2025 Professional Development Conference

Michael Bramnick is a seasoned executive, attorney, and advisor with more than 25 years of experience in corporate governance, compliance, and organizational leadership. He has served in multiple senior roles, including General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, and Chief of Staff. Michael currently serves on several advisory boards, including Qryptonic, LLC, Porte Management Agency, and Penn State Dickinson Law, and is a Board Member and Governance Committee Chair for Freedom United and an Executive Committee Member of the LiveWell Foundation. A graduate of Penn State Dickinson Law and The George Washington University, Michael is dedicated to advancing ethical leadership, corporate responsibility, and social impact across sectors.

Mina Jefferson serves as the Chief Culture & Engagement Officer with Bricker Graydon. Here, she leads firmwide initiatives that strengthen culture, employee engagement, and professional development. With more than 30 years of experience spanning law practice, higher education, and people strategy, Mina previously served as Chief People Officer at Graydon Law and spent over two decades at the University of Cincinnati College of Law in leadership roles focused on student and professional development. Earlier in her career, she was a litigator and partner at Frost & Jacobs (now Frost Brown Todd). Mina earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and her B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University.

Kelly Lloyd serves as a Deputy District Attorney in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, where she leads the Diversion and Pretrials Division and serves as Legislative Liaison. Over her 15 years with the office, she has also overseen the Grand Jury and Narcotics Units, demonstrating her deep commitment to justice, public safety, and community-based solutions. In addition to her prosecutorial work, Kelly is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law and Rosemont College, where she teaches courses in criminal law and procedure. She earned her J.D. from Penn State Law and her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Juniata College.

Verna Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of Equal Justice Works, a national leader in expanding access to justice. Under her leadership, the organization advances opportunities for law students and recent graduates to pursue public interest careers, advocates for policies that reduce the debt burden on aspiring public servants and supports law schools in preparing students for impactful legal work. Before joining Equal Justice Works, Verna spent more than two decades at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where she served as Dean and Nippert Professor of Law and held several academic leadership roles. A graduate of Harvard Law School and Georgetown University, Verna has dedicated her career to promoting equal access to justice and developing the next generation of public interest lawyers.

Zach Gihorski is the Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, where they lead advocacy and sustainability initiatives that support agricultural producers across the country. Previously, he served as Associate Director of Public Policy at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, guiding efforts on food systems, pesticide regulation, and climate change. A graduate of Penn State Dickinson Law and Delaware Valley University, Zach brings together legal expertise, agricultural experience, and a commitment to advancing sustainable and effective agricultural policy.

Melissa Lenon is the Chief Legal Talent Officer at Richards, Layton & Finger, where she oversees all aspects of attorney recruiting, professional development, and talent strategy. She brings more than 25 years of experience in legal career development and firm leadership, including 16 years as Assistant Dean for Career Services at Temple University Beasley School of Law and prior experience at Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, where she served as Director of Associate Development and practiced as a litigator. A past President of the Board of Directors for NALP, Melissa has long been recognized as a leader in legal recruiting and professional growth. She earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and an Executive MBA from Temple’s Fox School of Business.

Stormie Mauck is a Litigation Associate at Dechert LLP, where she represents clients in complex civil litigation matters, drawing on extensive experience in research, writing, and case strategy. Before joining Dechert, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Penn State Law Review and worked as a research assistant to Professor John Lopatka, focusing on antitrust and regulatory issues. Her earlier experience as a civil litigation paralegal at Lepley, Engelman, Yaw & Wilk, LLC provided a strong foundation in case management and trial preparation. Stormie earned her J.D. from Penn State Law and a B.S. in Paralegal/Legal Studies from the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Ely Ross is president of the Penn State Dickinson Law Alumni Society Board of Directors and is the Chief Executive Officer of Ross Consulting Group, a boutique social impact consulting firm helping nonprofits and local governments tackle complex operational and organizational challenges. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer for DC Public Schools, overseeing a $1.1B agency, $180M operations budget, and $2.5B capital improvement program. Ely also held leadership roles as Chief of Staff at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and Director of the DC Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, where his work earned national recognition from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A former attorney with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ely holds a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law and completed the Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance program at American University.