Utah Common Values
Executive Director, Political Outreach Group
2011 - Present
Utah
- Completely restructured the organization and its mission
- Ran a successful media campaign with online and offline components
- Played a key role in creating and running the LDS Democrats Caucus
- Played an important role in efforts to coordinate the work of like-minded groups in Utah
Amsterdam & Peroff
Assistant to Robert Amsterdam, International Law Firm
2010
London (remote)
- Developed the legal strategies used to defend Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand
- Conducted research for cases in the Czech Republic, Argentina, and Thailand
Kirton & McConkie
Extern, Law Firm
2010
Utah
- Identified remedies for religious liberty concerns in high-priority countries
- Analyzed key individuals and institutions involved in human rights regulation and corporate social responsibility
- Prepared country reports analyzing key metrics for a major client
Baker & McKenzie
Extern (Student Stagiaire), International Law Firm
2009
Amsterdam
- Authored an internal white paper about Dutch bilateral investment treaties
- Researched how to collect EU taxes from a US firm accused of smuggling
- Explored the possible consequences of improper intra-EU sales
- Verified client compliance with European VAT invoicing regulations
- Assisted preparation of indirect tax training materials for attorneys
- First BYU Law student to do an externship in the Netherlands
J. Reuben Clark School of Law
Assistant to Dean Carl Hernandez and Professors Brett Scharffs and Brooke Boyer
2009 - 2011
Utah
- Managed the law school's social media outreach efforts
- Coordinated the construction of an "Admitted Students" website
- Worked as a liaison between the school and newly-admitted students
- Helped publish two journal articles about civil rights conflicts
- Helped publish a journal article about the judicial response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Heideman McKay Heugly & Olsen
Law Clerk, Law Firm
2009
Utah
- Assisted staff attorneys with their cases
- Negotiated with creditors to restructure client debt
U.S. Congress, House Int'l Relations Committee
Intern, Democratic Staff
2006
Washington, DC
- Supported the staff's work by planning events, conducting research, and other duties
- Assisted the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and Representative Tom Lantos
- Wrote two press releases for publication in California newspapers and inclusion in the Congressional Record
- Traveled to Ohio for Sherrod Brown's successful Senate campaign, where I assisted with GOTV efforts and monitored polling places
Brigham Young University
Research and Teaching Assistant, Political Science Department
2006 - 2008
Utah
- Research Assistant for Professor Kendall Stiles, working on the Multilateral Agreement and Treaty Record Set database
- Conducted research to catalog every multilateral treaty since Westphalia
- Awarded a Roberts Family Research Grant
- Presented research at the Mentored Student Research Conference
- Research Assistant for the WomanStats Institute
- Researched the legal and cultural status of women under the CEDAW treaty
- Teaching assistant for Professor Ray Christensen
- Taught a weekly class for PlSc 200, "Advanced Research and Writing"
- Graded student papers and exams
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Volunteer, Missão Brasil João Pessoa
2003 - 2005
Brazil
- Trained and led groups of Brazilian and international volunteers
- Had responsibility for the work and safety of 10 to 20 volunteers at a time
Brigham Young University, Law School
Juris Doctor Candidate, J. Reuben Clark School of Law
2008 - 2011
Utah
- Honoree, American Constitution Society's National Next Generation Leaders program
- Recipient, Faculty Award for Meritorious Achievement and Distinguished Service
- Recipient, J. Reuben Clark Public Service Award
- President, American Constitution Society from 2009-2011
- Planned and directed the club's numerous academic events and social activities
- Took the club from one member to over sixty, with event attendance in the hundreds
- The club was recognized as the ACS Chapter of the Week because of our success
- Awarded two scholarships to attend national conferences
- President, Alternative Dispute Resolution Society
- Planned and directed two major negotiation competitions
- Volunteered at the BYU Center for Conflict Resolution, where I mediated disputes, served on arbitration panels, and worked as a legal advisor for indigent parties
- Selected to conduct a mock mediation for visiting judges from the Ukrainian High Court
- Executive Editor, Journal of Public Law
- Associate Editor, International Law and Management Review
- Co-VP of University Relations, International Law Student Association, and Member of the Speakers Committee, Government and Politics Law Society
- Legal volunteer with Centro Hispano, a community center, helping immigrants
- Recipient of a Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation conference scholarship
- Finalist, Transactional Lawyering Competition
- Semifinalist, Negotiation Competition
- Quarterfinalist, Moot Court Competition
- Guest blogged for Lawyerist.com about how to plan successful student events
- Wrote about the New York Convention and corporate social responsibility, and about the Yogyakarta Principles and religious liberty
Brigham Young University, Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
2002 - 2008
Utah
- First place at the 2006 Model UN Conference in New York City
- University Honors for three years
- Recipient of multiple academic merit scholarships
- Awarded a Roberts Family Research Grant
- Wrote a paper about treaty compliance in different kinds of democracies
- Founding member and editor of BYU Political Review
- Edited and approved student submissions
- Authored numerous articles
- Ran the online edition
- Director of Community Service and Outreach, BYU College Democrats
- Supervised service activities
- Co-authored the "BYU College Democrats' Statement of Mission and Purpose"
- Group Leader for Adopt-A-Grandparent, where I coordinated weekly service visits to a retirement home
- Volunteer with the Utah Colleges Exit Poll, where I collected statistics from voters at polling places
IndusLatin.com
Contributor, International Trade Blog
2010 - 2011
Uruguay (remote)
- Covered developments in the Brazilian and Mercosur markets
Common Consent PAC
Cofounder and Chief Legal Officer, Political Action Committee
2010 - 2011
Utah
MonsterCountries.com
Cofounder, International Affairs Blog
2010
Utah
Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts of America
2000
California
- For my Eagle Scout Project, I planned, raised funds for, and constructed a large outdoor playhouse for an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico
Portuguese
Fluent conversation and reading, good writing
- Two years of immersive language study as a volunteer in Brazil
- University coursework in Portuguese writing, literature, grammar, and business language
Spanish
Fluent reading, basic conversation and writing
French
Competent reading
American Civil Liberties Union
American Constitution Society
Former President, BYU Law Chapter
BYU Political Affairs Society
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Member, Membership & Technology Committee