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Get to Know Your LRC

Carrie Barton

Melissa Abernathy

Bio

Melissa is the foreign and international law librarian at the USD Legal Research Center. 

She holds a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Washington. She is a member of the State Bar of California. 

Melissa works closely with many of the students in foreign and international focused courses. Contact her directly at mabernathy@sandiego.edu for foreign and international law assistance with seminar papers, moot court, or citechecking. 

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, playing flag football, and discovering new restaurants.

   

Derek Antler

Bio

Derek works in Collection Services at the LRC. He helps manage the library materials budget and assists with interlibrary loans. In his spare time, he likes to take scenic walks, follow tech news, and listen to music.

   

Carrie Barton

Bio

Cataloging Assistant

Bee Bornheimer

Bio

Bee serves as the LRC's Digital Resources and Cataloging Librarian. Her focus is on ensuring access to the LRC's numerous digital resources, including journals, ebooks, databases, digital archives and more. She is also available to help faculty make their publications available in SSRN and the university's institutional repository.

She holds an MLIS from University of California, Los Angeles and a BA from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, reading, doing puzzles (jigsaw and crossword) and playing guitar.

Photo of Bee BornheimerBee Bornheimer and her son are tugged on a raft in a body of water.

Niran Fattohi

Bio

Niran Fattohi is the LRC's Acquisitions and Cataloging Assistant. She has been at the LRC since 1992, having previously been at Grossmont College Library. Her work at the LRC involves ordering and receiving new materials for the LRC collection and the law school community, overseeing processing of materials, and the occasional cataloging.

During her free time, Niran enjoys listening to music, dancing, art, crochet, Pilates, going for walks and traveling. 

Ian Kipnes

Bio

Law Reference Librarian

Michele Knapp

Bio

Michele began her work at the LRC in 2012 as a Reference Librarian. Now serving as Head of Collection Services, she leads efforts to provide users with access to materials crucial to legal research, study, and instruction. She has practiced law as an Illinois Assistant State Appellate Defender. Michele is a member of the LRC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Committee, USD Safe Space Allies Network. and USD UndocuAlly.

In June 2023, Michele earned her MFA in Writing, Fiction, from Pacific University. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan, a JD from DePaul University College of Law, and an MLIS from the University of Washington. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, swimming, reading, writing, and cheering for the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!

Rob Lee

Bio

Electronic Services Technology Specialist

Judith Lihosit

Bio

Judith is a Professor of Legal Research and the Assistant Dean/Director of the USD Legal Research Center.  

She holds a J.D. from the USD School of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Prior to entering library school, she was an attorney for the Department of the Navy’s Office of General Counsel, practicing in the area of government contracts, employment law, and environmental law.

In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and, of course, reading.

   

Ana Montes

Bio

Ana is the Serials/Processing Assistant in Collection Services at the USD Legal Research Center.

She earned her AA from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, and is a member of Southern California Association of Law Libraries (SCALL). 

She loves walking and hiking in her spare time and discovering new trails in the San Diego area. 

   

Inna Muradyan

Bio

Inna is the Head of the Circulation department at the LRC. Her friendly demeanor and caring nature make her the go-to person for all your library needs. She ensures everyone can find what they're looking for with ease. Inna has been a part of LRC since 2005. 

In 2015,  Inna discovered her hidden talent for crafting jewelry and making macrame. Her creations are not just accessories but also intricate works of art that highlight her attention to detail and boundless creativity. Recently, she has been enthusiastically exploring the world of arts and crafts! In her free time, Inna showcases her artwork in Balboa Park as part of the San Diego Art community. You can view Inna's macrame collection in our Student Lounge room.

Apart from arts and crafts, Inna also has a passion for baking. She enjoys making everything from cookies and cakes to sourdough bread. She has even made her bread starter, which she uses to bake delicious homemade bread.

Inna enjoys traveling and practicing yoga in her free time.

Inna Muradyan             

Sasha Nunez

Bio

Sasha Núñez joined the USD Legal Research Center as a reference assistant in 2018. Sasha earned a BA in Literature/Creative Writing from the University of California, San Diego and a paralegal certificate from USD, and is currently pursuing an MLIS from San Jose State University. She is part of the LRC's Publication Services team, providing editing, proofreading, and cite-checking support for faculty books and articles.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, video games, music, and discovering cool new breweries and restaurants around town.

Sasha Núñez with her husband and daughter.   Sasha Núñez

Julianne Odin

Bio

Julianne Odin is the LRC's Student Services & Technology Librarian.

A member of the Class of 2018, Julianne is a USD Law alumna who participated in the Veterans Legal Clinic and the Appellate Clinic. She earned her BA in Politics from St. Mary's College of California and her MS in Library and Information Science from St. John's University (NY).

Julianne enjoys working with students and student groups and discovering new ways to get information and literature online for free. She plans the LRC's regular Crafternoon events and is always open to suggests for fun ways students can de-stress in the library. You can contact her directly at jodin@sandiego.edu.

In her free time, Julianne likes to golf, attend live theater, go wine tasting, and visit museums.

Headshot of Julianne Odin.Julianne Odin stands in front of the Supreme Court Building.

Robert O'Leary

Bio

Robert O'Leary is the Faculty Services Librarian at the Pardee Legal Research Center. He has worked in libraries since 2007 on matters dealing with reference, research, teaching, archives, circulation, collection development, and outreach. During law school he volunteered with several immigration law groups as well as a weekly legal clinic serving people living with HIV. He is a member of the State Bar of California.

  • MA 2013, Information Resources and Library Science, University of Arizona
  • JD 2011, California Western School of Law
  • MA 2006, Spanish Literature, University of California San Diego

Mr. O'Leary's interests include legal research instruction methods; web-based metadata and web development languages as relevant to law library services, and best practices in internet privacy and security.

Mr. O'Leary was a Law Library Fellow at the University of Arizona's Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library.

Liz Parker

Bio

Liz Parker earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2011. She has a B.A. in English from Amherst College and an M.L.I.S. from SJSU.

Prior to law school, Liz worked as an editor for trade and textbook publishers in New York, Boston, and San Diego. She has edited works on topics ranging from American history to law— and even coauthored a book about yoga.  Along with Sasha Nunez, Liz oversees the LRC's Publication Services program, providing editing and cite-checking services for faculty books and articles.

In her free time, Liz enjoys reading, cooking, and going to the beach with her three kids and two dogs.

   

 

Nahid Poustinchi

Bio

Nahid is a Circulation Supervisor for the LRC. She has been added to the LRC team recently.  In her position Nahid handles all aspects of LRC circulation and supervises the library's student assistants. She has a bachelor in Law from Iran. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and gardening as well as spending time with her family and friends.

Fatemeh Zafarani

Bio

Fatemeh Zafarani is a Circulation Supervisor for the LRC. She has been at the LRC for about ten years. In her position. Fatemeh handles all aspects of LRC circulation and supervises the library's student assistants. 

In her spare time, she enjoys walking, swimming and exercising, as well as spending time with her grandchildren and cooking.