Meet the ILSP Staff
Professor Padideh Ala'i (Interim Director: 2009 calendar year)
Interim Director of the International Legal Studies Program
Professor of Law
Room 340
Padideh Ala’i is a Professor of Law at American University, Washington College of Law (WCL) in Washington D.C. where she specializes in areas of international trade law and development and comparative legal traditions. Specifically, she teaches the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and writes in the areas of history and free trade, international efforts to combat corruption as well as issues relating to trade and good governance. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1988 and was in private legal practice with the law firms of Jones Day and Reichler, Milton and Medel prior to joining the Faculty of the WCL in 1997. In private practice Professor Ala’i represented developing country governments, including Guyana, Nicaragua, Uganda, China and the Philippines in their negotiations with foreign investors, US Government and its federal agencies, as well as multilateral institutions such as the World Bank. She also represented multinational corporations in international business transaction and advised them on pending U.S. banking legislation. From 1992-1996, Professor Ala’i was part of the legal team representing the Government of Philippines in international litigation and arbitration against Westinghouse Corp. charging corruption and bribery by Westinghouse of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and defective construction of the Bataan nuclear power plant. (Read more on Professor Ala'i).
Professor Ala'i will be the interim director of the ILSP for the 2009 calendar year. For appointments, contact Elleni Ghebremicael at 202-274-4112 or eghebremicael@wcl.american.edu.
Cathy Schenker
Associate Director of the International Legal Studies Program
Room 345
Phone: 202-274-4314
E-mail: schenker@wcl.american.edu
Cathy Schenker works as the academic advisor to the students in the ILSP LLM program. In addition, she teaches legal research and writing to the international students, and runs the Summer Legal English Institute. Prior to teaching at the Washington College of Law, Cathy worked as a corporate associate at Hogan & Hartson LLP. Cathy received a BA from Yale University in History and International Studies and a JD from New York University School of Law. Cathy speaks Polish, French, and basic Italian.
Rosie Edmond
Assistant Director of Admissions
Room 309-A
Phone: 202-274-4114
E-mail: redmond@wcl.american.edu
Rosie Edmond works with all new and incoming students throughout the admission process. She is the point of contact for all applicants to the ILSP and newly-admitted students, as well as for individuals inquiring about the ILSP program. In addition, Rosie works with all ILSP students as the contact for financial aid, scholarships, sponsoring programs, and the Certificate Exchange Program. A native of California, Rosie lived in Japan for about seven years and has been in D.C. for the past two years. She holds a BA in Communications from University of Maryland University College- Asian Division, Okinawa Japan and looks forward to pursuing a master’s degree at the AU School of International Service in the near future. She is fluent in Spanish, and conversational in Japanese.
Gina Evers
Alumni Coordinator & English Tutor
Room 343
Phone: 202-274-4113
E-mail: gevers@wcl.american.edu
Gina is both the Alumni Coordinator and English Tutor for the International Legal Studies Program. She coordinates with alumni liaisons to create communication and networking opportunities for alumni in their home countries through the establishment and maintenance of alumni clubs, and helps alumni keep in touch after they leave. Gina is the editor of the biannual Global Network, the ILSP’s own alumni magazine, and manages the ILSP alumni listserv. Gina also works with current LLMs to help improve their written and spoken English. She meets with students on a one-on-one basis in order to discuss writing in English. She holds a BA in writing from Ithaca College, and is currently pursuing her master of fine arts in creative writing at American University. She speaks English and Italian.
Elleni Ghebremicael
Assistant to the Director of the International Legal Studies Program
Room 338
Phone: 202-274-4112
E-mail: eghebermicael@wcl.american.edu
Elleni Ghebremicael helps LLM students by assisting them with their questions, helping them navigate their way through the ILSP program and writing the weekly ILSP newsletter. She also works with the ILSP staff in coordinating logistics. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Richmond in Political Science and Sociology. She spent time abroad in Europe and did service work in Senegal. Elleni currently attends American University’s International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program where she is pursuing a Masters of Arts. She speaks English and French.
Bill Churma
Resources Coordinator
Room 309
Phone: 202-274-4110
E-mail: wchurma@wcl.american.edu
Bill Churma maintains and updates the ILSP’s database as well as the website and assists with planning ILSP events and programs. He also assists ILSP students by answering their various questions, and responds to information requests from prospective students. Bill is originally from Pittsburgh and received a Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Jefferson College in International Studies and French. He spent time abroad studying and working in France. Bill is a current Masters student in American University's International Training and Education Program. He speaks English and French.
Adriana Vito
Assistant Director, International Career Programs
Room 122
Phone: 202-274-4097
E-mail: avito@wcl.american.edu
Adriana Vito is the Assistant Director for International Career Programs in the Office of Career & Professional Development. Adriana specializes in advising foreign ILSP students and alumni on issues unique to foreign lawyers entering the job market in the United States. Through workshops and individual sessions, Adriana counsels foreign lawyers in all areas of career development, including developing strategies to secure jobs and internships in the United States during and after their Optional Practical Training (OPT). Adriana leads WCL’s efforts in creating employment opportunities for ILSP foreign lawyers. In this capacity, Adriana liaises with law firms and multilateral international institutions. Adriana created the "ILSP Career Connection", a bi-weekly publication she edits listing jobs and internships for foreign ILSP students. Adriana is a licensed Brazilian attorney who holds an LL.B. from Mackenzie University in Sao Paulo and an LL.M. from the University of Florida. 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 Trade Policy Division of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington. Prior to moving to the United States, Adriana worked for the Brazilian Federal Prosecution in Sao Paulo. Adriana has published articles about U.S. trade remedy laws and the impact of U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings on Brazilian exports to the United States. She has also worked on a study about the impact of European and North-American agricultural subsidies on Brazilian corn exports. She speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and basic French.
Melanija Radnovic 
International Programs Coordinator
Room: 4910 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 16
Phone: 202-274-4391
E-mail: mradnovic@wcl.american.edu
Melanija Radnovic is the International Programs Coordinator. She manages the International Visiting Scholars Program and is the Assistant Coordinator for the Humphrey Fellowship Program. She received her LLB/JD degree from the University of Novi Sad Law School, Serbia, and her LLM degree in International Legal Studies with two specializations: International Business Law and International Environmental Law from AU WCL. Melanija has worked in the areas of business, trade, contract, labor, real estate and property law. She has successfully represented individuals and corporate clients, and was involved in a number of research projects related to international environmental law issues, investment, and trade with various NGOs in the DC area. She speaks Serbian, Croatian, and basic Macedonian, Slovenian, and German.