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Alison Odermann wraps up SCI/Tulane Law Summer Internship

With Chaplain Tom Rhoades, Ali went along for vessel visits in New Orleans—here meeting some of the crew members of the MV Kristen Golding, Golding Barge Lines.

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For 28 years, SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy has welcomed students from Tulane University School of Law to intern during their 1L summer. This summer, CMA welcomed Alison (Ali) Odermann to the longstanding program. Here are a few of the projects in which Ali participated: 

  • A long-term research project surrounding port security access for seafarers. In light of the 2019 Seafarers’ Access to Maritime Facilities regulation, Ali’s research will provide CMA with more tools and information to assist mariners with obtaining access to the port.  
  • A long-term project communicating with various P&I clubs and open flag registries: this research will provide CMA with more tools and resources when providing seafarers with legal advice.  
  • Ali connected with Ally Cedeno, the founder and CEO of Women Offshore, to assist with research projects surrounding new Title IX legislation. This research will aid in the enforcement of sexual assault/sexual harassment cases that occur while students, faculty, and staff are attending or working at the academies.  
  • A visit to New York City, where Ali met with the American P&I Club, the Liberian Ship Registry, SCI Chaplains at the International Seafarers’ Center, seafarers at Port Newark (while on ship visits), and U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Port State Control Division.  
  • Attended meetings with the Mariner Wellness Steering Committee: work that brings together leaders and experts in the maritime field to discuss mental health issues mariners face and how to address them best.  
  • Assisted CMA with a case in which a seafarer was injured and communicated with the seafarer and outside attorney to assist in providing a resolution of the claim.

Ali plans to return to Tulane Law in the fall of 2023 to begin her second year of law school. She will also act as a junior member of the Maritime Law Journal, Vice President of First-Generation Law Society, and Liaison for the Young Lawyer’s Division with Tulane’s branch of the Federal Bar Society.

“I deeply appreciate and thank everyone that I met throughout this program. It was truly an invaluable experience,” she said. Ali passes along her thanks to Douglas Stevenson, the Reverend Mark Nestlehutt, Chaplain Tom Rhoades, and all of the great staff at Seamen’s Church Institute. She would like to extend special thanks to Phil Schifflin for his support and mentorship during her time at CMA. 

Ali visited with The American Club. Pictured (left to right): Molly McCafferty (SVP, Co-Global Claims, The American Club), Alison Odermann (Summer Intern, SCI-Center for Maritime Advocacy), Danielle Centeno (VP, Loss Prevention Executive), and William Moore (SVP, Global Loss Prevention Director).

Ali was part of our team attending the North American Maritime Ministry Association Conference in Seattle. Pictured (left to right): Phil Schifflin (Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy), Michelle McWilliams (Chaplain, International Seafarers’ Center), Alison Odermann, Tim Wong (Director, International Seafarers’ Center).