Cohort 3 Presenter and Mentor Bios

Benjamin E. Alba is the Director of Academic Success for the College of Law.  He serves on the Faculty/Staff Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Community-building and as faculty advisor for the Asian Pacific-American Law Student Association (APALSA).  Previously, he taught Remedies and Legal Analysis, Research & Communication; and he served as Director of Bar Passage and Student Advising.  

Prof. Alba received his BS in Psychology, summa cum laude, from DePaul University and his JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  Before joining DePaul in 2002, he practiced for 19 years (including 12 years as partner) in the Chicago civil litigation firm of Sneckenberg, Thompson & Brody.  Areas of practice included insurance, personal injury, malpractice, civil rights, product liability, and administrative review.  His practice encompassed state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.  During this time, he trained and supervised the firm's law clerks and associates.  In addition, he served on the Loyola adjunct faculty, teaching legal writing and moot court, and he created and taught a course in pretrial litigation. 

Prof. Alba served as certified arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County (1990 – 2015), and he formerly chaired the board of the Grant Park Conservancy.  He is the author of Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show (Prometheus Books 2005).  

Education: Bachelor's Degree, DePaul University; JD, Loyola University Chicago 

Email: balba@depaul.edu

Alyssa is currently the Assistant Director of Law Admissions at DePaul College of Law. She has been in this role since October 2023. Before coming to the College of Law, Alyssa worked in graduate admissions at DePaul University for almost two years. She also briefly worked at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law working as an Admissions Assistant for their LLM programs. 

Alyssa graduated from DePaul University in 2021 with her bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in community service studies. 

Since working at DePaul, she has been pursuing her master’s degree in public administration. She recently completed her Final Capstone and the program. 

Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree, DePaul University 

Email: aboster@depaul.edu

Professor Cue joined the College of Law as an instructor of Legal Analysis, Research and Communication in fall 2007. She comes to DePaul from the John Marshall Law School, where she served as an adjunct professor in the lawyering skills program. Prior to teaching, she was an associate at Roberts & Vess PC in Wheaton, Illinois, where she handled a variety of commercial litigation matters. Cue is actively involved in the Legal Writing Institute (LWI). She is the Technology Chair of the LWI listserv committee, on the editorial board of the LWI Monograph series, and an assistant editor of the Journal of the Legal Writing Institute. She received her bachelor’s degree and JD from the University of Illinois.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree and JD, University of Illinois

Email: mcue@depaul.edu

Erin will be entering her third year of undergraduate at DePaul University this fall. She is currently studying Economics and is a part of the 3+3 BA/JD Law Program. Through this program, Erin plans on finishing her undergraduate in 3 years and continuing her legal studies at DePaul’s College of Law. Erin has been volunteering at DePaul’s College of Law where she assists first-year law students (1Ls) with their oral arguments. Additionally, in her free time, Erin works as a lead at Abercrombie & Fitch where she is the top leading sales associate in her district. Erin will be working as a FGLP fellow this summer and is extremely excited to work closely with the different cohorts and make an impact on their law school journey.  

Education: 3rd Year Undergraduate Student, DePaul University (3+3 Law Program) 

Email: echo16@depaul.edu

Natalie has worked as a financial wellness educator for over sixteen years, 14 of which were at DePaul! She has experience in various areas of higher education including graduate and undergraduate financial aid, career development, student success, and wellness programming, Natalie believes the route to financial success includes understanding a student’s background while helping them to develop and reach their financial goals.   

Educaiton: Bachelor's Degree, Sarah Lawrence; Master's Degree, DePaul University

Email: ndaniels@accesslex.org

Outside of work, Lisa devotes her time to civic and philanthropic causes with a focus on helping the Latino community. She is a Founding Board Member of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation Leadership Academy which focuses on developing a pipeline for the next generation of Chicago’s Latino business and civic leaders. Lisa serves as an instructor for the “Policy & Legislative Process” session.

Lisa is also an active member, and previous Secretary, for the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation which awards scholarships to Latino students attending Illinois universities. Lisa serves of the Foundation’s Finance Committee where, as co-chair, she led the foundation to raising over $1M for the first time in its history.

