The Torch - Fall 2024

After Before &

NSL Campus Renovation Project Provides Updated Look and More Study Space

NSL Campus Renovations

Assistant Dean for Administration Beth McDonald Celebrates 40 years at NSL

NSL Annual Recognition Dinner Honoring Bill Harbison and the Class of 1974

STUDENTS

A Day of Celebration; 69 Law Students Become NSL Graduates

The Beginning of Their Law School Journey; NSL Welcomes the Class of 2028

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center: Helps Community, Gives NSL Students Experience

Get to Know: NSL 2L Francisco Negron Avila

Get to Know: NSL 4L Tony Myers

BOARD & FACULTY

Meet: NSL Professor of Law Office Management Kimberley Reed-Bracey Johnson

New NSL Faculty

NSL Professor Becomes Family Court Judge

ALUMNI

Catching up with: NSL Alumna Tonya Craft ’16

People entering the Nashville School of Law today will encounter our new “professional vibe.” Like Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, we believe that “continuity with the past is a necessity” in the study and practice of law. However, we also understand that places where law is learned should reflect our professional aspirations and should promote student motivation, academic performance, and overall success.

Even though the work of our students and faculty is the essence of our School, the physical surroundings where this work takes place play an important role. Far from being some “new age” notion, it has long been recognized that the external environment affects a person’s internal state.

We moved to our current home in 2005. Those who have learned the law here on Armory Oaks Drive can only imagine what attending classes in the basement of Nashville’s downtown YMCA more than 100 years

ago must have been like. That space did not resemble the places where law was practiced and certainly did not promote effective interaction between students and faculty.

Today’s classrooms, courtrooms, library, study spaces, and common areas promote learning and better acquaint students with the environment in which lawyers work. Many students have come and gone during the past 19 years, and our facility has been showing its age. Accordingly, we have addressed the wear and tear and have refurbished our space to promote productivity, comfort, and increased communication and collaboration between students and faculty.

People entering our facility today will experience brighter colors, better lighting, greater flexibility, and more options for studying and socializing. While learning the law at night remains challenging, we hope these improvements promote student well-being and improve learning outcomes.

Nancy Humphrey

Zaia Thombre ’25

Bob Delevante

NSL CAMPUS RENOVATION PROJECT PROVIDES UPDATED LOOK AND MORE STUDY SPACE

Nashville School of Law students started this academic year in freshly updated classrooms, courtrooms, and library spaces, following an extensive two-month renovation project on the NSL campus.

“NSL moved into its present facility in 2005. After almost 20 years, the premises were showing signs of wear and tear. The renova-

tions are intended to refresh the classrooms, courtrooms, and other public spaces and at the same time to reflect a modern feeling of professionalism,” said NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr.

In the spring, NSL administration recruited the support of SV Design, Inc.. and Moffitt Builders. A plan to paint the interior and

install new carpeting and flooring in the School’s 33,000 square feet began in June.

The most noticeable update on campus is the redesign of NSL’s 6,500-square-foot library.

For years, the NSL library housed a collection of books, including a collection

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originally housed in the Nashville Bar Association’s library. Similar to other law school libraries, the transition from books to online digital collections allowed NSL to remove many of the books to provide more study space.

NSL Library Administrator Stacey Angello ’11 is also an NSL alumna. She knows the importance of having more usable space for NSL’s students.

“Technology enables our students to do their research from their computers, with student access to Westlaw and Lexis, so our library’s purpose has shifted from providing more hardbound materials like physical books to providing more quiet spaces to study,” said Angello.

“This renovation has also afforded us the opportunity to add more sitting areas to better serve our students. Most of our students are working and have families, and our library can provide a quiet place with no distractions – a rare commodity in our modern households,” she added.

Today, you can still find Tennessee legal resources like the Tennessee Code, Tennessee Practice Series, Tennessee Decisions, and Tennessee Jurisprudence. The School intends to maintain a collection of Tennessee legal materials.

The main space once occupied by bookshelves has been transformed into a study area, with more desks and study carrels, totaling 25 new seats. The renovations also include an additional room for study groups.

“A person’s actions and conduct can be affected by his or her surroundings. These updates are intended to promote student performance and comfort by providing them with an updated and professional environment for their studies. Two of our guiding principles were to improve the learning environment for the students and to recycle and repurpose our existing furnishings and space wherever possible,” said Koch.

The two-story library is a multipurpose space that includes a video production studio and study area on the second floor. The NSL library is a resource for the legal community, too.

BEFORE & AFTER: Hallway outside of auditorium

BEFORE & AFTER: NSL Auditorium

BEFORE & AFTER: NSL Bookstore

BEFORE & AFTER: NSL Library

Assistant Dean for Administration Beth McDonald Celebrates 40 Years at NSL

THE EARLY DAYS

In May 1984, one year after Beth Waldrop (McDonald) graduated from high school, she found herself in the administrative office of the Nashville YMCA Night Law School.

“One Sunday after church, Sandra Ashburn asked if I wanted to help her put together some files in her law school office. She was my Sunday School teacher and a family friend, so I said I would be happy to help. I think I just volunteered at first,” remembers McDonald, NSL Assistant Dean for Administration.

The law school’s student population was growing, so Ashburn asked Dean James G. Lackey, Jr. if they could hire someone to help in the office.

“She told him, ‘I have a friend from church who can help’ and he said, ‘Sure, you can hire her for $4 an hour.’ I started working at the law school in mid-May, in 1984,” McDonald said.

