OCS Advisors will work with you to create your unique career plan, tailored to your specific needs and interests. Along the way, you’ll be further supported by our many workshops, resources, and recruitment programs.

We are committed to innovating and improving upon our own strategies for success to ensure that Georgetown Law graduates continue to be the most prepared and best equipped in the nation.

We look forward to working with you!

Meet our Team

Rob Cacace (Director of Alumni Services)

Rob joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2012, and now serves as Director of Alumni Career Services. In that capacity he advises alumni on job transitions and career strategy. Prior to joining Georgetown, Rob practiced as a litigator at a plaintiffs-side firm in Washington, DC, where he focused on antitrust class actions and advising state attorneys general in bringing enforcement actions.

Prior to becoming a litigator, Rob clerked for two years in federal district court in DC, working on issues related to Guantanamo Bay habeas corpus litigation, administrative and constitutional law, and commercial disputes. He received his BA and JD degrees, cum laude, from Harvard; he has a Masters in Modern History from Oxford University.

Rob has a certificate in leadership coaching from Georgetown. In law school, he spent two summers as an intern with federal prosecutors and one summer with a large law firm. Rob regards his several semesters doing refugee and asylum work as some of the most rewarding and interesting experiences of his law school career. In his capacity as an adjunct professor and trainer, Rob has led seminars and workshops on a range of career and professional skills.

At Georgetown, Rob works with alumni on career development matters. Additionally he creates resources and programs for alumni, and speaks to employers to learn about trends in the legal market.

Ask me about: changing jobs after graduation, leveraging your current/past role to find the next right career move for you, trends and resources for lateral hiring

In my free time, I enjoy: spending time with my wife, an attorney who works at the intersection of civil rights law and AI; chasing my three young children around the playgrounds of DC and Maryland; reading history; learning to love soccer carpools

Amy Locke (Assistant Director)

Amy (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2023. In this role, Amy advises law students on career path planning, job search and networking strategies, dynamic application material creation, and interviewing skills.

Amy grew up in New Jersey and received her BA, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis, and her JD, with High Honors, from the George Washington University Law School. After law school, Amy practiced as an associate at a large international law firm in DC, and then worked as a management analyst and then senior management analyst for the DC government, before returning to practice law for the federal government.

Ask me about: general career planning, 1L summer planning, 2L summer planning, private sector careers, and dual planning (between the public and private sectors)

In my free time, I enjoy: reading historical fiction and dystopian novels; swimming; planning trips to warm weather destinations; and spending time with my husband, two girls, and dog

Alex Owen (Associate Director of Career Strategy)

Alex (he/him) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2019. He received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School and his BA in Political Science from the University of San Diego, summa cum laude. After law school, Alex joined the corporate group of a large law firm in Chicago where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Alex then worked for the City of Chicago as an Assistant Corporation Counsel, advising on regulatory and transactional matters for City agencies and the Mayor’s office.

At Georgetown, Alex helps to plan the annual Corporate Symposium, creates resources and plans events for international students, and designs educational material on the ever-changing legal market.

Ask me about: 1L career planning, private sector careers, transactional law, and the Chicago legal market
In my free time, I enjoy: watching old movies and playing with my niece and nephew

Marcia Pennington Shannon (Evening Student Career Advisor)

Marcia (she/her) rejoined OCS in 2023. Prior to her retirement in 2022, Marcia served for several years as the Assistant Dean of OCS and the Section 7 advisor. Given the opportunity to return to Georgetown as the evening student advisor, she jumped at it because of her great joy in working with this cohort. Before joining Georgetown as the Assistant Dean, Marcia led a legal consulting firm with six offices around the country focused on professional development and coaching for large law firms.

In addition to leading many workshops and seminars on the career planning and job search processes, Marcia has written extensively on law student and lawyer career management. Her publications include The Lawyer’s Career Management Handbook: Your Bridge to a Satisfying Career (Editor and contributing author, West Publishing) and Recruiting Lawyers (Co-author, ABA Publications). Marcia is a Master Coach through the Behavioral Coaching Institute and holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching through Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Marcia is also a Designing Your Life Certified Coach, a design thinking approach to career and life planning.

At Georgetown, Marcia advises evening students on career path planning, job search strategies, combining other job experiences with the law degree, and planning a life in the law.

