Northeastern Law Benefits from Public Policy Leaders
Law and Policy Fellows Christine Stoneman (left) and Samuel Roth (right) along with CPIAC Visiting Fellow Kathleen Rubenstein (center) shared their years of experience, earned through grace and good humor, with the Northeastern Law community
During the 2025–2026 academic year, the School of Law’s Center for Public Interest Advocacy and Collaboration (CPIAC) and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs created the Northeastern University Law and Policy Fellows Program, welcoming nine distinguished legal and policy professionals navigating career transitions from government service. The one-year virtual fellowships offered opportunities for seasoned public servants to engage with the university community while exploring their next career steps.
“We were thrilled to welcome such an accomplished group of fellows,” said Professor Sharmila Murthy, faculty co-director of CPIAC. “Their collective experience in government service enriched our academic community and provided invaluable insights for our students, faculty and staff.” The cohort brought decades of experience at the highest levels of government, having most recently served in the following roles:
Trent Buatte — Deputy Legal Advisor, National Security Council, The White House
Nancy Johnson — Attorney, US Patent and Trademark Office
Amy Romero — Chief Legal Counsel, Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island
Samuel Roth — Associate General Counsel, The White House Council on Environmental Quality
Zeinah Salahi — Senior Diplomat and Attorney, US Agency for International Development
Christine Stoneman — Chief, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice
Brian Trackman — Senior Legal Advisor, Division of Trading and Markets, US Securities and Exchange Commission
Maria Van Buren ’98 — Supervisory Appellate, Regulatory and Enforcement Attorney, US Department of Labor
Elizabeth Wilcox — Humanitarian Assistance Policy Advisor, US Department of State
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