Meet the Candidates for the 2024-2025 Board of Directors

We are delighted to announce the full list of candidates for this year's board elections!  Please see below for brief statements from each of our candidates.  

If you will be attending the PLANC Conference in New Orleans, you will have a chance to meet some of our candidates during the NAPLA Lunch on June 11 at Tulane University School of Law.

All current, regular members will receive a ballot and instructions by email when voting opens on June 12. If you would like to participate, make sure you are up to date on your dues by June 6! Voting concludes July 12, with results to be announced by August 1. Elected candidates will assume their roles with the start of the new board term on September 1.

Many thanks to all of our candidates for your willingness to support NAPLA and the pre-law advising community!

Executive Committee Positions (1 open position each, 1-year term)

• • First Vice President: Ed Egan (Mount St. Mary's University)
• • Note: Following the resignation of NAPLA's first vice president earlier this year, the board appointed Ed Egan to fill the vacant role.  This vote is to confirm that appointment for the current term (2023-24), as is required by the NAPLA by-laws.  If elected, Ed will advance automatically to the role of president for the coming term (2024-25).  
• • Second Vice President: Steven Lichtman (Shippensburg University)
  • Treasurer: Heather Frederick (Slippery Rock University)
  • Secretary: Tina Coco (Baruch College), Molly Gorby (Bucknell University)
  • Communications Coordinator: Logan Reed (University of Virginia)

At-Large Board Positions (4 open positions, 2-year term)

Note: Additional at-large positions may come available after the election, should any current at-large board member advance to the executive board while in the middle of a two-year term.  In this event, candidates who do not win election to full two-year terms will be 

invited to serve out the remainder of any partial terms, beginning with the candidate who receives the highest number of votes.

Candidate Statements - Executive Committee

Ed Egan, Director, Pre-Law Program, Mount St. Mary's University
First Vice President

Ed Egan has been the Director of the Pre-Law Program at Mount St. Mary’s University since 2009. He earned his B.S. in Political Science from Mount St. Mary’s and his J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. After law school graduation, Ed clerked for Judge Joseph M. Mathias on the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland.

Ed has practiced law in Maryland, D.C. and Pennsylvania. In addition to his Pre-Law duties at Mount St. Mary’s, Ed directs the university’s First-Year Seminar and has taught courses on civil rights law, environmental law, the First Amendment, and the American legal system, among others. He has been actively involved in NAPLA since 2010 and has served two terms on the NAPLA Board.

Steven Lichtman, Associate Professor of Political Science and Pre-Law Advisor, Shippensburg University
Second Vice President

I have been a NAPLA member since 2007, and I have previously served on the Board and as Treasurer, and also been a frequent presenter at NAPLA conferences. I believe emphatically in the work NAPLA does, perhaps now more than ever, given the rapidly-changing pre-law advising environment. Pre-Law Advisors today must contend both with the shifting expectations of our students, as well as innovations being pushed by institutional actors whose interests do not always dovetail with our students’ interests. NAPLA can play a significant role in ensuring that whatever broad changes are being contemplated are truly beneficial.

Along with over twenty years’ experience in pre-law advising, I also have extensive experience in organizing academic conferences. Since 2016, I have served as Executive Director of the New England Political Science Association (NEPSA), which means I have been in charge of running NEPSA’s Annual Meeting. Among my responsibilities are assembling the conference program, negotiating with hotels, reviewing contracts, and administering the conference on-site.

As NEPSA Executive Director, I think that I have seen just about all of the possible vagaries of conference planning. Just this spring, we found out two days before the 2024 conference was set to start that our conference hotel was unable to open after a recent renovation, and that we needed to move the entire conference to a different hotel (which we successfully did).

I hope that with my conference-planning expertise, I can serve NAPLA well … and I am looking forward to working with all of you!

