Fall 2023 Student Bar Association Elections

Name: Jack Hennessy

Email: jackthomashennessy@utexas.edu

Hometown: Tipperary, Ireland

Undergraduate Institution: University of Limerick, School of Law

Interesting Facts:

1. I speak Irish (Gaelic).
2. I’ve had a pint with Lance Ito.
3. I’ve never seen a full episode of Law & Order, Suits, or Better Call Saul.

Qualifications:

– Texas International Law Journal, Staff Editor

– Texas Journal for Oil, Gas, and Energy Law, Staff Editor

– Texas Business Law Society, Member

– University of Limerick Law Review, Senior Editor

Name: Hayden Spurgeon

Email: hayden444@utexas.edu

Hometown: Sidney, Ohio

Undergraduate Institution: Ohio University, Social Work

Graduate Institution: University of Houston, MSW

Interesting Facts:

– I can ride a unicycle and skateboard!

– I love festivals and live music!

– I have my motorcycle license!

Qualifications:

I have an enthusiastic love for leadership! I bring people together, fostering a collaborative environment. My heart leads me, and my passions drive me. I live life through love, gratitude, and kindness. My top three values are Love, Being Open-minded, and Learning.

During undergrad, I was a mover and a shaker. I united students and led them to advocate for a new LGBT Center on campus to meet the growing needs of the community. I created programs to address food insecurity and workshops to educate students on political engagement.

For the last two years, I have been working in policy advocacy, which ultimately led me here, to Texas Law, to continue my journey as an advocate for social justice.

Name: Holly Gray

Email: hollygray@utexas.edu

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Southern Methodist University

Interesting Facts:

I won a putt-putt hole-in-one competition on a cruise ship, my pre-exam ritual is listening to Maneater by Nelly Furtado, and my favorite animal is a stingray.

Qualifications:

I helped plan and decorate events for my sorority in college, I worked at the Texas Capitol #GovernmentGal, and I am a lover of fun, food, and friends!

Name: Kallie Quintero

Email: kalliequintero@utexas.edu

Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX

Undergraduate Institution: Oklahoma State University

Interesting Facts: My dog’s name is Bevo! The furthest north I’ve ever been is Las Vegas.

Qualifications:

– Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (O.I.L.): I organized events and catering for a conference with 10 Oklahoma Universities and 125+ people.
– OkState O.I.L. Delegation Vice Chair: I worked with the Delegation Chair to facilitate and coordinate weekly meetings and had events for our delegates.
– Student Government Association Senator and Faculty Council Liaison: I held office hours for students to voice concerns and worked with other Senators to help enhance students’ experiences at OSU. As Faculty Council Liaison, I was elected to attend monthly Faculty Council meetings to advocate for the Senate’s bills to be considered for implementation into university policy.
– Sorority Merchandise Committee: I worked on my sorority’s merchandise committee to help the Director of PR & Marketing produce shirts.
– Campus Tour Guide at OSU: I was an ambassador for the university and worked to enhance school spirit.

Name: Allison Silverman

Email: allison.silverman@utexas.edu

Hometown: Long Grove, IL

Undergraduate Institution: University of Chicago

Interesting Facts: I bake bagels (here’s looking at you, Section 2), I make my own graphic tees, and I am banned from the premises of the US Supreme Court!

Qualifications:

I was the event planner for my sorority in college and interned as a political event planner for a summer, so I hope to bring these skills to the events committee! I also was in student government in high school and have worked on 4 political campaigns. For Section 2 specifically, I am huge on birthdays and making sure everyone feels included.

I’d also like to say, despite my many qualifications, that designing campaign posters is not one of them. Apologies in advance.

Name: D’Andre Watson

Email: Dandrewatson@utexas.edu

Hometown: Harker Heights, TX

Undergraduate Institution: University of North Texas

Interesting Facts:

– I have flown a plane before!
– Every year I rewatch Avengers Endgame because it’s too good.
– I used to want to be a reality tv star!

Qualifications:

– Through an organization named City Year, I taught 9th grade English at an underfunded and predominantly minority populated school. I was also the Community Service and Social Justice Coordinator. This entailed advocating and providing for as many 9th grade kids as possible.
– I was also a Resident Assistant at my University. This entailed planning events and conveying wants of community to upper authorities.
– Experienced in communicating thoughts and grievances through speech & debate experience.

