About CPD

A proud Washingtonian and Seattle University School of Law alumnus (class of 2012), Matt left his hometown of Spokane to attend the University of Washington for his undergraduate studies. Following graduation, a year of serving communities of need throughout the country as a member of the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps inspired Matt to pursue a law degree. After receiving his JD, Matt served as an Assistant Attorney General for Washington State, first representing the Department of Social and Health Services and later advising the University of Washington. He then transitioned into the legal recruiting field which ultimately led him back to the law school and the Center for Professional Development. Community engagement is important to Matt, and he spent five years, including one as President, serving on the board of QLaw, Washington State’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

Matt is grateful for the opportunity to work closely with students, faculty, and alumni, and he is inspired by the pursuit of justice undertaken by so many of them. He believes that strong mentorship and networking make up the foundation of a successful legal career, and he prides himself on providing a welcoming space to meet students where they are. Matt’s areas of emphasis include JD advantage/alternative careers and diversity programming, along with employer relations.

When not in the office, you might find Matt in a group fitness class, hiking one of Washington’s breathtaking trails, reading, listening to one of his favorite podcasts, or spending quality time with his partner and their two cats.

Prior to joining CPD, Sydney worked as a legal office assistant for the Criminal Justice Division at the Office of the Washington Attorney General. She provided administrative support for the Sexual Violent Predator Unit, Criminal Litigation Unit, Homicide Investigative Tracking System Unit, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Team, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit. While at the Attorney General’s Office, Sydney was a member of her division’s Racial Equity Group, the AGO Diversity Advisory Committee and LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.

Sydney was born in San Diego and grew up in southeast Texas. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Soon after graduating college, Sydney moved to Washington State. She worked at a horse sanctuary for two years, caring for 24 rescue horses and instructing equine-assisted therapy lessons for kids.

Sydney interned at Legal Voice, a nonprofit organization that advocates and provides legal resources for women and LGBTQ+ people.

In her free time, Sydney enjoys horseback riding, baking, reading literary fiction, hosting craft nights, and attending concerts and plays with friends.

Prior to joining CPD in the fall of 2024, Erin (she/her) proudly served as the Deputy Director and then the Director of Policy & Systemic Advocacy at Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), where she led LCYC’s legislative and systemic work to protect the interests and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights.

Erin launched her legal career in 2007 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Columbia Legal Services, serving as co-counsel in a class action foster care reform settlement agreement and advocating to protect the due process rights of foster children in the State Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

After that, she joined the Office of Family and Children’s Ombuds, and later served as the Director of Public Policy & Communications at The Mockingbird Society. During this time, she was also a Part-time Law Lecturer at the University of Washington School of Law, where she instructed the Children and Youth Legislative Advocacy Clinic and trained law students in legislative and public policy advocacy.

From 2016 until she joined LCYC in 2019, Erin owned a consulting firm, working with nonprofit organizations, private funders, and government agencies to elevate the needs and voices of vulnerable children and families.

Originally from Southern California, Erin graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Communication (Journalism) and Political Science. After her time at UW, she decided to plant her roots in the Pacific Northwest and received her J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law.

Erin’s CPD areas of emphasis include public interest roles, government positions, and JAG opportunities.

Outside of her work, Erin enjoys adventuring, camping, and snowboarding/skiing with her partner, their two children, and one dog. She loves reading non-fiction and investigative journalism, spending time in her backyard, watching her kids play soccer, and cheering on the Washington Huskies.

Ms. Mitchell grew up in Eastern Washington, moving to the Seattle area after completing her undergraduate degree and spending a few years in sunny California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Washington State University, a Graduate Certificate in Managerial Leadership from City University of Seattle, and a Supervisory Skills Certificate from the University of Washington.

Josie works closely with students and alumni on job search and interview strategies, specifically those with an interest in business, corporate, IP, and in-house counsel positions. She coaches students pursuing diversity fellowship opportunities and works with law firm and corporate legal employers interested in recruiting students and graduates. Josie has been a member of NALP (The Association for Legal Career Professionals) since 1999, and has been elected to several leadership positions, including: Chair of the Law Student Professional Development Section; Vice Chair of the Professionalism Standards and Curricula Work Group, and West Rocky Mountain Nominating Committee Member. She is also an active member of SALRA (Seattle Area Legal Recruiting Administrators) and is the liaison for the annual Loyola Patent Law Interview Program.

Previously she worked for another law school, where she managed the Fall Recruiting/On-Campus Interview Program, Mock Interview Programs, Diversity Fellowship Programs, and provided Symplicity support to students and employers.

In her free time, Josie enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors on sunny days, shopping for the perfect gift, and reading about the history of the British Isles.

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Prior to joining CPD, Allie worked as a real estate associate at Van Ness Feldman LLP where she represented both public and private-sector clients on acquisitions and dispositions of various types of properties including commercial, industrial, and residential. She also worked at Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland PLLC as a real estate and business associate. During her time at both firms, she engaged extensively in their recruiting processes and summer associate programs.

Allie’s passion for student development led her to pivot away from private practice and into career services. She now advises students interested in both JD Advantage job opportunities and traditional law firm experiences. She loves helping students succeed in law school and identify fulfilling career paths.

Allie is a SeattleU law school alumna herself and graduated from the law school in 2019. During her time at SU, she served as the Managing Editor for the Seattle Journal for Social Justice and Case Manager for the International Refugee Assistance Project. She also externed for Inspire Corp., a Moroccan based mental health organization. She was a semi-finalist in the James E. Bond ABA Moot Court Competition and recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in her Youth Advocacy Clinic. During college, Allie spent time in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she became fluent in Spanish.

When she’s not working, you can find Allie outside hiking, paddleboarding, or backpacking, spending quality time with her friends and family, trying new inventive recipes at home, and baking an excessive amount of sourdough bread.

Erin Fullner is Associate Dean for Student Development, overseeing student academic standing, conduct, disability accommodations, financial services, and professional development at Seattle University School of Law. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Fullner received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Washington, law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law, and Doctor of Education in adult, post-secondary, and higher education from Seattle University. While at Oregon Law, she was active in mock trial and Student Bar Association leadership, in addition to serving on the Dean's Student Advisory Committee and earning the Orlando John and Marian H. Hollis Scholarship. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Fullner practiced law, working in the public sector as a judicial clerk and public defender, as well as in private practice.

Dr. Fullner has been with Seattle U Law since 2008 and runs the law school’s judicial clerkship program. She enjoys serving on the University’s Conduct Review Board and the editorial board for Seattle U Law’s Lawyer Magazine, along with engaging with students, colleagues, and alumni as a Racial Justice Book Group facilitator. Through the law school, Dr. Fullner has participated in both the Racial Justice Leadership Institute and Advanced Racial Justice Leadership Institute development programs.

Outside of her work at Seattle U, Dr. Fullner is a member of the William L. Dwyer Inn of Court and Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit universities. She is on the Washington State Bar Association’s Small Town & Rural Practice Committee and maintains an active bar license so that she can devote time to pro bono work — Dr. Fullner was selected for the Association of American Law Schools’ first-ever Pro Bono Honor Roll for her work with the Seattle Clemency Project. In her free time, she is part of several community volunteer organizations and loves visual art (creating it and appreciating it), home improvement, writing essays and short stories, and playing piano well but guitar and ukulele poorly. Erin's favorite day of the week is movie and takeout night with her partner and kids (one human child, one feline child).