In turn, Lisa has been recognized for her leadership by several Latino-lead organizations. Lisa received Negocios Now’s 2018 and 2019 National 40 under 40 award as well as the 2019 40 under 40 Award from the Hispanic National Bar Association. In 2020, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois bestowed upon Lisa the honor of receiving the Mercedes Luque Rosales Government Lawyer of the Year Award. In 2021, the National Latino Education Institute acknowledged Lisa’s commitment to the ongoing education of Latinos with its Emerging Leader Award. Lisa was selected to be the keynote speaker at the 2023 Brava Awards and served as a panelist at the ExpoVisión Latina presented by Telemundo Chicago where she shared invaluable insight and experience on business management and success.

Lisa’s opinion on current political landscapes is well respected, over the past three years she has been asked to be a political correspondent on WGN News Election Special and Fox 32 Chicago Election Day analyzing the mayoral, aldermanic, and gubernatorial races. In 2023, she also served as moderator for the mayoral debate of candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas at the DuSable Black History Museum.

Lisa’s other civic engagement include serving on the Board of Trustees at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Board of Directors at Choose Chicago, the City of Chicago’s travel, tourism, and convention board. She is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. Her other awards and accomplishments include being a 2016 graduate of the Edgar Fellows Program and a 2017 graduate of the Crain’s Leadership Academy Program. Lisa has been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer for years 2018 and 2019 by Leading Lawyers Magazine.

In 2022, Lisa was selected to participate in the HOPE Nonpartisan & Binational Public Service Fellowship to build awareness and capacity among high-potential Latinas in the United States and Mexico. Its curriculum—designed by the Woodrow Wilson Center and Aspen Institute Mexico, covers critical issues from international trade to cybersecurity.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Michigan State University; JD, DePaul University

Email: lduarte@crokefairchild.com

Aurelia will be entering her first year at the DePaul University College of Law this August as a member of the DePaul 3+3 program. For her undergraduate degree, Aurelia majored in political science. She is a first-generation law student with an interest in appellate law and human rights law. Aurelia interned for Children's Legal Center, a non-profit immigration law firm. Additionally, she attends lectures hosted by DePaul Sanctuary and is a member of Students of Incarceration and Women of Color Pre-Law. In her free time, Aurelia works at Kasama, the first Michelin star Filipino restaurant. She is very excited to meet the undergraduate students participating in the FGLP program and to help them take advantage of all the resources the university has to offer.

Education: Incoming 1L, DePaul University (3+3 Law Program)

Email: aflynn11@depaul.edu

Tristan Gunn is a partner in the firm of TAPIA-RUANO & GUNN PC, based in Chicago, IL. Tristan is a Chicago native, born in Lincoln Park and his office is located in the Chicago downtown loop. He is a second-generation Cuban immigrant. Tristan earned his Juris Doctorate from DePaul College of Law in 2011. He became licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of Illinois in 2012. Tristan's law practice is Immigration Law. His focus is on family-based immigration benefits, removal defense, asylum applications, waivers of inadmissibility, U visas, applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Naturalization. Tristan is an active member in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) where he is currently the Secretary on the Chicago Chapter Executive Board Committee. Tristan has served as a member of many AILA committees for both his local chapter and at the national level for the past 12 years. He has been a contributing author for an article on immigration law for AILA publication on naturalization and has served as class instructor for a University of AILA class on Marriage Based Adjustment Applications. Tristan is also the past chair for Immigration and Nationality Committee for the Chicago Bar Association. Tristan has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for Super Lawyers in Illinois and has been selected by his peers to be included in “Leading Lawyers of Illinois” by the Leading Lawyers Network Magazine – Immigration Edition, a publication of the Law Bulletin Media.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Illinois Wesleyan University; JD, DePaul University 

Email: tgunn@trgpc.com

Anne Hudson has served as the senior faculty research librarian at DePaul College of Law since December 2017. Prior to moving to Chicago, she served in a similar role at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, for 14 years. Before beginning her academic law librarian career, she received her JD, passed the Michigan bar exam and then worked for the Department of Justice for eight years in the environmental enforcement, civil rights and civil case divisions. Anne teaches Introduction to Legal Research and Advanced Legal Research.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Michigan State University; JD, Cooley Law School

