Attorney General Schwalb Announces 2026 Class of Charles F.C. Ruff Fellows

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that 19 recent graduates of local law schools have joined the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) as Charles F.C. Ruff Fellows.

OAG established the year-long fellowship in 2012 to promote public interest legal work and give recent law school graduates the opportunity to practice law as Assistant Attorneys General for the District of Columbia. The fellowships are jointly funded by OAG and the graduates' respective law schools. Previous Ruff Fellows have accepted permanent positions at OAG and other public institutions, secured clerkships for trial and appellate judges, and joined the private bar.

"The Office of the Attorney General and the residents of the District of Columbia benefit greatly from the work of the Ruff Fellows each year, and we are excited to welcome this talented and accomplished new class to our ranks," said Attorney General Schwalb. "The Ruff Fellowship enables recent graduates of local law schools to begin their legal careers with hands-on, high-impact public interest work. I am grateful to the new class for answering the call to public service, and I am confident that their work will make a significant impact in the coming year."

OAG selects Ruff Fellows following a highly competitive selection process. The 2026 class includes graduates from Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, George Washington University Law School, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.

The Ruff Fellowship program is named in memory of Charles F.C. Ruff, who was the District of Columbia's Corporation Counsel-the position now known as Attorney General-from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Ruff served as White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton after his service as Corporation Counsel. He also served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and taught at area law schools. He passed away in 2000. 

The 2026 Ruff Fellows and their assignments are: 

• Eric Anthony, George Washington University: Public Advocacy Division
• Ariana Asefi, George Washington University: Public Safety Division
• Rohin Balkundi, George Washington University: Legal Counsel Division
• Kathryn Blanco, Georgetown University: Public Advocacy Division
• Isabella Borrero, University of the District of Columbia: Family Services Division
• Alyson Brusie, Georgetown University: Commercial Division
• Daniel Cooper, George Washington University: Civil Litigation Division
• Lianna Dumeng, George Mason University: Commercial Division
• Michael Gallagher, Georgetown University: Civil Litigation Division
• Siena Hohne, Georgetown University: Public Advocacy Division
• Zachary Koslowski, Georgetown University: Civil Litigation Division
• James Lyons, Georgetown University: Civil Litigation Division
• Kathleen McBride, University of the District of Columbia: Public Safety Division
• Julie Park, University of Virginia: Civil Litigation Division
• Samantha Petruska, George Mason University: Public Safety Division
• Julie Reed, Catholic University: Family Services Division
• Elanor Sands, George Washington University: Public Advocacy Division
• Stephanie Sauer, George Washington University: Office of the Solicitor General
• Katiah Scott, Catholic University: Public Safety Division

To learn more about the Ruff Fellowship program, visit this page.

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