In the beginning, McDonald gathered student applications and created files for each one. She typed class rolls for instructors to use throughout the month, and she even produced a law school catalog–sending it out once a week to anyone who called asking for information.

As McDonald learned more about her administrative duties, she also discovered the unique qualities that made the law school special.

“A few months after I started working at the law school, a good friend of mine passed away. And I don’t know how Judge Henry Todd knew, but he ended up sending me a poem which I have kept in my desk ever since. (Through tears) I was fortunate to have good people teach me how to be a good person,” said McDonald.

OBTAINING AN ADMINISTRATIVE EDUCATION

In 1986 Dean Lackey retired, and Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Joe Loser, who was a faculty member, became dean. Under Loser’s leadership, the law school changed its name to Nashville School of Law, and McDonald acquired more responsibilities becoming the School’s office manager.

“I had a great working relationship with Dean Loser, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. So, I felt this immense stress. He didn’t put pressure on me; I put pressure on myself,” said McDonald.

Dean Loser hired NSL student Pat McGuffey ’90 to be the School’s registrar. McGuffey, who had both military and life experience, became a mentor to McDonald.

“He (McGuffey) taught me a lot. He taught me how to be professional, how to work with people, how to keep records and files organized, and he taught me how to take proper notes, so that when tomorrow starts – you didn’t have to remember what you did the day before,” McDonald said.

Once McGuffey graduated in 1990, he left NSL, and McDonald was promoted to registrar. The School would change locations from the Downtown YMCA to the site on Sidco Drive. Despite the extra workload from the move, McDonald still found the time to prepare for an important transition in her personal life.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

“I met Rick McDonald when I took a trip to Panama City Beach with some friends in July 1991. He lived in Chickamauga, Georgia, at the time, but by the end of July, he moved to Nashville so we could be together. It was a quick engagement. He proposed in August, and I still feel like saying yes was the best decision I ever made,” said McDonald.

McDonald married in October 1991, and her entire NSL family was part of the ceremony.

“Judge Loser officiated my wedding, Pat McGuffey played trumpet, my former colleague Alice Mills sang during the ceremony, and two then-students, now graduates, Tim Ferguson ’92 played piano, and Jill Talley ’92 was in my wedding party,” said McDonald. “I even invited several students to my wedding who I am still friends with today.”

Years into her marriage, McDonald and her husband had a few opportunities to move, but she always felt NSL was where she was supposed to be.

Beth McDonald, Susan Dulin, and Regions Bank representatives at 2014 NSL Patrons Party.

“The first 18 years I worked here, this School was my baby. It didn’t matter what the situation was, if I needed to be here, then I was here,” she said. “That was before I had my son, Ricky.”

When McDonald became a mom in 2001, the meaningful moment was also celebrated with her NSL family.

“(NSL Faculty Member) Trevor Howell called me on my cell phone about a work issue, and I was in labor about to give birth to my son, Ricky,” she recalled. Laughing at the memory, she remembers telling Howell, “Just because you teach Labor Law doesn’t mean you can call me when I am in labor.”

BACK TO BUSINESS

Throughout her time at NSL, McDonald has maintained her commitment to hard work.

She has hired some colleagues and parted ways with a few others. She also embraced technology in the workplace, swiftly understanding how everything from fax machines to software such as SONIS, and even email could enhance the law school’s operations.

McDonald managed the demands of running two law school terms – Cooper and Henry – at the same time, which was due in part to hundreds of students enrolling at NSL each year.

And she has worked alongside three NSL Deans.

Not long after NSL Professor of Constitutional Law and then Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William C. Koch, Jr. accepted the position to become dean in 2014, retiring NSL Dean Loser unexpectedly passed away.

NSL Board members named McDonald interim dean until Koch could join the School. Once on board, Dean Koch promoted McDonald to NSL Assistant Dean for Administration.

“She initially did not embrace the idea that I was going to change her title to assistant dean,” Koch said. “She certainly deserves it, not just because of what she does but because of her track record and her importance to the School. You do not have to spend a lot of time watching her interact with our students to know she is a key person here,” said Koch.

Making sure NSL’s students succeed is a responsibility McDonald takes seriously. With four decades of experience, she admits, it has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career.

“I like talking to and counseling our students. I get a lot of good feedback that way,” said McDonald. “When people don’t make the grade, and they come to me in tears, that’s hard.”

“There are so many students who have dealt with horrible life circumstances, and they continue to come to class,” she said. “I am most proud of the students who succeed because they are so determined.”

McDonald looks forward to the School’s future and helping many other law school students become successful lawyers.

“I believe in our mission. NSL is just a great place to be. We are different. We are special. We are here for a reason, and we’ve got a good thing going,” said McDonald.

She says she feels blessed to have been surrounded by such wonderful faculty and staff for so many years. McDonald is thankful for their encouragement and kindness and says they hold special meaning in her life.

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Ricky, Beth, and Rick McDonald.

MAKING A LASTING IMPACT

Since McDonald started working at NSL, 3,229 students have graduated from the law school. To celebrated her 40 years at NSL, we asked a few people to express the impact she has had on their lives.