Heather Frederick, Professor of Political Science and Prelaw Program Advisor, Slippery Rock University
Treasurer

I have been a member of NAPLA for over ten years. I have served on the Conference Committee, the NAPLA Board as an At-Large Member, and finally as NAPLA Treasurer for the past four years. As Treasurer, I was integral in transforming the financial processes of NAPLA, instituting greater oversight for the organization, transferring banks, and investing in the financial wellbeing of the organization. I have also presented many times at NAPLA conferences and am committed to finishing projects to leave a healthy, comprehensive understanding of NAPLA finances for future treasurers.

Tina G. Coco, Esq., Pre-Law Advisor and Manager, Max Berger Pre-Law Program, Baruch College
Secretary

I joined Baruch College-CUNY in November 2011. I am a cum laude graduate of St. John’s University and St. John’s School of Law. After working for several years as a Staff Attorney for both the NYC Bar and CT Corporation System, I earned a certificate in Adult Career Planning & Development from New York University. I served as the Assistant Director of the Career Development Office at Pace University School of Law for over 6 years and as a Career Consultant at New York Law School. I was honored to receive the 2022 AALS Section on Pre-Law and Admission to Law School’s Excellence in Pre-Law Advising Award. In addition, I served as a NALPA Board Member At-Large for 4 years. I am a frequent speaker at APLA conferences and have assisted in organizing several NAPLA annual conferences. After taking some time off, I am seeking nomination for the position of Secretary as I wish to give back to the organization that has given me so much in my role as a PLA. Thank you!

Molly E. Gorby, JD, Career Coach and Pre-Law Advisor, Bucknell University
Secretary

Prior to joining Bucknell University as its Pre-Law Advisor, I worked with individual and corporate clients in both large and small firms, practicing civil litigation, mortgage foreclosure law, estate planning and real estate law. I am a licensed attorney in Florida and Pennsylvania, with a JD from the University of Richmond and a BA in Criminology from the Florida State University. I am interested in joining the NAPLA board in order to work with and collaborate with other pre-law advisors as we navigate this changing landscape of law school admissions. I would bring a fresh perspective as a new(er) pre-law advisor to expand ways to build educational opportunities for our pre-law advising community in order to provide accurate information to our candidates. For example, in my first year on my campus, I proposed and designed two pre-law classes focused on career exploration and the law school application process which have been well received and attended by students. I am also committed to building relationships both on-campus with faculty/administration partners and with law school admissions officers to enhance pre-law advising overall. I would enjoy having a more active role in creating and identifying opportunities through NAPLA which would support and advance our profession at large and would be very motivated to build education programming and networking opportunities which support our members and keep them well informed so that they are confident in their advising roles.

Logan Reed, Assistant Director of Career Counseling, University of Virginia
Communications Coordinator

I have always enjoyed supporting college students throughout their journey and have been encouraged that NAPLA is on the same page. I remember feeling the tension and passion sometimes showcased in the various NAPLA conference sessions because the advisors feel protective of their Pre-Law students. I appreciate how NAPLA works together with Pre-Law Advisors, Law School Admissions, LSAC, and LSAT Prep Companies to share knowledge and resources to best support the students. I would love to continue to be on the NAPLA Board to support the Pre-Law professional community that helps our students. I am currently managing a bi-monthly newsletter and web page in my role as the primary Pre-Law Advisor at UVA. I have been the Communications Coordinator for NAPLA since January and I want to continue to bring fresh ideas and continuing tried and true methods for the communications of NAPLA. I would love to continue to contribute to the NAPLA community as the Communications Coordinator. You can find my staff bio here for more background: https://career.virginia.edu/people/logan-reed.

Candidate Statements - At-Large Board Members

Melissa Bennett, Graduate & Pre-Professional School Advisor, Drexel University

I am excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful impact to NAPLA, so thank you for considering my nomination. I have over 10 years’ experience in higher education and believe that I have much to offer as a Board Member at Large. I am currently at Drexel University in the Steinbright Career Development Office and have been there for almost four years. I am confident that my experience and abilities as a pre-law advisor, as well as my previous experience working in non-profits, will allow me to contribute significantly to the organization's mission and growth.

