Tampa Bay Campus News Tampa Bay Campus Hosts All-Women U.S. Citizenship Naturalization Ceremony In honor of Women’s History Month, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently held an all-women naturalization ceremony at WMU-Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus. During the ceremony, 75 candidates from 36 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to complete the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. Attorney and Campus Director Dionnie Wynter gave the opening remarks. Kathy Redman, U.S. Immigration Services regional director, administered the oath and presented the keynote.
Donations Collected to Support Human Trafficking Survivors The Tampa Bay campus held a donation drive to benefit Selah Freedom, an organization that supports survivors of human trafficking in the Tampa Bay region. Professor Stevie Swanson and students held the drive to raise awareness of human trafficking and to supply basic needs to survivors. During the drive, monetary and gift card donations, wireless phone chargers, toiletries, paper products, and gently used clothing were collected. Pictured (left-right) WMU-Cooley Professor Stevie Swanson; Connie Rose of Selah Freedom; and Erika Martinez and Abby Fakhraie, WMU-Cooley Law School students.
Florida is ranked third in the nation for highest number of human trafficking victims. Human trafficking is estimated to be a $32 billion industry.
Blue Jeans Brunch Promotes Women Empowerment and Encourages Women to Socialize and Network Over 60 WMU-Cooley Law School women dressed up in their best blue jeans to join Professor Karen Fultz during the Second Annual Blue Jeans Brunch in honor of Women’s History month. The event was held in Ulele’s 2,100-squarefoot spring brewery. Women enjoyed native Floridian fare as they mixed and mingled. The casual, fun gathering in downtown Tampa was designed to bring women together to network with their colleagues and to meet other female professionals in the community. 42
“The kick is you have to wear blue jeans to feel comfortable as you get to know other women in the legal community. This is for the female students – for them to come and meet judges and lawyers in the legal community and learn how to socialize and network as they endeavor into their legal career.”
Professor Karen Fultz (center) with Sonja Greenidge (left) and Viengphone Vongsyprasom (right), winners of Getting to Know You Bingo
The conversation started with a robust game of Getting to Know You Bingo, and continued with a number of inspiring women speakers sharing their ideas, thoughts and words of wisdom.