Ask me about: general career planning, preparing for interviews, integrating work and life balance, and alternative careers

In my free time, I enjoy: playing with my two grandchildren; boating on the Chesapeake Bay with my husband; and snuggling with our rescue boxer dog, Jaxx

Ileana Vélez Alvarado (Clerkship & Resource Coordinator)

Ileana (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2021. She received her Master of Professional Studies in Emergency & Disaster Management from Georgetown University and her Bachelor of Business Administration from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.

Before joining OCS, Ileana developed training and capacity-building material for public health emergencies at Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security. She also used to work for FEMA under the Individual and Households Program and assisted disaster survivors with their recovery.

At Georgetown, Ileana supports clerkship applicants and recommenders and assists with clerkship and diversity programming.

Ask me about: judicial clerkships, clerkship letters of recommendation, navigating OSCAR, and diversity initiatives

In my free time, I enjoy: baking, dancing, and playing with my pup

Kristina Apple (Assistant Director for the 2L/3L Team)

Kristina (she/her/hers) joined OCS in 2023. In her work as an attorney, Kristina first practiced as a corporate bankruptcy litigator in the DC office of a large international law firm. Kristina then worked in-house as a corporate transactional attorney for a multinational advertising technology company, focusing on a broad array of matters such as product counseling, contract negotiation, and regulatory issues at the intersection of privacy and technology.

Kristina received her BA in Hospitality Management from Boston University and her JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
At Georgetown, Kristina advises 2L and 3L students on career path planning, job search strategies, professional networking, and navigating a life in the law.

Ask me about: 2L and 3L job search, corporate bankruptcy work, life in big law, in-house transactional work, changing practice areas

In my free time, I enjoy: cooking, listening to podcasts covering anything from true crime to tech news, and exploring Virginia with my son and husband (a commercial leasing attorney at a small firm in the DMV)

Jose Luis Davila Gonzalez (Assistant Director)

Originally from Mexico City, Jose Luis attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Business.

Before joining Georgetown Law in 2005, he worked for Population Services International (PSI) as a Procurement Officer in charge of the Latin America and Eastern Europe regions. Back in Mexico City, Jose Luis worked as a chewing gum salesman for Warner-Lambert now part of Mondelez International, Inc. where he became the first salesman under 23 to reach the highest sales volume in Mexico City.
Jose Luis completed his Executive MBA from Georgetown University–The McDonough School of Business in partnership with ESADE Business School in Madrid and the Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro. Most recently, Jose Luis received his certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.

At Georgetown, Jose Luis runs the Professional Development Coaching Program (PDCP) for students to build on their strengths and tackle their challenges through personal coaching sessions. Jose Luis manages the International Internship Program (IIP). Jose Luis also manages the OCS budget and Human Resources needs for the OCS team.

Ask me about: professional development coaching, international internships, Entry into Practice & Judicial Clerkship Award payments, Lawyers in Balance (LIB), human resources and financial affairs processes

In my free time, I enjoy: the cultural and food scene in DC; painting and photography; (you can see some of my art pieces in the Office of Career Strategy and around the Law Center); riding my bike to work from time to time

Andrea Waters (Assistant Director of Recruitment Operations)

Andrea has been a part of the OCS team since 2009. She started her career in OCS as the Front Desk & Job Listings Coordinator then held two other positions before becoming the Assistant Director of Recruitment Operations in 2013.

For the past ten years, she has worked closely with legal recruiting professionals and law firm hiring partners on developing strategies to increase their recruiting/hiring efforts. She oversees the planning and implementation of all private sector recruitment programming and manages Symplicity, the office’s recruitment and application database management system.

She is also a mindfulness facilitator within the Lawyers in Balance program where she introduces law students to a variety of mindfulness skills and practices that can help reduce stress and help navigate the daily challenges of law school. She received her BA in Communications from West Virginia University in 2008 and a Certificate in Strategy & Performance Management from Georgetown University in 2016.

Ask me about: Symplicity, FloRecruit, private sector recruitment programs, OCS hosted events, legal market hiring trends, mindfulness tips & tricks
In my free time, I enjoy: going to concerts; nature walks; nail art; cuddles with my cat, Mona; documentaries

Amy Jones Mattock (Assistant Dean)

Amy joined OCS in 2003 after working as a law clerk for the Fairfax County Circuit Court and as an associate specializing in community association law at Troutman Sanders in Tysons Corner. During her time at Georgetown, Amy has advised countless students on all aspects of their summer and post-graduate job search and has cultivated relationships with private sector employers across the country and around the globe.

