The Albany Law School Women’s Leadership Initiative Presents:

Ready to Lead: Empowered Women, Bold Voices, Lasting Impact

Hosted by Kimberly C. Petillo-Décossard ’05, Member, Albany Law School Board of Trustees

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
White & Case LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Registration

Attendee List

The Women’s Leadership Initiative is expanding its reach beyond the Capital Region, bringing its mission to the broader legal community of New York State. In collaboration with our founder, Kimberly C. Petillo-Décossard '05, we are creating a new opportunity for legal professionals to connect, share, and grow together.

Join us on April 16th at White & Case in New York City for the inaugural signature event for the initiative, Ready to Lead: Empowered Women, Bold Voices, Lasting Impact. This evening's gathering will feature a powerhouse panel of accomplished alumnae offering invaluable advice, strategies, and insights to an audience of legal professionals.

The event will kick off at 5:30 PM with a networking cocktail hour, followed by a dynamic panel discussion at 6:30 PM. Panelists will share their expertise on leadership, professional growth, and the importance of connection, support, and wellness for women navigating leadership roles. Esteemed panelists include: Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins ’88, The Honorable Llinet Rosado ’97, Donna Snyder ’99, and The Honorable Lillian Wan ’00. The panel will be moderated by Albany Law School's President and Dean Cinnamon P. Carlarne. 

This event is open to all legal professionals of all backgrounds, providing a unique opportunity to engage with inspiring leaders, expand your network, and gain actionable strategies for your own journey.

About our Panelists and Moderator 

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins ’88, Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins is currently the Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.  

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins was the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from 2021 to 2024. As Under Secretary, she oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability, International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), and Political-Military Affairs. 

Jenkins served as Special Envoy for Threat Reduction Programs in the ISN bureau from July 2009 until January 2017. She was the State Department’s lead for the President’s Nuclear Security Summits, the U.S. Representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, and she led diplomatic efforts to promote the Global Health Security Agenda. She was the 2016 ISN Nominee for the Secretary of State’s Award for Excellence.  

Jenkins was a Legal Adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law School, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, George Washington University, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Minnesota. Jenkins designed and led arms control simulations at Stanford University. She delivered the keynote address at Albany Law School’s 171st Commencement ceremony in 2022. 

The Honorable Llinet Rosado ’97, Associate Justice, New York State Appellate Division, First Department

Justice Rosado began her career at the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney. She subsequently worked at the Children Law’s Center representing children.

In November 2012, Justice Rosado was elected to the Civil Court, Bronx County and assigned to Bronx Family Court. In 2016, she was transferred to Bronx Supreme Court, Civil Term and designated a hybrid judge. In 2017, she was designated Acting Supreme Court Justice and presided over matrimonial cases, personal injury actions, mental health proceedings, and over arraignments in Bronx Criminal Court.

On November 6, 2018, she was elected Justice of Supreme Court of State of New York. Justice Rosado presided over various and diverse matters in both Civil and Criminal Terms of the Supreme Court until July 28, 2023 when Governor Hochul appointed Justice Rosado to the Appellate Division, First Department. In 2024, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson appointed Justice Rosado Co-Chair of the Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Committee on Women in the Courts.

Donna Snyder ’99, VP & Associate General Counsel for Government Contracts, Global Supply Chain, ITC, Privacy and 1LMX at Lockheed Martin Corporation

Donna Snyder currently provides legal advice to Vice Presidents for Corporate Contracts and Government Finance. She advises the SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and the C-Suite executives on contractual matters and high-risk pursuits.

Prior to her current position, Snyder was the Vice President and General Counsel for Lockheed Martin Government Affairs, where she provided legal support to Lockheed Martin Government Affairs. Snyder advised on laws affecting corporate political activities, to include compliance with federal, state, and local lobbying laws, and campaign finance laws. 

Snyder served on active duty as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Air Force. She was Chief Counsel, MILSATCOM Programs while assigned to ESC/JA, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Hanscom Air Force. After a twenty-three year career, Donna retired at the rank of Colonel from the Air Force reserves on 1 October 2022. 

The Honorable Lillian Wan ’00, Associate Justice, New York State Appellate Division, Second Department

Justice Wan is the first Asian American woman to be appointed to the Appellate Division in New York State and also became the first Asian American to be elected to the Supreme Court in Brooklyn in 2021. She was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2018. Wan was originally appointed to the bench by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2012, and served in both Bronx County Family Court and Kings County Family Court.

Prior to taking the bench, Justice Wan was a Court Attorney-Referee in Kings County Surrogate's Court, and also served for nine years as a trial attorney at the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) in the Family Court Legal Services Division.

Justice Wan currently co-chairs the statewide Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics for the NYS Unified Court System. She serves on the Board of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association and is a member of the Brooklyn Bar Association’s Diversity Committee. Justice Wan also currently serves as a Vice President for the New York City Bar Association. 

Cinnamon P. Carlarne, Albany Law School President and Dean (Moderator) 

Dean Carlarne joined Albany Law School in July 2024. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean for Faculty & Intellectual Life at The Ohio State University Moritz School of Law. She joined Ohio State in 2011 as a faculty member, and was named the Robert J. Lynn Chair in Law in 2022. She served as the Associate Dean for Faculty & Intellectual Life for four years. 

Dean Carlarne is a leading international expert in environmental and climate change law policy. She has a deep commitment to environmental equity and social justice. She has authored several books and dozens of scholarly articles on climate change law and policy, Domestic and International Environmental Law, and Oceans and Human Health and Well-being. She was the Harold Woods Research Fellow in Environmental Law at Wadham College, Oxford from 2006-08 and returned to Wadham as the Keeley Visiting Fellow in 2019.

Dean Carlarne has a Bachelor of Arts degree as a University Scholar from Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. She also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and a master’s degree in environmental change and management from the University of Oxford. Prior to her career in higher education, she was an associate attorney in the Energy, Land Use, and Environment section at the Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld Law Firm in Washington, D.C