Our Staff
| kate.armstrong@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.6339 |
Kate Armstrong, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Kate, a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, works with primarily with the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, a network of legal centers supporting tobacco control policy change throughout the United States. Kate provides legal technical assistance and litigation support on tobacco issues to public health professionals, attorneys, and advocates.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Kate worked for the Second Judicial District Guardian ad Litem Program. Kate has also worked as a judicial law clerk, a legal program manager for the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project, Inc., and an associate attorney at Rider Bennett.
Kate graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, where she was an editor of the William Mitchell Law Review and a volunteer for the Minnesota Justice Foundation. As a law student, Kate clerked for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
Kate’s public interest advocacy background includes serving as a board member for the Minnesota Justice Foundation and a volunteer attorney for Chrysalis’ Pro Bono Safety Project. She currently serves as a volunteer guardian ad litem, advocating for abused and neglected children in juvenile and family court cases.
Education
B.A., Macalester College, cum laude
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, summa cum laude, Salutatorian
| doug.blanke@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7520 |
Doug Blanke, J.D.
Director
Doug Blanke is founder and director of the Public Health Law Center. He oversees all its programs, with a focus on encouraging healthier lives, including work to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use, prevent childhood obesity, support healthy eating and encourage physical activity. Doug is also executive director of the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, America's legal network for effective tobacco control policies.
Doug’s international work has included monitoring development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control for the American Lung Association and editing the World Health Organization's handbook on tobacco control legislation. Previously, as an assistant attorney general of the State of Minnesota, he played a key role in the historic Minnesota litigation that resulted in the release of thirty-five million pages of secret tobacco industry documents. He was the 2004 recipient of the American Lung Association's C. Everett Koop "Unsung Hero" Award for his contributions to tobacco control.
Education
B.A., Michigan State University
J.D., Yale Law School
| kerry.cork@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7509 |
Kerry Cork, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Kerry Cork, staff attorney at the Public Health Law Center, works primarily for the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, providing legal technical assistance on tobacco and other public health law issues to public health professionals and organizations, legal professionals, and advocates throughout the United States. Kerry also serves as Public Health Law Center communications director, overseeing the development and dissemination of all the center’s publications, and leading other communications initiatives. She has published and presented on tobacco and health law issues and is a principal investigator on both national and local tobacco law research grants.
A long-time legal researcher and writer, Kerry has served as Internet legal counsel for the National Arbitration Forum and research attorney for the Legal Research Center. As a law student, Kerry was an editor on the William Mitchell Law Review and a recipient of the Burton Brief Legal Writing Award. For 20 years, she operated her own successful corporate communications company. Her extensive public interest advocacy background includes work for the Hennepin County Legal Aid Society, political asylum cases for Advocates for Human Rights, and service as a guardian ad litem in child protection cases.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota, magna cum laude
M.A., University of Minnesota
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
| sfortman@networkforphl.org |
| (651) 695-7633 |
Stephanie Fortman
Marketing Coordinator
Stephanie Fortman joined the Network's National Coordinating Center as the marketing coordinator. She is involved with print electronic design, social media and event coordination. She has previous experience working with a variety of non-profits and most recently worked at Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation as an events assistant. At PCNF, she enjoyed coordinating events, designing marketing materials and managing volunteers. She spent time at Project Footsteps in 2010, updating the website content and managing social media accounts. A huge animal lover, Stephanie enjoys working as a dog groomer twice a month in Maple Grove, MN.
Education
B.A., Drake University
| michael.freiberg@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7517 |
Mike Freiberg, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Mike Freiberg is researching methods to regulate novel tobacco products and provides technical support to communities in Minnesota that are working to reduce the influence of tobacco companies. Mike also works as an adjunct law professor at the William Mitchell College of Law, having taught classes in legislation and public health law. Starting in 1999, Mike worked for a member of Congress as a legislative assistant specializing in health care. He was elected to the Golden Valley City Council in 2003 and reelected in 2007. In this position, he helped craft the city’s strong secondhand smoke ordinance that was adopted in 2004. Mike has also worked as a committee administrator in the Minnesota Senate and as a law clerk for the firm of Mansfield, Tanick and Cohen.
