Twelve members of the Class of 2012 have been selected as Elon University School of Law's first Leadership Fellows. The fellows were chosen for having demonstrated exceptional leadership in community, collegiate, military, or other service, and for expressing interest in further study of leadership in relation to the law.
The inaugural Leadership Fellows at Elon University School of Law are:
Ashley Clark
Temple University, Philadelphia
A cum laude graduate of Temple University, Clark worked full-time throughout her college career, served as a student adviser for Temple’s School of Communication and Theatre and received the Presidential Award for Achievement. Clark has volunteered for four years with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for pediatric cancer and the Tom Haley Memorial for pancreatic cancer.
Collin Cooper
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina-Greensboro, NC, Master of Arts in Romance Languages and Literature
Cooper was the recipient of the Rene Harder Scholarship at University of North Carolina-Greensboro and was a member of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Cooper presented academic research at the Sixteenth Century Society & Conference in 2008 and the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies in 2007. He received the Evelyn Simpson Travel and Research Grant in Angers, France, in 2006. Cooper served as president of Pi Delta Phi, Gamma Delta Chapter, president of the English Club in Angers, France, and founding member and marketing director for Kensington Consort, an early music-performing ensemble. Cooper has volunteered with the Greensboro Opera Company, Bel Canto Company and as a French tutor.
Marina Emory
Columbia College, Columbia, SC
In 2009, Emory received the American Legion Award for demonstrating leadership and citizenship as an undergraduate. She also received the Department Major of the Year for leadership in the study of history and political science. She served as Student Government Association President at Columbia College and worked in the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Palmetto Center for Advocacy and the South Carolina State House, Office of Senator Joel Lourie.
Ashley Hansen
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Hansen earned Honor Chord and Service Chord designation with Lambda Pi Eta national communication honor society while at North Carolina State University. She served as vice president of N.C. State’s Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta. Hansen has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Service Raleigh, First Lutheran Church “Angel Tree,” Food Bank-Raleigh, Meals on Wheels and Ronald McDonald House.
Carrie Johnston
Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Master’s Degree in Education
Johnston was one of six students in the Class of 2006 inducted into the Rhodes College Hall of Fame for influential contributions to academics and campus life. She was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society and Order of Omega honor society at Rhodes College. In 2006, Johnston became a Corps Member with Teach for America, serving in the Baltimore City School System, and later served as an Operations Coordinator in the program.
Jeffrey Koehler
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Koehler graduated cum laude from Appalachian State University, receiving the ASU Chancellor’s Scholarship and earning recognition on the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List. He served as a reporter for the Appalachian State student newspaper and is fluent in Spanish. Koehler, an Order of the Arrow Eagle scout, has volunteered with Cape Lookout Environmental Center and the Greensboro Children’s Museum.
Richard Munday
University of North Carolina-Wilmington, NC
Munday was a member of the Alpha Zeta Delta chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for students and professors of history, while at University of North Carolina-Wilmington. As a member of the United States Marine Corps from 2001-05, Munday earned the Navy Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Humanitarian Assistance Medal. He was responsible for the welfare, training and actions of Marines placed in his charge in combat operations.
Julie Stainback
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Stainback, a magna cum laude graduate in agricultural and extension education at North Carolina State University, served as president of Alpha Tau Alpha, the national honorary agricultural education organization. She also served as sentinel of the Agricultural and Extension Education Club and board member of the Housing Judicial Board. As a member of the student advisory team of Agriculture Future of America (AFA), Stainback planned an AFA Leader Conference, conducted workshops, met with industry professionals and served as a student ambassador. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity International in the Dominican Republic, and with Service N.C. State, assisting elementary school teachers with school preparation and participating in arts enhancement projects for schools.
James Stanton
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Stanton is the recipient of the Outstanding Service and Support of Clemson Alumni Association Award, the Department of Management Academic Excellence Award and a Tutor Recognition Award at Clemson University. He served as managing editor of The Talon student newspaper, president of the mock trial team, president of the Clemson University Guide Association and a tutor in management, economics, statistics and math.
Kathy Stewart
Elon University, Elon, NC
Stewart, a member of Alpha Kappa Delta international sociology honor society while an undergraduate at Elon University, was also the recipient of the Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Award for Academic Achievement. At Elon, she participated in Model United Nations and the Black Cultural Society, served as parliamentarian for Alpha Kappa Psi national business fraternity, and treasurer for Alpha Kappa Delta. She has participated in a mission trip to Jamaica to help the Jamaica Deaf Village and volunteered at the Carolina Pregnancy Center, Loaves and Fishes, Timberlake Farm, the Boys and Girls Club, Blakey Hall and Capital Hill Pregnancy Center.
Melissa Westmoreland
University of North Carolina-Greensboro, NC
Westmoreland received the Annie Moring Alexander Scholarship for excellence in political science at University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society. Westmoreland was the student commencement speaker for University of North Carolina-Greensboro’s class of 2006, and one of Yes! Weekly’s top ten graduates of 2006. She was a weekly columnist for The Carolinian student newspaper and a member of the fencing club at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Westmoreland has volunteered with the Guilford County Humane Society, Rockingham County Teen Court and Chinqua-Penn Plantation.
Mark York
Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC
York is a cum laude graduate of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University and was on the dean’s list each semester while he was at Campbell. He recently retired from a 20-year career in the United States Army, culminating service at the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major. His responsibilities included development, implementation and management of tactical communication networks. He has volunteered in teaching family fiscal management and retirement planning to soldiers for over ten years.
About the Leadership Fellows program:
In addition to receiving scholarship awards, Leadership Fellows will participate in special meetings with guest speakers. In the past, Elon Law has hosted national leaders such as presidential advisor and political analyst David Gergen, historian David McCullough, former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye, and Newark, NJ, Mayor Cory Booker.
Leadership Fellows will also have an opportunity to serve in a public sector organization through a summer externship, assist with leadership lectures and special events associated with Elon Law’s leadership program, and must undertake a Capstone project in their third year.
The Leadership Fellows program is the newest feature in Elon Law’s unique emphasis on leadership development, integrated across the school’s three-year program of legal education.
Through winter session seminars, clinics, leadership workshops, lecture series, and field-based experiences, Elon Law students are preparing to become successful lawyers and leading contributors to their communities.