Aoi Bae is from Germantown, Maryland. She works at the NAD as a Clinic I student attorney through the Civil Rights for Persons with Disabilities Clinic at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she is a second year law student. She is interested in health, trade and finance law. She received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Rochester. She is half-Japanese, half-Korean, and is fluent in Japanese. She enjoys reading (especially historical fiction), cooking, baking, and traveling overseas.
Wendy Brehm is a sophomore at the University of Baltimore, and is studying Pre-Law. This is her second summer as an intern at the NAD. Her favorite hobbies include dancing and writing. Wendy enjoys interning with the NAD because it is similar to her dream career. She wants to become a lawyer and specialize in the field of Disability Rights. Interning at NAD has had a strong influence on Wendy’s life. She now feels even more empowered to make a difference, because NAD makes such a powerful difference, Wendy has had the opportunity to learn ways she can do it, too!
Hopie Flieger is from Bethesda, MD and is a sophomore at George Washington University (GWU), double majoring in Speech and Hearing Science and Philosophy. She is excited to be an intern with the NAD Law and Advocacy Center because she hopes to attend law school after she graduates and one day become an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Hopie was a competitive gymnast for ten years and when she’s not interning or in class, she works at the GWU Fitness Center.
Thomas Fuller grew up outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Stevenson University, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry. Thomas worked for ten years at the National Aquarium where he was fortunate to work with both guests and animals from all over the world. Currently, Thomas is a second-year law student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. After school, Thomas hopes to use his law degree in the political and public policy fields.
Rashad James is a third year evening law student at the University of Maryland School of Law. He works at the NAD as a student attorney through the Civil Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law Clinic. Prior to law school he obtained his Master’s in Sociology at North Carolina Central University and his Bachelor’s in Sociology at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He is also a professor of sociology at the Community College of Baltimore County. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Rashad plans to pursue a career in legislation/public policy.
Brian Keith Lucas is pursuing a Juris Doctorate degree at the Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before starting law school, he was an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Specialist at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. In his role, he performed technical edits and researched employment cases law before drafting Final Agency Decisions (FAD) and Final Order (FO), and reviewed and organized thousands employment complaint files to ensure completeness for further processing. Before USDA, after graduating from Gallaudet University with Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in May 2008, he worked primarily at the United States Mint, as an Administrative Assistant, to directly support the Director of the Workforce Solutions Department and assisted leaders in maximizing the workplace culture. Outside of work, he has used his leadership skills in various volunteer capacities such as President of the Alumni Corporation Board of Delta Sigma Phi; National Representative on behalf of the President of the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA); and participated as a special guest and keynote speaker at Gallaudet University and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Vincent Kong was born in Queens, New York City and lived for 13 years until his family moved to Maryland. He just graduated with associate degree in Design and Imaging Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He creates his own original drawings and illustration by hand using various traditional media. He is passionate about the arts and graphics in all forms. He chose a path that turned his passion info a profession. Vincent is very eager to learn and improve his skills. He loves new challenges!
Alyssa Leonhardt is a student attorney in the Civil Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law Clinic at the University of Maryland Law School, where she is a third year student. Alyssa has previously worked as a law clerk for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region III and as a litigation paralegal at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. When Alyssa is not camped out in the library, she can be found on the kickball field or shamelessly eating a big cheeseburger.
Jennifer Love is from Perris, California. She just graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with Bachelor Science Degree in Sociology and Anthropology, and Communication. She will be attending at Brockport University this upcoming fall of 2015 to pursuit her Master Degree in Liberal studies and Human Resources. She works at NAD at the Front Desk and helps out with social media. She enjoys traveling, camping, hiking and hanging out with her two dogs, Shelby and Trip.
Julie Love is from Perris, California. She is a graphic design intern. She is currently a student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She used to work for Student Life Team (SLT) at RIT. The Student Life Team’s purpose is to support campus environment and academic partnerships, which promotes transformational community and individual students activities, learning and growth. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball as well as socializing with friends on campus.
Peter Lucas-Roberts is from Walla Walla, Washington. He works at the NAD as a summer legal intern and is a rising second year law student at George Washington University Law School. Peter also serves on the executive board of the Equal Justice Foundation at GW Law. Prior to coming to law school, Peter completed an MA in International Human Rights from the University of Denver. He plans to pursue a career in public interest or international human rights law.
Tyler Pugeda hails from Orange County, California! He is a junior, double majoring in Mathematics and Philosophy at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN). At CSUN, Tyler is actively involved in Deaf CSUNians, Student Philosophical Society, and Pre-Law Association — where he found his love of leadership, philosophy, and law. Tyler has been recently elected to be the president of Deaf CSUNians for the next upcoming school year 2015-2016. He also coordinated the first-ever Deaf CSUNians Ambassador Program and participated in the CSUN College Bowl team which competed at the NAD College Bowl at #NAD2014. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys pondering about mathematics and reading philosophical writings. Because of his deep interest in Deaf Philosophy, Tyler has presented on “Metaphysics of Audism” and “Relation Between Sign Language and Thought.” He knows English, ASL, and Latin. Currently, Tyler is independently learning Spanish, which he believes will be of use when he travels around the world someday. After completing his undergraduate studies, Tyler plans to attend law school in the East Coast and may join a J.D./M.A./Ph.D program in Philosophy. Tyler aspires to be an attorney that defends linguistic, civil, and human rights of every deaf, hard of hearing, Late Deafened, Deaf-Blind, and Deaf-Disabled individual.
Bethany Weiner is a recent college graduate is currently an intern for the NAD, in the Communications Department. Prior to becoming an intern for the NAD, Bethany worked as a student tour guide at her alma mater, Gallaudet University, where she pursued her B.A. in Psychology. Bethany enjoys trying not to fall off her unicycle, mini road trips, and dance parties by herself.
Jake Whitaker was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. From an early age, Jake has loved the game of baseball, especially the Dodgers. He began playing baseball at 5 years old and continued playing through community college. He graduated from Oak Park high school in 2007 and received his undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University in 2014. Jake was a history major and wrote his senior thesis on the relationship between McCarthyism and the decline of organized labor in the United States. He began law school at the University of Maryland in the fall of 2014. Jake plans on graduating in the spring of 2017 and hopes to be a litigator specializing in torts. Even though Jake no longer plays baseball, one of his favorite ways to spend his free time is to watch the Dodgers. He is also very interested in politics and spends a lot of time following the news. He love the outdoors and goes hiking as frequently as possible.
