Matsui Center Advisory Committee

Michael Shenkman

Deputy Counselor to the Chief Justice, United States Supreme Court

Matsui Center Advisory Committee: 2014

Michael L. Shenkman is the Deputy Counselor to the Chief Justice, and Administrative Director of the Supreme Court Fellows Program. He returned to the Counselor’s Office in August 2015, having served there as a Supreme Court Fellow in 2013-14. Previously, Michael was a Fellow and Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, where he designed the school’s federal government externship program in Washington, D.C., and taught the accompanying courses. He also has taught in political science at Yale College and at the University...

Paul Sweet

Principal, U.S. Government Relations International

Matsui Center Advisory Committee: 2014

Paul has three decades of Washington experience and active involvement in advocacy and public affairs work on behalf of state and local governments, universities, and private industry.

He most recently worked for Mercury Public Affairs and its predecessor group, Fleishman Hillard Government Relations, and has assisted a wide cross-section of public and private sector clients ranging from large multi-national companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. He is familiar with the appropriations and tax-related processes in Congress and grants...

Tina Thomas

Founder, Thomas Law Group

Matsui Center Advisory Committee: 2014

During the past 30 years, Tina has earned recognition as one of the state’s leading environmental and land use attorneys. Prior to forming the Thomas Law Group, Tina was a founding partner of Remy, Thomas, Moose & Manley, LLP, serving as managing counsel for 28 years. Tina’s practice at RTMM focused on environmental and entitlement processes, representing developers, governmental agencies, and environmental organizations, alike.

At the core of Tina’s efforts is an unwavering commitment to finding solutions that are both...

Christine Trost

Executive Director of IGS, and Director of the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics & Public Service

Christine Trost is Executive Director of IGS and Director of the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, a component of IGS that seeks to interest undergraduates in public service through internship programs, public events, and the presence of distinguished visitors on campus. Christine received her Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science at UC Berkeley and spent much of her graduate career at IGS, sharing a carrel, attending afternoon tea, and working as a research assistant. After completing her degree, she taught courses in American Politics at UC Berkeley...