Student Spotlights
Meet the Future of Law
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At the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, our students bring their stories, values, and ambitions to life through their work in and beyond the classroom. The Student Spotlights series features members of our student community who represent the integrity, drive, and resilience that define a Brandeis Law education.
We highlight students whose journeys reflect our values—whether they are first-generation law students, public service advocates, future litigators, student parents, or aspiring legal scholars. Their stories offer insight into the lived experiences, motivations, and goals that shape their time at Brandeis and their impact on the world ahead.
Explore the Spotlights
From hometown pride and personal influences to career goals and favorite quotes, each spotlight offers a glimpse into the authentic experience of becoming a lawyer at Brandeis.
Ana Prata
Class of 2026
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
What you love about law school: “What I enjoy most about law school is the opportunity to engage in higher-level academic thinking about justice. I enjoy exploring not just what law is, but what it ought to be.”
Career goal: “My goal is to build a career as a plaintiff’s attorney. After law school, I will be practicing civil litigation with a focus on workers’ compensation and personal injury.”
Biggest influence: “Rather than a single individual, my greatest influence has been the collective voices—teachers, mentors, authors, activists, and everyday people—who have shaped my understanding of resilience and the importance of using the law as a tool for change.”
Favorite quote: “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” – Howard Zinn
Ethan Hartsfield
Class of 2027
Hometown: Jeffersonville, Indiana
What you love about Brandeis: “The people. I have met some of the best people I’ve ever known at Brandeis. I was nervous coming to law school as a first-generation JD, but I quickly realized that I wasn’t alone in this journey. The community at Brandeis is incredibly welcoming. Whether it be a peer, a member of the staff, or a member of the faculty, there are scores of people rooting for you at Brandeis, and I really appreciate that.”
Career goal: “I would like to return to Indiana and practice as a prosecutor. Justice is the cornerstone of a stable democratic society; where there is injustice, democracy ebbs. The United States of America for generations has been a beacon of hope for the entire world, and I want to be a part of keeping that light burning.”
Biggest influence: “My grandmother, Becky. Becky grew up poor in Southern Indiana, raised by a widowed mother of five. If Becky wanted something, she had to work hard for it, and she instilled this same work ethic in me. She also taught me a deep sense of duty. As a dedicated civil servant of over forty years, my grandmother was committed to furthering the work of the federal government and knew that without hard work, vital infrastructure would begin to crumble. But it’s deeper than that. America, with all its ugliness and hatefulness, is still one of the last few lands of opportunity. By grit and tenacity, anyone can live up to their fullest potential. That was true for my grandmother, and it’s true for me. We both, therefore, feel a duty to ensure that this land of opportunity is intact for the next generation.”
Favorite quote: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Addison Rogers
Class of 2026
Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky
What you love about Brandeis: “I love the community of Brandeis. For the first time in my life, I am surrounded by students who have a similar passion for the law and advocacy. My favorite moments are running into a friend, sitting around talking about a legal topic, or having meaningful conversations with professors. The community and support Brandeis provides is like no other.”
Career goal: “After graduation, I will be clerking for a federal judge in the Eastern District of Kentucky. After my clerkship, I plan to join a public defender’s office in either Kentucky or Indiana. I have a heart for criminal defense and trial work.”
Biggest influence: “I am most influenced by the advocacy and hard work of those around me. My peers are the best part of law school. I am inspired by a class of strong legal minds and the future of our community.”
Favorite quote: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul—and sings the tunes without the words—and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson
Sarah Murphy
Class of 2026
Hometown: Originally from Tampa, Florida; moved to Louisville during grade school
What you love about Brandeis: “What I appreciate most about Brandeis Law School is its warm, supportive environment and the meaningful friendships I’ve formed along the way.”
Career goal: “After graduation, I aspire to become a family law attorney. It was a deeply personal experience that had the greatest impact on me. My younger brother Carson is, biologically, my nephew, but we have raised him as a sibling due to our family circumstances. When it became clear that my older sister was not in a position to care for him, we became involved in the family court system. That experience opened my eyes to the importance and impact of family law, and ultimately inspired me to pursue this path.”
Favorite quote: “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss
Colin Flood
Class of 2027
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
What you love about Brandeis: “I like the tight-knit community Brandeis offers.”
Career goal: “I plan to go into litigation after graduation here in Louisville.”
Biggest influence: “The person who has influenced me the most is my fiancée, Evey, as she pushes me every day to be a better person.”
Favorite quote: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Sage Tomashek
Class of 2027
Hometown: Shawano, Wisconsin
What you love about Brandeis: “I like that I am able to explore all areas of law that I may be interested in, all while getting real hands-on learning through our live-client clinics and the community that welcomes us students into their practices as clerks and associates.”
Career goal: “After graduating and passing the bar, I plan on practicing in immigration law. I never imagined this would be a possibility for me when I first came to law school, but after working in it for over a year now, I know it’s where I’m meant to be.”
Biggest influence: “My parents. Without their sacrifices and support, I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today.”
Favorite quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Salute the Unbroken
Honoring Brandeis Law students whose service and sacrifice strengthen our community.
Tameya “Meya” Winchester
United States Air Force
Class of 2027
Hometown: Homestown, Missouri
Undergraduate degree: Legal Studies
Why I chose to serve & what I’m most proud of: “I always knew I wanted to go to law school. I didn’t want to pay for it, but I knew I wanted to help people. Service was a way to do both. I am most proud of my job. It was my responsibility to pay the entitlements for service members who passed away and bring some level of comfort to the family members of those service members.”
What I love about Brandeis: “I like the community and closeness of Brandeis. I have not once felt as though anyone here wants to see me or my peers fail, and it doesn’t feel competitive.”
In five years, I want to be… “A fashion lawyer, protecting the intellectual property rights of those whose work impacts us all daily.”
Favorite quotes:
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” – 1 John 4:9 NKJV
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will not forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
