1990s:
Brian J. Cook ('91) has been appointed as Chair of the National Safety Council. The
National Safety Council is the nation's leading nonprofit safety advocate,
focused on eliminating the leading causes of death and injury. Brian is an
executive advisor for Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a Chicago-based global
career transition firm, and is a retired executive of USG Corporation.
Deborah G.
Solmor ('91) has been named as the General Counsel for the
Gateway Foundation. The Gateway Foundation is the country's largest nonprofit
treatment provider specializing in substance use disorder treatment and
co-occurring disorders.
The
Honorable Kristi L. Nelson ('95) has been appointed as an
Immigration Judge for the Chicago Immigration Court by U.S. Attorney General
Merrick B. Garland. Prior to this appointment, Judge Nelson was a Partner at
Gair Eberhard Nelson Dedinas Ltd. and served as a volunteer attorney for the
Dilley Pro Bono Project representing detained noncitizens.
Aaron Gothelf (JD '96, LLM '08) was promoted to vice president and assistant
general counsel for trade and regulatory at The Walt Disney Company.
Todd S. Pugh
('97) was recently sworn in to serve as Treasurer of the
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Todd is the managing partner
of the criminal defense firm of Breen & Pugh and focuses on defending all
types of federal and state criminal cases, professional responsibility defense,
and selective civil matters.
Ray J.
Koenig, III ('99) was recently profiled by Chicago Go Pride highlighting his Presidency of
the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). As the first openly gay man to serve in the
position, the article highlights Ray's path to the legal profession and his
plans in leading the CBA in the organization's 150th year. Ray is a Managing
Member and Co-Chair of the Global Litigation Practice Group of Clark Hill PLC
and serves as the co-chair of the College of Law's Diversity Council.
2000s:
Matthew N. Newsted ('01) will receive the Distinguished PILI Intern Alumni Award at PILI's
Annual Awards Luncheon. Matt works as an Association Director of Legal Tech at
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO), where he manages legal content and focuses on
ILAO's document assembly tools. Matt was a "Double PILI," serving as
a Law Student Intern at Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Legal Aid Chicago.
Stephanie J.
Villinski ('03) has been reappointed to the American Bar
Association's (ABA) Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility and
Collaboration Commission. She was appointed to the one-year term by ABA
President Mary Smith. Stephanie is the Deputy Director of the Illinois Supreme
Court Commission on Professionalism.
2010s:
Monica-Kaye (MK) Gamble ('10) has been installed as the President of the
North Suburban Bar Association (NSBA) for the organization's 2023-2024 bar
year. MK is the first African American President of the NSBA. She is an
attorney and policy advocate who operates The Law Office of MK Gamble.
Ryan
Schermerhorn ('10) has been named to the Chicago Daily Law
Bulletin's 2023 "40 Under Forty" list, which recognizes Illinois
lawyers under the age of 40 based on their results, skills and bar and
community involvement. Ryan is a partner at Marshall Gerstein.
North Suburban Bar Association:
Congratulations to the following DePaul Law alumni who have been appointed to the North Suburban Bar Association's Executive Board for the 2023-2024 bar year:
- Monica-Kaye (MK) Gamble ('10) – President
- Kristin N. Barnette McCarthy ('04) – 2nd Vice President
- Jeffrey M. Moskowitz ('12) – 4th Vice President
- Dimitrie B. Umbrarescu ('02) – Secretary & Public Relations
- The Honorable Pamela J. Stratigakis ('00) – Treasurer
See a complete list of class notes or submit your alumni news to the College of Law.