Bios
Aron Berry (Business Manager) is from Morgantown, West Virginia. He attended WVU for his undergraduate studies and received a B.S. in Agricultural Business Management and Rural Development. Aron currently attends the WVU College of Law and aspires to work in the sports law field.
Arthur Bryan II (Executive Board Member) is a third year student from Round Rock, Texas. Arthur gradated cum laude from St. Mary’s University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Speech Communication. To date Arthur’s work experience includes interning with the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, Reid Ryan, President/CEO to the Round Rock Express Baseball Club, Hansard Society of London, England, United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and summer legal intern for the US Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in Denver, Colorado. This past summer he worked as a legal intern for the Williamson County Attorney Office, Office of Jana Duty in Georgetown, Texas. Currently, he is working for LexisNexis as a Lexis Associate and a graduate assistant over the study abroad programs for professor andre’ douglas pond cummings. He is actively involved in various student organizations and committees at the College of Law. Upon graduation, Arthur plans on moving back to Texas to pursue a career in litigation.
Rob Dixon (Executive VP) is a third-year law student from Wilmington, Delaware. Rob graduated from West Virginia University in 2000 with a dual degree in Sociology and Anthropology. Rob is a former varsity track & field team member specializing in hurdles and sprints. Rob continues to foster his love of sports through his legal education, coaching, speed training, and participation in various sports camps. Rob also serves the Law Class of 2009 as an Ethics Council Representative. Rob & Demetra are the proud parents of Will, Pharoah, and Nyla. Upon graduation, Rob seeks employment in the collegiate or professional sports arena where he can combine his passion for, and experience in, sports with his education.
Shawn Fluharty (Vice President) of Moundsville, West Virginia, is a graduate of the WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism and a current third year student at the WVU College of Law. Fluharty has worked for Charles Ryan Associates of Charleston, W.V. and is currently employed by Mylan Incorporated of Morgantown, W.V. While a student at the College of Law, Fluharty has contributed to the Sports & Entertainment Law Society and the Rich Rodriguez Law Blog. In the future, Fluharty would like to continue working in contract law, preferably in the sports and entertainment field.
Sheila Hassani (Secretary) is originally from Tampa, FL. She attended the University of Florida where she obtained degrees in Criminology and Psychology. Last summer she interned in the Athletic Compliance Office at the University of Florida and also clerked at Scruggs and Carmichael, P.A. She is also a Research Assistant for Professor andré douglas pond cummings, and has developed posts for The Sports Law Blog on Steroids in baseball, the American Indian Mascot controversy, and the Richard Rodriguez contract scandal. Recently, she was selected to be a sub-editor for the forthcoming book: Reversing Field: Examining Issues of Commercialization, Race and Labor in 21st Century Sports Law. Her ultimate career goal is to become General Manager of a sports organization.
Vonda Kirby (President, Black Law Students Association) was born on the beautiful island of St. Croix, but has spent most of her life growing up in Jersey City, NJ. Before coming to WVU College of Law, Vonda attended the College of St. Elizabeth located in Morristown, NJ where she received her undergraduate degree in English and a minor in Political Science. When she graduates, she will practice in the area of business litigation at the Louisville, Kentucky firm Stites & Harbison PLLC. She is currently a third-year law student.
Kim Matras (Executive Board Member) is a third year law student from Charleston, West Virginia, who graduated magna cum laude from WVU majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Sociology. Kim worked as a summer intern for Dinsmore & Shol and plans to work in the entertainment industry as legal counsel or as an agent.
Andrew J. Mitchell (Treasurer) graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Accounting in December 2004 from West Virginia University and anticipates earning his juris doctorate?from WVU College of Law in May 2009. Mitchell served as the Treasurer for the WVU College of Law Sports and Entertainment Law Society from 2007 – 2009 in addition to participating in the Tax Clinical Law Program at the?College of Law and coordinating the WVU College of Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).? Mitchell is a Magistrate Court mediator and was a?2007 Janet D. Steiger Fellow.
Kim Murphy (Executive Board Member) is from Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2006 with a degree in Political Science and Spanish. Kim is in her third year at WVU College of Law and in her second year at WVU School of Business. Kim will graduate in May 2009 with both her JD and MBA. After graduation, Kim will be working as an antitrust and corporate litigation attorney for Howrey, LLP in Washington, DC. Throughout Kim’s law school career, she has worked in-house counsel at A.O. Smith Corporation in Milwaukee, WI, as a summer associate at Quarles & Brady in Milwaukee, WI, and as a summer associate at Howrey, LLP in Washington, DC. She also works as a research assistant to Professor andré douglas pond cummings, at the WVU College of Law. Kim plans to begin her career in law and one day move into business.
Bethany Swaton (President, Sports & Entertainment Law Society) is a third-year law student from Wheeling, West Virginia. Bethany graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University in 2006 with a degree in Sport Management. To date, Bethany has served as an intern in The Ohio State University Department of Athletics for two summers and worked as a summer associate at Schrader, Byrd and Companion in Wheeling, West Virginia. This past summer, Bethany served as the legal intern at CBS Broadcasting, Inc. in L os Angeles, California. Currently, she is working as the law clerk for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a research assistant for Professor andré douglas pond cummings, and a student-editor for the forthcoming book, Reversing Field: Examining Issues of Commercialization, Race and Labor in 21st Century Sports Law. Upon graduation, Bethany will clerk for the Honorable James E. Seibert, United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia with hopes to pursue her passion of sports and entertainment in becoming general counsel for a network or professional team.
J.J. Voithofer (V.P. of Fundraising) Born and raised in Morgantown, WV. Attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Pre-Law Advisory Committee and the founding Vice-President of the Allegheny College Chapter of Colleges Against Cancer. J.J. received his B.A. in Economics from Allegheny College and is currently a 2010 candidate for a JD/MBA joint degree. Upon graduating, J.J.’s career goals include pursuing a career in corporate law. J.J. is also the Marshal for the Willey Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.
Brian Welch (V.P. of Publicity) is a third-year law student from Clarksburg, West Virginia. A graduate of West Virginia University (B.A., English; M.A., Secondary Education), Brian is currently working in the Office of Global Compliance at Mylan, Inc. and covering WVU athletics for Rivals.com while pursuing his J.D. As a 2L, Brian served as the editor of the Sports & Entertainment Society’s blog analyzing West Virginia University’s lawsuit against former football coach Rich Rodriguez (RichRodblog). As an undergraduate, Brian served as Sports Editor of The Daily Athenaeum, WVU’s student newspaper. Brian plans to pursue dual careers in corporate law and journalism upon his graduation in May.
Chris Williamson is a second-year student at the West Virginia University College of Law from Dingess, West Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Economics from West Virginia University and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from American University. At the College of Law, Chris is Vice President of the Democratic Law Caucus, the American Bar Association Representative, and serves on the American Constitution Society’s Executive Board.