Our Team

Mike Romano has been the head coach of American University’s Mock Trial program since the 2019-2020 season. He is a prosecutor with the Department of Justice and has tried cases involving a variety of crimes, from armed robberies to tax fraud.

Mike has also been a longtime member of the AMTA community. At Notre Dame, he led his team to back-to-back Top-10 Nationals finishes; as a junior, he won both an All-American Attorney and Witness award. Mike has also coached at the University of Virginia, helping guide their teams to a pair of Top-5 Nationals finishes in the same year. He has judged and helped run numerous tournaments. His favorite character from Midlands is Jean-Marie Baptiste, a hockey referee who witnessed a murder (arguably) on the ice, during a game.

Amanda Mundell is an attorney with the Appellate Staff of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division with more than a decade of mock trial competition experience and years of coaching at all levels. As an undergraduate, Amanda competed on UCLA’s mock trial team, earning an All-American award and winning the National Championship Tournament in 2011. She attended Harvard Law School, where she founded the law school mock trial program, coached the school’s four teams, and won the National Trial Competition.

Since law school, Amanda has remained involved in AMTA. She has judged numerous invitational and regional competitions, coached UCLA Law School to multiple national championships, co-authored several AMTA cases, and co-authored the book, Winning Objections: A Mock Trial Guidebook.

Kierstin O’Hara has been an assistant coach at American since the Fall of 2021. She is a former AU mocker and brings with her 8 years of competitive experience. In past years, she has been recruited by her former high school coach to assist in preparing the team for various competitions, including Gladiator, the Tournament of Champions, and seasonal competitions. When Kierstin is not doing Mock, she is employed as a Senior  Auditor working with non-profit companies around the  DMV area. Her favorite character from Midlands is Armani (and her brother Gucci) Rodriguez.

Katie Ehrenfeld is a proud Tennessean and paralegal assisting with White Collar Criminal Defense matters at KaiserDillon PLLC. Prior to her graduation from American University in 2021, Katie competed as a member of AUMT and served as AUMT’s Vice President for two consecutive years. When she isn’t helping coach AUMT, she is likely running the National Mall, trying new DC restaurants, or spending time with other AUMT alumni. Her favorite Midlands character is Parker Paige, may she rest in peace.

Natalie Williamson is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and attended American University. Prior to her graduation in 2022, Natalie competed as a member and captain for AUMT and served as the team’s Vice President. She now works as a Paralegal for Legacy Liability Litigation matters at Morgan Lewis in DC. In her free time, Natalie can be found playing Catan with friends, rock climbing, or camping in the Canadian wilderness. Her favorite Midlands character is Kieran Singh, who did not burn down Chuggie’s Bar (allegedly).

Nora Sullivan is a paralegal at the Department of Justice and is a recent graduate of AU, where she majored in mock and minored in trial. Prior to joining the coaching staff, she worked as an advisor at a mock trial summer program. As a member of AUMT, she served as External Vice President, ran the regional with Mike, captained her spring team, and competed mostly as a witness before making the radical shift to part-time attorney in her final year. The only role she hasn’t played is a P-side attorney, so P-side attorneys…watch your backs. Her favorite character in Midlands is Dr. Syed, and her favorite activities are talking about color seasons (free and unsolicited analysis available whenever) and watching women’s basketball. She couldn’t be more excited to coach the best team in the country for the 2024-2025 season.

Kuhu Badgi is a third-year student pursuing a double major in Data Science for Political Science and CLEG as a part of American University’s Politics, Policy, and Law 3-Year Scholars program. She currently works as a Privacy & Policy intern at CrowdStrike, and she is interested in all things privacy, tech, and cyber law.

Originally from Sharon, Massachusetts, Kuhu’s favorite hobbies include reading and running. At AU, you might find Kuhu working in the School of Public Affairs as a peer advisor, doing research with the Khan Cyber Security Center, or enjoying a rose chai from the Dav.

Kuhu typically competes as an attorney, and her favorite Midlands character is Dr. Gardner. She is so excited for the successful AUMT season ahead!

Amanda Parks is a sophomore majoring in CLEG with a minor in Leadership and Management. She is a part of the Honors Program at American University and has plans to pursue her passions for criminal law in law school.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Amanda loves D.C., though she does miss the beach. When she is not working on mock trial or studying, she is probably reading or exploring the nation’s capital. At AU, you might find her enjoying a mocha from the Bridge or in one of the campus gyms.

Amanda typically competes as an attorney, and her favorite character from Midlands is M. Nguyen, whose techniques for analyzing DNA are sufficient…though questionable. She cannot wait to meet all the incoming members and have a successful AUMT season!

Meghna Ittycheria is a junior majoring in International Relations with a minor in Justice. She currently works as an undergraduate intern at Williams and Connolly LLP. She hopes to attend law school and is interested in all things foreign intelligence and international law.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Meghna’s favorite hobbies include writing, singing, and making vision boards that she’ll never actually look at. She also loves a good breakfast sandwich. On campus, you can find her studying in SIS or taking advantage of the Katzen practice rooms.

Meghna has competed as both an attorney and witness, and her favorite character from Midlands is Casey Koller, whose nepo-baby attitude is something that Meghna tries to emulate every single day. She’s so excited to see what this upcoming season brings!

Faith Bennett is a sophomore double majoring in International Affairs and Legal Studies. She is currently a legislative intern for the Office of Congressman Matt Cartwright. She is interested in foreign policy, trade, and conflict resolution and plans to attend law school to pursue international law.

Originally from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Faith’s hobbies include face painting, hiking, camping, and playing tennis. At AU, you can find her studying on the third floor of SIS, practicing German, or enjoying the Dav’s iced chocolate-covered strawberry chai.

Faith hopes to compete as an attorney or expert witness, and her favorite character from Midlands is Detective Kit Bahmani of the Midland’s City Ballet. She is so excited for this season and to be AUMT’s treasurer!

Veda Yama

Griselda Jesse-Dodoo is a junior pursuing a major in Political Science and minors in Philosophy and Legal Studies. She is interested in studying the intersections between politics, ethics, and law. Outside of AUMT, she sings tenor in AU Dime a Dozen, AU’s premier gender inclusive acapella group!

Griselda is originally from Fort Lee, New Jersey, a town right off of the George Washington Bridge. At home, she loves to go on long walks listening to her favorite music, but at AU, you’re likely to find her studying or enjoying a drink at one of AU’s on-campus coffee shops, the Dav.

Her favorite character from Midlands is the one and only Parker Orlov because as she would put it, she’s gotta love her British queen. Usually competing as a witness, Griselda is equally excited for her third year on AUMT as well as serving as your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair!

Alaina Gadhavi is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Legal Studies with a minor in Business Entertainment. Originally from Kinnelon, New Jersey, her primary interests are the law and the entertainment industry.

Growing up in California, Alaina loved high school mock trial and running her own criminal justice club. She spends her time outside of mock listening to music, seeing friends, and talking to her family. Her favorite place on AU’s campus is outside on the Kogod patio.

Competing as both an attorney and a witness, Alaina’s favorite Midlander from last year’s case was Cyprus Cosmos. Alaina is so excited to schedule events that help to strengthen the bond of AUMT!