Email: anne.hudson@depaul.edu

Julie D. Lawton joined DePaul in 2011. She previously taught at Georgetown University Law Center. She received her JD, cum laude, from Howard University School of Law, LLM from Georgetown University Law Center, and BS in Business Administration (Finance), magna cum laude, from Florida A&M University. She also worked as an attorney and development consultant in residential real estate development in Washington, D.C., including owning a real estate development company. Prior to her career in real estate, she practiced for a number of years in the Financial Services group at Morrison & Foerster in Washington, D.C. providing legal counsel on consumer credit issues to large banks and credit card issuers. Prior to her legal career, she worked as a financial analyst in the Commercial Banking group at Bank of America in Atlanta, GA and in summer positions at a Wall Street investment bank and multiple commercial banks.

Her work has appeared in the Michigan Journal of Race and Law, the Indiana Law Review, the UMKC Law Review, and the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy. She authored the textbook, Business Fundamentals for Law Students, which introduces law students to foundational concepts in business. Her media appearances include CBS News Chicago, Fox News Chicago, and ABC News Chicago.

Since joining DePaul, she has served in several leadership capacities including as Associate Dean for Experiential Learning, Chair of the University Faculty Council Budget Committee, member of the University Faculty Council Executive Committee, and as Chair of the law school Curriculum Committee.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Florida A&M University; JD, Howard University; LLM, Georgetown 

Email: jlawton1@depaul.edu

Elizabeth (Beth) Lopez received her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in political science from Loyola University Chicago. A year after graduating from Loyola, Ms. Lopez attended the University of Detroit School of Law (now known as University of Detroit Mercy School of Law) in Michigan, where she studied Constitutional Law. During her final semester of law school, Ms. Lopez began working part-time as a researcher for a general practice law firm in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. After graduating from law school, she continued working with the Michigan law firm for five years. While employed there, Ms. Lopez drafted pleadings, motions, wills, and trusts. She also argued motions and assisted with trial preparation. Ms. Lopez is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan.

In 2004, Ms. Lopez began teaching test prep classes to high school students at a community college. In 2010, her course load grew to include LSAT, GMAT, and GRE prep classes. Ms. Lopez also tutors students individually for each of these tests. Ms. Lopez began teaching GMAT prep courses at DePaul University in 2014 and LSAT prep at DePaul University in 2015. In her current position as the LSAT lead instructor, she is responsible for helping each student develop techniques to solve reasoning and comprehension questions quickly and accurately as well as to learn how to write a strong essay for the writing portion of the LSAT test. Her goals are to help students strengthen the skills needed to excel on the LSAT, learn strategies for succeeding on the LSAT, and increase confidence in preparation for the test day.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Loyola University Chicago; JD, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Email: eslopez62@gmail.com

Prior to joining the College of Law, Professor Jody Marcucci served as a law clerk to Illinois Appellate Court justices David A. Erickson and Rodolfo Garcia, where she drafted judicial decisions encompassing several areas of criminal and civil law including post-conviction, medical malpractice and contract cases. She also taught at DePaul as an adjunct legal writing instructor. Professor Marcucci received her BA in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned her JD, magna cum laude, from DePaul, where she served as an associate editor of DePaul Law Review and as a legal writing teaching assistant. Professor Marcucci also served as a law clerk at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Legal Clinic.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison; JD, DePaul University

Email: jmarcucc@depaul.edu

Gregory Mark joined the College of Law in July 2011, serving as dean until July 2014. A noted legal historian, he has extensive experience in academia, administration and the professional world. From 1996 until joining DePaul, he was a vice dean, professor of law, center director and Justice Nathan L. Jacobs Scholar at Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey, where he taught Business Associations, Contracts, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance and Legal History. He was an assistant professor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law from 1992 to 1996 and a visiting faculty member at Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1994. Professor Mark also was a member of the graduate faculty in history at Rutgers and a teaching fellow in the history department at Harvard University.

Prior to his academic career, Professor Mark served as associate counsel for the office of Independent Counsel in the Iran-Contra affair. In that role, he helped develop a case against Duane Clarridge, a former high-ranking official of the CIA, who later received a presidential pardon. He also led a project on foreign intelligence and national security concerns in the prosecution of government officials and acted as liaison to the White House Counsel’s office, the U.S. Senate, the National Security Agency and the CIA.