NSL 3L Regina Sullo

“I met Ms. Beth when I needed help. After my second year, I found out I had to retake a course. My world came crashing down, and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so defeated. I set up a meeting with Beth to talk about my options. Her desk was covered in boxes of envelopes to be mailed to every student at NSL. She was about to start a busy summer, and she took over an hour to listen, counsel me, and dry my tears. I left feeling renewed, and with a plan. She reminded me to have confidence in what I am doing, and I am proud to share my successes with her. I know I am not alone; this story is probably not even unusual. I know she has counseled many of us and has had many difficult conversations with completely stressed-out students. She makes time for all of us, and I am so grateful.”

NSL Professor of Ethics and alumna Laura Chastain ’86

“When I was a student, Beth was always so helpful with any questions about the School and its policies. She was always the smiling face in the office and made the students

A. Beth McDonald, Lee Chiozza George ’22, Susan Dulin, and Stacey Angello at the 2022 NSL Graduation Ceremony. B. Lauren Wynn Moss ’07 and Beth McDonald at the 2022 Recognition Dinner. C. Laura Goodall Niewold ’84, Charles Niewold ’84, NSL Board Chair Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., Beth McDonald, and Carlana Harwell at 2018 NSL Recognition Dinner. D. NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr. and Beth McDonald at the 2024 NSL Graduation Ceremony. E. Debbie Wynne, Dean James G. Lackey, Jr., and Beth McDonald at the law school’s 75th anniversary party in 1986. F. Former NSL Board Member Doug Fisher, Beth McDonald, and NSL Dean Joe Loser in the law school library in 2010.

feel special. As a teacher, I have relied on Beth in many circumstances, such as the night the computers were down in my classroom and she and Susan Dulin made some 80-plus copies of my PowerPoint so the class would not miss out that night. Beth and I have been personal friends. We have shared our favorite perfume fragrances over the years, family stories and laughs over recollections of funny things that happened in the past at the school.”

NSL Professor of Torts Judge Marshall Davidson “Beth understands that NSL is not just a place where people come to learn the law, but a place where long-held dreams transition into reality — where people grow personally and professionally and expand their capacity to learn and do things they never thought possible. Beth gets it, and I think this realization drives the excellent work she does and how she interacts so effectively with students, faculty, and staff. But as nice as Beth is, she can be no-nonsense when necessary. One time two first- year students had a strong disagreement over sitting in a particular seat in the classroom. Beth made it clear to them that law school was ‘not third grade’ and that it would be in their best interests to quickly resolve the matter themselves. It worked.”

NSL Professor of Administrative Law Judge Lynn Alexander ’87 “Beth McDonald is Nashville School of Law. Beth’s unwavering professionalism and dedication to NSL is a major key to the school’s success. Her support for our students, our faculty and our alumni is unparalleled. She has positively impacted countless students over the years, and she remains respected by them all. Beth, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for being the person you are. These 40 years have flown and you’re a treasure to me and to our school,”

NSL Board Chair Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr. “I initially met Beth McDonald in 1993, through the former Dean, Joe Loser, who asked me to help raise money to meet the financial challenges the Nashville School of Law was experiencing. She has been a contact point for me and most of our Board throughout the years.

She has been accessible, kind, supportive, and a huge asset for the School and its Board. Beth, for your dedication, your loyalty to the Law School and its leadership, for the many successes that you have achieved, all of us who care about the school are grateful. I thank you for your 40 years of service, and I especially thank you for your friendship. I appreciate your dedication to our mission. Congratulations.”

NSL Honors Former Contracts Professor Bill Harbison and The Class of 1974

On Friday, June 7, at the Downtown Nashville Renaissance Hotel, former Nashville School of Law Contracts Professor Bill Harbison and the Class of 1974 were honored at this year’s Annual NSL Recognition Dinner.

Harbison, a corporate law and trust and estates attorney at Sherrard Roe Voigt Harbison in Nashville, was recognized for his community service and 17 years as an NSL Professor of Contracts.

“I am honored and humbled by the recognition from the Nashville School of Law, and I am truly grateful to Dean Koch and the Board. It was a wonderful evening with so many colleagues and friends. I am particularly honored by the presence of many former students. It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime to teach at Nashville School of Law,” Harbison said.

The crowd, filled with NSL alumni, faculty, colleagues, and family members, was quick to give Harbison a standing ovation.

“Bill Harbison exemplifies professionalism in the practice of law. In addition to the superb advice and representation he provides his clients, Bill devotes many hours to public service, including teaching decades of students at NSL,” said NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr.

The Class of 1974 was recognized as our alumni honorees, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of their law school graduation.

Ten members of the Class of 1974 attended the dinner: Ron Buchanan, Jim Barr, Ralph DeMarco, Joe Dughman, Jim Lackey, John McLemore, Sara Pettit, John Rochford, Ed Silva, and Larry Williams. They were acknowledged individually, and each person discussed their own law school experience.

NSL alumni Billy Leslie ’17, Kelley Moody ’24, John Murphy ’20, and Savannah Reynolds ’24, along with NSL Communications Director Kristin Smart posed questions to these honorees.

“NSL did a very nice job of recognizing us at this year’s Recognition Dinner. I hope that my comments will encourage others to follow their intuition and take advantage of the legal education and all that is offered at the Nashville School of Law,” said Sara Pettit ’74.

John McLemore ’74, who still practices law in Nashville, provided plenty of laughter when he shared his favorite memory from law school.

“I remember the YWCA was across 7th Avenue from the YMCA, and a bunch of girls lived there. Between classes, a few members of the legendary Class of 1974 would walk over to visit. Some did attempt to convince the ladies that we were in night brain surgery school,” said McLemore.

