Public Interest Resource Center Staff

Center Staff

Leah Horowitz (she/her/hers)
Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Social Initiatives

As Assistant Dean, Leah leads and coordinates much of the law school's public interest and social justice efforts. Before becoming Assistant Dean, she was the Director of Public Interest Student Engagement in PIRC, working closely with public interest students and student leaders of our pro bono projects. Before coming (back) to Fordham, Leah worked as a public defender at The Bronx Defenders for almost a decade. While at The Bronx Defenders, in addition to zealously representing clients, she created the Client Library to provide books to incarcerated and non-incarcerated clients and started an initiative to address solitary confinement. Leah will always be a public defender at heart. Leah received her law degree from Fordham Law School and her undergraduate degree from Cornell University. During her years at Fordham, Leah was a Stein Scholar and served as the president of two PIRC student organizations.

Leah is admitted to the Bar in New York and Connecticut.

Mia Jackson-Rosenthal (she/her/hers)
Director of Public Interest Student Engagement and Counseling

Email: [email protected]

In her role as the Director of Student Engagement and Counseling Mia advises students interested in pursuing public interest internships and careers. Furthermore, she supports PIRC student-led groups and coordinates public interest-focused events and panels. Mia is also the point person for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and outreach within PIRC.

Before going to Fordham, Mia spent eight and a half years as a Staff Attorney in the Criminal Defense Practice of The Bronx Defenders, where she represented indigent clients on misdemeanor and felony cases. In addition to her role as a Staff Attorney, she was the Pro Bono Coordinator for her practice, helping to facilitate pro bono legal partnerships between her colleagues and firm associates. Throughout her time at The Bronx Defenders, Mia engaged with law students through her role as a supervisor in the Summer Internship Program and the Desk Appearance Ticket Marijuana Project. While at BXD she also participated in hiring and recruiting new attorneys as part of the Fellowship Interview Committee and represented her former organization at various public interest career fairs and law school panels. Mia received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.

Mia is admitted to the Bar in New York.

Angela DeVolld (she/her/hers)
Director of Public Interest Scholars and Fellowships

Email: [email protected]

As the Director of Public Interest Scholars and Fellowships, Angela works closely with student leaders and faculty directors to administer and support all aspects of the Stein Scholars Program. Previously, Angela was Deputy Director in the housing practice at Bronx Legal Services, where she advocated to prevent evictions and secure safe and affordable housing on behalf of low-income New Yorkers. During her time at Bronx Legal Services, she focused much of her litigation on rent overcharges and helped preserve rent stabilization protections for many Bronx tenants. She also regularly engaged with and mentored law students as a co-facilitator of the summer internship program.

Angela received her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law and her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Utah. She is admitted to practice law in New York State and the Southern District of New York.

Tina O'Neale (she/her/hers)
Public Interest Resource Center Counselor (Part-Time)

Email: [email protected]

Tina O'Neale is a native New Yorker who received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2016. During law school, Tina’s dedication to serving low-income clients led to an internship at the New York City Bar Association’s Justice Center and Legal Hotline and her participation in Fordham’s Consumer Litigation Clinic. During her last year at Fordham, Tina was a Pro Bono Scholar and served as co-director for the Consumer Law Advocates and YouthLaw organizations.

After graduation, Tina went on to become a Poverty Justice Solutions Fellow at New York Legal Assistance Group. As a part of the Tenants' Right Unit, Tina represented hundreds of New Yorkers in New York City housing court and worked tirelessly to preserve affordable housing. Tina went on to work in NYLAG's Consumer Protection Unit where she assisted taxi medallion owners to alleviate crushing debt burdens. Tina currently works at DC37 Municipal Employees Legal Services as a family law attorney.

Adiaha Foglino (she/her/hers)
Office Manager

Email: [email protected]

Adiaha Foglino is the Office Manager for The Public Interest Resource Center. She will be able to help with any administrative task you may need, such as helping with email accounts, petty cash, student group space, and listing opportunities in PIRC UP!