Safia Abdinur, B.S.
Administrative Assistant
Safia.Abdinur@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7690
Safia Abdinur provides administrative support for the Public Health Law Center Healthy Eating and Active Living team.
Prior to joining PHLC, Safia worked as an HR Specialist at Hennepin Healthcare, where she supported the day-to-day operations and assisted with special projects for the various HR functional areas. She also worked College of Education and Human Development Student Services at the University of Minnesota.
In addition to her human resources experience, she also has a background in public health, as an HR intern with the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota and an intern with the Future Public Health Leaders Program.
Education
B.S., University of Minnesota
Julie Amajuoyi, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Julie.Amajuoyi@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7697
Julie Amajuoyi is a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, providing legal technical assistance on commercial tobacco control issues to public health professionals and organizations, legal professionals, and advocates in Minnesota and throughout the United States.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Julie worked as a litigation associate at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, where she engaged in complex commercial and civil litigation, including trademark, trade secrets, patent, and insurance coverage cases. She also engaged extensively in pro bono work, including representing immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. In addition, she gained experience in public interest law working at Catholic Charities Legal assistance, where she provided legal advice and referrals to low income clients with legal issues involving family law, bankruptcy, land-lord tenant law, foreclosure, criminal law, and personal injury. While in law school, Julie served as an intern with the County's District Attorney's Office. And as an intern with Cornell's Legal Aid Clinic, she represented clients seeking disability and unemployment insurance benefits. In addition to her legal training and experience, Julie also has significant experience in the health care setting working as a nurse and holds a graduate degree in theological ethics.
Education
B.S., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities summa cum laude
J.D., Cornell University Law School, Managing Editor, Cornell Journal of Law & Public Policy
M.T.S., University of Notre Dame
Doug Blanke, J.D.
Executive Director
Doug.Blanke@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7520
Previously, as an assistant attorney general of the State of Minnesota, Doug oversaw the enforcement of the state’s consumer protection laws for a decade and played a key role in the historic litigation that resulted in the release of the secret documents of the tobacco industry. His international work has included helping the American Cancer Society monitor development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s only public health treaty; helping write the treaty guidelines for smoking regulation; and editing the World Health Organization's handbook on tobacco control legislation. He was the 2004 recipient of the American Lung Association's C. Everett Koop "Unsung Hero" Award for his contributions to tobacco control.
Education
B.A., Michigan State University
J.D., Yale Law School
Rachel Callanan, J.D., M.N.M.
Senior Staff Attorney
Rachel.Callanan@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7667
Prior to joining the Center, Rachel was Regional Vice President of Advocacy for the American Heart Association where she led policy work in healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco control policy. With almost 18 years of experience on the front lines of passing state and local policies, Rachel has also led nonprofit advocacy with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, Minnesota Housing Partnership, and MN-NOW, and worked as a Research Associate at the Institute on Race and Poverty.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota
J.D., Hamline University (St. Paul, Minnesota) School of Law
M.N.M., Hamline University School of Business
Kerry Cork, J.D., M.A.
Senior Staff Attorney
Kerry.Cork@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7509
A long-time legal researcher and writer, Kerry has served as Internet legal counsel for the Dispute Resolution Institute and research attorney for the Legal Research Center. As a law student, Kerry was an editor on the Mitchell Hamline Law Review and a recipient of the Burton Brief Legal Writing Award. For 20 years, she operated her own successful corporate communications company. Her extensive public interest advocacy background includes work for the Hennepin County Legal Aid Society, political asylum cases for Advocates for Human Rights, and service as a guardian ad litem in child protection cases.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota, magna cum laude
M.A., University of Minnesota
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Ross Daniels, A.I.C.P, M.P.H.