I am the sole coordinator of the Philly Law Fair and have worked hard to make this event a success for both students and law schools. I am proud to have founded Drexel’s LSAT Fee Reimbursement program, which is going into its second year after its successful launch, providing grants to high achieving, high need students. I also believe that my knowledge of higher education enables me to understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing professionals in the field, and that will allow me to contribute informed perspectives to board discussions and decision-making processes. Prior to joining NAPLA, I was a contributing member of EACE, NACE, and GACE and I previously worked in pre-law advising at Georgia College and State University.

I am fully committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of a board member with dedication and enthusiasm.

Cindy Firestein, Director of Undergraduate Advising, Simmons University

My name is Cindy Firestein and I live 1-hour south of Boston, MA. I’ve been in higher education for over 15-years working in ResLife, Career Counseling and Academic Advising. I will be attending my first NAPLA conference in June 2024 in NOLA. I am self-nominating myself for the At-Large Member role. I am a new member to NAPLA this year and very eager to get involved with this organization.

I believe I have a lot of planning and leadership experiences that would allow me to greatly contribute to the board. I joined NACADA The Global Community for Academic Advising while in graduate school back in 2009. Being a member of NACADA for over 10-years, I've held many leadership positions that I believe will directly relate to the work/responsibilities of the At-Large Member. Some of my past NACADA leaderships roles include: conference planning committee (regional and annual conferences), Chair of the Advising Adult Learners Community, published several articles with Academic Advising Today (AAT) NACADA's online advising publication, held several Region 1 Steering Committee roles, and more. I'm currently the 2023-2025 Region 1 Membership & Engagement Co-Chair for NACADA which is part of the region's Steering Committee.

Since the At-Large Board Member may serve on one or more board committees such as conference committee, programming committee, etc., I am sure my prior involvement with NACADA will allow me to dive in and contribute to any committee I join if selected for this role.

Molly E. Gorby, JD, Career Coach and Pre-Law Advisor, Bucknell University

Prior to joining Bucknell University as its Pre-Law Advisor, I worked with individual and corporate clients in both large and small firms, practicing civil litigation, mortgage foreclosure law, estate planning and real estate law. I am a licensed attorney in Florida and Pennsylvania, with a JD from the University of Richmond and a BA in Criminology from the Florida State University. I am interested in joining the NAPLA board in order to work with and collaborate with other pre-law advisors as we navigate this changing landscape of law school admissions. I would bring a fresh perspective as a new(er) pre-law advisor to expand ways to build educational opportunities for our pre-law advising community in order to provide accurate information to our candidates. For example, in my first year on my campus, I proposed and designed two pre-law classes focused on career exploration and the law school application process which have been well received and attended by students. I am also committed to building relationships both on-campus with faculty/administration partners and with law school admissions officers to enhance pre-law advising overall. I would enjoy having a more active role in creating and identifying opportunities through NAPLA which would support and advance our profession at large and would be very motivated to build education programming and networking opportunities which support our members and keep them well informed so that they are confident in their advising roles.

Illana Julius, Associate Director of Career Advising, Yeshiva University

I started my pre law advising journey in the fall of 2017 at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University) and in February of 2023 I switched titles and became the sole pre law advisor for all schools under the umbrella of Yeshiva University. I have truly benefited from attending yearly Napla conferences, viewing the website and keeping in touch with several pre law advisors, all whom I have met through Napla. I value the opportunity to learn more and to share my unique program ideas. Like many of you I come from a holistic approach and my background in advising at risk students and first-generation both at City College and Stern College have given me insight into how mental health and success in academia are interdependent. I am enthusiastic about this position. I am motivated to work with an incredible organization such as Napla and I feel I could contribute some programming ideas that strengthen the at-risk population and minority population. I grew up in Northern California and attended the University of San Francisco before moving to NYC and attending Baruch, CUNY. In addition to my job, I am a mother, and I am enrolled part-time in a LMHC program at the Ferkauf School of Psychology. I am an empathetic educator who strives to serve the communities that I am graced to be involved in.

