At the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, our distinguished full-time faculty provides students with unparalleled opportunities to learn from their expertise across diverse fields of law. From international arbitration to criminal justice, environmental law to public policy, our professors bring real-world experience and academic excellence to the classroom, preparing students to excel in their legal careers.

• Melissa Brown has extensive experience advocating for the rights of the elderly and disabled, with a background in both legal aid and private practice. She co-authored Advising the Elderly or Disabled Client, a widely used legal resource. She is the Director of the Elder and Health Law Clinic. Brown began her employment at McGeorge in 2010.
• Ederlina Co specializes in reproductive rights and justice. She is the Director of the Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic. Co began her employment at McGeorge in 2016.
• Linda Coco focuses on clinical legal education, bankruptcy, and access to justice issues. She is the Director of Legal Clinics. Coco began her employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Michael Colatrella specializes in negotiation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution. He is the Inaugural Tracy A. Eglet Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution & Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning. Colatrella began his employment at McGeorge in 2009.
• Daniel Croxall, ‘08, is an expert on craft beer law, regulatory law, and small business advocacy. He created and currently teaches the world’s first craft beer law class. Croxall began his employment at McGeorge in 2016.
• Omar Dajani specializes in international law, peacebuilding, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has extensive experience working in diplomacy and conflict resolution in the Middle East and is widely published on the topic. He is the Co-Director of the Global Center for Business and Development and Director of the International Certificate of Concentration. Dajani began his employment at McGeorge in 2003.
• Frank Gevurtz is an expert in corporate law, securities regulation, and international business transactions. He has authored multiple publications on corporate governance and international business law. Gevurtz began his employment at McGeorge in 1982.
• Jennifer Harder specializes in water law, environmental law, and administrative law. She serves as Faculty Director for Online Learning and Director of the Water and Environmental Law Concentration. Harder began her employment at McGeorge in 2015.
• Lindsay Harrington, ‘03, focuses on bar support and academic success, helping law students prepare for the California Bar Exam, after having practiced civil litigation in Sacramento. She serves as Director of Bar Support. Harrington began her employment at McGeorge in 2022.
• Dominique Hinson specializes in trial advocacy and legal practice, with a focus on developing courtroom skills in law students and is the Associate Director of Trial Advocacy. Hinson began her employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Ron Hochbaum specializes in clinical legal education, social justice, and poverty law, with a focus on homelessness advocacy. He directs the Buccola Family Homeless Advocacy Clinic. Hochbaum began his employment at McGeorge in 2021.
• Pamela Izvănariu specializes in historical, legal, and empirical methodologies to investigate both historical and contemporary questions on law, labor, inequality, and social movements. Izvănariu began her employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Leslie Gielow Jacobs specializes in constitutional law, civil rights, and governance and national security, and serves as the Executive Director of the Capital Center for Law & Policy. Jacobs began her employment at McGeorge in 1993.
• Andrew Jurs is an expert in evidence law, scientific evidence, and trial advocacy, holding the Robert Eglet Endowed Chair in Evidence Law. Jurs began his employment in 2024.
• Charles Kaye-Essien specializes in state/local and regional governance, public sector performance management, environmental and social impact assessment, sustainability and resilience management, and global south urbanism and development. Kaye-Essien began his employment at McGeorge in 2023.
• Clark Kelso is an expert in health law, administrative law, and constitutional law, holding the Gordon D. Schaber Chair in Health Law and Policy. He has held significant positions in California’s government, including the position of State Chief Information Officer. Kelso began his employment at McGeorge in 1986.
• Larry Levine specializes in tort law, sexual orientation law, and legal ethics, and serves as the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Levine began his employment at McGeorge in 1985.
• Steven Macias focuses on legal history, constitutional law, and education law, with a particular emphasis on marginalized communities. Macias began his employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Michael Malloy is internationally recognized as an expert in banking law, financial regulation, and international economic law. He has authored several prominent treatises on financial law and regulation. Malloy began his employment at McGeorge in 1996.