Ron Buchanan ’74, who graduated first in his class, shared why NSL is so special to him.

“I lived a life that many people could only dream about. I loved being an attorney. I started my career as a way to support my family, but the longer I practiced, the more I realized what a noble profession it is. It allowed me to help hundreds of clients with their problems, which provided me with a great deal of personal satisfaction. It also afforded me with the income and flexibility of schedule to visit more than 50 foreign countries, to own homes that I never knew existed as a child, pay for my son’s college education, and retire at age 70. It (attending NSL) is the second most important decision of my life, second only to marrying my wife. None of this would have been possible were it not for the Nashville School of Law, as I could not afford to pursue a legal career at any other school,” said Buchanan.

“The members of the Class of 1974 have been successful in their law and business careers. They are a particularly cohesive class. For over 50 years, they have nurtured and cultivated deep personal and professional relationships,” said Dean Koch.

For decades, the Class of 1974 has held annual reunions in Nashville and will continue to do so.

Kirk Scobey ’74 was honored posthumously. NSL alumna, Cindy Jones ’96, a friend, and colleague of Scobey’s, talked about his love of NSL and announced a new scholarship in his name that will benefit current and future law school students.

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NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr. welcomes guests to annual recognition dinner.

A. Carol Rochford, John Rochford ’74, John McLemore ’74, Sara Pettit ’74, Ron Buchanan ’74, Jim Barr ’74, Larry Williams ’74, Jim Lackey ’74, Karen Lackey, Ralph DeMarco ’74, Virginia DeMarco ’74. B. Ron Lux ’14, Jenny Lux, Queenie Lux, and Ryan Lux ’14 C. Jim Tiller ’04, Sara Pettit ’74, Judge Frank Clement ’75, Lynn Clement, Keith Turner ’98. D. Amber Schlatter ’23, Anna Richardson ’25, Allison Wilson ’23, Heather Asbell ’23, and Jenna Huff ’23. E. Patty Harbison, Bill Harbison, and Debby Koch. F. Joe Dughman ’74, Megan Williams, Jonathan Williams ’07, Warren Smith ’83. G. NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr., Ed Silva ’74, and Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins. H. Ron Buchanan ’74 shares law school memories. I. Honoree former NSL Professor of Contracts Bill Harbison. J. Back row: John Rochford ’74, Cindy Jones ’96, Tom Steele, Rick Travis, Courtney Travis, and Scott Edwards. Front row: Russell Scobey, Leslie Scobey, Alisa Edwards, Darlinda Jones. K. NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr. with the NSL Class of 2026. L. John McLemore ’74 shares law school memories.

Larry R. Williams 2024 NSL Recognition Dinner Sponsors

DEAN’S COUNCIL

Carol & John Rochford

Rochford Realty & Construction

. SUSTAINING BENEFACTORS .

Equitable Trust Company

Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin

Debby & Bill Koch

Lowery, Lowery & Cherry

Marlene Eskind Moses

Neal & Harwell, PLC

Carlana & Aubrey Harwell

Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison

LAW SCHOOL ADVOCATES

Hon. Mark Fishburn & William Spaniard

Anne L. Russell

TABLE SPONSORS

Ryan C. Davis Law

Griffith Law

Herbert & Lux

Kevin C. Kennedy and The Kennedy Law Firm

Lewis Thomason

Nashville Scottish Rite

Chelsea Nicholson Law

Law Office of A. Michelle Poss

Rudy Title & Escrow

Wayne Sutter

Asst. Dist. Atty. 15th Jud. Dist. 2014 NSL Graduate

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association

Suzanne Keith

Michael L. Underhill

A DAY OF CELEBRATION;

69 LAW STUDENTS BECOME NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATES

On Saturday morning, May 25, Nashville School of Law student

Jessica Locke-Russell started her day in Chattanooga gathering items for her daughter’s afternoon dance recital. They would arrive late to the performance since, as her 9-year-old daughter, Isla, pointed out, Locke-Russell was also having her own special recital that day. The family was about to make the two-hour trip from Chattanooga to Nashville, something Locke-Russell was used to while attending law school. On this day, she and her family would drive it again for the NSL Graduation Ceremony.

“I feel elated but also emotional because this has been my life. Although I know what’s coming next, it’s almost like I am not totally ready because this (NSL) is what I have known for the past several years.”

One of her classmates, Austin Kelley Wilson, shared mixed emotions, too.

“My dad is an attorney, so I will be working with him at Wilson and Haynes in Shelbyville. It is bittersweet to graduate. I have met a lot of great classmates here, made a lot of great friends, but I am looking forward to the future. I can’t say enough about NSL. The staff, faculty, they have been amazing, and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” said Wilson.

Sixty-nine students received their Juris Doctor degrees during NSL’s 116th Commencement Ceremony at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr., Chairman of the NSL Board of Trust Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., and commencement speaker Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge W. Neal McBrayer shared messages with students, their families, and friends.

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In his keynote speech, Judge McBrayer provided insight on how NSL’s ambitious graduates could become outstanding lawyers.

“It strikes me that the great attorneys tend to have one thing in common: sharing their skills free of charge where there is a need for legal services,” said Judge McBrayer.

