Charisma X. Howell, Visiting Associate Professor and Street Law Director
Professor Charisma Howell has been a consulting Master Facilitator on the national training team for PLTI for a decade, after 6 years of experience as a Phase 2 Facilitator for PLTI in Alexandria, Virginia.
Professor Howell recently returned to Georgetown as a Visiting Associate Professor and Director of the Georgetown Street Law program. She has an extensive history with Street Law serving as the clinical teaching fellow, adjunct professor, visiting professor and clinic co-director over her first four year tenure. She conducted research in the areas of education policy, accountability, assessment and best practices. During her time away from Street Law, Professor Howell was the deputy director and legal counsel of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in the District of Columbia, Executive Office of the Mayor where she collaborated with local juvenile and adult justice agencies to create policies at the intersections of justice and education to improve outcomes for justice involved citizens. Professor Howell also served as legislative counsel and general counsel for an education advocacy organization that promoted access to high quality education for all students.
Professor Howell has taught student centered teaching methodologies domestically and internationally for over a decade at the graduate and undergraduate levels and for diverse stakeholders including legal professionals, lay people, and policy makers.
Professor Howell started her advocacy career by amassing numerous academic and trial skills related awards. She participated in the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy’s Trial Skills Academy. Although the only student among 75 trial attorneys, Mrs. Howell was named “Best Advocate.” She excelled in the courtroom as well winning a not guilty verdict in her first criminal jury trial with the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. Ms. Howell worked for the Honorable Judge John A. Houston of the United States District Court, Southern District of California and also interned at the California Innocence project which seeks the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners in California.
Professor Howell attended Arizona State University achieving a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She obtained her law degree from California Western School of Law in 2.5 years and her Master of Laws in Advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center.