I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and much of the way I see the world was shaped there. Brooklyn taught me early that people from very different backgrounds have to figure out how to live together, work together, argue with one another, and still somehow move forward. In many ways, that idea sits at the center of my work as a teacher, historian, and writer.
My professional life has taken me through several very different worlds. Before entering academia full time, I worked on Wall Street during the 1990s and later spent more than a decade serving federal judges through multiple judicial clerkships. Those experiences taught me a great deal about institutions, pressure, leadership, and the difference between theory and lived reality. They also reinforced something I have come to believe very strongly: credentials matter, but judgment, character, relationships, and the ability to work with people matter more.
“Our work is grounded in scholarship, shaped by experience, and tailored to the realities of each institution worldwide.”
Today, I serve as a Professor of Legal Studies at American Public University System (APUS), where I teach courses in constitutional law, criminal law, legal writing, torts, and related subjects. Over the years, I have taught thousands of students from widely different backgrounds, including military students, working adults, first-generation students, and people trying to rebuild or reinvent their lives through education. Good teaching begins with meeting people where they are, not where we imagine they should be.
I earned my Ph.D. in History from the University of Memphis, where my research focused on New York City politics, coalition-building, governance, and civic leadership during the administration of Mayor David Dinkins. My forthcoming book, A Fragile Alliance: David Dinkins, Coalition Politics, and the Struggle to Govern a City in Crisis (Fordham University Press), examines leadership, political fragmentation, coalition politics, and the challenge of holding democratic institutions together during periods of social strain and uncertainty.
The Barney Center reflects many of the themes that have shaped my own life and work: law, history, education, leadership, public trust, civic responsibility, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on institutions and professional life.
We are living through a moment of extraordinary technological change. Artificial intelligence will transform education, professional life, and many of the institutions that shape modern society. Some of those changes will be positive. Some will be disruptive. But I remain convinced that certain things still matter deeply and probably always will: historical memory, ethical leadership, judgment, mentorship, empathy, and the ability to build relationships capable of sustaining institutions and communities during difficult times.
The goal of this work is not simply professional advancement or intellectual performance. The goal is to encourage thoughtful conversation about leadership, institutions, citizenship, education, and what it means to remain human in a rapidly changing world.
At the end of the day, education is still about people.
Institutional Advisory Services
The Barney Center partners with law schools, departments, and academic leaders on:
Individual Advisory Services
In addition to institutional work, The Barney Center provides targeted guidance to individuals at every stage of the legal education pipeline:
This advising reflects a consistent principle: there is no single path to becoming a successful lawyer, and sound decisions depend on individual goals, financial realities, and professional fit.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
The Barney Center continues to offer select CLE programming designed to be engaging, practical, and accessible. Programs emphasize discussion, interdisciplinary thinking, and real-world application—moving beyond passive, check-the-box formats. Signature offerings include:
Across all of its work, The Barney Center is guided by a simple idea: legal education should be intentional, human-centered, and built for the realities of modern practice.
In a moment of profound change, The Barney Center offers clear thinking, practical advice, and a commitment to helping institutions and individuals navigate the future of the legal profession.
In addition to conducting CLE seminars, telephonic conferences, and webinars, The Barney Center will also provide a host of services to aspiring law students. Starting in 2027, The Barney Center will host a week long pre-law boot camp to provide college students with an opportunity to experience law school prior to making the decision to go to law school.