Mr. Oluwakemi Adeyemi (Nigeria)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: “Operationalizing Debt Financing on the Security of Intellectual Properties“
Thesis Advisor: Robert M. Lawless

Oluwakemi Adeyemi is a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He acquired his LLM degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in May 2022. His research evaluates how the law can unlock inclusive economic opportunities especially by unlocking financing opportunities to creatives and innovators in developing countries on the security of their intellectual properties. A Nigeria-licensed attorney, Oluwakemi recently passed the New York Bar Examination and is in the process of meeting other bar license requirements of New York. Oluwakemi teaches sixth-grade students Big History in three middle schools in Champaign, Illinois. Through his experience working with non-profits addressing social issues such as poverty, race, Oluwakemi believes that one of the best empowerments for underserved and marginalized communities is to provide them with gainful and meaningful opportunities to work.

Mrs. Thallyta Pedroza Ferreira Cavoli (Brazil)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: Excusing Legal Requirements on Claims Based on Poverty Status
Thesis Advisor: Robert M. Lawless

Thallyta Laryssa P.F. Cavoli is a JSD (Doctor of the Science of Law) Candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law and a Graduate Assistant at the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies and at the Center for Global Studies. 

Before joining the doctoral program, Thallyta was an intern at the Public Ministry of Labor of Rio de Janeiro and worked at Daniel Law IP Law Firm as an intern and, after being promoted, as a Legal Assistant. She received her BA in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and her LLM (Master of Laws) in Justice, Democracy, and Legal Rights from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law. During her master’s program, she was the LLM Representative of the Education Law and Policy Society, a Street Law Inc. program member, and a volunteer at a food pantry in Urbana. 

Her research interests are poverty law, law and economics, comparative law, global studies, interdisciplinary studies, and labor and employment law. Thallyta has been involved with social projects that combat poverty around the globe using various tools and is now developing a dissertation that unites her personal, professional, and academic experiences to keep contributing to the fight against one of the oldest and worst issues the world faces.

Thallyta’s work delves into the critical need for creating a principle of poverty status, which should be used as a legal excuse in cases where individuals are denied access to certain rights due to not fulfilling all that the law requires of them because of poverty-related issues. By recognizing and applying this principle, She defends that it will be possible to address the consequences of poverty head-on and contribute to the fight to guarantee everyone equal access to the necessary resources. In the development of the research, the legal systems of various countries are being examined, including those in force in Brazil and the United States, to understand the impacts that recognizing and applying or not, the poverty status principle as a legal excuse can have on a population’s relation with the consequences of poverty.

Mr. Tsung-Chun Chen (Taiwan)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: “Does Civil Disobedience Defend Liberal Constitutional Democracy? A Historical Analysis of Democratic Taiwan (2006–2021).”
Thesis Advisor: Francesco Biagi, Jimmy Chia-Shin Hsu, Jason Mazzone (Chair), Colleen Murphy, Jacqueline E. Ross 

Tsung-Chun Chen obtained his BA degree from Central Police University (Taiwan) and his LL.M. degrees from both Soochow University (Taiwan) and the University of Iowa. He has served in various law enforcement agencies in Taiwan for many years. At the College of Law, Tsung-Chun has served as a research assistant for Matthew W. Finkin, researching wage labor systems in ancient Chinese dynasties; a teaching assistant for the courses The Best of American Case Law and Constitutional Law I; an adjunct instructor for LLM Legal Writing and Research; and as the JSD representative.

Under the guidance of Professor Jason Mazzone, Tsung-Chun’s JSD dissertation focuses on the realist study of civil disobedience in defending the traditional core features of liberal democratic constitutionalism, utilizing long-term newspaper coverage in Taiwan as the research sample. Tsung-Chun’s research interests include constitutional law and theory, civil disobedience, modern democratic backsliding, liberalism, and critical theory.

Mr. Mohammad Khalilzadeh (Iran)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: Comparative Analysis of the role of the courts in the Constitutional Backsliding Processes
Thesis Advisors: Thomas S. Ulen, Jason Mazzone 

Mohammad Khalilzadeh is a JSD (Doctoral) Candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he previously earned his Master’s degree with high honors. Under the supervision of Professors Thomas Ulen and Jason Mazzone, his thesis explores the role of courts in the Constitutional Backsliding Processes. His research aims to analyze how constitutional courts either facilitate or prevent the erosion of democratic norms. Exploring two main dimensions: 1) How courts can protect democracy by upholding constitutional principles, and 2) How, in some cases, they may unwittingly legitimize authoritarian measures.

