SDSG

Interns and Fellows

Are you interested in internship or fellowship?     

We  are actively recruiting new interns and fellows. We can offer college credits or modest fellowship stipends.  Please contact zubkova@sdsg.org for more information.    

Current Fellows    

Charles Afeku is a lawyer from Ghana.  He received his L.L.M degree in Mineral Law and Policy and Sustainable Development from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law. In Ghana, he works with the Minerals Commission as Legal Officer; and is involved in negotiating and drafting mineral rights agreements, and advising the government on minerals and mining issues.  He has also contributed to drafting national mining policies and legislation on mineral royalties and compensation of mining communities.  Charles is a member of the Ghana Bar Association, and volunteers some of his time as an Executive Director (Legal) for a non-profit dedicated to promoting the use of renewable energy in Ghana.   

Nadia B. Ahmad is a native of Orlando. She is currently pursuing an LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy at the University of Denver. Nadia obtained her law degree from the University of Florida, where she was a Virgil Hawkins Fellowship recipient and served as Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The Florida Journal of International Law. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with high honors in Comparative Literature. At Cal, Nadia was initiated into the Golden Key National Honor Society and was a three-time recipient of the Barbara L. Frye Scholarship for student journalism from the Capitol Press Club of Florida. She is a member of the Florida Bar. 

Nino Coppero is Associate to Rodrigo, Elias & Medrano Abogados in Lima, Peru. Currently performing the LL.M. in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Denver. His practice is focused in Mining and Environmental Law, by rendering advice on mining and environmental topics and on natural resource-related commercial and corporate matters to national and foreign companies. He has been a Professor of Mining, Oil and Gas law at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences’ College of Law since 2006, and a member of the Lima Bar Association, the National Association of Mining, Oil and Energy and the National Law Institute of Mining, Oil and Energy. He is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Italian.    

  Jeffrey Cullers earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2008 and practiced law in Texas prior to beginning the LLM program in Natural Resources in Environmental Law at the University of Denver.  Jeffrey has worked as a consultant with SDSG since June 2010 and is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Texas.  Prior to law school, Jeffrey graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with majors in economics, policy and management, and international relations.  In his spare time, Jeffrey enjoys hiking Colorado’s mountains and photography.        

Kristi Dorr received her J.D. from Vermont Law School where she focused on business aspects of environmental issues. Kristi spent a semester as an intern with the U.S. State Department’s Economic Section in Brussels, Belgium where she focused on the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, emissions trading, and free trade agreements under the Lisbon Treaty. Kristi holds a Masters in Resources Law Studies from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where she received the Laitos Scholarship for Excellence in Natural Resources Law and interned with the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute.  Past work experience includes conducting environmental and social due diligence for a sustainable investment asset management firm and assisting in complex, civil litigation cases in Colorado.    

Dominic Gambino is originally from Chicago, Illinois and has visited the Gunnison area annually for the past 15 years.  He graduated from Indiana University–Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management.  Dominic was selected to intern at SDSG to create a comprehensive “dust deposition on snow” section on the SDSG website. Aside from his work at SDSG, Dominic enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, running, photography and music.  His future plan is to obtain a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management or Corporate Environmental Management. 

Kimberly Jackson is a native of Colorado, growing up in Colorado Springs before moving to Boulder to receive her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado. Kimberly is currently a law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, with a concentration in Environmental and Natural Resource Law. A practicing nurse, Kimberly worked within the environmental health field as a clinician/public health nurse with an emphasis on urban, at-risk populations and maternal-fetal health prior to her work with SDSG.  In addition to her volunteer work for the nonprofit Colorado Lawyers Committee, Kimberly enjoys photography, mountain biking, and hiking through the beautiful mountains of Colorado.    

