Executive Board

Andrew Bender, Executive Vice President

Andrew Bender ’26 is from Snohomish, Washington. He graduated from Northwest University in 2018 with his degree in Business Administration and in 2019 with his MBA. Before law school, Andrew served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years as a Communications Chief and Joint Fires Observer. Andrew also worked in Financial Services for six years where he led a team of financial advisors as a Director of Planning and Guidance. He spent his 1L summer with Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas, Texas, and will spend his 2L summer with Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, New York. Outside of the Federalist Society, Andrew is on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and is the Assistant Managing Editor of the Virginia Tax Review. He also is Treasurer for the Virginia Law Veterans, is a UVA Law Ambassador, and serves as a law school representative on the University Judiciary Committee.

Andrew Odell, Vice President for Speakers

Andrew Odell ’26 is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Hillsdale College in 2011, where he studied History. Before law school, Andrew served for eleven years as a Naval Aviator, flying the mighty E-2 Hawkeye off aircraft carriers. He spent his 1L summer as an intern for the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He will spend his 2L summer at Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. Outside of the Federalist Society, Andrew is an Editorial Board member of the Virginia Law Review, a husband and father, and an avid Baltimore Orioles fan. After graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Raymond M. Kethledge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Faith Chudkowski, Vice President for Communications

Faith Chudkowski ’25 grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey. She graduated summa cum laude in 2022 from Liberty University with dual degrees in History and Government. Faith spent her 1L summer interning for the Honorable Paul B. Matey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and spent her 2L summer at McGuireWoods in Washington, D.C. Outside of the Federalist Society, she is involved with Virginia Law Women and Common Law Grounds. Faith is also an Executive Editor for the Virginia Journal of International Law, a Research Assistant to Professors Mitu Gulati and Aditya Bamzai, and a guest Executive Editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. After graduation, she will clerk for the Honorable James C. Dever III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Thomas Ross, Vice President for Special Events

Thomas Ross ’26 is from Kernersville, North Carolina. He graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 2023, where he studied Political Science and History and was the recipient of the Robert S. Rankin Award for Leadership and Academic Achievement.  He spent his 1L summer at Consovoy McCarthy in Arlington, Virginia, and will spend his 2L summer at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York, New York. Outside of the Federalist Society, Thomas is President of Law Republicans at UVA, serves as an Online Editor for the Virginia Journal of International Law, and is Treasurer for both Common Law Grounds and North Grounds Track Club. After graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable James C. Dever III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Rebecca Fisher, Vice President for Faculty Relations

Rebecca Fisher ’26 is from Knoxville, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023, where she studied International Business and Economics. She spent her 1L summer interning for the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and will spend her 2L summer at Bradley in Nashville, Tennessee. Outside of the Federalist Society, Rebecca is a Peer Advisor, Social Chair of the St. Thomas More Society, serves on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Tax Review, and is a UVA Law Ambassador.

Michael Dommel, Vice President for Finances

Michael Dommel ’26 is from McLean, Virginia. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 2022, where he studied Finance, Data Analytics, and Spanish. Before law school, Michael worked as a federal financial consultant in Washington, D.C. He spent his 1L summer as a law clerk in the United States Senate with the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and will spend his 2L summer at Winston & Strawn in Chicago, Illinois. Outside of the Federalist Society, Michael is a member of the Emerging Company and Venture Capital Society, Treasurer of the Virginia Law and Business Society, and a member of the St. Thomas More Society.

Andrew Silver, Vice President for Membership

Andrew Silver ’26 is from Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah’s College of Engineering in 2022, where he studied Electrical Engineering. Before law school, Andrew worked as a patent agent at an IP boutique firm in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent his 1L summer back in Salt Lake City as a Summer Associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and will return for his 2L summer and as an associate after graduating. Outside of the Federalist Society, Andrew is President of the Patent Law Society for Litigators, Agents, and Prosecutors; a member of the Editorial Board for the Virginia Journal of International Law; and a softball captain for the Rex E. Lee Law Society.