Name: Hunter Brown

Email: hunterb@utexas.edu

Hometown: Houston

Undergraduate Institution: Rice University

Interesting Facts:

– I play melodica! It’s a piano that you blow into.
– I threw Rice’s first ever official divorce party! It was my divorce.
– I thought yams were meat cause it sounds like ham.

Qualifications:

– Residential College (it’s like a hogwarts house) President at Rice University! It mainly consisted of feedback collecting, budget management, and event planning. I renovated our commons with new furniture and oversaw 2 campus-wide Y2K parties!
– I was also a Student Association Senator at Rice University! I got emergency services put onto Rice IDs and advocated for greater academic accommodations during COVID.
– I was a New Student Representative in college too! I helped plan a mental health awareness week called “Say Yes to You” week.

Name: Jacob Murphy

Email: jacobmurphy@utexas.edu

Hometown: Kountze, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Lamar University

Interesting Facts:

– In undergrad, I earned a degree in Management with minors in legal studies and Spanish.
– I love to cook- please give me recipe recommendations!
– I have an Australian Shepherd named Baby (and she recently learned how to roll over).
– I can (attempt to) sing any Lana Del Rey song you can think of!

Qualifications:

I plan to serve in my role as 1L Representative by focusing on inclusivity by being friendly, action- oriented, community motivated, transparent, and a safe space for my peers. Throughout my life, I have learned and embraced the necessity of a healthy community in many different aspects. I love making genuine connections with everyone I meet. And I want to help make Section 3 a more enjoyable place for everyone by working to ensure that everyone is informed of events happening on and off campus, and by planning events throughout the year. I also intend to be a safe space for my peers. Law school is a big change for all of us- we’re in it together! I plan on supporting everyone in Section 3 in whatever ways that may be.

Here are some of the positions that I held in undergrad that have helped me develop my various professional skills:
– I worked as a Student Orientation Coordinator for two years. In this role, I was the lead planner for both university student-planned weeklong celebrations (Week of Welcome and Welcome Back Week). I refined my organizational, problem-solving, communication, budgeting, and leadership skills while planning these events.
– In my senior year at Lamar University, I was the sole Drum Major for The Showcase of Southeast Texas Marching Band. This role gave me essential experience in the areas of teamwork, leadership, delegation, time management, and reliability.
– I was selected to be a Lamar University Ambassador for the 2022-2023 academic year. This position enabled me to attend formal training sessions and workshops over topics such as networking, professionalism, and conflict resolution.

Name: Jay Spoehel

Email: jspoehel@utexas.edu

Hometown: McLean, Virginia

Undergraduate Institution: University of St Andrews

Interesting Facts:

– I earned my pilot’s license on Jan 18th, 2021 fulfilling a childhood dream.
– I worked as a ranch hand in Jackson Hole for a summer. (Idiosyncratic horses, broken fences, burst irrigation, the whole gambit)
– I’ve met Neil Armstrong, Henry Kissinger, and Antonin Scalia.

Qualifications:

– Vice President: Fellowship of St Andrews: Chaired and organized meetings of a 27-member organization dedicated to building community within the town of St Andrews. We organized a night out that raised £1,500 for vulnerable children, a Hot Dog Stand for Ukrainian Refugees, and weekly community service hours.
– Scottish Student Sport Polo Chair: Worked with a governing body and with separate facilities owners to schedule game days, I doubled the Universities participating in the league, designed official trophies, and ran logistics during each match day.
– Class Rep: Geography Department: Gathered student feedback and presented it faculty, including making sure professors were mic’d up, didn’t begin early, and let students go on time.
– British Parliament: I addressed constituent concerns helped relayed their concern to their Member of Parliament.
– Student Activities Leader High School: I helped organize school dances, game nights, Bubble Soccer, and our school’s field day.

Name: Christian Krueger

Email: ckrueger@utexas.edu

Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Princeton University

Interesting Facts:

– As a Tex-Mex foodie, I keep a ranking of the best queso and chips in Austin.
– I’m the reigning champion of my fantasy football league.
– Growing up, I lived in Botswana and England.
– My dog has 30x more Instagram followers than I do.
– I’ve hiked in 12 national parks and am trying to reach them all.

Qualifications:On campus, at work, and in my community, I have experience leading organizations, problem solving, and getting things done. In various positions, from serving as Chief of Staff to a State Representative to being the Events Chair of the Princeton Alumni Club of Austin, I am driven to serve others and make a difference. I hope to have much to give to my friends in Section 4 and throughout the law school as your representative.