Kirgis Fellows

Kobie Crosley is a third-year law student from Hightstown, NJ. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 2018 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law. After graduation, and before law school, he worked in Washington, DC managing personal injury intake for a mid-sized law firm.

During his 2L summer, Kobie split his time as a summer associate with K&L Gates LLP and the PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, PA. Aside from being Head Kirgis, Kobie is a Lead Articles Editor on Law Review, and the President of the Black Law Student Association.

In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, playing League of Legends and discovering new music.

Leeden Rukstalis is a third-year law student from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2019 with a double major and honors in Philosophy and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a minor in Politics and International Affairs. After college, she worked on the Jaime Harrison for U.S. Senate Campaign in Columbia, South Carolina.

During her 1L summer, Leeden was a legal intern at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in their Ethics Office in Washington, D.C. This summer, Leeden worked at the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Henrico County Attorney's Office in Richmond, VA. In addition to being a Head Kirgis Fellow, Leeden is the third-year Law Representative for the Executive Committee of Washington and Lee University, a Note Editor for the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice (JCRSJ), a Law Ambassador, and a student representative on the Science, Society, and the Arts Committee (SSA).

Her interests include spoken word poetry, curating niche Spotify playlists, collecting vinyl records, and reading every fantasy fiction novel in the Bookery.

Maddie Bellew is a second-year law student from Jackson, MI. She graduated from Hope College in 2017 with a degree in Management. After graduation, she worked as a Residence Director at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO.

During her 1L summer, Maddie interned with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Richmond, VA. In addition to being a Kirgis Fellow, Maddie is the secretary of OUTLaw and a Staffwriter on Washington and Lee Law Review.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing board games, and taking her cats on adventures.

Chloe Dupre is a second-year law student from Bristow, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a degree in Cognitive Science and Psychology. While at the University of Virginia, she was involved in Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity, the Undergraduate Black Pre-Law Student Association, and The Psychological Society.

During her 1L summer, she interned in the legal department of a global satellite company, Iridium Satellite, in northern Virginia. In addition to being a Kirgis Fellow, Chloe is a Staffwriter on Washington and Lee Law Review, Secretary of the Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Women Law Students Organization.

In her spare time, Chloe enjoys baking, cooking, bingeing reality TV, and spending time with friends.

Julia Farbstein is a second-year law student from Falls Church, Virginia. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2015 with a degree in Music. While at Oberlin, Julia sang in opera programs in the Czech Republic and Italy. Between Oberlin and W&L Julia managed and taught at yoga studios for five years.

During her 1L summer she worked for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (remotely) in the Papua New Guinea office on anti-corruption. Aside from being a Kirgis Fellow, Julia is a member of OUTlaw and an alto in the W&L University Singers.

In her spare time Julia enjoys hiking nearby trails, teaching her weekly yoga sculpt class at the gym, petting as many cats and dogs as she can, and steeping the perfect pot of tea.

Jalen Frantal is a second-year law student from Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Pepperdine in 2020 where he studied Sports Medicine, philosophy, and dispute resolution. While at Pepperdine, Jalen ran cross country and track and was involved with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Student Philanthropy Council. After graduation, he served as a City Year, AmeriCorps member in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for one year.

During his 1L summer, he interned for a federal agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service, working for their Office of General Counsel. In addition to being a Kirgis Fellow, Jalen is a Research Assistant to Professor Joshua Fairfield, the VP of Service for the Environmental Law Society, and a staffwriter for both the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice and the Law News.

In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, perusing the selection at Just Games, and tending to his plants.

Ian Joseph is a second-year law student from Alpharetta, GA. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a degree in Political Science and minor in Communication Studies. Before attending UGA, Ian was a member of the Men's Basketball team at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Prior to law school, he worked in Savannah, GA as a paralegal at a family law firm.

During his 1L summer, Ian split his time as a judicial intern with The Honorable Claude Worrell in Virginia's 16th Judicial Circuit and as a summer associate with McGlinchey Stafford in Baton Rouge, LA. Ian is an active member in the Black Law Students Association at W&L Law.