She has served on the Board of the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP) and is a regular presenter at conferences on topics related to best practices and innovations in legal recruiting. As Assistant Dean, Amy not only manages the day-to-day operations of OCS, but works closely with OPICS and other administrative offices to come up with ways to effectively and efficiently serve our students. Her expertise is in pathways to biglaw practice and trends in the legal market. Amy received her BA in Russian Studies from Washington & Lee University and her JD from the University of Richmond.

Ask me about: general career planning, AmLaw 250 law firms, interviewing best practices, legal market trends, recent graduate employment statistics

In my free time I enjoy: running middle-distance races, watching football (Go Commanders!), reading historical fiction, and spending time in the Outer Banks with my family.

Silvia Hernandez (Assistant Manager for Recruitment and Programming)

Silvia (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2017. Silvia hails from Texas and graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a BA in Linguistics. In 2019, she completed the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate Program at the School of Continuing Studies.

She helps manage the logistics of internal programs and assists with recruitment programming and events. By approving jobs and troubleshooting login access issues, she helps maintain Symplicity. She also manages reciprocity requests, works on several of OCS’s newsletters, and is a member of the JD Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging team.

Ask me about: Symplicity, reciprocity with other schools, and OCS recruitment programming

In my free time, I enjoy: going on walks, experimenting in the kitchen, and doing arts and crafts

Puvanan Selvam (Data Analyst)

Puvanan joined OCS in April 2023, a Biobehavioral Health graduate from Penn State, He transitioned from co-running a Supply Chain Business to his current role as a Data Analyst. Somewhere along the way he picked up programming and currently uses it to assist the counselors with their data needs through employment reports, extracting and visualizing trends in the employment data. And he also plays a role in collecting, organizing and preparing the student data to be submitted to the ABA for accreditation purposes..

Ask me about: Symplicity, student employment data, and Graduate Employment Surveys

In my free time, I enjoy: reading, spending time with friends, and trying different coffee shops

Matthew Smilowitz (Assistant Director for Judicial Clerkships)

Matthew joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2022, after practicing for more than a decade as a commercial litigator in the Washington, DC office of a large law firm, first as an associate, and most recently as a partner.

Prior to entering private practice, Matthew clerked at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and was a judicial extern with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He received his JD, magna cum laude, from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, where he served as the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board, and his BBA, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

At Georgetown, Matthew advises JD students and graduates on judicial clerkship and internship opportunities, with a particular emphasis on local state court Judges. He also assists with clerkship programming and resource development.

Ask me about: Judicial Clerkships, Civil Litigation

In my free time, I enjoy: Following the Washington Nationals, attending concerts, and dining out in Old Town Alexandria.

Arielle Pacer (Director of 1L Team)

Arielle (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2017. In this role, Arielle advises law students on developing short-term and longer term career goals, job search and networking strategies, drafting application materials, and honing interviewing skills. She also oversees the general communications, resources, and programs to support 1L students.

Prior to working as a career advisor, she practiced in the private sector as an associate in two DC-metro area law firms. She first worked as a litigator in a small firm in Alexandria, Virginia. Then she joined an aviation boutique in Washington, DC, where she assisted both domestic and international clients. Arielle holds degrees from the George Washington University Law School (JD with Honors) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA in Political Science and History with Highest Honors and Highest Distinction).

Ask me about: 1L summer job search, pursuing private sector for 2L summer, application document reviews

In my free time, I enjoy: watching college basketball (Go Heels!) and football (Go Bills!), scouring travel guides, and reading fiction

Andrea Glosser (Director of Professional Development)

Andrea (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2018. She received her JD from Stanford Law School and her BA from Kenyon College. Andrea has significant large law firm professional development and recruiting experience, working in the Washington, DC office of an international law firm as an antitrust associate, senior recruiting manager, and senior professional development manager.

At Georgetown, Andrea has served as a clerkship advisor and now focuses on 1L advising and professional development for OCS. She is also a certified lawyer coach through Volta Coach Training, the only ICF-accredited coach training program designed specifically for coaching lawyers.

Andrea directs professional development programs, resources, and initiatives for OCS and advises students on private sector career planning and the private sector job search process.