Community Planner/Policy Analyst
Ross.Daniels@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7687
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Ross worked for over two years as an urban planner in WSP USA Inc.’s Nashville office, where he ensured National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for a variety of transportation projects, worked with local communities on inner city revitalization initiatives, and provided support to local transit agencies in their efforts to serve minority and low-income populations. He earned dual master’s degrees in Urban & Regional Planning and Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and while pursuing his degrees worked on a variety of projects related to community development and health. With the Wisconsin Extension, he explored the effectiveness of rural coalitions in promoting healthy eating and physical activity among children. He also collaborated with local planners in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, on an initiative to designate public land for urban agriculture. Additionally, he has worked with a broad coalition of citizens, higher education officials, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations to understand the intersections between lead contamination and housing laws in Milwaukee. A Nashville native, Ross is an avid Titans and Predators fan, and likes to pretend he is a chef of southern cuisine.
Education
B.A., Vanderbilt University
M.S., University of Wisconsin – Madison
M.P.H., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Mike Freiberg, J.D.
Senior Staff Attorney
Michael.Freiberg@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7517
Education
B.A., Georgetown University
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, salutatorian
Natasha Frost, J.D.
Senior Staff Attorney
Natasha.Frost@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6454
Prior to joining the Center, Natasha spent 10 years at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, a non-profit in Los Angeles, California. As the benefits program director, she created and managed a program that represents children and their caregivers to obtain public benefits. She handled more than 300 administrative fair hearings and recovered over $7,000,000 in funding on behalf of needy children. She also provided consulting and technical support to systemic efforts, including litigation and legislation, designed to overcome barriers to accessing benefits and services.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota, magna cum laude
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude
Jessica Grosz, J.D.
Lead Senior Staff Attorney for National Technical Assistance
Jessica.Grosz@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6416
Jessica Grosz is the Lead Senior Staff Attorney for National Legal Technical Assistance at the Public Health Law Center and supports the Center’s nationwide provision of legal technical assistance to public health advocates, state and local health officials, and government attorneys working to advance health through commercial tobacco control-related laws and policies.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Jessica led the Agricultural Worker Project at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, where she provided legal representation, education, and outreach to agricultural workers to help improve their working and living conditions. She previously acted as a farmworker attorney at the Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon, as well as a faculty immigration advisor and equity consultant at North Dakota State University. During law school, she held various legal internships focused on immigrant rights. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Education
B.A., St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota), cum laude
J.D., University of Denver College of Law
Rebecca Hare, J.D., M.L.I.S.
Saeks Public Interest Residency Fellow
Rebecca.Hare@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7526
Rebecca Hare is a Saeks Public Interest Residency Fellow, providing legal technical assistance on food regulation to public health advocates and organizations as a member of the Healthy Eating and Active Living team. Rebecca is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School where she was a student clinic director for the Community Legal Partnership for Health Clinic, an editor of Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice, and co-president of the Minnesota Justice Foundation UMN Student Chapter.
Rebecca has a varied research background as a graduate research assistant at HOME Line, law clerk at Minnesota's Office of the Revisor of Statutes, and information specialist (aka law librarian) at a mid-sized law firm in Minneapolis for three years. Rebecca also has direct client experience working at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, HOME Line, and Volunteer Lawyers Network’s Housing Court Project and Legal Access Point clinics.
She enjoys competitive (and recreational) long-distance running, creative writing, and spending time in the outdoors.
Education
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), summa cum laude
M.L.I.S., University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
Natalie Hemmerich, J.D., M.P.H.
Staff Attorney
Natalie.Hemmerich@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7666
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Natalie was a policy fellow at the Center of Excellence in Regulatory Tobacco Science at the Ohio State University. There she wrote about and researched issues relating to federal tobacco control including the intersection of law and science, the deeming regulation, e-cigarettes, and the regulation of synthetic nicotine.
