Executive Board Biographies - School of Law

 The Honorable Matthew J. Perry Chapter
Of
BLSA
Executive Board 2012-2013
President
Katherine R. Myers
Katherine, a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina
School of Law, is the 2012-2013 President of the Black Law Students
Association. She will also be serve on the ABA Competition team for the
Moot Court Bar. She is also a member of the Student Bar Association
(SBA), American Bar Association (ABA), National Bar Association
(NBA) and Federal Bar Association (FBA). Additionally, she is a merit
scholarship recipient and a USC Law Student Ambassador. During her
law school career, she has clerked for the Todd Rutherford Law Firm,
Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, PA, Richland County Clerk of Court, Fifth
Circuit Solicitor's Office, Kelly Seabrook Law Office, Bowman and
Brooke, LLP, and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Katherine
plans to take the South Carolina Bar Exam and is interested in civil rights
law, products liability, and business litigation.
Outside of the classroom, she is active in the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.,
attends First Nazareth Baptist Church, enjoys playing basketball, and spending time with friends and
family . Katherine is a native of Columbia, SC and a graduate of Furman University in Greenville, SC.
with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Vice President
Simone R. Martin
Simone R. Martin, a third-year law student, is the 2012-2013 Vice
President of the Honorable Matthew J. Perry Chapter of the Black Law
Students Association (BLSA) at the University of South Carolina School of
Law (USC). Simone is one of eight members of the USC Moot Court Bar
to be named Order of the Barristers and won both the 2011 Kate Bockman
Internal Moot Court Competition and the 2012 J. Woodrow Lewis Internal
Moot Court Competition. Simone, a student member of the John Belton
O’Neall Inn of Court and a merit scholarship recipient, is also very active
with the USC Mock Trial Bar and as a USC Student Ambassador.
During the 2011-2012 school year, Simone was a member of the National
Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) National Executive Team, as
she was appointed to serve as NBLSA National Corporate Relations Specialist. In addition, Simone
participated in the Study Abroad Maymester Program at The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn in
London, England. Moreover, during her time in law school, Simone has clerked for The Honorable
Donald W. Beatty of the South Carolina Supreme Court, with the United States Attorney’s Office for
the District of South Carolina, with the Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of South Carolina Governor
Nikki Haley, and at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA.
Simone, a native of Salisbury, North Carolina, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and
Mass Communication with a Chemistry minor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, she enrolled in a Master of Arts program for
English at North Carolina Central University. Moreover, prior to law school, Simone used her time to
pursue her passion for music, serving as opening vocalist for John Legend, Music Soulchild, and Boyz
II Men concerts. Simone is interested in a career in litigation and legal journalism.
Treasurer
Sarah Ayler
Sarah, a third – year (3L) law student at the University of South Carolina
School of Law, is the 2012 -2013 Treasurer of the Black Law Student
Association. She is also involved in ABA, SBA, Children’s Law Society,
Veterans Law Society, and Pro Bono. Along with the Carolina Legal
Scholars scholarship, Sarah is also a recipient of another merit scholarship.
Sarah is the proud mother of two (2 years and 8 months) and wife of a United
States Solider (Army). She attended and graduated with honors from
Presbyterian College, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science while
minoring in African American Studies. Additionally, Sarah has clerked with a
Richland County Family Court Judge and is currently working in the University of South Carolina
Athletics Department Office of Compliance Services. While Sarah would love to pursue sports law,
she also has interests in family and real estate law.
Recording Secretary
Cashida Okeke
Cashida is a second year law student at the University of South Carolina School of
Law and is the Recording Secretary for the Black Law Students Association. Last
year in the organization, she served on the Banquet and gift planning committee.
Her other activities at the Law School include serving as a member of the Pro
Bono Board, being a volunteer income tax assistant and also being a member of
the ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal. This past summer, Cashida
interned at Nexsen Pruet, LLC law firm in Columbia, SC.
Cashida graduated from Duke University in 2010 with a degree in American
Political Science. While there, she worked in the Graduate Admissions
Department and university libraries and also participated in several organizations such as Phi Sigma Pi
Honors Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Cashida is the daughter of a Nigerian
immigrant father and a Darlington native mother. She and her family have lived in Rock Hill, South
Carolina for all of their lives. One of her favorite things to do on the weekends is to attend the
basketball games of her younger brother and watch movies with friends
Corresponding Secretary
Kiara Tucker
Kiara is a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina School of
Law. A native of Elgin, South Carolina, she matriculated into Emory University
in the fall of 2006. Four years later, she received a bachelor’s degree in
Psychology with a minor in Education. Kiara began her law school career at the
University of Alabama School of Law immediately after graduation. While there,
she was very active in the Black Law Students Association, the Christian Legal
Society, and the Tuscaloosa Boys and Girls Club. In the summer of 2011, after
her first year of law school, she was awarded a summer associate position at
Molden Holley, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Kiara subsequently transferred to The
University of South Carolina where she is currently active in the Black Law
Students Association as Corresponding Secretary, Women in Law, and Law
Democrats organizations. As a Peer Mentor, she assists new students with the
transition into the rigors of law school.
Additionally, Kiara clerked at Lang-Mekra North America during the summer of 2012. There, she
worked with in-house counsel and garnered an unusual perspective on the prospective nature of the
practice of law. During the 2012-2013 school year, Kiara will clerk for Johnson, Toal & Battiste, P.A.
She is also very involved with her church youth group, the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Kiara plans to take the North Carolina Bar Exam and is interested in
employment discrimination, real estate law and estate planning. She enjoys playing tennis, acting and
traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.