Education
B.A., Georgetown University
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, salutatorian
| natasha.frost@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.6454 |
Natasha Frost, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Natasha Frost provides legal technical assistance on public health issues to communities and local governments. Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Natasha worked for The Alliance for Children’s Rights, a public interest law firm that provides a range of legal and other services to children in foster care in Los Angeles County. As the benefits program director, she created and managed a program that represents children and their caregivers to obtain public benefits. While there, she handled more than 300 administrative fair hearings and recovered over $7,000,000 in funding on behalf of needy children. She also provided consulting and technical support to systemic efforts, including litigation and legislation, designed to overcome barriers to accessing benefits and services. Natasha has been named a “Southern California Rising Star” from 2005 to 2009.
Natasha graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2001, where she was president of the National Lawyers Guild, University of Minnesota Law School Chapter and a recipient of the Minnesota Justice Foundation Law Student Volunteer Award Recipient. Natasha volunteered for Central Minnesota Legal Services, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, the Institute on Race and Poverty and the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project. She also worked as a research assistant for Professor Beverly Balos.
Education
B.A.,University of Minnesota, magna cum laude
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude
| tamara.kempf@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7506 |
Tammy Kempf
Administrative Coordinator
Tammy Kempf provides day-to-day administrative support for the Public Health Law Center, including assistance with event planning and grant preparation. She has broad and diverse experience in customer service, computer applications, and administrative support. Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Tammy worked at 3M Company for over 19 years, managing auto and general liability claims and corporate insurance. She also worked at the First Judicial District Court in Hastings, Minnesota.
| jill.krueger@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7624 |
Jill Krueger, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Jill Krueger, a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, works with our new national initiative to build the field of public health law, support state and local public health practitioners, and promote law as a strategic tool for improving health. Before joining the Public Health Law Center, Jill served as a senior staff attorney at Farmers' Legal Action Group (FLAG), a national legal backup center where she advocated for sound farm policies, authored a wide range of educational materials, presented numerous legal education seminars, and engaged in litigation on behalf of family farmers. While at FLAG, Jill served as the principal investigator in a project that analyzed the potential for agricultural law to contribute to healthy eating by encouraging farmers to produce and market fruits and vegetables. The report, Planting the Seeds for Public Health: How the Farm Bill Can Help Farmers to Produce and Distribute Healthy Foods, was released in the summer of 2010. Earlier in her legal career, Jill served as an assistant attorney general in the Minesota Attorney General's office.
Education
B.A., U Earlham College, with honors
J.D., University of Iowa Law School, with high distinction
| jon.lee@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290-7511 |
Jon Lee, J.D.
Program Manager
Jon Lee is the Program Manager at the Public Health Law Center where he is responsible for general program operations, including fiscal management, grants and contracts compliance and reporting, program development, human resources management, and special projects.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center Jon served as the Office Manager and Project Manager at the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College where his responsibilities included management of the center’s finances, including the finances of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, grants and contract administration, assisting in grant proposal submissions, student worker management, occasional web page writing and editing, and various other writing and editing projects. Before working at the Science Education Resource Center Jon was the manager of River City Books, an independent trade book store owned and operated by Carleton College in Northfield, MN.
Jon is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was a Student Director at the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners clinic and a clerk at the Office of the Minnesota State Public Defender.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
| Joelle.Lester@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7603 |
Joelle Lester, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Joelle Lester is a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center. Joelle is working to support and encourage the Food and Drug Administration to enact the strongest possible tobacco regulations under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Joelle coordinates and mobilizes the public health community to engage with the Food and Drug Administration and provides technical assistance to public health advocates. Joelle also provides litigation support to defend the federal tobacco regulations against challenges from the tobacco industry.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Joelle worked as a litigation associate at the firm of McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb. Before attending law school, Joelle was a grassroots organizer and executive director of the Oregon Student Association, a non-profit higher education advocacy group. Joelle also worked as a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, advocating for public K-12 education.