Education
B.S., Bethel College (Mishawaka, Indiana), magna cum laude
J.D., Case Western Reserve University, cum laude
M.P.H., The Ohio State University
Kyra Hill, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Kyra.Hill@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7696
Kyra Hill provides legal technical assistance to public health professionals and advocates working on commercial tobacco control policies throughout the United States. Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, she practiced environmental law in North Dakota, where she represented community groups and individuals impacted by oil and gas development. She also served as an Energy Fellow at the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School, as a law clerk in the Natural Resources and Environment Section of the California Attorney General’s office, and as a law clerk at Food & Water Watch in Washington, D.C.
Education
B.A., Harvard University
J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, cum laude
Desmond Jenson, J.D.
Lead Senior Staff Attorney for Federal Regulation, Commercial Tobacco Control Programs
Desmond.Jenson@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7612
Desmond is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law where he received a CALI award for Public Health law. As a research assistant at the Public Health Law Center during law school, he helped draft publications and provide legal technical assistance.
Education
B.A., Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minnesota), cum laude
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Amanda Karls, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Amanda.Karls@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7618
Amanda Karls brings over a decade of law, policy and community engagement experience to her work at the Public Health Law Center. She is adept at complex legislative and regulatory analysis and focuses on addressing issues at the intersection of food systems and health equity. Amanda’s prior professional experience includes litigation and appellate work in private legal practice, and legal analysis and thought leadership strategy for an international corporation. Amanda has been published in numerous legal journals in the U.S. and internationally. She holds degrees in law and international business, and spent over three years studying abroad with language immersion experiences in both French and Spanish.
Amanda has also lent her policy expertise to a variety of public service and non-profit organizations in appointed, elected and volunteer capacities and has significant board leadership experience. She currently serves as a commissioner on St. Paul and Ramsey County’s food justice commission, and as a steering member of a non-partisan, community-led organization dedicated to improving open, inclusive and representative government. She is a recipient of the Minnesota Justice Foundation Award for Achievement in Volunteer Public Service.
Education
B.A., University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), cum laude
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Jay Kelly, M.B.A.
Communications Director
Jay.Kelly@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7631
Jay began his career working for advertising and public relations agencies, and transitioned into marketing and communications management roles at several large Minnesota nonprofits, including Fraser and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, brand management, online marketing and communications, web site creation and optimization, media relations, email marketing, social media, and event planning. Jay has an undergraduate degree in journalism, and a Master of Business Administration, with a focus on marketing and strategic management.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota
M.B.A., University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management
Tammy Kempf
Administrative Coordinator
Tamara.Kempf@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7506
Hudson Kingston, J.D., LL.M.
Staff Attorney
Hudson.Kingston@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7504
Hudson Kingston is a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, providing legal technical assistance on commercial tobacco control issues to public health professionals and organizations, legal professionals, and advocates throughout the United States.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center Hudson gained experience as a public interest lawyer with a focus on environmental law, consumer protection, and government and corporate accountability. Past employers include the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Center for Food Safety, Center for Digital Democracy, and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. While in law school he worked internationally on human rights in India and trade policy in Laos, and earned two LL.M. degrees in human rights and trade law while living in Singapore. He is a big fan of the Boundary Waters and is an avid runner, winning the Ely Marathon in 2017.
Education
B.A., Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota)
J.D., The University of Iowa College of Law, With High Distinction and Special Honors, Order of the Coif
LL.M., New York University School of Law
LL.M., National University of Singapore Faculty of Law
Stephanie Lackey, M.S.
Digital Communications Specialist
Stephanie.Lackey@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7695
Stephanie Lackey provides technology and communications support for the Public Health Law Center, helping to promote the Center’s online presence. She brings a diverse work and volunteer background to the department, including technology coordination with the University of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center and a yearlong English resource internship with a forestry nonprofit in Huế, Vietnam. She also has several years of experience working in both the coffee and travel industries, two of her favorite conversation starters.
Stephanie holds a Master of Science in environmental studies and certificate of public health from the University of Montana, where she focused her graduate studies on environmental justice. Stephanie also received a Bachelor of Arts in international studies-environmental commons and a certificate of Russian, East Europe, and Central Asian studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison
M.S., University of Montana
Jon Lee, J.D.