• Christine Manolakas specializes in tax law and international taxation, serving as the Director of the Tax and Business Certificates of Concentration. Manolakas began her employment at McGeorge in 1978.
• Stephen McCaffrey is a renowned expert in international water law and environmental law, and he received the 2018 Distinguished Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy. McCaffrey began his employment at McGeorge in 1977.
• Mike Mireles, ‘98, focuses on intellectual property law, particularly patent law and trademark law, and serves as the Director of the Intellectual Property Certificate of Concentration. Mireles began his employment at McGeorge in 2008.
• Francis J. Mootz III specializes in contract law, legal theory, and rhetoric, with a focus on the intersections between law and classical rhetoric. He served as the 9^th Dean of McGeorge School of Law. Mootz began his employment at McGeorge in 2012.
• Mary-Beth Moylan specializes in election law, politics and government, legal writing, and appellate advocacy. She was a founder of the Global Lawyering Skills (“GLS”) program. Moylan began her employment at McGeorge in 2000.
• Blake Nordahl specializes in immigration law and supervises the Immigration Law Clinic. He is the past chair of the California State Bar’s Advisory Law Commission for Immigration and Nationality Law. Nordahl began his employment at McGeorge in 2009.
• Erin O’Neal specializes in public policy, legislative advocacy, and legal writing, and serves as the Director of the Capital Center for Law & Policy, Director of the Kennedy Learning Center, and Director of the Capital Lawyering Concentration. O’Neal began her employment at McGeorge in 2017.
• Marcie Paolinelli specializes in strategic planning, management analysis, business process improvement, implementation, and change management. Paolinelli began her employment at McGeorge in 2023.
• Jeff Proske has expertise in a wide range of legal areas involving finance, business combinations, securities offerings, as well as real estate, intellectual property and entertainment, and is currently serving as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Experiential Learning. Proske began his employment at McGeorge in 2009.
• Reza Rezvani specializes in trial advocacy, legal practice, and litigation skills, and serves as the Director of Trial Advocacy. Rezvani began his employment at McGeorge in 2022.
• Rachael Salcido specializes in environmental law, natural resources law, and ocean and coastal law. She is the Director of the Water and Environmental Certificate of Concentration. Salcido began her employment at McGeorge in 2003.
• Omar Yousef Shehabi specializes in public international law, labor law, and international dispute settlement. He is currently a doctoral candidate. Shehabi began his employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Oyango A. Snell specializes in legal, government, and corporate affairs in both the public and private sectors and serves as the Director of Academic Support. Snell began his employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• John Sprankling is an expert in property law, environmental law, and land use, and has authored leading textbooks in these areas. Sprankling began his employment at McGeorge in 1992.
• Ed Telfeyan, ‘75, specializes in legal writing, appellate advocacy, and trial practice, and co-directs the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. He is also the Director of the award-winning Moot Court Program. Telfeyan began his employment at McGeorge in 2001.
• Stephanie Thompson specializes in legal writing, employment law and litigation, as well as Global Lawyering Skills. Thompson began her employment at McGeorge in 2003.
• Colleen Truden, LLM ’04, had a robust civil litigation practice, clerked for federal and state court judges, served as a municipal court judge, worked as staff counsel for a state agency, and as the district attorney for her jurisdiction. She is currently the Director of the Externship Program. Truden began her employment at McGeorge in 2006.
• Rachel Van Cleave specializes in criminal procedure, comparative criminal justice, and gender-based violence, and has written extensively on the topic. Cleave began her employment at McGeorge in 2024.
• Mike Vitiello is an expert in criminal law, sentencing policy, and marijuana law, and has authored numerous publications on these subjects. Vitiello began his employment at McGeorge in 1990.
• Jason Willis specializes in public policy, organizational change, and public administration, with a focus on transforming public systems for greater effectiveness. Willis began his employment at McGeorge in 2023.
• Jarrod Wong specializes in international law, arbitration, and dispute resolution, and serves as the Co-Director of the Global Center for Business and Development. Wong began his employment at McGeorge in 2007.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.   

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.