“The need is great; in courtrooms across this state, there are people who need legal help but cannot afford an attorney. And the need is not just in the courtroom. There are nonprofit organizations serving our communities that require legal services but cannot afford them. There are persons of limited means who need assistance applying for benefits or expunging a criminal record. There are firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders who need wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Members of this class will enter private practice or government service or work for entities, both for profit and not for profit. In each of those settings, teach yourself where the need is and help to meet it. If you do, in my mind, you will be on your way to being a great attorney. The benefit of helping others goes beyond reputation: it leads to greater happiness,” he said.

During the ceremony, Dean Koch recognized several students who received notable awards.

The Dean’s Certificate of Recognition is awarded to graduates completing 50 hours of pro bono service throughout their law school career. This year Batol Abdullah and Nathan Nicholson were recognized. Their names will be submitted to the Tennessee Supreme Court to be considered as Law Students for Justice.

Nathan Nicholson received the Dean’s Certificate of Excellence for recording the most pro bono hours in the School’s Pro Bono Service initiative.

When receiving their diplomas, the following students received membership certificates to the prestigious Cooper’s Inn Honor Society: Kristina Bagwell, Josh Hunter, Brian Hurst, Jordan Long, Ali Sovine, Dakota Vermillion, and Katie Woodard, an honor reserved for those in the top 10% of their graduating class.

Kristina Bagwell won the Founder’s Award for having the highest grade point average.

NSL Director of Recruiting and Alumni Affairs Stacey Angello read the names of each graduate as they crossed the stage to receive their diploma from Dean Koch who conferred the Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees upon the students.

Class of 2024’s Ali Sovine was asked to provide a farewell message in honor of her classmates. In her speech, she celebrated the unique and determined qualities of her peers. She thanked the spouses in attendance who were always present and supportive. And she gave credit to those who helped turn these graduates into future lawyers.

“For 113 years, the Nashville School of Law has taken chances on those people who were never supposed to be lawyers according to society and turned them into some of the best attorneys and jurists this state has seen. Since 1911, The Nashville School of Law has recognized that memorizing legal theory or publishing a law review journal article isn’t what makes a great attorney when it is all said and done: it’s grit, it’s drive, it’s determination. And nobody has more of those qualities than this group sitting before me today,” said Sovine.

In closing, Dean Koch congratulated the NSL Class of 2024, and NSL graduate Josh Hunter ’24 offered the benediction.

A. NSL Graduates receive congratulations from NSL Board Members. B. NSL Graduate Sadie Guzik poses with family. C. Members of the Class of 2024. D. Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge W. Neal McBrayer delivers the keynote address. E. NSL Graduate Sara Denman ’24 receives some love. F. Rochelle Brickle ’24, Erica Augustin ’24, Amy Parker ’24, Chassity Martin ’24, Addie Toy ’24, and Robin Bain ’24. G. NSL Graduate Jessica Locke-Russell and daughter, Isla. H. NSL Graduate John Kerrigan ’24 and Nathan Nicholson ’24. I. NSL Graduate Kristina Bagwell ’24 poses with family. J. NSL Graduate Anthanasios Halkias ’24 gets a hug. K. NSL Professor of Dispositive Motions Chancellor Pat Moskal shares a laugh with NSL Graduate Preston Garrett ’24. L. NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr., NSL Board Chair Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., NSL Board Member Gary Garfield, NSL Board Member John Rochford ’74. M. NSL Graduates Taylor Gothard ’24 and Heather Curtis ’24 take a selfie at their graduation ceremony.

The Beginning of Their Law School Journey; NSL Welcomes the Class of 2028

On a rainy Tuesday morning, Cookeville resident Jenna Matthews knew it would take at least two hours to get to the Nashville School of Law campus. But nothing was going to stop her from arriving on time for her first day of law school orientation.

“It is little nerve-wracking, but the reality is here, and I am excited,” said Matthews, NSL 1L.

Since she was young, Matthews knew she wanted to be a lawyer. After graduating from Tennessee Tech in 2023, she applied to NSL.

“I decided to come to law school because this is something I have always wanted to do. I come from a background that unfortunately involved physical abuse. During my childhood I had to go to court and go through the process of a trial, and ever since then I longed to be involved in the court system to help others,” she said.

“I work full time, and I put myself through college. This (NSL) seems like the best option because I can still support myself, chase my dreams, and be able to obtain my law degree.”

joined 86 other classmates at this year’s NSL Orientation.

The group heard presentations from NSL Professor of Advanced Legal Studies Chuck Shonholtz and NSL Writing Coach Thorunn McCoy, PhD. New 1Ls also had the chance to interact with current students and recent alumni, who all provided great advice on time management, good study habits, and how to succeed in law school.

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) members participated in a panel discussion to explain the importance of having integrity, showing respect, and being ethical when students become lawyers.

Which is why NSL requires each 1L student to demonstrate honest, ethical behavior.

This year, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins delivered the Oath of Professionalism to the group.

“We are always delighted to welcome new students at NSL. These students are the dreamers who have decided to change their lives by studying law and becoming lawyers.

NSL Class of 2028

Like our graduates before them, they will take their place as wise counselors and leaders in their communities. We applaud their decision and look forward to working with them for the next four years,” said Dean William C. Koch, Jr.

“I like the feeling I get from the School’s faculty and staff, and my fellow classmates. I just get a really good feeling about all of it. I know it is not going to be easy, but I am the type of person that when I have a challenge in front of me, I do my best work,” said NSL 1L Randall Scott.

Scott was in the Air Force and has a successful career as an IT consultant. Even though he could retire from the workforce and travel, he has always wanted to study law.