Mohammad is currently working as a Research Assistant for Professor Jason Mazzone, focusing on the state courts which have developed “history and tradition” framework in interpreting unique features of their constitutional history and practice. 

Mohammad has received CALI Awards in “Empirical Methods in Law,” “International Criminal Law,” and “Professional Responsibility” for his exceptional academic performance. 

Mohammad is also one of the attendees at the 2025 Constitutionalism Summit held at the University of Texas, Austin, where he will present his research and engage with other constitutional scholars. 

In 2022, Mohammad participated in the International Criminal Law Summer School at the University of Istanbul, where his team earned the “Best Team Certificate.” 

In addition to his academic work, Mohammad has had several articles and books published in his home country, Iran, further showcasing his expertise in law and legal scholarship. 

Ms. Edna Obiri (Ghana)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: Prevention of Illegal Fishing in Ghana in the Perspective of Criminal Law
Thesis Advisor: Heidi Hurd 

Edna Obiri is a distinguished legal scholar, climate change activist, and lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School in Ghana. With a specialization in Environmental Law, Commercial Law, and Contract Law, she is committed to shaping the next generation of legal professionals through cutting-edge research, dynamic teaching, and impactful advocacy.

A proud alumna of the University of Illinois College of Law, Edna excelled as an LLM Student Ambassador, where she represented and supported international graduate students. She also held key leadership roles in the African Students Organization and the International Students Association, reinforcing her commitment to cross-cultural engagement and global legal discourse. Her passion for transformative education led her to participate in the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) program, where she honed her expertise in course design and instructional methodologies.

With an extensive background in sustainability regulations, corporate compliance, and climate law, Edna bridges the gap between legal scholarship and environmental activism. Her research explores the intersection of legal frameworks and climate resilience, with a particular focus on Ghana’s evolving climate policies. She is a strong voice in global sustainability discussions, advocating for legislative reforms that promote environmental justice and green economic transitions.

Research & Publications

Edna’s work has gained recognition in both academic and public domains, focusing on climate governance, environmental law, and sustainable economic strategies. Some of her notable publications include:

“Consumerism, a Contributory Factor to Climate Change: The Case of Ghana” (IJNRD, 2023)
“Bisphenol A and S: A Danger Where We Least Expect It” (Academia.edu)
Columnist, Your Environmental Spotlight with Edna Obiri (Business & Financial Times) – Exploring climate change policies and green economy solutions
Author, Princess Sophia and The Little Mermaid (Amazon Kindle) – A children’s book raising awareness of plastic pollution’s impact on aquatic life

She integrates a global perspective into her lectures, incorporating real-world case studies, contemporary legal challenges, and policy debates to equip students with both theoretical and practical expertise.

Professional & Industry Engagement

Beyond academia, Edna has built a robust career spanning legal research, corporate compliance, and environmental advocacy. A recognized thought leader in climate policy discussions, she serves as a Planning Committee Member for the Ghana Climate Change & Green Economy Week celebrations, and the Center for Climate Change, Law & Policy (CCCLAP), UPSA, Ghana. A sought-after speaker and policy consultant, Edna actively engages with global institutions, research centers, and advocacy groups to drive meaningful change in environmental law, climate justice, and sustainable governance. She welcomes research collaborations, speaking engagements, and policy discussions.

Mr. Gocha Okreshidze (Georgia)
Thesis Advisor: Ralph Brubaker

Ms. Elsa Zawedde (Uganda)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: Piloting Dynamic Health Justice Partnerships in Uganda: Integrating Culturally Safe Legal Care in Rural Health Care Facilities
Thesis Advisor: Colleen Murphy

Elsa Zawedde is a JSD candidate researching Dynamic Health Justice Partnerships in Uganda. She is also a graduate assistant in the Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies Office at the University of Illinois.

