Penn State Dickinson Law holds fourth annual Pathway Day in Washington, D.C.

CARLISLE AND UNIVERSITY PARK, PA—Before coming to Penn State Dickinson Law, Ayah Manalastas ’26 worked as a senior paralegal at an energy-focused law firm in Washington, D.C., where she became familiar with then-Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioner Allison Clements’ work by cite-checking pleadings and summarizing her concurrences, dissents, and other Commission orders.

Manalastas had a full-circle moment on March 19, when she met and spoke to Clements during the keynote fireside conversation as part of the Law School’s fourth annual Pathway Day event, which introduces Penn State Dickinson Law students to energy and environmental practice in Washington, D.C.

“Former Commissioner Clements is fabulous. It was exciting to get to meet the person whose comments I had been summarizing face-to-face. It was one of many big highlights of this trip for me,” said Manalastas.

The trip is hosted by the Career Services Office, with substantial support from the Penn State Dickinson Law Alumni and Development team, faculty, alumni colleagues, and friends of the Law School with experience in this field. Fifteen students attended this year.

The group boarded the bus at 5:45 a.m., getting an early start to avoid the notoriously bad D.C.-area traffic, and spent 10 hours in the nation’s capital participating in moderated discussions, meeting Penn State Dickinson Law alumni who work in energy and environmental law, and visiting PEPCO. The day ended with an alumni reception.

“Hearing how our alumni were able to take their Penn State Dickinson Law degree and translate it into opportunities in the D.C. market was impactful for me,” said Charity Williams ’26, who served as student moderator on a career arc panel with Ely Ross ’08. “During my gap year before law school, I worked at a large firm in D.C., and it is not an easy market to get into if you are not already in the region or you do not have connections. Getting to hear from alumni who successfully made that transition was fantastic.”

Alumni planning committee guides Pathway Day agenda

From mapping out the day’s agenda to funding part of the trip, Penn State Dickinson Law alumni play a huge role in Pathway Day. The planning committee includes Ross, the Alumni Society Board president, as well as Brian Clark ’85, Denise Foster Cronin ’97, Bill Donohue ’75, Larry Gasteiger ’89, and Dave Raphael ’94.

Financial backing for the trip, which is free for students, comes from the Brian J. Clark ’85 Energy and Environmental Law Program Support Fund, which Clark endowed in 2020 to support the next generation of lawyers to navigate the current energy transition. K&L Gates, where Raphael is a partner, hosted most of the event and provided a meal sponsorship.

In addition to Clements, other featured speakers included Liz Trinkle, a shareholder at Wright & Talisman, the firm where Manalastas worked as a paralegal; Alyse Adamson, partner at Beveridge & Diamond; Christopher Costantini, senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section; and Steve Solow, principal at Solow PLLC.

Williams also appreciated the connections fostered during down moments, such as alumni-led walking tours past the White House and other downtown landmarks. “Scheduled networking events can feel transactional. It is hard to come across as genuine and authentic when your purpose as a student is to meet people at such events. Pathway Day felt different because we spent the day with most of the participants. We had already broken the ice and heard about their professional experiences, which made it easier to connect,” said Williams.

‘The alumni are the lifeblood of Pathway Day’

Williams, who is in University Park, and Manalastas, who is in Carlisle, also appreciated the chance to spend time with different classmates. “I was particularly happy that we got to interact with students from both locations,” said Manalastas. “It was a really good opportunity to connect,” said Williams.

Students returned from the trip with a better understanding of energy and environmental law issues and, for the 1Ls and 2Ls who attended, excitement for next year’s event.

“I appreciate the alumni who took the time to share their insights and experiences with us,” said Manalastas, who is joining the energy practice group at Thompson Coburn’s D.C. office after graduation. “I have done this event three times, and the alumni are the lifeblood of Pathway Day. They did a great job this year with the changes they made from past trips, such as adding student moderators. When they talk to us, it is very palpable how excited they are about energy.”