Academic Success Fellows

Max Gruenberg

Section B
Professor D. McGowan - Contracts

Max is a third-year law student from San Diego, CA. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, he worked for local law firms Gruenberg Law, Gomez Trial Attorneys, and Barron & Budd on plaintiff side personal injury, employment, and mass action lawsuits. After his first year of law school, Max clerked for CaseyGerry for 18 months on landmark product liability cases against Amazon. Currently, Max is taking research projects from Donald Dripps (criminal law) and Orly Lobel (employment law). Max enjoys surfing and snowboarding, basketball, mixing tech-house, and great food. Max hopes to have a big family, become a trial attorney, and eventually run for public office in California. 

Jansen Hyatt

Section B
Professor Hirsch - Property

Jansen is a second-year law student originally from New Mexico, He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Utah Valley University, Orem. Over the last summer, he clerked for Reese Law group in Carlsbad CA, dealing mainly with property damage and creditor claims. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and walking his dog. 

Melody Lilazy

Section C
Professor Ferruolo - Contracts

Melody is a second-year law student from Orange County. She received a B.A. in Political Science and minored in both Biology and Chemistry at California State University, Long Beach. During the fall semester, she externed for an intellectual property firm in San Diego. Melody is interested in pursuing a career in transactional work. At USD, she is on the board for the Name & Gender Marker Clinic and a member of the Transactional Law Team. In her free time, she enjoys running, reality tv binges, and reading.

Allie Maggart

Section C
Professor Rappaport - Constitutional Law

Allie is a dual-degree student, currently doing her first year of her graduate degree in Peace and Justice at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies after completing her 1L year. She is originally from Detroit, MI and loves living in San Diego. She graduated with her B.A. in Media and Information from Michigan State University and worked in advertising for three years before going to law school. Last year Allie worked at the Children’s Advocacy Institute and spent time volunteering for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Civil Harassment and Unlawful Detainer Clinic. In her free time, Allie enjoys reading, yoga, and relaxing with her cat, Ruth. 

Mariam Mikael

Section A/E
Professor Claus - Contracts

Mariam is a second-year law student from Corona, CA. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. Mariam is interested in pursuing a career in immigration law. She is interning at a personal injury law firm and worked at an immigration nonprofit law center during the summer of 2021. Mariam is also a member of the San Diego Law Review.

Raynier Ramos

Section B
Professor S. Smith - Constitutional Law

Raynier Ramos is a Juris Doctor and Masters of Arts dual degree candidate at the University of San Diego. He received his Bachelor's degree in both Legal Studies and the History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing specifically on civil rights issues and how those issues show themselves in art and historical/cultural movements. Raynier is specifically interested in entering public service, impact litigation, or policy advocacy. He previously interned at the San Diego City Attorney's Office, Civil Division and will be supporting the USD Education and Disability Clinic this Spring.

Emaleigh Valdez

Section A
Professor Wiggins - Property

Emaleigh (“Ema”) is a third-year law student with a focus in employment and labor law. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science at San Diego State University. Ema is interested in pursuing a career in Education Law and has accepted a post-bar position at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in La Jolla, California.

Morgan Wahler

Section C
Professor Bell - Property

Morgan is a second-year law student from San Jose, CA. In 2020, she received a B.A. in political science, criminology, and Spanish from the University of Portland. Over the summer and this past winter break, she worked as a law clerk for Berliner Cohen in their Estate Planning department. At USD, she is a member of the Employment and Labor Law Society, the treasurer for the Women’s Law Caucus, and part of the Mock Trial Team. She also served as a Fellow for Professor Ursin’s Torts class this past fall.  

Rebecca Xu

Section A
Professor M. Ramsey - Constitutional Law

Rebecca Xu is a second-year law student from Arcadia, CA. She received a BA in Linguistics and a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She is interested in becoming an in-house attorney and spent her summer as a Legal Intern for CSAA, an insurance company. During the school year, she acts as Events Chair for APALSA and also works in the Entrepreneurship Clinic, and in her free time she enjoys dancing and a good, long Netflix binge.