We are excited to introduce our Student Ambassadors, who will assist with the work of the American Branch, particularly in preparation for International Law Weekend 2026 (ILW 2026).

Rachael Behling is a rising third-year law student at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. Rachael has had a long-standing interest in international law and cross-cultural relations, holding a Bachelors in International Studies and Spanish from Saint Louis University. Prior to law school, she volunteered at a non-profit organization in Guatemala, working with locally led programs that supported the surrounding community.  At WashU Law, she is a Primary Editor for the Global Studies Law Review and a research assistant to Professor Leila Sadat in the field of international human rights law. Through her role as an ABILA Student Ambassador, she looks forward to engaging with leading international scholars and deepening her understanding of international law through involvement in International Law Weekend.

Alec Bogash is a rising 3L at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Alec graduated from George Washington University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in International Affairs. This past year, Alec has focused his studies in law school on International Law, including International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and a special topics class on rules of the United Nations. Furthermore, Alec had the great opportunity to participate in the Clara Barton IHL competition this spring at the American Red Cross HQ in Washington DC.  This was an unforgettable experience, as Alec got placed in many high-stress situations in front of esteemed scholars in the field of IHL. Through the student ambassador program, Alec looks forward to furthering his legal education in the field of international law, and getting to know brilliant scholars and experts within the field!

Zoë Bussewitz is a rising 2L at the University of Georgia School of Law, pursuing a J.D. and a Certificate in Crisis and Disaster Communication. Originally from New York, she graduated from Stony Brook University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Political Science, where she was the lead reporter for the international beat on SBU’s news broadcast. Zoë has previously interned for the National Security Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) and the NYS Attorney General’s Investigations Division. She currently works as a Research Assistant for an Office of Naval Intelligence sponsored project concerning international regulation of autonomous underwater vehicles. This summer, Zoë will intern with the legal team at Oak Ridge National Lab. Beyond her work, she also has a passion for learning about space law. Zoë is thrilled to return to New York for ILW 2026 to build connections with academics and practitioners in the field of international law.

Melissa Chalhoub was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, who came to the United States in 2021 to pursue higher education in political science and international law. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from William Paterson University with honors and a B.A. in Political Science, Women and Gender Studies and Legal Studies. She is currently a first year Juris Doctor candidate at Rutgers Law school-Newark, pursuing a career in international law with a focus on comparative human rights systems, international criminal law, and cultural heritage in armed conflicts, while focusing on correlation with migration, and impact on youth. Passionate about learning and expanding, Melissa Chalhoub has immersed herself in diverse experiences in Lebanon, the United States and South America serving as a researcher for multiple professors, interning in areas of law, policy, community organizing and leadership. Fueled by direct experience with injustice, a passion to learn and to actively defy systemic disparities, she is devoted to serving the international public interest through her legal education. She is eager to apply her skills and knowledge to meaningfully contribute and become a better advocate while learning from lawyers and experts, as a student ambassador for ABILA in the upcoming year.

Robert Larsen is a rising 3L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law with a focused interest in international trade and investment law. Before law school, he earned a B.A. in Italian and a minor in Global Business and Literacy from Brigham Young University. Robert’s interest in international law developed as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar in Rome, Italy, where he worked with an international non-profit researching the impact of unsustainable business practices on human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This experience informed his academic and professional interest in the intersection of global commerce, investment, and human rights. At the University of Utah, Robert is a member of the Utah Law Review, the International Law Society, and the Business Law Society. He has also completed internships with the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah and the international arbitration team at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. As a 2026 ABILA Student Ambassador, Robert is excited to support an organization that promotes the study and practice of international law and to connect with professionals in the field as he works toward a hopeful career in international trade and investment law.

Joseph W. Lisa is a rising 3L at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Prior to law school, he graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University New Brunswick as a double major in computer science and political science. Joe has a wide range of experience across a number of legal subfields, including in international art litigation and research on the crime of aggression. Joe has written several pieces for the Villanova International Law Society Blog, where he will be serving as Editor-in-Chief this year. Joe is excited to join the team as a student ambassador, not only because this experience offers a great opportunity to connect with like-minded scholars, students, and practitioners engaged in international law, but also as a means of learning more about substantive areas and new developments from the world’s leading legal scholars.

Laís Ramirez Santoro (she/her) is a rising second-year student and Conwell Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. As a first-generation Brazilian-American, she has been interested in international environmental health and human rights since she was young. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor’s in Public Health and Environmental Studies. There, she served as an Intern and Peer Mentor in the Community Impact Internship Program, gaining experience in community-centered advocacy and environmental justice. Prior to law school, Laís worked for the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland and Duane Morris LLP, and participated in the Lex Fellowship in Milan. This summer, she will be at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This fall, she will work for the Community Defense Unit, Immigration Law Practice, at the Defenders Association of Philadelphia. Outside of class, she volunteers with the Temple Cherry Pantry and the ABA’s Commission on Immigration, serves as a Themis Representative, and is part of the Law School Sustainability Committee. As the incoming Vice President of the Temple International Law Society, Laís aims to enhance the organization’s impact. She looks forward to engaging with passionate legal professionals and centering global justice at International Law Weekend.

Lauren Resner is a rising 3L at Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL) in Boston, MA. They graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science from Luther College in Decorah, IA where they focused their studies on the Middle East, specifically the levant region, studying abroad in Amman, Jordan in 2016. Lauren has a passion for human rights law with the hope of bringing those standards and principles to the United States to uphold the dignity of all persons at home and abroad and to bring the United States into the fold of respect for the rule of international law. They have an interest in topics such as, queer and LGBTQ+ rights, whistleblower protections, and indigenous rights. This past year, they have worked as a research associate with the Center for Global Law and Justice at NUSL working on projects related to the human right to water and sanitation and have helped start a Law and Political Economy (LPE) chapter with fellow students that will launch in the fall. This summer they will be working as an intern with Northeast Legal Aid focusing on elder law. They look forward to contributing to the experience of colleagues and peers, as well as engaging with the attendants and speakers at International Law Weekend 2026.