Admissions Office Staff

Sarah Zearfoss became the Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions in March 2001. She received her A.B. cum laude in psychology from Bryn Mawr College and her J.D. magna cum laude from the Law School. At Michigan, Dean Zearfoss was the editor-in-chief of the Michigan Journal of International Law, and authored a note on women's rights. While at the Law School, she was also a recipient of the Henry M. Bates Memorial Scholarship and of the Robert S. Feldman Labor Law Award and a member of the Order of the Coif. Following graduation, Dean Zearfoss clerked for the Honorable James L. Ryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and then practiced labor and employment law at Pepper Hamilton LLP's Detroit office. In 1999, she returned to work at the Law School as the judicial clerkship advisor in the Office of Career Services before becoming part of the Admissions Office team. A member of the Michigan bar, she stays active in the practice of law as a volunteer attorney for the ACLU.  She was named 2005-2006 Faculty Member of the Year by the Black Law Students Alliance.

Delphine joined the Law School Admissions Office in 2001 with over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her background includes work in admissions and student services at both the two- and four-year levels. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration. Delphine is an avid reader and in her spare time enjoys reading books on the subject of presidential history. She also enjoys traveling and is a certified Walk Aerobics Instructor.

LIZ SEGER
Assistant Director

Liz came to the Admissions Office in 2008.  She received her B.A. in Russian History and Religion from the University of Kentucky in 2001, and her J.D. from the Law School in 2005.  At Michigan, Liz was active in the Clinical Law Program and the Voting Rights Initiative, and wrote for the student newspaper, the Res Gestae.  Prior to joining the office, she worked as a public defender in Montgomery County, Ohio.  Liz is crazy about word games, vegetarian cooking (the spicier the better), UM football, and
the various mammals who share her home.

Rainey Lamey
Admissions Counselor

Rainey has over 10 years of service with the University of Michigan in undergraduate and law admissions, as well as systems implementations and management. She graduated from UM with an honors bachelor's degree in Classical Hellenism and a degree in Mathematics. She also received her JD from the University of Michigan Law School and an MS in Natural Resources Policy and Behavior. Prior to joining UM, she worked for nonprofit environmental organizations. 

Dora-Maria Sonderhoff
Assistant Director, Advanced Legal Studies Degree Programs (M.C.L., LL.M., and S.J.D.)

Dora-Maria Sonderhoff has been working at the Admissions Office for the M.C.L., LL.M., and S.J.D. applications since 1999, processing all inquiries and applications. She comes from a family of lawyers, and has an international background and experience. A native German raised in Japan, she graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with a BA cum laude in Comparative Literature. She then worked in classical music management in Vienna, Austria, prior to moving to Ann Arbor. In addition to German, Japanese, and English, Dora-Maria speaks French and Italian.

JJ Arevalo
Graduate Admissions Coordinator

Before joining the Law School Admissions Office in August 2001, JJ worked in student services at the Undergraduate Admissions Office. He studied music for two years at Oberlin Conservatory of Music before relocating to Ann Arbor. Most importantly, JJ serves as our resident Texan, and speaks fluent Spanish.

Renita Banks
Office Supervisor

Supervising personnel in an Admissions Office is all-encompassing -- Renita facilitates smooth handling of all Law School Applications, coordinates all recruiting efforts, and maintains harmony in the office. Renita has been with the University since 1989, joined the Law School in 1996 in the records office, and joined Admissions in 1997; she was promoted to supervisor in September of 1999.

Emily Gee
Clerk Intermediate

Emily had five years of work experience in higher education prior to her arrival at the University of Michigan in 2000. Among her duties is the coordination of post-admit mailings and facilitation of tasks in the admissions process.

Yvonne Fuller
Data Entry Operator Intermediate

Yvonne Fuller has been with the University of Michigan since May 1999. After starting in Parking Services, she transferred to the Admissions Office in June 2001. Her current position includes maintenance of financial data pertaining to the admissions process.

Jamie Webster
Clerk Associate

Jamie started working for the Law School Admissions Office in August 2002, and has been a part of the University community since 1996, when she began working for the Property Control Office. Outside of work, Jamie pursues her interests as a licensed pilot, a sky-diver, a published poet, and a designer of sea-bead weavings.

Janice kennedy
Secretary Senior

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Janice has been involved in or part of the University community most of her life.  She worked in the old main hospital from 1968-69, leaving to start her family, but returned in 1995.  Prior to joining the Law School in 2006, she has worked in the following areas within the University:  Ophthalmology; Vice President for Government Relations, Athletics; Speech and Language; and the School of Public Health.  She and her husband enjoy family time with their grown children and nine grandchildren, and involved in church activities, creative writing, sewing, and knitting.

alec Byrne
Secretary Senior

Alec has worked in high profile offices such as the Michigan Legislature, where he was the Constituent Services Director to the House Majority Floor Leader, and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was the Executive Assistant to the President.  Alec joined the Admissions Office after starting his University of Michigan career at the Ross School of Business.