Elsa has devoted a significant part of her career to advancing law as a tool to combat disparities and promote health equity. Her research focuses on health justice partnerships, culturally safe legal care, reproductive health, an interdisciplinary approach to the study of health law, social determinants of health, and the use of empirical research and legal design methodology in law. Her research has been featured in the Journal of Law in Society and Deseret News.

At the Center for Health Human Rights and Development, Elsa was able to advance the health rights of vulnerable people in Uganda through groundbreaking activism and litigation in maternal health, access to essential medicine, and tobacco regulation. In 2016, Elsa worked extensively on reforming the tobacco law bill and regulations adopted by the parliament of Uganda and enacted into law. She participated in the Comprehensive Sexuality Education Policy draft and the National Health Insurance scheme bill.

Elsa received her BA in Law from Uganda Christian University, summa cum laude. She received a master’s in law from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Ms. Qiaoyuan Melody Zhi (China)
Dissertation Topic: The Law and Psychology of Altruism in Allocating Scarce Medical Resources
Thesis Advisor: Kenworthey Bilz

Qiaoyuan Melody Zhi is a Juris Science Doctor candidate at the University of Illinois. Melody focuses on Law and Psychology, Health law, and Elder Law. Her current projects use psychological experiments to test how medical scarcity and the understanding of altruism impact health inequity. The projects aim to provide empirical evidence to help lawmakers think about the fair allocation of scarce medical resources. In addition to quantitative methodology, she acquired qualitative research skills through field studies and immersion journalism.

Meldoy has been collaborating with Professor Kenworthey Bilz to explore how assumptions about cognition and behavior shape health laws and how they can be better designed through a psychological lens. They have developed a book chapter focusing on informed consent, advance directives, and health-protective behaviors. They expand this project to address medical privacy, health justice, and to design experiments investigating the impact of language and context on advance directive decisions.

Melody publishes in law reviews, psychological journals, and medical journals. She also presents at conferences in the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, she has assisted researchers worldwide with experiments, interviews, data analysis, and interdisciplinary project reviews in law, behavioral science, sociology, and health.

Melody is passionate about teaching Torts, Contracts, Health Law, Elder Law, Bioethics, and Empirical Legal Studies. She also enjoys designing courses on discrimination, focusing on race, gender, and age within legal frameworks. She advises students on client counseling, arbitration, and negotiation strategies. She serves as a writer-editor for lectures on psychology for public education. She is also a guest speaker, workshop host, interpreter, and translator at law schools and global education programs.

Melody conducted legal research and empirical analysis for Bloomington City Council, Louisiana Capital Assistance Center in the U.S., and Liannan City Council, Jianghai Sub-District Office in China. She earned pro bono notation by providing legal aid with the Chinese American Service League and Immigration Law Clinic.

Melody is admitted to the national bar in China.

Ms. Yuyue Cecilia Zhong (China)
Curriculum Vitae
Dissertation Topic: Private ordering and the use of agent-based models in the resolution of business dispute
Thesis Advisor: Amitai Aviram

Yuyue Cecilia Zhong is a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law. Her research focuses on private ordering and the use of agent-based models in the resolution of business disputes. She seeks to explore how decentralized mechanisms operate in commercial conflicts and their implications for legal and economic theory.

Prior to joining the JSD program, Yuyue earned her Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Illinois College of Law in December 2023. She engaged in coursework spanning contract law, torts, criminal law, evidence, mergers & acquisitions, and international business transactions. 

She completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, where she was on the Dean’s List. During her undergraduate years, she actively participated in debate competitions.

Her research experience includes an independent study on business dispute resolution in China under the supervision of Professor Aviram, as well as a published co-authored study on digital wealth management and savings behavior among Chinese Gen Z. Her article, “Saving in the Digital Age: Can Internet Wealth Management Services Enhance Saving Behavior among Chinese GenZ,” is available through Emerald Publishing.

Yuyue also has practical experience in the legal and financial sectors. She worked as a paralegal at a Law Firm, assisting in debt recovery cases for a Commercial Bank and participating in pre-trial mediation for civil disputes. She previously served as a law clerk in the court, where she conducted legal research, organized case materials, and drafted civil judgments. Her additional experience includes an internship at an accounting firm, where she assisted in audit processes and corporate financial compliance.

Her academic and professional interests include private ordering, business law, dispute resolution, and the intersection of legal frameworks with the Agent-based model.