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Denise St.Clair is the Center’s Executive Director. In addition to overseeing various legal research projects for the Center, she directed the staff of student researchers who compiled and summarized the adoption and child welfare laws of all fifty states for the Adoption LawSite. Ms. St. Clair holds a JD degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Family Law. She also has over twelve years of private practice experience, primarily in the area of labor and employment law.
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Angela Upchurch is the Center’s Real Living Academic Director. Professor Angela Upchurch joined the Capital faculty in 2003, as an associate professor of law teaching Civil Procedure and Torts. Most recently, Angela was a law clerk to The Hon. Michael Murphy of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Salt Lake City. She previously served as law clerk to The Hon. Avern Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Professor Upchurch graduated first in her class at Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she was editor-in-chief of the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal and recipient of the Loyola University Chicago Presidential Medallion.
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Carla Carpenter is the Center’s Associate Director. Carla holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. She is also an alumna of Capital University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude. Carla brings to the Center more than eight years of professional experience providing counseling, education, advocacy, and prevention services to children and families as well as a strong background in social service program development and administration.
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Anna Lin is the Center’s Financial Projects Coordinator. Anna holds a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University, focusing on organization development and community & education policy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Smith College where she studied history and music and spent a year abroad at Glasgow University in Scotland. Before joining the center, Anna honed her fundraising and project management skills in Boston working for two youth development and civic engagement organizations. In addition to her fundraising work, Anna continues to be involved with youth programs and music ensembles.
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Jenifer Thompson is the Center’s Staff Attorney. Jenifer holds a Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate from Capital University. Before coming to the Center, Jenifer worked in the Family Advocacy Clinic at Capital University Law School representing Domestic Violence victims. In 2005, Jenifer coached Capital University Law School’s first Adoption Moot Court team. As an adoptee, Jenifer also speaks at the Center sponsored Adoption Academy at Children’s Hospital.
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Dawn Viggiano is the Center’s Staff Attorney. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University, with a B.S. in Psychology. She also graduated from Capital University Law School, Summa Cum Laude, with a concentration in child and family law. Prior to attending law school, Dawn worked as a teacher for five years at both public and private schools in New Jersey. She also served as Managing Director of a Huntington Learning Center.
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Christine Morris is the Center’s Assistant Director of Information Services. She earned her Bachelors degree at Ohio University, majoring in Management Information Systems. Christine brings to the Center over six years of technical experience with a strong background in web development and programming knowledge.
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FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Kent Markus is the Center’s Founder and Former Director. Before coming to Capital, Markus served as Counselor and Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and Chief of Staff to former Ohio Attorney General Lee Fisher. Kent, an honors graduate of Harvard Law School, has taught a range of different subjects at Capital, including its first Adoption Law class -- the only such class regularly offered at an American law school.
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Students and numerous volunteers also work for the Center doing various jobs such as research, drafting letters and legislative language proposals, and directing projects. |
