Events

GRADUATION

Nearly 300 new graduates recognized during December 2020 commencement ceremonies

From left, Stetson University President Dr. Christopher F. Roellke, Stetson University Provost Dr. Noel Painter, and Stetson University College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre during the socially distant graduation ceremony on Dec. 5, 2020.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, Stetson University College of Law celebrated three separate commencement ceremonies recognizing graduates from three classes: December 2019 Class, May/August 2020 Class, and the December 2020 Class.

Commencement may have looked different this year, but the staff at the College of Law worked hard to ensure students had as close to a traditional ceremony as possible. The events were held outdoors with limited attendance to follow CDC guidelines on physical distancing. Other safety protocols included a face-mask requirement for all attendees and wellness screenings prior to entering campus. In some ways, the changes were par for the course for the Class of 2020. Rachel Wise, outgoing Student Bar Association president, said their class – having begun law school during Hurricane Irma and finished during worldwide shutdowns from COVID-19 – had “become experts in adapting to change.” “After perhaps one of the most memorable years in history, and three years learning how to truly master change, we emerged together today as graduates ready to enter the legal profession and make positive change,” Wise said in a prerecorded speech. Stetson University College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre said the graduates showed resilience and grit as they dug deep to overcome every hurdle placed in their path this year. “I am so proud of who you are as humans, scholars, and legal minds,” she said. “In answering the call to become an attorney, you are beginning your purpose in life. You now have the tools to be change agents and justice warriors who can transform the world.”

Lori Baggett, J.D. ’02, the managing shareholder of the Tampa office of Carlton Fields, delivered the commencement address during the 11:30 a.m. ceremony. She was also recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her award-winning legal work, leadership in the community, and ongoing dedication to the College of Law. “I’m sure a lot of us feel like we’ve been bludgeoned by chance,” Baggett said, but noted when graduates are faced with adversity, they should look for things they can control. “You have agency over your life.”

I am so proud of who you are as humans, scholars, and legal minds.”

— Dean Michèle Alexandre

Please add kindness to your practice.”

— President Dr. Christopher F. Roellke

Attendance for the outdoor ceremonies was limited to ensure attendees were safely distanced.

Graduates who walked in the ceremony adhered to safety guidelines, including wearing masks.

Baggett explained that deliberate intent plus substantive action can lead to success, but success would look different for each of them – they should define it themselves, create their own happiness, and make their mark on this world. Then, they have an obligation to share that success with others by giving back to their communities.

The students already have a foundation in volunteerism, as Stetson Law has a pro bono requirement for graduation. The December 2019 and May 2020 graduates volunteered more than 34,000 hours of community service. Stetson University President Dr. Christopher F. Roellke called on them to continue to incorporate agency, empathy and, most importantly, kindness, as they embark on their professional lives. “Please add kindness to your practice,” he said.

You have agency over your life.”

— Lori Baggett, J.D. ’02

We emerged together today as graduates ready to enter the legal profession and make positive change.”

STETSON LAW WELCOMES 2 NEW MEMBERS TO HALL OF FAME

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs and Dr. Madison M. Mosley Jr. were inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, 2020. For the past 16 years, Stetson Law has honored distinguished luminaries in the legal and academic arenas at its annual Hall of Fame event. This year’s event was virtual and shared live on YouTube because of the pandemic.

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs, J.D. ’67

Prior to attending law school, Jacobs spent nearly a decade building a highly successful career in the life insurance business. He later became a tax attorney and co-founded a law firm that grew to about 100 lawyers and multiple locations. He served as Chair of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar.

In the late 1970s, he joined clients in forming Park Bank of Florida, which eventually became a public company. When it began to flounder, Jacobs took over as CEO in hopes of righting the ship. However, the bank failed in 1986. It was the biggest learning experience of his life, and he wrote a book, “Crash Landing: Surviving a Business Crisis,” in an effort to understand how it happened. Jacobs decided to pursue new projects in venture travel and environmental conservation. His journeys took him to the seven continents and opened his eyes to how much of the rest of the world lived. In 2015, he published Wonderlust, a book of his photography and lessons learned from crisscrossing the globe. His conservation work brought Dick back to Stetson Law for many fruitful collaborations. In 2016, he and his wife created the Dick and Joan Jacobs’ Environmental Law Externship Fund to provide financial assistance for students. In 2020, he launched The Stetson Environmental Tax Policy Writing Competition for students to develop innovative tax law policies to fund solutions for sea level rise. His vision for Stetson Law continues to expand, with the creation of a Center for Environmental Justice underway. Amid all his traveling and philanthropic work, Jacobs had returned to practicing law with Holland & Knight, then Trenam Kemker with a focus on health care law. He was editor and prime author of “Health Care Law – Mergers and Acquisitions of Physician Practices” and was ultimately named to Best Lawyers in America and a Florida Super Lawyer for his work in this area. He currently is on staff as Senior Counsel at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP.