Nicki Kern, Pre-Law Advisor and Senior Academic Advisor, University of Maryland, College Park

Nicki Kern serves as a Pre-Law Advisor & Senior Academic Advisor in the Office of Letters & Sciences at the University of Maryland. She also teaches grammar for the College of Journalism and writing courses at the University. Nicki earned a Master’s in English from University of Maryland, College Park and a Bachelor’s in English from Pace University, New York City.

Nicki began her career in pre-law advising in 2019 as a graduate assistant before becoming a full-time advisor. As she continues to establish herself in her role, she views serving on the board as the next step. She wants to aid newer pre-law advisors and continue to learn from seasoned advisors. She also hopes to challenge her colleagues and believes that her perspective, having grown up and been educated in a world and education system much like the one our students are navigating is one of the ways she can do this. Ultimately, Nicki wants to enrich her work to best serve her students and hopes that she will help other advisors along the way just as they have helped and inspired her.

Andrea Lewis, Pre-Law Advisor, Georgetown University

I work in advising because my most useful pre-law advising assistance came from my peers and not my pre-law advisor. I was lucky. I had friends who had learned enough along the way to shepherd me through the process with sound, hard won advice. I ended up at Yale Law and continued to pass down advice. But I don’t believe students should have to be lucky or connected to have a successful application cycle. My primary goal is to be an equal-opportunity resource for all students at my university.

As a relatively new advisor, I am eager to serve on the NAPLA board because I pride myself on staying up to date on industry developments that affect my students. I have already benefited tremendously from the connections I’ve made within PLANC and would like not only to continue but to facilitate more on a national scale.

I would like to create and/or officially recognize affinity groups within NAPLA to formalize a path for shared information and resources to come alongside the mentor/mentee structure already in place. Further, I would like to explore with the board methods to increase communication and relationships with law school admissions staff to supplement the work done by LSAC and centralize what individual law schools already do, such as private Q&A sessions, "state of the cycle" addresses, or even just updated contact information in a central location.

Nicole Park, Susan L. Wagner ’82 Associate Director/Advisor for Law, Government & Public Policy, Wellesley College

I am excited to submit my candidacy for the position of NAPLA At-Large Board Member. I have worked in higher education for the past eight years, first as a law school career advisor, and beginning in 2020, as Wellesley College's pre-law advisor. Earlier in my career, I was a corporate attorney at a large firm. When I transitioned into pre-law advising during the isolation of the pandemic, NAPLA was a wonderful source of information and connection that helped me to learn the many nuances of this work. I am eager to start giving back to NAPLA and getting to know more of my colleagues throughout the region. After four years as a pre-law advisor, now feels like the right time to broaden my perspective and make a contribution to the board and board committees.

I believe that NAPLA plays an integral role in increasing access to the legal profession, because it provides advisors with the connections and tools to do their work well. I would be honored to help make those connections and share those tools, knowing that the more we engage with each other, the more our students will benefit. As a board member, I would be a steady advocate for NAPLA's mission by always seeking to open lines of communication in our community, reflect on how we can do our jobs better, and ultimately reach more pre-law students even more effectively. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Reed Srere, Senior Associate Director, Office of Career Strategy, Yale University

I have spent the past seven years working in higher education with Yale University. My first six years were spent in undergraduate admissions where I focused on access to resources and special programming for high priority groups. This past year I transitioned to advising with a focus on careers in STEM, graduate school and pre-law counseling. I am interested in board service because I have seen the transformative power of knowledge sharing between universities and wish to continue to help facilitate that within the pre-law space.