Professor Mark’s scholarship focuses on the areas of corporate finance, corporate governance and American legal history.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Butler University; JD, University of Chicago; Master's Degree, Harvard University 

Email: gmark@depaul.edu

Bradley A. Mueller is the Senior Pre-Law Advisor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Upon graduation from The John Marshall Law School n/k/a UIC School of Law and passing the Illinois Bar Exam, Brad was hired by the Chicago law firm Righeimer, Martin & Cinquino, P.C. where he practiced for over 25 years in the areas of health care law, adult guardianships, and minors’ estates. Brad has also served as a volunteer attorney at Cabrini Green Legal Aid. Brad became the Pre-Law Advisor at UIC in 2016 where he advises UIC students and alumni from all UIC colleges in connection with their law school journey, from exploring the legal profession to the law school application process. In addition to one-on-one advising, Brad produces and organizes workshops, experiential activities, and brings guest presenters/panels to UIC. Brad is a 2019 winner of the UIC Provost’s Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; JD, The John Marshall Law School, University of Illinois Chicago

Email: muellerb@uic.edu

Amanda Noascono returned to the College of Law as Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions in 2017, bringing with her over a decade of higher education admissions and recruitment experience. Amanda began her career in higher education at DePaul University College of Law after graduating in 2006 and has been the director of admissions at Northern Illinois University College of Law, North Park University and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She has been a member of the Law School Admission Council Finance and Legal Affairs Committee, Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors, Illinois Association of College Admission Counseling, Illinois Medical School Admissions Consortium, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Amanda has presented at university campuses and prospective law student forums across the country and has taught pre-law students in college. Amanda has a particular interest in diversity and inclusion in legal education.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; JD, DePaul University

Email: ANOASCON@depaul.edu

A recognized and accomplished global corporate legal executive and business operations thought leader, Haydee Olinger combines both pragmatism and passion around guiding global organizations to succeed. Haydee leverages her well-tested business acumen to identify and implement best practices for strategic planning, development, joint ventures, franchise and licensee management, food safety, enterprise risk management, regulatory and corporate compliance and privacy. Handpicked by McDonald’s CEO and General Counsel as its first ever Global Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, she is credited with successfully architecting and implementing best-in-class compliance and ethics programs.

Haydee has extensive international business experience having been responsible for leading teams consisting of finance, franchise, tax and operations personnel in McDonald’s new markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Acknowledged as an effective business strategist and master negotiator with strong people skills, Haydee is credited with playing an instrumental role in McDonald’s entry into and ongoing growth throughout multiple Latin America markets. From negotiating real estate and super franchise/license agreements to handling due diligence, security breaches, litigation and corporate governance matters, Haydee has directed organizations through a myriad of complex and challenging legal circumstances. As a member of McDonald’s Latin America and Great Lakes Division senior management team, she participated in the design and implementation of their strategic business plans regarding restaurant operations.

As the Chairperson and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of Transact Technologies, Inc. (TACT: NASDAQ) and board member of The One Group Hospitality, Inc. (STKS: NASDAQ), Haydee contributes her expertise to discussions relating to key corporate initiatives, strategic and financial planning, enterprise risk, executive compensation and governance. She has also participated in discussions with key institutional investors. As chair of the governance and nominating committee, Haydee has interviewed candidates for select open board positions and has helped identify qualified candidates for board consideration. Haydee Is a member of the Board of Trustees at DePaul University (Chicago, IL) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Hispana Leadership Institute (Alexandria, VA), Illinois State Lottery Board, Resurrection High School (Chicago, IL) and Advisory Board member at Northern Illinois University College of Business, (Dekalb, IL), DePaul University Institute of Business and Professional Ethics (Chicago, IL) and Cristo Rey High School (Chicago, IL).