Joelle is a member of the DFL Lawyers Steering Committee and a board member of the Foundation for Political Management.
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin – Madison
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude
| maggie.mahoney@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7514 |
Maggie Mahoney, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Maggie Mahoney is a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center. She serves as deputy director of the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, a network of legal centers supporting tobacco control policy change throughout the United States. Maggie coordinates the Consortium's provision of legal technical assistance, and personally provides direct, legal technical assistance on tobacco control issues to public health professionals and organizations, legal professionals, and advocates throughout the United States. She oversees preparation of friend-of-the court (amicus curiae) briefs in key cases; provides and coordinates litigation support to city and county attorneys, state attorneys general and legal counsel representing advocacy organizations and individual citizens; assists with development of educational materials; and provides educational and training presentations at state, regional and national conferences.
Maggie has been an Adjunct Professor of Law since 2005, teaching public health law and an appellate advocacy skills course, and recently completed a graduate-level public health certificate program through the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. After earning her law degree, Maggie researched and drafted opinions for the Minnesota Court of Appeals and then supervised a team of attorneys that issued appellate decisions on behalf of a court-appointed neutral in a major national civil rights class action settlement.
Minnesota Lawyer selected Maggie as one of its “2008 Up & Coming Attorneys.” This award is reserved for attorneys who have distinguished themselves during their first ten years in practice.
Education
B.I.S., University of Minnesota
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, cum laude
| mary.marrow@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7605 |
Mary Marrow, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Mary Marrow, a staff attorney with the Public Health Law Center, is working on legal and policy initiatives to reduce and prevent childhood obesity nationally. Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Mary was a public interest practitioner for over twelve years, focusing her efforts on poverty law, international human rights, and environmental advocacy. During the summer of 2010, Mary worked with the Center for Public Interest Law in Accra, Ghana, through a fellowship sponsored by the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, conducting a comparative study of mining practices and the effectiveness of environmental regulations in the United States and Ghana. Mary has also served in the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa and managed a crisis shelter for the homeless in Alaska. Mary is an avid gardener, bike commuter, and outdoor enthusiast.
Education
B.A., St. Olaf College
J.D., City University of New York School of Law
| nasimah.mayat@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.6335 |
Nasimah Mayat
Program Coordinator
Nasimah works closely with the program manager coordinating the center’s financial, budgetary, and grants and contracts reporting functions. In addition to holding a bachelor of commerce degree and a post graduate diploma in accountancy from the University of Natal, South Africa, she is also a qualified chartered accountant. Nasimah was born, raised and educated in South Africa. She has lived in the Twin Cities for just over six years.
Education
B.Commerce, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africas
| nicole.mejiat@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695-7640 |
Nicole Mejia
Health Communications Specialist
Nicole Mejia is the Health Communications Specialist for WorkSHIFTS, a community-academic partnership with Minnesota labor leaders to promote increased use of tobacco cessation services. Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Health Journalism from the University of Minnesota and received her Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Certification (CPS) through the State of Oregon Addictions and Mental Health Division.
Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Nicole worked as the Health Promotion Supervisor for a non-profit social service agency serving predominantly migrant farmworker Latino families and youth in the Mid-Columbia Gorge region of Oregon. Nicole has been active in multiple areas of health promotion and prevention including diabetes and obesity prevention; breast cancer awareness and education; alcohol, tobacco and other drugs prevention; and domestic violence perpetrator treatment. Nicole enjoys promoting wellness in her personal life through healthy eating and outdoor recreation.
Education
B.A., Wellesley College
M.A., University of Minnesota
CPS, State of Oregon Addictions and Mental Health Division
| brooke.nunn@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.6468 |
Brooke Nunn
Health Policy Educator
Brooke Nunn provides research support to several healthy eating and active living projects at the Public Health Law Center. Currently, Brooke leads an evaluation effort on behalf of the Public Health Law Center with the American Heart Association’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant. Brooke also works on two research projects exploring strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity in child care settings and to promote community recreational use of school property after-hours. In addition to her work on healthy eating and active living projects, Brooke also facilitates the development and implementation of a structure for the Network of Public Health Law-National Coordinating Center to collaborate with public health practitioners to build the field of public health law.
