OCPD Staff Directory

Please note: All counseling appointments must be scheduled through the OCPD front desk by calling 202-274-4090 or visiting Suite 122. Career counselors will not respond to requests for appointments received by e-mail or phone, unless otherwise noted.

To learn more about an OCPD staff member, click on his or her last name for a short biography.

Name	Extension	Title	E-mail
Beirne, Bridget L.	x4095	Recruitment Coordinato	bbeirne@wcl.american.edu
Friedgood, Laura	x4093	Career Counselor	lfried@wcl.american.edu
Fulton, Robin	x4094	Resources Coordinator	rfulton@wcl.american.edu
Gomes, Charlene	x4099	Public Interest Coordinator	cegomes@wcl.american.edu
Jenkins, Traci Mundy	x4091	Director	tjenkins@wcl.american.edu
Killoran, Amy L.	x4251	Judicial Clerkship Coordinator	killoran@wcl.american.edu
Pascocello, Matthew L.*	x4092	Asst. Director for Marketing & Alumni Counseling	mpasco@wcl.american.edu
Serrant, Whitney	x4090	Senior Administrative Assistan	wserrant@wcl.american.edu
Vito, Adriana	x4097	Asst. Director for International Career Programs	avito@wcl.american.edu
*Call/Email directly for appointment

Bridget Beirne

Bridget Beirne is the Recruitment Coordinator for the Office of Career & Professional Development. Bridget organizes the Fall and Spring Recruitment Programs and serves as a liaison for employers participating in the programs. Prior to joining OCPD, Bridget worked in the Registrar's Office on main campus where she focused on student support. Her experience also includes working as a paralegal in Richmond, VA. Bridget earned her BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 2002, and is currently in pursuit of her MA in Comparative Politics from American University.

Laura Friedgood

Laura Friedgood is a Career Counselor in the Office of Career & Professional Development. She counsels J.D. candidates in all areas of their career development. Laura received a J.D. from The University of Minnesota Law School in 2000 and a B.A. in Philosophy from Drake University in 1997. While in Minnesota, Laura worked for the Minneapolis Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Tanja Manrique in the Hennepin County District Court. After relocating to the Washington metropolitan area, Laura served as in-house counsel for an international corporation and worked with victims of domestic violence for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Abused Persons Program.

Robin Fulton

Robin Fulton is the Resources Coordinator in the Office of Career & Professional Development. Robin works with students and alumni to answer technical questions regarding CareerLink, the OCPD website, and other web-based job tools. She identifies and organizes a variety of job search resources, and provides logistical support for OCPD programs and events. Robin previously worked as a front desk assistant in OCPD while an undergrad at American University, where she earned her BA in 2006. She is currently a graduate student at AU's School of International Service.

Charlene Gomes

As Public Interest Coordinator, Charlene directs the Office of Public Interest, working with students pursuing pro bono activities and public interest careers. She coordinates the Pro Bono Honors Pledge Program, the Public Interest/Public Service Scholarship Program and other public interest initiatives. From 1999-2003 Charlene was Program Director for the Women's Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program and the Leadership & Advocacy for Women in Africa Fellowship Program at the Georgetown University Law Center. Charlene was a member of the fellowship staff at Equal Justice Works and a family law paralegal. Charlene received a JD from George Mason University School of Law in 2000 and a BA (cum laude) in English, with a concentration in French and gender studies from Mary Washington College in 1993. Charlene is a member of the Virginia State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Women's Bar Association, the National Association of Law Placement Public Service Committee, and a Board Member of the Washington Council of Lawyers.

Traci Mundy Jenkins

Traci Mundy Jenkins is the Director of the Office of Career & Professional Development. She counsels J.D. candidates and LL.M. students in all areas of their career development. Prior to joining AU/WCL, Traci was the Managing Partner of a Washington, DC area legal placement and consulting company where she specialized in attorney recruitment and counseling, as well as providing consulting services to law firms and corporate legal departments. She also served as the Director of Placement at a national legal placement company. In addition to her legal recruiting experience, Traci practiced law for seven years at Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP where she developed an employment and commercial litigation practice. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, and she received a BA in Economics from Wellesley College. Traci is a frequent speaker on legal recruiting issues.

Amy Killoran

Amy Killoran is the Judicial Clerkship Coordinator in the Office of Career and Professional Development. She specializes in counseling students interested in obtaining judicial clerkships and internships at the federal and state court levels. Amy received an A.B. in government from Cornell University and a J.D. from Duke University's School of Law. Prior to joining OCPD, Amy served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable William C. O'Kelley, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, and practiced labor and employment law in Atlanta.

Matthew Pascocello

Matthew L. Pascocello is the Assistant Director for Marketing and Alumni Counseling. He received a BA in Economics and Political Science from Boston University in 1985, and his J.D. from Georgetown in 1990. Since graduating from law school, Matthew has worked as an Attorney in both large and mid-sized Manhattan law firms in the areas of corporate, litigation and international trade law. Before coming to AU/WCL, Matthew served as in-house legal counsel and Manager of Legal Information Systems for a Parisian-based, multinational assistance services company. He specializes in counseling alumni and part-time students, as well as directing the office's marketing efforts.

Whitney Serrant

Whitney Serrant is the Senior Administrative Assistant in the Office of Career & Professional Development. Whitney assists students and alumni with scheduling counseling appointments, answers general inquiries about OCPD services, and updates job postings on WCL CareerLink. He also works on special projects and coordinates reciprocity exchange between AU/WCL and participating schools.

Adriana Vito

Adriana Vito is the Assistant Director for International Career Programs. Adriana specializes in advising foreign ILSP students and alumni on issues unique to foreign lawyers entering the job market in the United States. Prior to joining WCL, Adriana worked for the international trade law practice groups of two law firms in Washington, DC. She also worked for the international trade section of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington. Prior to moving to the United States, Adriana worked for the Brazilian Federal Prosecution in Sao Paulo. Adriana is a licensed Brazilian attorney who holds a LL.B. from Mackenzie University in Sao Paulo and a LL.M. from the University of Florida, and she has published articles about US trade remedy laws.