Staff Directory

Katrina Denny, Esq., Assistant Dean of Career Development
Katrina Denny leads the Career Development Office in supporting Loyola law students and graduates with their career goals. In addition to counseling students and alumni, she collaborates with leaders both at Loyola and at other law schools and engages with various employer and community partners. Katrina joined the CDO in 2018 after spending over a decade in career services at Southwestern Law School. She received her J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2003 and earned a B.A. in Political Science from San Diego State University.

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Trends in the Legal Industry
Professional Development
Making Networking Connections

Ariana Allen, M.A., Assistant Director
Ariana received her B.A. in Women’s Studies from LMU in 2008, and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the university in 2022. In addition to counseling students in career planning and job search strategies, she is the office's DEI specialist. Prior to joining the CDO in February 2023, Ariana was a hiring manager on customer engagement teams at tech startups and has extensive experience evaluating application materials.

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Diversity Internships, Fellowships & Scholarships
Crafting Effective Diversity Personal Statements
Interview Techniques and Mock Interviews

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Julie Kim, Esq., Assistant Director

Julie practiced law for 15 years as a corporate lawyer in New York. After law school, she worked as a corporate associate at Winston & Strawn LLP’s New York office and then as in-house counsel at Time Warner Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.) in New York. She then served as an Associate Editor at TheCorporateCounsel.net, writing practical guidance for lawyers. Julie enjoys using her experience to provide career mentorship to Loyola Law School’s students. In addition to career advising, she works closely with the CDO’s Recruitment Coordinator to oversee the On-Campus Interview (OCI) programs. She also facilitates law career programs and collects graduate employment data for the school. Julie received her BA and JD, each with honors, from The University of Chicago.

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Big Law Hiring
In-House Careers

Rebecca Ruschell, Esq., Assistant Director
Rebecca is a DRPA-certified mediator and coach and welcomes the opportunity to use her wide range of legal experience, including years of education law and public interest work with nonprofit organizations, to support LLS students' career and professional development. In her role, she counsels students and recent graduates on career goals and strategies and oversees public sector-focused programs, workshops, and events. Rebecca holds a BA in Political Science and a JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law where she was Senior Articles Editor for the Human Right Quarterly with the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights.

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Public Sector Hiring
JD Advantage Careers
Developing Interview Responses

Angelica A. Zabanal, Esq., Assistant Director
Angelica is a licensed attorney who practiced litigation and privacy law in Los Angeles and San Francisco before transitioning into career advising. Prior to working at Loyola, she was an associate attorney at an AMLaw 100 firm, Duane Morris LLP. Angelica is also a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US). She earned her BA in Political Science from Stanford University in 2009 and her JD from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa in 2014. She has served on various boards including the executive board of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC) and the ACLU of Northern California, Palo Alto and Oakland chapters. Additionally, she was a 2018 Fellow of New Leaders Council – Oakland Chapter. At Loyola, Angelica is the dedicated JD evening division counselor and is responsible for career-related statistics and information.

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Networking and Negotiating
Bar Association Involvement
Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession

Marlee Rangel, M.Ed., Assistant Director

Marlee Rangel (She/Ella) received her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration and Policy from the University of California, Riverside in 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish with an emphasis in Cultural Studies, in 2016, also at UCR. Prior to her career in higher education, Marlee worked as a family law paralegal at a private firm. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Director of Career Services at Scripps College (part of The Claremont Colleges), where she managed department programs, supervised student workers, and supported all students, including Pre-Law students, in their career development journeys. Marlee is excited to leverage her background in law and career counseling to effectively support Loyola students.

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Interview Preparation

Relationship Building and Networking

Felicia Rodriguez, Recruitment Coordinator
As the CDO's Recruitment Coordinator, Felicia oversees the law school's On-Campus Interview (OCI) programs. In this role, she provides guidance to students and employers regarding their OCI registration and participation, job listings, and information sessions. Before joining Loyola, she spent 4 years at the University of La Verne College of Law as the Coordinator of Career Development & Externships.

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Recruiting Programs
Flo Recruit

Imani Knights, M.A., Career Development and Data Management Coordinator
Imani serves as the lead for career-related events and communications, provides data management support, and posts positions on the office's online job board. Imani is a graduate of Fisk University where she served as a Student Ambassador and was an active member of several student organizations. Prior to coming to Loyola, Imani was a Program Leader providing after school support and enrichment activities to local high school students. She received her Master's in Higher Education Administration from LMU in 2024.

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Info Sessions, Panels & Employer Office Hours
Navigating 12twenty
Resident Associate Program (RAP)
Reciprocity

Linda Whitfield, Esq., Associate Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students
Linda Whitfield received her J.D., Order of the Coif, from Loyola Law School in 1992. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1987. Linda practiced law at Perkins Coie and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and worked as a volunteer at Legal Aid in Atlanta. In addition to being a member of the Career Development team, Dean Whitfield oversees the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of the Registrar.