Prior to joining the staff of the Public Health Law Center, Brooke spent three months in Namibia working on a grassroots project aimed at decreasing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She has also worked on various violence prevention projects, and continues to serve as an advocate for women’s reproductive health and global health issues.
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.P.H./M.S.W., University of Minnesota
| warren.ortland@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7539 |
Warren Ortland, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Warren Ortland provides legal technical support to organizations working to increase the number of smoke-free multi-unit housing developments in the Twin Cities metro area, and technical assistance to Minnesota communities that are considering smoke-free ordinances. Prior to joining the Public Health Law Center, Warren was an Equal Justice Works Fellow, working for two years as the legislative research & policy coordinator at the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP). At MAP, Warren provided direct legal representation to HIV-positive clients in areas of employment, privacy and benefits. He also researched and drafted legislation on health care coverage for HIV-positive Minnesotans, prevention education funding for African-born immigrants, and HIV confidentiality protection.
As a law student, Warren was an editor on the William Mitchell Law Review. He is secretary of the board of directors for the Minnesota State Bar Foundation, a board member of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) of Minnesota, and a member of the Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee. As a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Warren organized and moderated a CLE session on access to health care as a human rights issue.
Education
B.A., College of WIlliam and Mary
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, magna cum laude
| julie.ralstonaoki@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7532 |
Julie Ralston Aoki, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Julie Ralston Aoki has over ten years of experience working in the areas of consumer protection law and public policy development at the state level. In the public health law area, she has experience in providing legal technical assistance to local governments and public health advocacy groups on tobacco control issues and legal strategies and policies designed to promote healthy eating and active living for children, with a focus on marketing practices. She works with the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity (NPLAN) on children’s food marketing issues, and is conducting a research project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research Program to study the effectiveness of self-regulation of food marketing to children. Julie is also an adjunct professor, and currently teaches public health law at William Mitchell.
Before joining the Public Health Law Center, Julie served as an assistant attorney general with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for nine years, in the Antitrust and Consumer Enforcement Divisions. She has presented at National Association of Attorneys General conferences, conferences, webinars and CLEs on a variety of issues, including e-commerce, antitrust enforcement, predatory lending issues, food marketing to children, and the impact of preemption of state and local control.
Julie has been named a “Rising Star” Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics. As a law student, she helped to establish, and served as the first editor-in-chief for, the Iowa Journal of Gender, Race & Justice, a law journal. Her volunteer work includes serving as a commissioner of the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission, and serving as vice-chair (chair-elect) of the board for the East Metro Women’s Council, a program which provides housing and supportive services to homeless families.
Education
B.A., Yale College, cum laude
J.D., The University of Iowa College of Law, summa cum laude
| sara.rohde@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7631 |
Sara Rohde, M.P.H.
Program Manager
Sara Rohde, M.P.H., is responsible for managing activities related to grant writing and reporting, data collection and evaluation, strategic planning, staffing and budgeting for the Network for Public Health Law-National Coordinating Center. Prior to coming to the Network for Public Health Law, she managed health outreach projects targeting immigrant and refugee communities. She has also coordinated program activities for the Juvenile Substance Abuse Court of Minnesota’s 2nd Judicial District and implemented health education projects as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Moldova
| jackie.rose@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7636 |
Jackie Rose
Administrative Coordinator
Jackie Rose is the administrative coordinator for the Network's National Coordinating Center. She assists with office management, event logistics and Network projects. Previously, she worked at the APEX Project, where she coordinated with a team of county employees and consultants to launch PeopleSoft for Hennepin County. Prior to her work with Hennepin County, she was an administrative assistant for the Metropolitan Council's Housing Redevelopment Agency.
| ward.rubrecht@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7616 |
Ward Rubrecht
Communications Coordinator
Ward Rubrecht serves as communications coordinator for the Network for Public Health Law - National Coordinating Center. He provides administrative and communication support for the center, assists in the organization of conferences, and has a hand in the design and presentation of the center’s publications and media materials as well as management of its website. Previous to his time at William Mitchell, Ward worked at alt-weekly newspaper City Pages, where he provided support for its editorial department and helped edit its website. Ward is also a spoken-word critic, an award-winning journalist, and an avid bicyclist. He moved to the Twin Cities eight years ago to earn a B.A. in philosophy from Macalester College, and can’t see why anyone would want to live anywhere else.