Director of Operations
Jon.Lee@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7511
Jon Lee is the Director of Operations at the Public Health Law Center, where he is responsible for general program operations, including fiscal management, grants and contracts compliance and reporting, program development, human resources management, and special projects.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center Jon served as the Office Manager and Project Manager at the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College where his responsibilities included management of the center’s finances, including the finances of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, grants and contract administration, assisting in grant proposal submissions, student worker management, occasional web page writing and editing, and various other writing and editing projects. Before working at the Science Education Resource Center Jon was the manager of River City Books, an independent trade book store owned and operated by Carleton College in Northfield, MN.
Jon is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was a Student Director at the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners clinic and a clerk at the Office of the Minnesota State Public Defender.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
Joelle Lester, J.D.
Director of Commercial Tobacco Control Programs
Joelle.Lester@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7603
Joelle Lester is the Director of Commercial Tobacco Control Programs at the Public Health Law Center. Joelle leads a team of 18 attorneys working to support tobacco control policy change throughout the United States. The Center does this by providing legal technical assistance to public health professionals and advocates, developing resources on the most effective legal and policy measures to reduce the burden of disease and death caused by tobacco use in the United States, and providing strategic leadership around bold policy options to end the tobacco epidemic. Prior to joining the Center, Joelle worked as a litigation associate at a private firm in Minneapolis.
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude
Jamie Long, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Jamie.Long@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7701
Jamie Long is a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, providing legal technical assistance on commercial tobacco control issues to public health professionals and organizations, legal professionals, and advocates throughout the United States.
Previously, Jamie worked in Congress as a Deputy Chief of Staff and legislative aide, handling a wide range of policy areas and managing a Congressional district office. He worked as a Litigation Associate for Morgan Lewis LLP. Jamie also serves as a Minnesota State Representative.
Education
B.A., Carleton College, magna cum laude
J.D., The George Washington University Law School, cum laude
Mary Marrow, J.D.
Senior Staff Attorney
Mary.Marrow@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7605
Education
B.A., St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota)
J.D., City University of New York School of Law
Nasimah Mayat
Senior Staff Accountant and Financial Analyst
Nasimah.Mayat@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6335
Education
B.Commerce, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Mark Meaney, J.D., M.A.
Deputy Director of Commercial Tobacco Control Programs
Mark.Meaney@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7642
Education
B.A., Creighton University
M.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude
Craig Moscetti, M.P.H.
Policy Analyst
Craig.Moscetti@mitchellhamline.edu
651.695.7624
Craig Moscetti conducts public health and policy research on commercial tobacco control, healthy eating, active living, and emerging public health issues.
Craig has a diverse public health background managing community programs, leading advocacy, developing strategic partnerships, and conducting policy research on international, federal, state and local public health issues. In addition to past positions with Allina Health, HealthPartners, the Global Health Council, and Congressional Research Service, Craig has also consulted for the Minnesota Department of Health, the American Heart Association, the Pan American Health Organization, and UNICEF.
Craig has also been active in the running and triathlon communities as a competitor, coach, race director, freelance writer, and former board member of the Minnesota Distance Running Association.
Education
B.S., Villanova University
M.P.H., The George Washington University School of Public Health
Renee Obrecht-Como, M.A.
Program and Grants Coordinator
Renee.ObrechtComo@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6468
Renee Obrecht-Como is responsible for grant agreement and contract compliance and accounts receivable operations, including the preparation of invoices. She also works closely with the Director of Operations, the Senior Staff Accountant and Financial Analyst, and the program teams to organize and manage grant proposal submissions and development efforts. Renee has more than 20 years’ experience with program compliance and administration and managing grant funding in both higher education and nonprofit settings, including awards from federal agencies, state and local government entities, and private foundations. Renee is also active in the fiber arts and supports climate beneficial, socially just food and fiber systems.
Education
B.A., Southwest Minnesota State University
M.A., University of Arizona
All but Dissertation towards Ph.D., University of Arizona
Natasha Phelps, J.D.
