SENIOR MANAGING BOARD
2017–2018
Matt McNerney ('18) | Editor-in-Chief
Matt is from Oakton, Virginia and attended Colorado College for a degree in economics. As an undergraduate he was a member of the State of the Rockies Project, a student-teacher collaborative research project focused on water resources in the Colorado River Basin. Before law school, he worked as research assistant for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an energy efficiency think tank in Washington, D.C., where he focused on energy efficiency finance and economic development. The summer after his 1L year, he worked as an intern for the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program in D.C. And after his 2L year he worked as a summer associate for King & Spalding's D.C. office. Outside of school, Matt enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking, baking elaborate pizzas, and playing guitar. (mjm2kd@virginia.edu)
Matt is from Oakton, Virginia and attended Colorado College for a degree in economics. As an undergraduate he was a member of the State of the Rockies Project, a student-teacher collaborative research project focused on water resources in the Colorado River Basin. Before law school, he worked as research assistant for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an energy efficiency think tank in Washington, D.C., where he focused on energy efficiency finance and economic development. The summer after his 1L year, he worked as an intern for the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program in D.C. And after his 2L year he worked as a summer associate for King & Spalding's D.C. office. Outside of school, Matt enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking, baking elaborate pizzas, and playing guitar. (mjm2kd@virginia.edu)
Jenna Goldman (‘18) | Managing Editor
Jenna grew up in North Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with majors in History and Political Science. The focus of Jenna’s undergraduate study was in Florida and environmental history, and she wrote her senior thesis on the cultural and geographical history of Key West before the Spanish-American War. Jenna is interested in the human connection with the environment, especially with inequitable access to clean air, water, and sustainable infrastructure. She spent her 1L summer interning at the EPA in the Office of Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C. For her 2L summer, Jenna worked as a summer associate at Hunton & Williams in New York City. When she isn’t serving as Captain of the Journal’s softball team, The Green Machine, you can find Jenna running, hiking, and watching Gator sports. (jmg3db@virginia.edu)
Jenna grew up in North Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with majors in History and Political Science. The focus of Jenna’s undergraduate study was in Florida and environmental history, and she wrote her senior thesis on the cultural and geographical history of Key West before the Spanish-American War. Jenna is interested in the human connection with the environment, especially with inequitable access to clean air, water, and sustainable infrastructure. She spent her 1L summer interning at the EPA in the Office of Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C. For her 2L summer, Jenna worked as a summer associate at Hunton & Williams in New York City. When she isn’t serving as Captain of the Journal’s softball team, The Green Machine, you can find Jenna running, hiking, and watching Gator sports. (jmg3db@virginia.edu)
Evan Ward (‘18) | Executive Editor
Evan was born and raised in the beautiful state of Alabama, where he learned to treasure the outdoors. He attended the University of Alabama for undergraduate and graduate study in American History, where his studies focused on the southern environment, economy, and industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries. A course in environmental history sparked an interest in law and policy, so he decided to pursue law at the University of Virginia. He spent his 1L summer working on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator Ted Cruz, and 2L summer at the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day. In his spare time, Evan enjoys spending time in Shenandoah National Park and touring central Virginia's many wonderful vineyards. (eaw4bb@virginia.edu)
Evan was born and raised in the beautiful state of Alabama, where he learned to treasure the outdoors. He attended the University of Alabama for undergraduate and graduate study in American History, where his studies focused on the southern environment, economy, and industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries. A course in environmental history sparked an interest in law and policy, so he decided to pursue law at the University of Virginia. He spent his 1L summer working on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator Ted Cruz, and 2L summer at the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day. In his spare time, Evan enjoys spending time in Shenandoah National Park and touring central Virginia's many wonderful vineyards. (eaw4bb@virginia.edu)
Andrew Ognibene ('18) | Submissions Editor
Andrew grew up in Leesburg, Virginia and attended Duke University, where he graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in Political Science. Before attending law school, he worked for a real estate development firm in Washington, D.C., and an organic farm in North Carolina. In law school, Andrew has been a member of the Nonprofit Clinic and Pro Bono Civil Rights Clinic, working with local charitable organizations and on public housing issues. During his 1L summer, Andrew was a research fellow at the Wallace Stegner Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he co-authored a paper on national monument designations. For his 2L summer, he worked at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. Andrew likes playing guitar, reading, spending time on the Bay, and hanging out with his dog. (ato3ht@virginia.edu)