Education
B.A., Macalester College
| david.schaibley@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7611 |
David Schaibley, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Dave Schaibley, staff attorney for the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, provides legal technical assistance and litigation support on tobacco issues throughout the United States. In addition to assisting communities with issues including smoke-free laws, the location and density of tobacco retailers, advertising and marketing restrictions, and counter advertisements, Dave regularly provides training and contributes to articles and amicus briefs on tobacco issues.
Before joining the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, Dave served as Director of Neutral Services for an administrator of alternative dispute resolution services where he worked closely with state and federal judges who made up the panel of neutrals. A seasoned legal writer, he oversaw the creation of educational resources, reference manuals, and ethics standards, and made presentations on all aspects of alternative dispute resolution. Dave has also served as a senior staff attorney for a court-appointed neutral, where he supervised attorneys who issued appellate-level decisions in a civil rights class action. He has extensive litigation experience and a strong dispute resolution background, serving as counsel for parties in court, arbitration, mediation and settlement conferences. Dave has also served as a guest lecturer at the Hamline University School of Law and as a volunteer arbitrator. He is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, having served in Central America, the Middle East, and as a Military Police squad leader in Operation Desert Storm
Education
B.A., University of North Dakota, cum laude
J.D., Hamline University School of Law
| cschmitter@networkforphl.org |
Caty Schmitter
Data Assistant
Caty Schmitter serves as data assistant, aiding in maintaining the Network’s main database of Network members and requests for assistance. She also assists on communications and public health projects, through contributions to the Network’s newsletter and to the development of a structure through which the Network can collaborate with public health practitioners. Caty recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.I.S. and is hoping to pursue opportunities to apply her education to women’s health issues in developing regions. Her previous interests have included global healthcare volunteering in countries such as Tanzania as well as political and lobbying experience through local, state and federal campaigns and a congressional internship in Washington D.C.
Education
B.I.S., University of Minnesota.
| dan.stier@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7615 |
Dan Stier, J.D.
Program Director
Dan Stier is the director of the Network for Public Health Law - National Coordinating Center. He is a veteran administrator with decades of experience managing local, state and federal agencies and programs and a distinguished record in public policy development, program implementation and policy advocacy. His most recent position was Senior Public Health Analyst at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Law Program, where he led dozens of public health initiatives, including the CDC’s coordination of state efforts to establish a regional approach to public health emergency preparedness. He is sought out as a national speaker on many public health law topics, including emergency preparedness, cross-jurisdictional issues, tribal sovereignty and the dissemination of public health information.
Over the years, Dan has also served as Chief Legal Counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services, Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and Director and Assistant Attorney General at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. In addition to his administrative skills, he has a wealth of experience in trial and appellate litigation at state and federal levels and in representing a wide range of clients on substantive law issues.
Education
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
| shelly.talcott@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695.7617 |
Shelly Talcott
Communications Director
Shelly Talcott serves as the communications director for the Network for Public Health Law - National Coordinating Center. She is responsible for collaborating with partners across the country to develop and implement the internal and external marketing communications strategies for this initiative.
Prior to arriving at William Mitchell, Shelly worked as a senior marketing communications consultant at HealthPartners where she created and executed strategic marketing plans. She has comprehensive marketing skills, ranging from business development and sales support to product launches and consumer engagement. Previous to her time at HealthPartners, Shelly gained writing experience as a marketing writer in the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and a marketing associate/writer for YouthWorks!, Inc.
