Luann Edwards, J.D., '00, Interim Assistant Dean for Career Development

After a very rewarding career as a practicing attorney, Luann joined the UBalt LCDO to pursue her commitment to advancing the legal profession by preparing emerging legal professionals to pursue career choices that align with their goals, values, and character. She began her legal career as an associate attorney in a large firm where she worked on high stakes litigation and arbitration. From there, she pivoted to public interest law, where her work included litigation, policy and legislative work, professional development of new attorneys, and management of grant compliance and reporting. For more than a decade, she was a public interest managing attorney, which allowed her to combine legal practice, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and program design. Before law school, she worked as a policy advocate for a large public interest organization, progressing from a Midwest regional office to the national office in Washington D.C. Luann is a proud UBalt Law alum who, like many in the UBalt Law community, was both a second-career and first-generation law student.  

 

Cordell Grant, J.D. ’18, Assistant Director, Judicial Clerkships and Diversity Initiatives.

Cordell began his legal career with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, where he worked to address systemic issues that continually plague the criminal justice system and marginalized communities. With a focus on justice over convictions, he has worked to ensure fairness to individuals by bridging the gap of underrepresentation and advocacy with equality. Prior to law school, Cordell worked with the Say Yes to Education Program, bringing visibility and actionable programming to disenfranchised and marginalized communities aiming to eliminate socio-economic disparities by way of higher education, scholarship, and mentorship. In his current role, Cordell counsels students as they seek judicial internships and clerkships. In addition, Cordell promotes diversity programs and serves as an advisor to the BLSA organization. Cordell received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2018 and holds a B.A. degree from SUNY, Cortland.

 

Liz Solar, Associate Director, Public Interest & Externships.

Prior to arriving at UBalt Law, Liz served as the Director of Externships at Harvard Law School where she managed Harvard Law School’s Externship Clinical programs, where she advised, counseled and coached law students on externships and developed strategies for academic and career goals.  Liz also served as a clinical instructor in HLS’s Housing and Community Economic Development clinics and worked in municipal and federal government positions.  In her current role, Liz provides career coaching to students, with a special emphasis on public interest careers. Liz also helps administer the externship program.  Liz received her J.D. degree from Northeastern University School of Law, her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University, and her M. F. A in creative writing from Emerson College.

 

Alyson Todd, Associate Director, Alumni Counseling and Programs.

Alyson is a former commercial litigation associate with a large firm and a boutique trial firm and practiced in the areas of product liability, antitrust, employment and insurance coverage law. Alyson then worked as a legal search consultant for law firms and corporations in the Washington, D.C., metro region. In her current role, Alyson counsels students and alumni in career planning, job search strategies, resume preparation, interview skills, and networking. Alyson also conducts outreach to recent graduates to obtain update employment information, implements and maintains the LCDO’s compliance with graduate employment data collection and reporting protocols required by the ABA. Alyson holds a JD from the University of Chicago School of Law and a BA from Wellesley College.

 

Lydia Whitney, Program Administrative Specialist

Before joining the UBalt LCDO, Lydia served as the Academic Services Coordinator for the anesthesiology residency program at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She has successfully navigated diverse roles, bringing comprehensive experience in academic coordination, human resources, and quality assurance. Lydia’s career is underscored by a commitment to student success and enhancing organizational effectiveness across various domains. In her current role, Lydia leverages her expertise in organizational efficiency and program coordination to support the most important initiatives of the office. Lydia holds a degree in Psychology from Frostburg State University.