“It has been one of only a few passions in my life, so while my friends think I am a bit crazy (starting a brand new career), I am ready to do this. I want to help people in the areas of voting rights or civil rights. It’s more about making a contribution,” he said.

The first day of law school for NSL 1Ls was Thursday, Aug. 8.

Matthews

A. NSL student panel: Drake Lyle ’27, Emily Bain ’25, Caroline Cathey ’26, Marquita Oglesby ’25, Jake Downard ’26, Daniel Bellet ’27. B. NSL 1L Jenna Matthews C. NSL 1L Randall Scott D. Justice Bivins delivers the Oath of Professionalism to incoming 1Ls. E. NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr. and Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins. F. American Board of Trial Advocates members: NSL Professor of Civil Trial Practice Dan Berexa, Eric Beasley, Nancy Phillips, Bryan Moseley, and T. Scott Jones.

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center: Helps Community and Gives NSL Students Experience

The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) is one of the best career-expanding opportunities in Nashville. Founded in 2000, the NCRC envisions a future in which all low-income and workforce families in Tennessee have access to free or sliding-scale mediation. Their mission is to provide access to justice for all Tennesseans. Through a restorative approach of mediation, they help people resolve legal crises quickly, safely, and effectively outside of a courtroom.

This summer, rising 4L student Zaia Thombre interned with the NCRC and shared her experience.

“As a former math teacher, I knew that I had to get my feet wet in the legal field to truly turn theory into practice. When I learned that I could intern at NCRC for course credit, I jumped at the opportunity. With a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old at home, interning this summer allowed me to put my children to bed every night instead of going to summer class, which was worth paying for a credit hour. What I didn’t anticipate was the immense value of the knowledge and experience I gained at NCRC.

NCRC provided me with free mediation training as part of my internship—an invaluable opportunity since most such trainings cost well over $1,000. Being certified in family and domestic violence mediation is a significant benefit for a law school student, and because of this training, I am now listed

As a summer intern, I attended staff meetings to learn about the organization’s various programs and activities. Despite having been in law school for three years, I had never witnessed a court in action. Observing a civil mediation and seeing the judge recommend NCRC as a viable option was eye-opening. Additionally, I had the chance to watch my peer, Caleb Lockert (4L), conduct an AVO mediation, as he works part time for NCRC.

NCRC’s learning model ensured a gradual progression in my skills. Initially, I observed several mediations between parties, some with lawyers and some pro se. Then, I co-mediated sessions. I was really nervous at first, so I started by only going over the Agreement to Mediate form, but soon I grew more confident and eventually led the co-mediations, calling on my co-mediator when needed. Once approved, I was ready to mediate independently. NCRC’s model is ideal for students as it allows you to control your pace of learning. Observing various mediation styles at NCRC helped me develop my own approach and voice.

I plan to continue volunteering with NCRC because the staff is great, and the work they do for our community is important. I highly recommend NCRC as an internship

placement. My mentor, Robin Wheeler, was patient and supportive, clearly invested in my success. Shannon Wagner, the new CEO, is wonderful to work with and has a compelling vision for NCRC’s future. I hope that as this vision unfolds, an NSL student will intern there every summer.”

For those interested in seeking an opportunity with the NCRC, please be aware of the following limitations regarding their internship program. They offer the Rule 31 training at different times of the year. And family training is not offered every year. For more information, please contact NCRC Executive Director Shannon Wagner at shannon@nashvilleconflict.org.

NSL 4L Caleb Lockert, Jordann Moore, Frederick E. Ring, Deborah Denson, NSL 4L Zaia Thombre, Mckensie Scott.

on the Tennessee Courts website as a Family Mediator.

NSL 4L Zaia Thombre

Growing up in Mexico City, Nashville School of Law 2L Francisco Negron Avila learned how to speak English from a young age. In fact, his parents felt it was important for him and his younger sister to learn other languages.

“My dad used to think that Japanese was the language of the future, so growing up, we were taught Japanese first, then English. So English was really the third language I learned,” said Negron Avila.

Little did he know that Japanese and English would be the languages of his future.

“Speaking Japanese has helped me in my current job. I have a lot of work with Nissan Japan, so when I meet with colleagues, being able to speak the language helps me build relationships,” he said.

Thirty-three-year-old Negron Avila is a project manager for electric vehicles and sports cars for Nissan North America. He and his team work on defining what the right product is

STUDENT PROFILE

Get to Know: 2L Francisco Negron Avila

for customers in the U.S. market. They decide the specifications and features of the vehicle, and once the car is produced, they make improvements throughout its life cycle, so it remains competitive.

He started working for the automotive company 13 years ago while living in Mexico.

“Nissan is the biggest car brand in Mexico. When the opportunity came to interview with them, I did not think twice. Since then, my love of cars has grown. And I really love my job. It’s a dream job for me.”

Negron Avila moved to the United States in 2018 to work at the Nissan headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. That same year, he met his wife –who is from Wisconsin – and they married a year later.

During the pandemic he started to think about attending law school.

“When I went through my own immigration process, at times I felt lost, and this made me think about how I want to help people who have to go through legal proceedings of their own,” he said. “And the skill set I believe I am getting at NSL is helping me position myself as a unique candidate as I try to accomplish my career goal of becoming a program director with Nissan.”

Negron Avila started law school in 2023, four months after becoming a dad.