Nathan B. Kennedy is originally from Southeastern Pennsylvania.   He graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Politics and a minor in Legal Studies.  Nathan attained a Juris Doctor at St. Thomas University School of Law, in Miami Gardens, Florida, and received a Master of Law in Taxation at the University of Denver.   While in law school, Nathan was given awards for his performance in International Environmental Law and International Arbitration, became a founding member of the St. Thomas Environmental Law Society, and did pro bono work with the Center for Earth Jurisprudence, a Florida-based NGO.  Nathan is also the published author of a chapter titled “Socioeconomic Struggles, Social Stagnation, and Electoral Reservation: Descriptive Representation and Substantive Benefits for Minorities and Low Castes in Indian Government,” in WOMEN MOVING FORWARD: VOLUME THREE: JUSTICE, TOWARD A SYSTEM OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS at 281-303 (Judith Barr Bachay and Raúl Fernández-Calienes eds., 2008).  In addition to his interest toward sustainable development, he is also an Eagle Scout and an avid snowboarder and mountain biker.  

Cassandra Kirsch holds degrees from the University of Texas in Political Science and Asian Studies with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Prior to her work with SDSG, Cassandra earned a certificate of study from the Zhejiang Institute of Technology in Hangzhou, China and provided research for the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development. Cassandra is currently a law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she serves as the Vice President for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and pursues studies in international trade development. When not working for the SDSG, Cassandra enjoys practicing martial arts and learning new languages.   

Patricia Nelson works as an environmental and natural resources attorney in California.  Most recently, she has worked with the Public Trust Alliance on a case involving a private water company’s withdrawals from the Carmel River ecosystem.  With Executive Director Michael Warburton, she followed the case and all of its implications through hearings at State Water Resources Control Board and the Public Utilities Commission— writing briefs, building alliances with community activists, and participating in settlement negotiations for an innovative regional water project.  She has worked on water rights, public trust, endangered species, water pollution, land use, mining, environmental justice, and government contracting issues for other public interest organizations.  She has also worked as an attorney-editor for legal publishing companies.  She has an LL.M. degree in natural resources law from the University of Denver and an LL.M. degree in environmental law from Golden Gate University.  

  Josee-Blandine Ongotto received her Bachelor Degree in Public Law from the University of Brazzaville, Congo, and Master in Public Law and Law of the Sea from the University of Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France. She received her J.D. from Denver University, Sturm College of Law, focused on Natural Resources Law. She has an international legal working experience for working in Europe, Africa, and the US. Josee speaks French, English, and a variety of African Languages. 

   

Mark Phillips is a third-year student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Mark grew up in Golden, Colorado, before leaving for Maine to get his undergraduate degree at Colby College. After four frosty winters he returned to Colorado started at DU, where he is pursuing the Environmental and Natural Resources certificate. Aside from his work at SDSG, Mark has interned in the Jefferson County District Court and at Colorado Legal Services. He enjoys skiing, hiking, and rafting throughout Colorado and the West. 

Raven Adams Phillips is currently a third year law student at the University of Denver, where she has focused on environmental and natural resources law.  Originally from California, Raven traveled to Colby College in Maine to study Psychology and Neuroscience.  After gaining further experience in scientific research labs, she decided to attend law school for a change of pace.  In addition to her work with SDSG, Raven has interned for Colorado Legal Services, the Denver District Court, and Denver Water.  Raven also serves as Managing Editor of the University of Denver Water Law Review.  In her free time, Raven enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, and appreciating the beautiful Colorado wilderness through skiing, hiking, and rafting.  

Molly Jane Roby grew up in Gunnison and has returned after graduating from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Environmental Engineering. Later this year, Molly and her husband will be departing for the Peace Corps. In gathering experiences from SDSG and the Peace Corps, Molly hopes to pursue a career practicing sustainable engineering in development. Molly enjoys traveling, hiking, and participating in the performing arts. 

Adrienne Stratton is a recent graduate of Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado.  She received a B.A. in History and plans to attend graduate school for Public History in 2012.  She is from Lake Charles, Louisiana and enjoys skiing, reading, playing music, cooking, and hiking.