Our Team

Our leadership team oversees the daily functioning and growth of the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative, as well as the advocacy efforts and student formation undertaken by the Religious Liberty Clinic.

  1. Marcus Cole headshot

    G. Marcus Cole

    Founder
    Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law

    G. Marcus Cole

    Founder
    Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law

    The Religious Liberty Initiative was born of a promise that Dean Cole made to University President Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C., when he became the Law School’s dean in 2019. The initiative aims to put Notre Dame on the forefront of scholarship and advocacy in this dynamic and important area of the law.

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  2. Stephanie Barclay

    Stephanie Barclay

    Director
    Associate Professor of Law

    Stephanie Barclay

    Director
    Associate Professor of Law

    Professor Stephanie Barclay directs Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative, which promotes freedom of religion or belief for all people through advocacy, student formation, and scholarship. Her research focuses on the role our different democratic institutions play in protecting minority rights, particularly at the intersection of free speech and religious exercise.

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  3. John Meiser

    John Meiser

    Managing Director for Domestic Litigation

    John Meiser

    Managing Director for Domestic Litigation

    John Meiser oversees the Religious Liberty Initiative’s clinical litigation efforts and helps to train students in the practice of law as they work to defend religious freedom for all people.

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  4. Meredith Holland Kessler

    Meredith Holland Kessler

    Staff Attorney

    Meredith Holland Kessler

    Staff Attorney

    Meredith Holland Kessler is a Staff Attorney for the Religious Liberty Clinic, where she helps oversee the Religious Liberty Initiative’s clinical litigation efforts and train students in the legal profession as they work to promote the fundamental human right to religious freedom.

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  5. Brendan Wilson

    Brendan Wilson

    Adjunct Professor of Law

    Brendan Wilson

    Adjunct Professor of Law

    Brendan Wilson is an adjunct professor of law with responsibility for the transactional component of the Religious Liberty Clinic.

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  6. Anna Bradley

    Anna Bradley

    Program Manager

    Anna Bradley

    Program Manager

    Anna Bradley is the Program Manager of the Religious Liberty Initiative. Her responsibilities include handling RLI's events, managing relationships with outside coalitions and stakeholders, and coordinating public relations efforts and communication strategy.

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  7. Francesca Genova Matozzo

    Francesca Genova Matozzo

    Legal Fellow

    Francesca Genova Matozzo

    Legal Fellow

    Francesca Genova Matozzo is the Religious Liberty Initiative’s first Legal Fellow. She helps oversee the Religious Liberty Initiative’s clinical litigation efforts and train students in the legal profession as they work to promote the fundamental human right to religious freedom.

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  8. Arienne Calingo

    Arienne Calingo

    Communications Specialist

    Arienne Calingo

    Communications Specialist

    Arienne Calingo serves as the Communications Specialist for the Religious Liberty Initiative and is responsible for executing the RLI’s marketing efforts.

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  9. Laura Sniadecki

    Laura Sniadecki

    Legal Assistant

    Laura Sniadecki

    Legal Assistant

    Laura Sniadecki joined Notre Dame Law School as the Legal Assistant for the Religious Liberty Initiative in July 2022. Prior to joining the Law School, she worked for the University of Alabama.

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