Lead Senior Staff Attorney for Minnesota Technical Assistance, Commercial Tobacco Control Programs
Natasha.Phelps@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7513
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Natasha worked as a litigation associate at the firm of Aafedt, Forde, Gray, Monson, and Hager, where she defended clients against civil and workers’ compensation lawsuits. Natasha has also worked as a student attorney at the Office of the Public Defender in Ramsey County, a judicial intern for the Honorable James A. Cunningham, Jr. of the Tenth Judicial District Court, and a state legislative intern in Wisconsin. At William Mitchell, Natasha served as President of the Black Law Student Association and worked as a research assistant for the Center for Negotiation and Justice (on discriminatory voting laws) and for Community Mediation Services (on discrimination and restorative justice in school disciplinary practices).
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Julie Ralston Aoki, J.D.
Director of Healthy Eating and Active Living Programs
Julie.RalstonAoki@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7532
Before joining the Center, Julie served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Divisions. She is an avid science fiction reader and is working on learning to play the ukulele.
Education
B.A., Yale University, cum laude
J.D., The University of Iowa College of Law, summa cum laude
Nydia Rivera, B.S.
Administrative Assistant
Nydia.Rivera@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6455
Nydia Rivera is the administrative assistant to the Commercial Tobacco Control Program.
Before joining the Public Health Law Center, Nydia worked as a chiropractic assistant, receptionist, and all-around office support for a small chiropractic office in Minneapolis.
Nydia is an avid reader and is a frequent user of both the Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library systems. A native of El Salvador, Nydia moved to San Francisco when she was eleven years old and lived in the Richmond district until her mid-twenties. Nydia has called Minnesota her home since 2009 but has not yet grown used to the cold winters.
Education
B.S., Metropolitan State University
Kou Leng Thao, B.A.
Communications Specialist
Kou.Thao@mitchellhamline.edu
Kou Leng Thao provides expertise in managing social media, digital content creation, and copywriting.
Kou has a bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Digital Media Arts. He brings to the Public Health Law Center a wealth of experience in digital communications and health and has worked in healthcare, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Genoa Healthcare; higher education, including Hamline University; and fitness and wellbeing industries.
Education
B.A., Hamline University
Andrew Twinamatsiko, J.D.
Lead Senior Staff Attorney for California Technical Assistance
Andrew.Twinamatsiko@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.6339
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Andrew worked as a litigation attorney in Iowa and South Dakota at the offices of Crary, Huff, Ringgenberg, Hartnett & Storm P.C., where he represented municipalities and specialized in civil litigation and criminal defense. Andrew also worked as an immigration compliance officer at the University of South Dakota, where he advised international students and visiting scholars on immigration regulations and policies. Following his immigration to the U.S. from Uganda in 2009, Andrew attended law school at the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Education
L.L.B., Uganda Christian University, honors
J.D., University of South Dakota School of Law, high honors
Susan Weisman, J.D.
Senior Staff Attorney
Susan.Weisman@mitchellhamline.edu
651.290.7516
Susan has led a series of collaborative, community-academic studies, partnering with public health researchers and labor leaders to examine how to build support for healthy workplace policies and how to improve workers’ access to and use of effective tobacco cessation health care benefits. Before joining the Center in 2001, she served for many years as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings. She is a qualified neutral for the Minnesota courts in mediation and arbitration.
Education
B.A., The Ohio State University
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Public Health Law Center Research Assistants
Cole Benson, University of Minnesota Law School
Anna Crouch, University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Matthew Gabb, University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Grace Heglund-Lohman, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Carly Johnson, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Samantha Marquardt, University of Minnesota Law School
Sarah Paulus, University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Edmund Pine, University of Minnesota Law School
Lauren Shurson, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Noah Steimel, University of Minnesota Law School
Jack Stinogel, University of Minnesota Law School
Sabrina Zimmerman, Saint Louis University