“I love being a dad. Huge credit goes to my wife. She has been instrumental in supporting me and taking care of our baby while remaining very successful in her own career. I could not attend

NSL without her. I think teamwork is key, especially when you become a parent,” he said.

Negron Avila had a good experience during his first year at NSL. He appreciates the assistance he received with legal writing and is thankful for his professors’ patience with what he calls his strong accent.

This summer, realizing there is a need for bilingual interpreters across the state, Negron Avila worked to become a Spanish interpreter for the Tennessee court system, aiming to gain courtroom experience while putting his languages to good use. He is particularly thankful NSL LSV I and Crimes Professor General Glenn Funk helped advise him from the first moment he pitched the idea.

“Although we’re all here for the same degree, what we do with it will be entirely up to each one of us. In the meantime, it’s so enriching to have classmates with so many diverse backgrounds, that I’m really excited to keep getting to know each one of them,” he said.

Prior to the start of the school year, Negron Avila said he was looking forward to his second year at NSL. In the future, he hopes to help improve the public perception of immigrants in Tennessee, and while he would like to remain involved in the automotive industry in some capacity, he is eager to see what doors may open once he earns his law degree.

NSL 2L Francisco Negron Avila with a Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute by Tommy Pike Customs

Get to Know: NSL 4L Tony Myers

ashville School of Law 4L Tony Myers is gearing up for his last year with a strong work ethic. He knows there are some challenges ahead, yet he remains optimistic and determined to successfully finish his law school education.

Myers is a husband, father of nine (yes, nine children), and a grandfather of nine grandchildren.

“I always joke, we’re not Mormon, we’re not Catholic, no twins, no adoptions, same wife, we are just passionately Protestant,” laughs Myers.

His extensive life experience in time management, organization, and hands-on work has benefited him as an NSL student.

This summer, Myers spent time in the school library working on his Rigorous Writing Exercise (RWE), a requirement to graduate law school.

“The Rigorous Writing is a lot, yet it is designed to be that way. I feel good about it. I just need to keep this kind of discipline going into my fourth year,” he said.

He spent a considerable amount of time exploring his topic, “Can a convicted felon be admitted to the Tennessee Bar?”

“A convicted felon with the state of Tennessee can be admitted to the bar one year, and that same convicted felon, three years later with a rotation of board members, can be denied,” said Myers.

The research Myers completed for his RWE is personal. This work meant more to him than his other law school assignments, and that is because Myers has his own record of criminal activity.

“I had a very successful financial planning business for years. People used to say, I don’t know how you did it with nine kids, and really, that was part of it. In 2011, I was way overextended financially. The income was sufficient, but I made some really bad decisions,” said Myers.

At the time, his children’s private school education and college tuition bills were mounting.

“I owed quite a bit of money in income tax, and I went to a trusted client of mine, and I deceived him,” he said.

Myers sold the client a financial opportunity, however, he took his client’s checks and deposited them into his business account and used the money for personal expenses.

“It started with a $50,000 check made out to my company and then it kept going to almost $500,000. I never promised him anything in return, I just kept taking the money, and I paid income taxes with it, and I paid tuition with it,” he said.

Myers came forward and confessed soon after his longtime friend and client was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2012.

“I went to him, and I said, all these checks you have been writing me, I have been using them for personal reasons. I confessed everything to him. And I started to pay him back. It really crushed him. He was such a gracious person. He told me, ‘Tony, I would have given you the money.’ I learned a lot about pride and humility in all of this,” Myers said.

His client passed away at the end of 2012, and the client’s business manager came to Myers, on behalf of the widow, asking him to pay back what he still owed. The manager said they needed a check the next day. Myers didn’t have the money, so the business manager turned him in to the District Attorney.

Myers was indicted in 2014 and convicted of theft in February 2015.

He was given leniency. He completed his sentence which included jail, restitution, and probation, and continues to talk about his conviction so others may learn from his mistakes.

“This experience has grounded me. It put me in a place where I see things from a more realistic viewpoint. It turned out to be a blessing in the fact that it really brought my family closer together,” he said.

“I should be unemployed and homeless, divorced and abandoned, but I was given grace, and I now have peace. I did not have peace before. I was on a treadmill, and I kept hitting the button to go faster. I am so glad to be off that treadmill.”

Myers was inspired to attend law school when he read an article about Bruce Reilly, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a community college professor. Reilly, who graduated from Tulane Law School, is now the deputy director of a group called Vote, in New Orleans, which advocates for those who were incarcerated.

During his time in law school, Myers admits his favorite courses have been Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law. He has developed a

solid grasp of legal principles and is thankful for the experiences he has gained at NSL.

“I love our school, and I love the class that just graduated, and I love my existing class. There is a unique vibe at NSL, and it’s not present at other law schools. My daughters’ friends are graduating from Vandy and Belmont and when I talk about how great the faculty and staff are at our law school, my daughters’ friends will say – ‘That is not how it is at my law school.’ It is so competitive at other schools, and I don’t see that at NSL – it’s amazing. These students not only work during the day and go to school at night, but they help each other out. It’s incredible,” said Myers.

hand-holding that was so comforting when I went through it, I want to do that for others.”

Myers credits his defense attorney, Bill Ramsey, for his desire to help others. Ramsey is a prominent Nashville defense attorney and NSL Professor of Lawyering in the Digital Age.

Myers continues to build his network of legal and business contacts. He is seeking the advice of reputable attorneys and influential business professionals. While he is unsure whether he will be able to sit for the bar, he is keeping a positive outlook, and knows his J.D. degree will allow him to help others no matter what.