Education: Bachelor's and JD, DePaul University; Master's Degree, Duquesne University

Email: haydeeo1628@gmail.com

Bruce L. Ottley is a professor of law at DePaul University, where he has taught since 1978. He also directs the DePaul University/University College Dublin Cooperative Program, and serves as a co-director of the International Aviation Law Institute. Professor Ottley served as associate dean of the College of Law for nine years, acting dean in 2006 and interim dean during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Professor Ottley's areas of teaching include torts, civil procedure, remedies and products liability. He is the co-author of Illinois Tort Law (4th ed., LexisNexis 2011), Product Liability Law in Illinois (4th ed., Law Bulletin Publishing 2009), Understanding Products Liability Law (2d ed., LexisNexis 2013), and Arson Law and Prosecution (Carolina Academic Press 2009). He also worked with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts for 20 years conducting seminars on tort law for Illinois judges.

Prior to joining DePaul, Professor Ottley was a member of the University of Papua New Guinea Faculty of Law from 1972 to 1977. While in Papua New Guinea, he also practiced law and was a judge of the National Capitol District Court from 1976 to 1977.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Master's Degree and JD, University of Iowa; LLM, Columbia University

Email: bottley@depaul.edu

Prior to teaching, Martha Pagliari was a partner at Cassiday Schade & Gloor practicing in the areas of medical malpractice, products liability, property damage, construction accidents, toxic torts and general negligence. She represented management in employment law cases before the federal courts, the EEOC, State of Illinois Department of Human Rights, Cook County Commission on Human Rights and the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a member of the Federal Trial Bar. At DePaul, she teaches Legal Analysis, Research & Communication.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of Notre Dame; JD, DePaul University

Email: mpagliar@depaul.edu

Dean Ray joined Illinois Law in fall 2012. Before joining the College of Law, Rebecca worked as an associate at Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP in Chicago, where she practiced in the areas of general and commercial civil litigation before federal courts, state courts, and administrative agencies. Her clients included Audi of America, Louis Vuitton North America, Sephora USA, and Volkswagen Group of America. Previously, Rebecca worked as an associate at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago. Rebecca received her J.D. summa cum laude and Order of the Coif in 2004 from the College of Law, where she served as the managing editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Illinois Wesleyan University; JD, University of Illinois College of Law

Email: rdray@illinois.edu

John A. (Jay) Stefani is the Managing Partner at Levinson and Stefani Injury Lawyers, a Chicago-based boutique firm concentrating on helping victims of truck and automobile crashes. He is active member of the American Association for Justice, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.

Jay has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Illinois every year since 2018, and honored as an Illinois Super Lawyer each year since 2020 – including being listed on the Illinois Super Lawyer Top 100 for 2024.

A DePaul graduate (undergraduate and law school), Jay continues to be a part of the university acting as a mentor within the DePaul University and College of Law communities. He is a past President of the DePaul Law Alumni Engagement Board, and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Education: Bachelor's Degree and JD, DePaul University 

Email: jay@levinsonstefani.com

Mr. Thomas is the Director of Professional Development at the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender where he is responsible for the training of over 500 attorneys, 70 administrative professionals and 60 investigators. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Thomas was assigned to the Homicide Task Force where he exclusively represented indigent clients charged with murder and other homicide-related offenses. During his more than 14 years with the Office, Mr. Thomas has tried over 60 jury trials and has worked in the Office’s Felony Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse as well as the Misdemeanor and Traffic Divisions of the Maywood Courthouse.

When he is not zealously representing his clients or training, Mr. Thomas spends his time mentoring young attorneys and law students. One of his dearest passions is his service as head coach of the National Trial Team at DePaul University College of Law, where he has closely mentored hundreds of aspiring lawyers. He is also an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy I at DePaul University College of Law and has presented various topics related to trial advocacy and the rules of evidence. Mr. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and DePaul University College of Law

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Illinois University; JD, DePaul University 

Email: Theo.S.Thomas@gmail.com

Raven Villegas is a graduate of DePaul College of Law (2019), where she earned a certificate in Public Interest Law and served as Vice President of BLSA. After graduating, she worked at Sidley Austin as a Staff Recruiting Coordinator and subsequently at Beacon Hill Legal Chicago as a Legal Staffing Consultant. Raven joined Perkins Coie in 2021 as the Legal Recruiting Coordinator for the Chicago and Madison offices, supporting the recruiting efforts for law students and lateral hires. Since joining, her responsibilities have expanded to include supporting Perkins Coie headquarters in Seattle and running the Chicago Summer Associate program.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of South Florida; JD, DePaul University 

Email: rvillegas@perkinscoie.com