About the Office of Graduate Studies

The Graduate Studies Suite

In the Graduate Studies Suite you will find the members of the Graduates Studies team who are always eager to welcome you – so please be sure to stop by often!  We are located on the third floor in Suite 301. Classroom 301-H, where many of you will have classes, is also located in the Graduate Studies Suite.  

The Graduate Studies Suite was designed with your needs in mind.  We want you to treat it like a home at school and a place to meet with classmates, study, and do work.  The space is designed with work stations, two stations have computers, and the others accommodate student laptop use.  We also have a wireless printer available for student use.  There is also comfortable seating for you to congregate and relax. 

You will also have StormCard access to the suite if you want to come in to study outside of business hours. We encourage all students to sign up for a locker, so that you have a secure place to store your personal items, keeping in mind that the desks and drawers in the Graduate Studies Suite are public space and should be shared by all students.

The Graduate Studies Team

Trent Anderson
Associate Dean, External Relations
Adjunct Professor of Law
Dean Anderson is responsible for the Office of Graduate Studies for the programs in U.S. Legal Studies, Transnational Legal Practice and Bankruptcy. Dean Anderson teaches Introduction to Law and Advanced Negotiation for J.D. students and Introduction to Transnational Legal Practice and Introduction to Advocacy for foreign-trained attorneys. 
Full Bio

Carl Olson
Associate Director of Graduate Support and Student Services
Adjunct Professor of Law
[email protected]
Carl Olson has taught courses related to Business Organizations, Criminal Law, and Legal Writing in the American Legal Discourse and Analysis program. Professor Olson is a graduate of St. John’s Law and has also taught graduate and international students at the University of Illinois College of Law and Northwest University of Politics and Law in Xi’an, China.

Lauren Hartley
Associate Director of Graduate Studies and Global Engagement
Adjunct Professor of Law
[email protected], Schedule a Meeting, WeChat: hartleyl
Lauren works with all LL.M. students prior to their admission and with St. John’s partner schools. She has worked with law students and program partners in a variety of areas, including in public interest law and pro bono programs, international access to justice projects, and professional and career development. Lauren also teaches LL.M. students introductory and practical skills courses. Lauren has lived and worked in countries around the world, including Argentina, Thailand, and Macedonia. Prior to working at St. John’s Law, Lauren practiced in immigration law and clerked for a judge. She received her J.D. from Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and her bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. You can also visit her office any time to chat, ask questions, or talk about some of her favorite things – food, movies, and arts & culture.

Margie Townsend
Associate Director of Graduate Academic Programs
Margie serves as a senior administrator in support of the operations of the Office of Graduate Studies overseeing the LL.M. curriculum and academic programs. She joined the Grad Studies Department from Yeshiva Univesrity, where she had been Associate Director and Project Manager overseeing recruitment and program development for their graduate programs. Margie is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York Law School.

Sara Drew
Graduate Career Advisor
Adjunct Professor of Law
[email protected]
Sara works with all international LL.M. students and alumni to provide career-related counseling and programming. She meets individually with each student over the course of their time at St. John’s to assist in cover letter and resume drafting as well as interview preparation, and to help with job search questions or concerns.  She hosts programs specifically targeted to international LL.M. students and counsels students on individual career goals and internship opportunities within the United States and internationally. Prior to becoming a member of the Graduate Studies team, Sara worked as a practicing attorney for the City of New York and as a career counselor to J.D. students at St. John’s. Sara earned her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. Sara studied in Paris as a college student and understands the challenges of being a student in a foreign country. Her door is always open to answer questions or just to say hello.

Kathryn (Katy) Piper
Senior Director of Academic Achievement
Adjunct Professor of Law
[email protected], Schedule a Meeting
Professor Piper is a primary academic success resource for St. John’s Law students. She also  teaches writing and skills in the LL.M. and J.D. programs. She holds a J.D. from U.C. Hastings in San Francisco, where she served as Executive Editor of the Women’s Law Journal, and externed for Bay Area Legal Aid and the National Housing Law Project.  She has lived in California, Japan, Massachusetts and New York, loves to talk about travel and learning, and once completed a 50-day hike around southern Japan.  Visit Professor Piper’s office or set an appointment with her to discuss time management and study strategies, class schedule, your questions about legal writing and thinking, or just to say hello.  You can also find recommended books in her office if you ever need a supplement for a class.

Ellen Gamber
Assistant Director of Graduate Studies
Ellen works with our LL.M. students during the application process through arrival on campus. She is happy to assist you to make your arrival and transition to St. John’s Law go as smoothly as possible. During the academic year, she keeps our students updated on important Law School deadlines as well as programs and events related to international law. Before joining the Graduate Studies Office, Ellen worked in the Office of the Registrar for nine years as a Registrar Assistant. Ellen’s husband, son and sister are all graduates of St. John’s Law.

Faculty to Know

Christopher J. Borgen
Margaret E. (Peggy) McGuinness
Rachel Paras
Robert Ruescher
Keith Sharfman
Michael A. Simons
G. Ray Warner

St. John’s School of Law Administration