Dena Sharp is a 2006 graduate, cum laude, of the University of California, Hastings College of Law, where she was a member of the Thurston Society and was the recipient of the Best Oral Advocate Award. She was also the recipient of the Witkin award in her Legal Writing and Criminal Law courses. She received her undergraduate degree in history, magna cum laude, from Brown University in 1997. Ms. Sharp was a summer 2005 extern for the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton of the United States District Court, Northern District of California. Ms. Sharp also served as a spring 2005 extern for the Honorable John E. Munter, San Francisco Superior Court.