Here to help
Providing student support throughout the law school journey is the Student Services team: LaTrina Porter, Elizabeth Tripp, Shenita Babalola, Mary Daniels, Gina Gerardi, and Radhika Sutherland.
Here to help
Student Services provides support throughout the law school journey
If the School of Law was a hotel, then Student Services would be the concierge desk. Or if the law school was a baseball team, Student Services would be the utility player. A hospital? Triage.
Versatile, helpful, on the front lines—that’s Student Services.
“We’re often the initial point of contact for students who are looking for assistance and resources,” says Gina Gerardi, assistant dean for Student Services and Weekend JD. “We’re the catch-all for student support and serve as an intermediary within the law school and across the central university, facilitating connections and information sharing.”
The six-person team provides essential support across multiple areas with one common theme: to make students’ law school experience as smooth and rewarding as possible. Responsibilities include student programming, support, communications, character and fitness, and more.
“We want our students to be the best versions of themselves and ensure they’re getting as much as they can out of this experience.”
The team aims to be as accessible as possible, so several department members hold office hours during which students can drop by with questions or concerns. “If you’re having personal struggles, academic issues, unable to communicate well with a faculty member, having a conflict with a student organization—whatever it is, we’re here for you,” says Mary Daniels, assistant director of the Weekend JD Program.
When Daniels wanted to raise awareness of on-campus resources for Weekend JD students, she implemented lunchtime programming featuring staff from units and departments across the School of Law. “Student Services is really aligned with the people-forward nature of the law school,” says Daniels. “We’re not hiding behind a Zoom screen or an email alias.”
Members of the law school’s student organizations agree with Daniels’ assessment. Over the years, many organizations have relied on Radhika G. Sutherland (JD ’21), assistant director of Student Services and adjunct professor (and an academic advisor, along with Gerardi), for support with programming, event approval, travel needs, purchasing, conflict resolution, and training.
“There’s a lot of heart, intentionality, and care in our work,” Sutherland says. As one example, Sutherland introduced community-building circles to the new student orientation program after noticing students struggling to connect in the post-pandemic years. Similarly, the team purposefully shuffled students during the orientation lunches this year, allowing students to meet more of their classmates, therefore boosting cross-section interaction.
Gina Gerardi, assistant dean for Student Services and Weekend JD, also serves as an academic advisor.
Across every section, there are students who qualify for accommodations. Shenita Babalola, Student Services office coordinator, is a detail-oriented, data-focused professional who leads the charge on facilitating this type of support, including classroom accommodations and testing accommodations.
“This semester, we set up information sessions for students, and we’re hoping to do that for faculty in the future as well,” Babalola says. It’s just one of many ways that the Student Services team, which also includes LaTrina Porter, senior program coordinator, and Elizabeth Tripp, assistant director for advising and academic success for non-JD programs, anticipates and addresses students’ needs.
“Law school is a lot of work and a big investment,” Gerardi says. “We want our students to be the best versions of themselves and ensure they’re getting as much as they can out of this experience, which means making it enriching and supportive.” –Kelsey Schagemann (November 2025)
If the School of Law was a hotel, then Student Services would be the concierge desk. Or if the law school was a baseball team, Student Services would be the utility player. A hospital? Triage.
Versatile, helpful, on the front lines—that’s Student Services.
“We’re often the initial point of contact for students who are looking for assistance and resources,” says Gina Gerardi, assistant dean for Student Services and Weekend JD. “We’re the catch-all for student support and serve as an intermediary within the law school and across the central university, facilitating connections and information sharing.”
The six-person team provides essential support across multiple areas with one common theme: to make students’ law school experience as smooth and rewarding as possible. Responsibilities include student programming, support, communications, character and fitness, and more.
The team aims to be as accessible as possible, so several department members hold office hours during which students can drop by with questions or concerns. “If you’re having personal struggles, academic issues, unable to communicate well with a faculty member, having a conflict with a student organization—whatever it is, we’re here for you,” says Mary Daniels, assistant director of the Weekend JD Program.
When Daniels wanted to raise awareness of on-campus resources for Weekend JD students, she implemented lunchtime programming featuring staff from units and departments across the School of Law. “Student Services is really aligned with the people-forward nature of the law school,” says Daniels. “We’re not hiding behind a Zoom screen or an email alias.”
Members of the law school’s student organizations agree with Daniels’ assessment. Over the years, many organizations have relied on Radhika G. Sutherland (JD ’21), assistant director of Student Services and adjunct professor (and an academic advisor, along with Gerardi), for support with programming, event approval, travel needs, purchasing, conflict resolution, and training.
“There’s a lot of heart, intentionality, and care in our work,” Sutherland says. As one example, Sutherland introduced community-building circles to the new student orientation program after noticing students struggling to connect in the post-pandemic years. Similarly, the team purposefully shuffled students during the orientation lunches this year, allowing students to meet more of their classmates, therefore boosting cross-section interaction.
Across every section, there are students who qualify for accommodations. Shenita Babalola, Student Services office coordinator, is a detail-oriented, data-focused professional who leads the charge on facilitating this type of support, including classroom accommodations and testing accommodations.
“This semester, we set up information sessions for students, and we’re hoping to do that for faculty in the future as well,” Babalola says. It’s just one of many ways that the Student Services team, which also includes LaTrina Porter, senior program coordinator, and Elizabeth Tripp, assistant director for advising and academic success for non-JD programs, anticipates and addresses students’ needs.
“Law school is a lot of work and a big investment,” Gerardi says. “We want our students to be the best versions of themselves and ensure they’re getting as much as they can out of this experience, which means making it enriching and supportive.” –Kelsey Schagemann (November 2025)