Cassia was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.  Pursuing a degree in Religious Studies, she graduated in 2000 with magna cum laude honors.  She was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, and Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.  After a test run at East Coast living, she ventured west to Boulder and the University of Colorado School of Law, earning a J.D. in 2004.  While at CU she concentrated in natural resources policy and land use planning, clerking with environmental non-profits and a municipal law firm, Windholz & Associates.  She also pursued an interest in Native American law and social justice issues, working with CU’s unique American Indian Law Clinic as a student attorney.  Upon receiving her degree and passing the Colorado bar, she headed further into the mountains to the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley and the law firm of Leavenworth & Karp, P.C., now Karp Neu Hanlon, P.C. Cassia’s areas of expertise include municipal and special district law, land use planning for both private and public entities, and real estate law.  She enjoys a varied practice in western Colorado and finds that the amazing scenery and collegial atmosphere make the occasional long drives over the passes seem a little shorter.