She received her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester. She is admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts.
Ms. Castellano serves in the New York State Bar Association's House of Delegates. She is a current member of that organization’s Family Law Section, Special Committee on Court Structure and Judicial Selection, and Committee on Children and the Law. She is Past President of both the Monroe County Bar Association (MCBA) and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys (GRAWA). She is a member of the Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area (CLARA).
She has received awards from the state bar, her local women’s bar, and community groups. In 2001, she participated in an international legal exchange to Novgorod, Russia where she lectured on New York family law. In 2004, Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye appointed her as chairperson of the New York State Commission to Examine Solo and Small Firm Practice which issued a comprehensive report in February, 2006.
In addition to litigation, Ms. Castellano has advocated on numerous issues affecting family policy before legislative and administrative forums. She developed and delivered training and training publications for attorneys and human services professionals throughout New York State including lecturing at NYSBA Continuing Legal Education seminars. She is active in community service work, especially in the area of domestic violence.
She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Rochester where she created and taught a four credit seminar entitled "Women as Advocates" for the Political Science Department.
She has served on community boards of directors and has held leadership positions with community groups and local and state bar associations. She is a member of the Seventh Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee. She is a member of the Monroe County Family Court Planning Group.