Andrew grew up in Leesburg, Virginia and attended Duke University, where he graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in Political Science. Before attending law school, he worked for a real estate development firm in Washington, D.C., and an organic farm in North Carolina. In law school, Andrew has been a member of the Nonprofit Clinic and Pro Bono Civil Rights Clinic, working with local charitable organizations and on public housing issues. During his 1L summer, Andrew was a research fellow at the Wallace Stegner Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he co-authored a paper on national monument designations. For his 2L summer, he worked at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. Andrew likes playing guitar, reading, spending time on the Bay, and hanging out with his dog. (ato3ht@virginia.edu)
Billy Phalen ('18) | Submissions Editor
Billy grew up near Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Boston College in 2013 with degrees in environmental geoscience and political science. During his time as an undergraduate, Billy was a research assistant at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) where he studied the impact of ocean acidification on marine benthic communities. Before attending law school, Billy earned his master’s degree in marine geology from the University of Georgia. In the summer after his 1L year, Billy worked as a summer associate in Haynes & Boone LLP’s Houston office and graduated from the Rhodes Academy of Ocean Law & Policy in Rhodes, Greece. Billy began his 2L summer at the Center for Ocean Law & Policy’s annual conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia where he recorded a podcast documenting the oral history behind the making of the Law of the Sea treaty. After the conference, Billy joined Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP and Haynes & Boone LLP as a summer associate. In his free time, Billy enjoys SCUBA diving, golf and fishing. (wgp3kb@virginia.edu)
Billy grew up near Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Boston College in 2013 with degrees in environmental geoscience and political science. During his time as an undergraduate, Billy was a research assistant at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) where he studied the impact of ocean acidification on marine benthic communities. Before attending law school, Billy earned his master’s degree in marine geology from the University of Georgia. In the summer after his 1L year, Billy worked as a summer associate in Haynes & Boone LLP’s Houston office and graduated from the Rhodes Academy of Ocean Law & Policy in Rhodes, Greece. Billy began his 2L summer at the Center for Ocean Law & Policy’s annual conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia where he recorded a podcast documenting the oral history behind the making of the Law of the Sea treaty. After the conference, Billy joined Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP and Haynes & Boone LLP as a summer associate. In his free time, Billy enjoys SCUBA diving, golf and fishing. (wgp3kb@virginia.edu)
Tyler Jerrell ('18) | Projects Director
Tyler grew up in a military family and tentatively claims to be from Virginia. He graduated with a B.A. from James Madison University before pursuing an M.A. in philosophy from Virginia Tech. His interest in environmentalism developed as a result of these studies in philosophy and spending his childhood visiting the national parks. As a 1L, Tyler worked as a research assistant studying the theoretical principles underlying federal corruption laws, and for his 2L summer he interned with the United States Air Force. In his spare time, he enjoys pretending to be a photographer, camping with his wife and dog, and growing tomatoes in the summer. (tmj3aw@virginia.edu)
Tyler grew up in a military family and tentatively claims to be from Virginia. He graduated with a B.A. from James Madison University before pursuing an M.A. in philosophy from Virginia Tech. His interest in environmentalism developed as a result of these studies in philosophy and spending his childhood visiting the national parks. As a 1L, Tyler worked as a research assistant studying the theoretical principles underlying federal corruption laws, and for his 2L summer he interned with the United States Air Force. In his spare time, he enjoys pretending to be a photographer, camping with his wife and dog, and growing tomatoes in the summer. (tmj3aw@virginia.edu)
Alex MacMillan ('18) | Business Director
Alex is from Oak Park, Illinois, where he conducted a tree conservation survey for his Eagle Scout Project. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and History. Before attending law school, Alex interned for a state attorney general campaign and worked for an insurance company. During law school, he has worked pro bono for the Volunteer Income Tax Association, and as a summer research assistant for Professor Mila Versteeg. Prior to becoming VELJ's Business Director, Alex was the Vice President of Finance for the UVA Health Law Association. He is an avid reader of nonfiction books on business, economics and liberal arts topics. (amm6eb@virginia.edu)
Alex is from Oak Park, Illinois, where he conducted a tree conservation survey for his Eagle Scout Project. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and History. Before attending law school, Alex interned for a state attorney general campaign and worked for an insurance company. During law school, he has worked pro bono for the Volunteer Income Tax Association, and as a summer research assistant for Professor Mila Versteeg. Prior to becoming VELJ's Business Director, Alex was the Vice President of Finance for the UVA Health Law Association. He is an avid reader of nonfiction books on business, economics and liberal arts topics. (amm6eb@virginia.edu)