Education
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College
| mani.vannavong@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.695-7625 |
Mani Vannavong
Program Coordinator
As Program Coordinator of the Public Health Law Center, Mani Vannavong works closely with the Program Manager to provide overall management and administration of the Center's grants and contracts. She comes to us from the Metropolitan Council where she held a similar position and was responsible for overseeing the use of federal and local governmental funds to support various transportation projects and related services. Her past projects include the Hiawatha Light Rail, Northstar Commuter Rail, and Central Corridor Light Rail.
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota, Morris
| muran@networkforphl.org |
| 651-695-7626 |
Mary Uran
Project Coordinator
Mary Uran serves as project coordinator, leading the Public Health Law Webinar Series and assisting on other projects for the National Coordinating Center. Mary is currently attending the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and will receive her MPH Nutrition in May, 2012. She is also co-founder of a new non-profit, Girls on the Run Twin Cities. Prior to coming to the Network, Mary coordinated the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute in Washington D.C. and worked on the Tobacco Project at the National Association of Attorneys General.
Education
B.A., College of St. Benedict
M.P.H. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
| chris.walker@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7635 |
Chris Walker, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Chris Walker, J.D., is a staff attorney with the National Coordinating Center and Northern Region of the Network for Public Health Law. Prior to joining the Network, Chris earned a joint degree in law and public health from the University of Minnesota. While in graduate school, Chris served as a research assistant examining medical device recall regulations. The results of his medical device research have been presented to the Institute of Medicine, the FDA and both houses of Congress. During the same period, he was a student worker at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) where he focused on pandemic influenza policy recommendation and implementation specifically relating to MDH’s response to H1N1. Chris also spent a summer internship at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of the Chief Counsel.
Education
B.A., University of Chigaco
J.D., University of Minnesota
| susan.weisman@wmitchell.edu |
| 651.290.7516 |
Susan Weisman, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Susan Weisman is senior staff attorney at the Public Health Law Center and director of WorkSHIFTS, a community-academic partnership with Minnesota labor leaders.
As senior staff attorney, Susan provides technical assistance to public health advocates and local, state, and federal government officials on public health law and policy issues. Her work includes strategic consultation regarding the enactment, implementation, and enforcement of public health legislation, in-depth policy research on emerging issues, and presentations on topics of interest. Current projects include state level policy work on healthy eating, active living, built environment and tobacco control issues.
As director of WorkSHIFTS, Susan collaborates with blue-collar and service sector labor leaders on research and intervention projects that aim to build support for healthy workplace policies and policies to improve workers’ access to effective health care benefits. Since 2002, WorkSHIFTS has produced multiple policy tools, including A Union Guide to Tobacco, which provides union- and workplace-specific policy resources and guidance, and Cessation Benefits Focus, a series of newsletters that frames the provision and promotion of cessation benefits as policy issues.
Susan is a frequent speaker and consultant on labor and public health laws and policies. She is currently principal investigator of a three-year community-academic study, partnering with labor leaders from the Minnesota Laborers, Unite Here, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, to examine tobacco cessation policies and practices that affect workers who receive health benefits through Taft-Hartley Health and Welfare Funds.
Susan began her career in public interest law at the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society, where she represented deaf and hard of hearing clients with disability-related discrimination claims. Before joining the Public Health Law Center, she worked for over 18 years as an administrative law judge, mediator, and arbitrator for the State of Minnesota’s Office of Administrative Hearings. Her legal expertise includes employment, health, human rights, education, and municipal law.
Education
B.A., Ohio State University
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
Volunteer Attorney
Juliana Milhofer
Research Assistants
Sharon Bemis
William Mitchell College of Law
Ashley Geisendorfer
University of Minnesota Law School
Sarah Hall
William Mitchell College of Law
Kyle Horazdovsky
Hamline University School of Law
Megan Martin
William Mitchell College of Law
Jennifer Pelletier
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
James Ortman
William Mitchell College of Law
Sarah Small
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Emily Wessels
University of Minnesota Law School
Elizabeth M. Winchell
Hamline University School of Law