Connor Fitzpatrick, Vice President for Professional Development

Connor Fitzpatrick ’25 is from Arlington, Virginia. A proud Double-Hoo, Connor graduated in 2019 with a degree in Economics. Before law school, he worked in financial services. He currently serves as Articles Development Editor for the Virginia Law Review. He spent his 2L summer working for two law firms in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Connor will clerk for the Honorable Stephanos Bibas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Trevor N. McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Trevor Hoogendoorn, Clerkships Chair

Trevor Hoogendoorn ’25 is from Elmhurst, Illinois. He graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University in 2021, where he studied Economics, Finance, and Mathematics. He spent his 1L summer interning for the Honorable Trevor N. McFadden on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and spent his 2L summer with Gibson Dunn in Denver, Colorado and Susman Godfrey in Houston, Texas. Outside of the Federalist Society, Trevor is a Vice President of the Law Christian Fellowship, serves on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review, and is a faithful member of his section’s softball team. He will clerk for the Honorable Julius N. Richardson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit after graduation.

Aaron Gafari, Organizational Outreach Chair

Aaron Gafari ’26 is from Boulder, Colorado. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022, where he studied Political Science and Philosophy. Before law school, Aaron worked at a law firm in Boulder, Colorado as a clerk. He spent his 1L summer at Bracewell in Houston, Texas and will return there for his 2L summer. Outside of the Federalist Society, Aaron serves as Vice President of Events for the Rod and Gun Club.

Kyle Ziemnick, Mentorship Chair

Kyle Ziemnick ’25 is from Purcellville, Virginia. He graduated summa cum laude from Patrick Henry College with a degree in Journalism. Before law school, he worked for two years at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in Wilmington, Delaware. Kyle spent his 1L summer interning for the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and spent his 2L summer with Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. He currently serves as an Articles Editor for the Virginia Law Review. After graduation, Kyle will clerk for the Honorable Amul R. Thapar on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Honorable Gregory G. Katsas on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Outside of law school, he is a husband, a father, and a devoted Detroit Lions fan.

Rachel Thompson, Alumni Relations Chair

Rachel Thompson ’25 is from San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017, where she studied Political Science and Philosophy. Before law school, she worked for two Congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives as a policy advisor and assisted both members in their roles on the House Appropriations Committee. She was then a judicial assistant to Judge Eleni M. Roumel on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. During her 1L summer, Rachel worked as a research assistant and returned to Judge Roumel’s Chambers as a legal intern. She spent her 2L summer at Pillsbury in Washington, D.C. Outside of the Federalist Society, Rachel serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Law and Politics and is a member of Virginia Law Women.

David Bainbridge, Symposium Chair

David Bainbridge ’26 is from Liberty, North Carolina. He graduated from Patrick Henry College with a degree in American Politics and Policy in 2022. Before law school, he obtained his M.A in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the Cevro Institute in Prague, Czech Republic. David spent his 1L summer interning at the Office of the Virginia Solicitor General in Richmond, Virginia. He will spend his 2L summer with Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. Outside of the Federalist Society, David is on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and is a member of the Law Christian Fellowship. After graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Katherine Hitchcock, Women’s Outreach Chair

Katherine Hitchcock ’26 is from Evansville, Indiana. In 2019, she graduated from Indiana University, where she studied Political Science and History. Before law school, Katherine worked as a legislative aide for U.S. Senator Todd Young. She spent her 1L summer interning for the Honorable John Robert Blakey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and will spend her 2L summer with Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, Illinois. Outside of the Federalist Society, Katherine serves on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and is Treasurer of the Midwestern Wahoos, a Peer Advisor, and a member of Virginia Law Women. After graduation, she will clerk for the Honorable John B. Nalbandian of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Austin Gaines, Media Chair

Austin Gaines ’25 is from Bakersfield, California. He graduated as a Chancellor’s Scholar from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2022, where he studied Political Science and Religious Studies. He spent his 1L summer with Rembolt Ludtke in Lincoln, Nebraska, and spent his 2L summer with the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Belvoir. Outside of the Federalist Society, Austin is a Lead Development Editor for the Journal of Law & Politics, Vice President for Outreach of Law Republicans at UVA, and is usually on a run or in the weight room. After graduation, Austin will clerk for the Honorable Brian C. Buescher of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Will Bleveans, Scholarship Chair

Will Bleveans ’25 is from La Crescenta, California. He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 2020, where he studied Political Science, Government, and History. Will spent his 1L summer at Duncan & Allen in Washington, D.C. Outside of the Federalist Society, he is a Research Assistant to Professor Saikrishna Prakash, an Executive Editor on the Virginia Law Review, and a Problem Author for the Lile Moot Court competition.