Through the generosity of donors, the Thomas J. Ullmann Fund for Student Support provides essential grants to law student fellows, allowing them to engage in otherwise unpaid public interest internships and externships with the New Haven Public Defenders Office. Beyond these fellowships, the fund’s annual book awards help defray the high costs of legal texts for students with financial need who are interested in studying public interest or criminal defense law.

As New Haven’s chief public defender, Ullmann was a relentless advocate for the underserved. During his 43-year career, he became known as a crusader, taking difficult cases to ensure legal rights would remain accessible to all, regardless of their financial circumstances. As a professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law and Yale Law School, Ullmann was dedicated to fostering the future of public interest advocacy.

Upon his passing in 2018, the Thomas J. Ullmann Fund for Student Support was established by his wife, Diana Pacetta-Ullmann, and their sons Jesse and Erik Pacetta-Ullmann. Through their dedicated and continued outreach to donors, numerous students have benefited from the fund’s contributions.

“When Tom died, my two sons and I wanted to establish something in his memory that we knew he’d be happy about and that would keep his memory and legacy alive. The Tom Ullmann Student Support Fund at the Quinnipiac University Law School was the perfect answer to that,” said Diana Pacetta-Ullmann. “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations that family, friends, colleagues and students have made. I believe that Tom would be thrilled to know how many students have benefited from the Fund during their academic journey in the field of law.”

As a family friend and longtime supporter of the fund, Dave Gallicchio believes in its mission so strongly, that a bequest has been included in his will. Gallicchio views every contribution he makes to the fund as a way to honor Ullmann’s legacy by supporting future advocates who will uphold and advance the values he defended.

“He was the champion of so many things. The whole attorney community in Connecticut respected him tremendously for the work that he did,” said Gallicchio. “He had such passion for his job. I really think anything that can be done at the university to continue

training people to do that type of a job, and to continue this type of scholarship funding support, would be tremendous.”

Quinnipiac University School of Law Dean Brian Gallini said the fund honors the legacy of Ullmann’s advocacy while supporting and inspiring students to become much-needed advocates for the underserved.

“Tom Ullmann’s legacy of service continues through this fund, which provides critical support to our students and strengthens the pipeline of committed public defenders,” Dean Gallini said. “We are profoundly grateful to Diana and to all who sustain this important work in Tom’s memory.”

In addition to providing annual book awards, the highly competitive fellowships are awarded through a collaborative review process conducted by the law school’s Office of Experiential Education and the New Haven Public Defenders Office.

Assistant Dean of Experiential Education Alice Rosenthal, who was also Ullmann’s friend and colleague, has the privilege of seeing how these awards inspire students to think about public interest lawyering and criminal defense, shaped by Ullmann’s strong belief in public defense.

“Molly Arabolos, who is the current supervising attorney in the New Haven Public Defenders Office, worked with Tommy Ullmann when he was there,” said Rosenthal. “She really makes sure our students are getting the mentorship, supervision and enthusiasm about public defense in line with how Tommy Ullmann used to mentor his students and the people that he taught. She’s keeping his spirit alive, and his vision for creating a pipeline for public defenders, particularly in the New Haven area.”

Cecilia Sanders-Yesalonis JD ’26 was named Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Thomas J. Ullman Fellow for the summer 2025 semester.

“A public defender is a social necessity as they advocate for the less fortunate and impoverished. With the hope of becoming a defense attorney, I was thrilled to intern at the Office of the Public Defender New Haven Judicial District under Attorney Molly Arabolos,” said Sanders-Yesalonis.

Sanders-Yesalonis said her fellowship experience also showed Ullmann’s zest for life and dedication to justice remain at the New Haven Public Defenders Office.

“I am so grateful to have been named a fellow in his honor,” said Sanders-Yesalonis. “I hope to carry a bit of his spirit and perspective into the rest of my law school experience and hopefully a long and happy career.”

Being named the law school’s Thomas J. Ullmann Fellow for the fall 2025 semester at the New Haven Public Defenders Office provided critical support for Erin Leather JD

’26. The fellowship allowed her to engage in a third consecutive year of work at the New Haven Public Defenders Office, where she hopes to become a public defender.

“My goal is to definitely become a public defender here in Connecticut, hopefully New Haven, and stay there,” Leather said.

Prior to the fellowship, Leather had applied for grant money and federal work funding to help support herself while interning with the office during her 1L and 2L summers.

“In my 3L year, I met with Dean Rosenthal about going back as an externship, and she suggested I apply for assistance through the Ullmann Fund,” Leather said. “Being named an Ullmann Fellow for the fall 2025 semester was amazing. I knew I was going to do the externship for credit but having that stipend was awesome.”

Leather is particularly grateful to have the opportunity to develop her advocacy skills in the office where Ullmann’s legacy lives on.

The Thomas J. Ullmann Fund for Student Support at Quinnipiac University School of Law empowers the next generation of advocates to champion the rights of the underprivileged. Contributions directly sustain this mission by ensuring that financial constraints do not stand in the way of a student’s passion for pursuing criminal defense and public interest law. To make a gift, please visit qu.edu/give and include the designation “Thomas J. Ullmann Fund for Student Support.”