In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, spending time with his girlfriend, and exploring fun things to do around Lexington with his peers.

Cameron Perales is a second-year law student from Laguna Hills, CA. He graduated from Georgetown University in 2018 with a degree in History and Classical Studies. After graduation, he worked as a High School Special Education Teacher in Denver, Colorado as a Teach for America (TFA) Corp member.

During his 1L summer, Cameron interned with the Federal Public Defenders Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in their Norfolk Office. Outside of being a Kirgis Fellow, he is also the President of Law Families, Vice President of Fundraising for the Public Interest Students Association (PILSA) and serves as the Secretary for both the Public Defense Group and the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA).

In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, going on walks with his wife, Emily, weightlifting, hiking, and hanging out with friends around Lexington.

Catalina Perez is a second-year student from Virginia Beach, VA. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 with a degree in American Government and in 2021 with a Master's in Public Policy.

During her 1L summer, Catalina interned for the Honorable Claude V. Worrell in Virginia's 16th Judicial District.

Aside from being a Kirgis Fellow, Catalina is Research Assistant to Professor David Baluarte, a Junior Editor on the German Law Journal, and is President of the Health Law Association.

Taylor Roberson is a second-year law student from Florence, AL. She graduated from The University of Alabama in 2020 with a degree in Economics. During her 1L summer, Taylor was a summer associate at Neal & Harwell in Nashville, TN and was a research assistant for Professor Kish Parella.

At W&L Taylor is a Founder and Co-President of the First-Generation Student Union, a Staffwriter on the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice (JCRSJ), and the Treasurer of the Business and Law Association. She is a member of the Antitrust and Consumer Protection Society and Women Law Student's Organization.

In her free time, she can be found walking the Chessie with friends, attending a spin class, or going on a spontaneous road trip for a change of scenery and Starbucks.

Andreya Steidl is a second-year law student from Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2020 with a degree in Political Science: Legal Studies and a minor in Communications. While at UTC, Andreya was involved in Student Government, served on the Homecoming Committee, competed on the dance team, and was the President of the Pre-Law Club.

As a 1L, Andreya was the Treasurer Chair for the Women Law Student Organization, a contributing writer for Law News, and a member of OUTlaw. For her 1L summer, she was a judicial intern for a state trial court judge in Tennessee. Apart from being a Kirgis Fellow, Andreya is the Secretary of the First-Generation Student Union and the Election Law Society and is the Vice President of External Events for the Business and Law Association.

In her free time, Andreya enjoys horseback riding, tactical pistol training, golfing, gardening, and taking walks with her two dogs.

Artem Volynsky is a second-year law student from Fort Lee, New Jersey. He graduated from Rutgers in 2017 with a degree in Finance and Management Information Systems. Between graduating and at W&L Artem worked for a big bank, a crypto currency startup, and tried to start his own non-profit.

During his 1L Summer, Artem worked for the NJ Office of the Public Defender in Salem County and worked remotely with a team called World Peace Tracts. Artem is involved in the Business Law Association on campus during the year.

During his free time, Artem enjoys playing sports, working out, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.

Peter Wells is a second-year law student from Hingham, Massachusetts. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a degree in History. After graduation, and before law school, he worked various roles in the restaurant industry, investment sales, and banking.

During his 1L summer, Peter interned at Boyd & Sipe PLC in Charlottesville, VA. In addition to being a Kirgis Fellow, Peter is the founder and president of the Real Estate Law Society.

In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, dining out, and watching Boston Celtics games. 

Winni Zhang is a second-year law student from Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Law, Values, and Policy. During her time at the University of Houston, she was heavily involved on campus through her role as the Student Body President. Winni worked for two years in various leadership roles within non-profit organizations before coming to W&L.

During her 1L summer, Winni worked at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings and was a judicial intern for Chief Judge Swain in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York. She was placed in the judicial internship through the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program. At W&L, she is a Staffwriter on the Journal for Civil Rights and Social Justice, a student on the Immigrant Rights Clinic, a member of the Women Law Students Organization, and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

In her free time, Winni enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, watching Chinese dramas, hanging out with her dog, and hiking.