaigns. After graduating, Adam moved to Henderson, NC, where he was a Teach for America Corps Member and taught high school math at Northern Vance High School.
Adam subsequently worked in the North Carolina General Assembly and graduated from the UNC School of Government with a Masters in Public Administration. While earning his MPA, Adam worked with the UNC Community Campus Partnership and organized several community development projects in Kinston, NC. Adam was attracted to UNC Law because of its deeply rooted connection with the citizens of NC and its commitment to public service. He participated in winter and spring break pro bono trips during his 1L year, and was named the 1L Pro Bono Student of the Year. This summer, Adam clerked with the Honorable Robert N. Hunter Jr. at the NC Court of Appeals. Adam spends time with his wife, Kristen, and bikes, walks, travels, and watches LSU Football.
Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs
Sylvia Novinsky
snovinsk@email.unc.edu
In its ongoing commitment to public service, Dean Boger appointed Sylvia Novinsky as the school's first Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs. Dean 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. As Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs she combines 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.
Dean Novinsky believes that as a great public law school, UNC Law's tradition of public service is deep-rooted and core to its mission. Upon graduation, approximately 20 percent of the class goes on to pursue careers in the public sector. While in school, approximately 50 percent 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. Students are following in the footsteps of many great Carolina Law alumni who have gone on to serve our state and the nation, and Dean Novinsky's goal is to make sure they are supported as they incorporate the value of serving the public in their own educational pursuits and legal careers.