Madison M. Mosley Jr., J.D. ’92

Prior to attending Stetson, Mosley earned a bachelor’s degree in library science and English from Florida State University in 1971, a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1974, and a doctorate in library science from Florida State University in 1980. He spent his early professional career in various librarian roles before becoming director of the library at Florida Community College in Avon Park. He was an active member of the community, serving two years on the Avon Park City Council before moving to St. Petersburg to attend Stetson Law, where he earned the best speaker award in his research and writing section. He joined the Stetson Law staff after graduation, serving as reference librarian and associate director before being appointed library director in February 2001. Mosley served as co-chair of the St. Petersburg Citizens Review Committee for the Police Department, and the parliamentarian of the city’s African-American Voter Education Committee. He was an active member of the American Library Association and the ALA’s Black Caucus; the American Association of Law Libraries and the AALL’s Southeastern Chapter; the Florida Library Association; the Association of College and Research Libraries; the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative; The Florida Bar; and the National Bar Association.

Mosley’s most prolific work was as an executive board member of the Florida Library Association. He was named to the organization’s Transformers Honor Roll in 1996 for his efforts to improve the quality of service to library users. He served as president from 1999 to 2000. He moved to establish a standing committee on leadership development and recognized the need for electronic access to FLA information.

Mosley was considered a leader in the field who made significant contributions to libraries and librarianship. He mentored many students and other librarians throughout his career. Mosley continued these efforts and his service as library director until his unexpected and untimely death on March 29, 2005, at the age of 55.

RESTORING A CAMPUS ICON TO ITS FORMER BEAUTY

BY TOM DANIEL

As readers of this magazine know, Stetson University College of Law was originally built in 1925 as the Rolyat Hotel. Developer “Handsome Jack” Taylor, a “Great Gatsby” type character, wanted the hotel to exude opulence. The Rolyat was designed to replicate a Spanish feudal castle with buildings surrounding a central plaza. Its many notable features included a main tower styled to resemble the Torre del Oro in Seville, roof tiles imported from a Spanish monastery, and a central fountain that was said to flow with champagne at the hotel’s celebrity-filled opening on Jan. 1, 1926. Today, students, faculty and visitors can still enjoy the beauty that Taylor’s vision gave to this campus. College officials have been working to restore some of the unique features, beginning with the fountain in the Plaza Mayor courtyard. This seven-month endeavor, an official historic restoration, was no small task. The images in each quadrant of the fountain were cut out, tiles removed from slab, cleaned, and restored. Other tiles could not be salvaged, so bisque was imported from Italy and hand-painted to match the original tile, baked, and then waterproofed. All the painting was done by the same woman, meaning no two tiles are exactly alike, just as was true of the originals. RLA Conservation of Art & Architecture in Miami, Fla., a state certified tile restoration company, oversaw the work. With all tile removed, the old fountain shell was taken out and replaced with an exact replica. The fountain was then equipped with modern improvements, such as auto water fill, main drain for proper filtration of water and, to reduce chlorine consumption, a UV light system for purification of fountain water. SDF Contracting of St. Petersburg constructed a new pump room and infrastructure to handle the filtration requirements for this and the three additional fountains in and around the Plaza.

This type of restoration makes the maintenance of the fountain far less labor-intensive, said William “Dale” Stubblefield, supervisor of Grounds and Event Setup. Without the proper filtration systems, the fountains require water replenishment, skimming and sweeping to keep clean. The restoration was primarily made possible by a $500,000 Special Category Grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, said Patty Johnson, associate vice president of Budget and Finance. “We intend to apply for another grant for the restoration of the other three fountains on campus.” For now, anyone presented with the opportunity should spend a moment taking in and enjoying the brilliant restoration work on Stetson Law’s main fountain. Sadly, at present, there are no plans to fill it with champagne again.