The legal questions and problems facing the individuals and communities throughout the Gulf Coast region are monumental in scale, and will remain for months and years to come. In order to address this need, law students from across the country have formed the Student Hurricane Network (SHN), a national association dedicated to providing assistance to communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Over 3,000 law students from 110 law schools have traveled to the Gulf Coast through SHN over the past two years. Collectively, we have added a tremendous investigative research capacity to the justice advocates in the regions.
You can help! There are a number of ways for students and members of the legal community to get involved with our work. Check out the site for more information and to learn more about our major projects, including winter and spring break trips, long-distance research projects, and opportunities to educate your local communities. You can also join the SHN leadership team to help organize students to serve the hurricane-affected communities. Email
studenthurricanenetwork@gmail.com for more info.
- SHN Leadership 2007-2008
SHN Advisory Board:
The National Advisory Board oversees the day-to-day operations of SHN as well as shapes the strategic vision for SHN’s future.
- Josie Beets, Brooklyn Law 3L, josieerin [at] gmail.com
- Sarah Erlinder, Wisconsin Law 2L, serlinder [at] gmail.com
- Galen Hair, Tulane Law 2L, ghair [at] tulane.edu
- Annette Hollowell, Ole Miss Law 3L, annette.hollowell [at] gmail.com
- Tom Nosewicz, Stanford Law 3L, nosewicz [at] stanford.edu
- Brian O'Connor, Mizzou Law 2L, rusty.oc [at] gmail.com
- Alisha Williams, Cardozo Law 2L, alisha.williams [at] gmail.com
SHN Financial Team:
Our SHN Financial Team helps us create accountability by creating model procedures for reimbursements, setting up a responsible, accountable process for processing donations, and managing our tax-exempt status. They also help us seek out funding both for SHN as a national organization as well as for our various self-contained projects.
- Treasurers
- Jonathan E. Rinehart, Indiana U Law 2L, jerineha [at] indiana.edu
- Larry Stephens, Cooley Law School 3L, stephenL [at] cooley.edu
- Fundraising Chairs
- Candice Mendez, Appalachian School of Law 3L, candice.mendez [at] gmail.com
- William Boyles, Loyola New Orleans 3L, wdboyles [at] loyno.edu
- Grant-Seeking Chairs
- Jonathan Rhodes, Chicago-Kent Law 2L, jrhodes [at] kentlaw.edu
- Kayleigh Van Poolen, DePaul 3L, psvan333 [at] sbcglobal.net
SHN Pro Bono Liaisons:
Our Pro Bono Liaisons use students experience to actively engage their local legal community in pro bono efforts by maintaining relationships with law firm pro bono counsel, law school administrators, legal aid agencies, and clinical professors who are committed to finding creative resources for legal services providers in the Gulf Coast.
- Pro Bono Liaison - Boston: Ty Frankel, Boston U Law 2L, ty.frankel [at] gmail.com
- Pro Bono Liaison - DC: Matt Solis, American 2L, msolisru [at] yahoo.com
- Pro Bono Liaison - NYC: Amy Kapoor, Cardozo 2L, amy.kapoor [at] gmail.com
SHN Diversity Committee Chairs:
The realities of this work make us keenly aware of the benefit and the need of having a racially and ethnically diverse group of student working together for a common goal. Our Diversity Committee Chairs affirmatively heighten more diverse involvement among SHN participants and leadership.
- Drema Smith, Loyola New Orleans 3L, dmsmith2 [at] loyno.edu
- Ian Harris, American University 1L, socialution [at] gmail.com
- Valerie P. Vidal, University of Wisconsin 3L, valvidal79 [at] yahoo.com
SHN Alumni
As students move from the academic to the working world, their passion for SHN’s work remains. SHN Alumni is an outgrowth of the Student Hurricane Network comprised of recent graduates with a continued desire to assist SHN with its mission. To get in contact with SHN Alumni or to be added to our email list please email the chairs at shnalumni [at] gmail.com.
- Alene Grossman, University of Minnesota Law graduate, lenie4 [at] gmail.com
- Abraham Salcedo, Fordham Law School graduate, asalcedo [at] nyu.edu
SHN Web Support
Our website is our greatest tool – our office, our bulletin board, our mailbox and our file cabinet. Our web support team helps us keep the site up-to-date and looking good.
- Krista Lepper, Brooklyn Law 2L, krista.lepper [at] brooklaw.edu
To contact any of the leadership above, please email
studenthurricanenetwork@gmail.com.