Ask me about: large law firms, professional development, OCS student coaching, antitrust careers

In my free time, I enjoy: exploring Annapolis with my husband

Robyn Rucker-Moore (Director of DEI Initiatives and Recent Graduates)

Robyn Rucker-Moore (she/her/hers) serves as part of the 2L/3L team in OCS and is the Director of DEI Initiatives and recent graduates. Robyn advises current students (2L’s and 3L’s) and assists with the bar application process. Robyn works with recent graduates (0-2 years) and administers the Law Center’s Entry Into Practice (EIP) as well.

Robyn has worked in the career services/professional development space for over 13 years. Robyn also served as a Deputy Attorney General for that state of Indiana and as a Staff Attorney for the Indiana Supreme Court. Robyn earned her JD degree from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She also recently earned a certificate in Executive Leadership Coaching from Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and is ACC Certified through the International Coaching Federation.

Ask me about: general career planning strategies, planning for MPRE and bar exam, diversity fellowships, navigating the private sector as a diverse attorney

In my free time, I enjoy: adding vinyl to my record collection, going to the theater, and traveling

Celia Spiritos (Director 2L/3L Team)

Celia (she/her/hers) joined OCS in 2013 after practicing law for many years in different settings. Celia began her career at the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Corporation Finance, and following that spent years in small, medium, and large firms specializing in securities, trademark and copyright, and corporate law. She holds a JD and a BS in Accounting from SUNY Buffalo.

Ask me about: searching for a private sector position as a 2L and 3L, how to navigate a private and public sector search, and alternative paths to the private sector

In my free time, I enjoy: spending time with my family (especially outdoors), experimenting with recipes, attempting to learn new languages, and playing with my dog

Kelley Shields (Assistant Director of the 2L/3L Team)

Kelley (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2022. She is an attorney and a certified professional coach, who most recently was the principal of a career and leadership coaching company. She spent four years as an associate at a telecommunications-focused boutique law firm in Washington, DC, then eight years as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy in the DC office of a Global Fortune 500 information and communications technology company. She received her JD, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal, and clerked on the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

At Georgetown, Kelley advises transfer students and other 2L and 3L students on job searching, career planning, refining application materials, developing strong interviewing and networking skills, and navigating pathways to positions with small, mid-sized and large law firms, in house positions, and other private sector employers.

Ask me about: searching for a private sector job as a transfer student, 2L or 3L; working at small/mid-sized firms, in-house, or JD-advantage jobs; regulatory practice, particularly within the tech/telecom sector; and coaching

In my free time, I enjoy: spending time with friends, international travel, and my two fluffy, orange rescue cats

Michele Hoff (Director for Judicial Clerkships)

Michele (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Strategy in 2018. She received her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she served on the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, and her BS in Economics and Finance from York College of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining OCS, Michele served as a career counselor for JD students and graduates, focusing much of her time on judicial clerkships and small and mid-sized law firm initiatives, at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Michele is admitted to practice before state courts in both Connecticut and Maryland, and has done work in the areas of family law, juvenile law, and employment law.

At Georgetown, Michele advises JD students and graduates on judicial clerkship and internship opportunities. Michele also designs programs and resources for clerkship candidates and conducts outreach to judges and courts.

Ask me about: Judicial Clerkships

In my free time, I enjoy: jigsaw puzzles, crafting, and traveling with my family

Laurie Feldon (Assistant Director)

Laurie (she/her/hers) joined the Office of Career Services in 2023. She received her JD from The George Washington University Law School and earned her BA at The University of Virginia. After law school, Laurie practiced at several federal agencies, focusing on administrative, federal, and labor litigation. She also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Litigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (DC OAG).

It was while working at DC OAG that Laurie discovered her love of mentoring new attorneys and helping them develop their professional identities while navigating the intricacies of the legal field. She dove into career advising and has not looked back since. Prior to joining Georgetown Law, Laurie served as a Senior Law Career Counselor at The George Washington University Law School for four years.

At Georgetown Law, Laurie advises first year law students on identifying their professional goals and values throughout their law school career search with a particular focus on the 1L and 2L summer job application process. She supports students as they navigate their career decisions, draft application documents, and develop their professional networking and interview skills. Laurie is also a member of the JD Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging team.

Ask me about: career planning strategies for first year law students, application documents, mock interview tips and tricks, and navigating identity in the workplace

In my free time, I enjoy: living room dance parties with my family, singing at live-band karaoke, and throwing pottery