Mock Trial Director
Nicole Thomas Brown
Nicole, a third-year law student at the University Of South Carolina
School Of Law, is the 2012-2013 Mock Trial Manager of the Black Law
Students Association. She is also a member of the University of South
Carolina Mock Trial Bar.
Nicole was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated Magna Cum
Laude from Limestone College with her Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. Nicole plans to take
the South Carolina Bar Exam and is interested in corporate law and
insurance law.
Moot Court Director
Elisha Polk
Community Service Director
Imani Newborn
Imani Newborn, a second-year student at the University of South Carolina
School of Law is the 2012-2013 Community Service Director of the Black
Law Student Association. During her first year of law school, she served
as the 2011-2012 Community Service Co-Director for BLSA. She is also
a member of the USC Law Pro Bono Board and was recently awarded the
2012 Outstanding Service Award. Additionally, Imani serves as a USC
law Ambassador, a volunteer translator for Project Ayuda, and as a
volunteer Guardian ad Litem for Richland County CASA.
Imani was born in South Georgia, but grew up in Columbia, SC. She
graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. She is a
receipt a merit-based law scholarship. This past summer, she clerked for
the Office of General Counsel at SCANA Corporation in Cayce, South
Carolina. Imani plans to take both the South Carolina and Georgia Bar
exams and is interested in family law, real estate, and litigation.
Coordinator of Social Events
Leslie M. Simpson
Leslie, a second-year law student at the University Of South Carolina
School Of Law, is the 2012-2013 Social Committee Chair of the Black Law
Students Association. She is also a member of Phi Alpha Delta and the
Student Bar Association (SBA). Additionally, she is a merit scholarship
recipient and a USC Law Student Ambassador.
Leslie was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina but was raised in Houston,
Texas. She graduated Cum Laude from Claflin University with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Additionally,
Leslie clerked at Rogers, Townsend & Thomas, PC in Columbia, South
Carolina during the summer of 2012 and is currently clerking there for the
2012-2013 school year. Leslie is a cheerleading coach at Claflin University
and a member of the North Charleston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In her free time, Leslie enjoys working out
and spending time with friends and family.
Social Action Chair
Linden Guinn
Linden is a third-­‐year law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law where he serves as the Social Action Chairman of the Black Law Student's Association. He received his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University in 2010. Shortly after graduation, Linden began his law school career at the University of South Carolina. In the summer of 2011, after his first year of law school, he served as a summer law clerk to the Honorable Margerat B. Seymour, United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina. During his second year of law school, Linden was chosen to serve on the University of South Carolina's Moot Court Board where he currently serves as a member of the Executive Board. Linden was also named to the prestigious Order of the Barristers and has consistently received top attorney honors in numerous moot court competitions. During the summer of 2012, he served as a summer law clerk to Chief Justice Jean H. Toal of the South Carolina Supreme Court. During the academic school year, Linden serves as law clerk for Johnson, Toal & Battiste, P.A. He plans to take the North Carolina Bar Exam and is interested in products liability defense, complex commercial trucking litigation, white collar crime defense, and complex personal injury law. Outside of law school, Linden is active in local, state and national politics and volunteers his time to numerous voter registration initiatives. Parliamentarian Lamar Fyall Lamar is a second-year law student at the University of South Carolina
School of Law and serves as the 2012-2013 parliamentarian of the Black
Law Students Association. He was born and raised in Charleston, SC. He
graduated from Winthrop University with a major in Psychology and a
minor in Philosophy. Lamar served as a law Clerk at the 5th Circuit
Solicitor’s Office in Columbia, SC solicitor’s office during the summer of
2012. He has a strong interest in criminal law and alternative dispute
resolution.
Lamar will also be serving as the 2012-2013 Subregion 3 director for the
Southern Region of the Black Law Student Associaion. Additonally he is
the SC State Director of Collegiate Affairs for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,
inc, Programming Chair for the American Constitution Society, and a Law Student Ambassador.
Historian
Maurice H. Thompson
Im from Jacksonville, NC who went to North Carolina Central University for
4 years, graduating in 2010. While there I studied Political Science, and was
involved with the marching band. I am also a member of Kappa Kappa Psi
Honorary Band Fraternity Inc. After taking a year off, I enrolled in the
University of South Carolina's School of Law. Here I am a Peer Mentor and
am now entering my 2L year.
Faculty Advisor
Professor Eboni Nelson
Professor Nelson joined the faculty of the University of South
Carolina School of Law in 2007. Her courses consist of Contracts,
Sales, and Consumer Law. Prior to joining the faculty, she taught
Commercial Law and Texas Consumer Law at Thurgood Marshall
School of Law in Houston, TX.
Professor Nelson graduated summa cum laude from Wake Forest
University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her
J.D. from Harvard Law School where she served as a Contracts
teaching assistant for Professor Elizabeth Warren. After graduating
from Harvard, she practiced employee benefits in the Houston office of
Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP. During her time at the firm, Professor
Nelson was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center where she taught Taxation
of Compensation. During the Fall 2004 semester, she was a visiting assistant professor at the Law
Center where she taught Contracts and Texas Consumer Law.
Professor Nelson's scholarly interests include various issues related to education law and policy. She is
particularly interested in the provision of educational opportunities for disadvantaged students as well
as the intersection of consumer law and education issues. Her articles concerning affirmative action in
higher education and the constitutionality of race-conscious student assignment plans have appeared in
the Journal of College and University Law, a peer-reviewed journal at Notre Dame Law School, the
Denver Law Review, and the University of Miami Law Review. Her recent articles examining issues
related to young consumer credit card indebtedness have appeared (or are forthcoming) in the Utah
Law Review, the Villanova Law Review, and the Banking & Financial Services Policy Report.