“I don’t have a specific goal, but I want to help people. I see people all the time who are tormented by the legal process and having to go through it, and now that I understand it and I was given some

“Bill represented me with utmost care and kindness. The criminal legal process is scary and although Bill could not empathize with me, his sympathy was off the charts. He gave me hope, comfort and encouragement at a very disturbing time,” Myers said.

When asked if there was anything else he wanted to share with the NSL community, Myers said, “People need to know, you can be good again. I truly want my story to be a light and provide hope for anyone who finds themselves hopeless.”

NSL 4L Tony Myers and his family

NSL 4L Tony Myers on the first day of the school year.

Meet: NSL Professor of Law Office Management Kimberley Reed-Bracey Johnson ’00

Kimberley Reed-Bracey Johnson, Professor of Law Office Management at Nashville School of Law, has always had a passion for advocacy, assisting, and educating those around her.

After obtaining her undergraduate degree in speech, communication and theater with a teaching certification from Murray State University, Johnson achieved her master’s degree in organizational communications from Western Kentucky University. In 1992, she started teaching theater, debate, and speech at Gallatin High School.

“I taught 73 kids on the debate team and the speech team. I traveled with them every

weekend to all their competitions. And as the theater teacher, we produced seven plays a year,” said Johnson.

The demanding workload only motivated Johnson to achieve more success. In fact, it did not take long for the Paris, Tennessee, native to receive the Tennessee Humanities Teacher of the Year award. The honor, received in 1995, came with a scholarship that Johnson used to obtain another degree. This time, she wanted to fulfill her dream of going to law school.

OBTAINING A JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE

“My friend who was an English teacher with me at the high school, Karen Simms, came to me and said, ‘You know, we should go to law school.’ I told her I could not quit work. She said, ‘Don’t you know there is a night law school in Nashville?’”

Johnson continued to work at the high school and enrolled in NSL in 1995. NSL Dean Joe Loser taught Civil Procedure and Workers Compensation. Johnson said she gained valuable insights from Dean Loser about law and life itself.

“He said, ‘I want you to write me a pleading, and you are the plaintiff, and I want it to be a very short pleading. I did it in five sentences and when he handed them back in class, I got a D. So, I raised my hand and said, ‘Dean, you said you wanted us to write a short pleading.’

He said, ‘Yes, I told you to do it short. You did it in five sentences, but I think you could have done it in three,’” she said.

“He (Dean Loser) would always say, ‘This isn’t fair school, this is law school.’ I got a 93 in his class and an “A” was a 94.”

Graduating fifth in her NSL class and passing the bar in 2000, Johnson received a call from Dean Loser, who recommended her as an associate attorney candidate for NSL alumnus and Tennessee State Sen. Joe Haynes’ ’65 law firm, Haynes and Freeman.

ENTERING THE LEGAL PROFESSION

“They interviewed me, and then I interviewed them, probably for about three hours,” Johnson laughed. “I asked, ‘What does it take to make partner?’ and they said, ‘You haven’t even started,’ and I said, ‘Well, I have to know because I am not 20.’”

Johnson was 38 when she interviewed at Haynes and Freeman law firm. And in a little over three years, she made partner.

“It all happened so fast, initially, but the one good thing about being there was that he (Sen. Haynes) had name recognition so there was no shortage of clients, and that helped. I would not have done well if I just decided to hang up a shingle,” said Johnson.

She remembers how her colleagues would keep their doors open, creating an inviting space for her to seek guidance, if needed.

“I could walk across to my partner Russell Freeman or Sen. Haynes, and I could lean up against the door frame 17 times a day and they didn’t think twice about it.”

Appreciative of the assistance she received, Johnson now leaves her office door open for her associates.

“If my door is open, and I am not on the phone, the time my associates should ask a question is now. They are making me money, so I will be there for them. That is what my

firm did for me, so that is what I do for my associates,” she said.

Helping her colleagues navigate legal issues prepared Johnson for what came next. In 2007, Dean Loser called Johnson once again with another opportunity. He asked if she would come back to NSL to teach Business Associations. She accepted and was back in night law school as an NSL professor.

Her law practice, now Freeman & Bracey, PLC, is still thriving. Johnson maintains a high level of energy and gumption and continues to support clients and causes.

UPLIFTING HAITIANS

In 2009, White House First Baptist Church Pastor Josh Burns asked Johnson to attend a medical mission trip to Haiti. She thought she would provide legal assistance for medical malpractice cases. She found out the pastor wanted her to entertain the Haitians.

“He (Pastor Burns) said, ‘You are a theater major, so you and this gentlemen who is a translator in Haiti – who is so much like you, he is a goofball, really silly – will be paired up, and you will entertain the people outside the hospital while they wait to see the doctor so they won’t leave or be afraid,’” said Johnson.

For nine days, she and her interpreter, Bildad, worked together to create a fun, easy environment for patients waiting to seek medical treatment.

“My interpreter, Bildad, who I called ‘my voice,’ and I really got along. I had this overwhelming feeling that I was supposed to bring him back to the states so he could go to college. He graduated from a French Missionary English-speaking high school so he could not go to college in Haiti,” she said. “I fell in love with this kid. I even prayed at the time, if he doesn’t ask me

for anything then I know I am supposed to do this.”

Bildad was 20 years old when he arrived in the states. Although he was grateful for this opportunity, he would remind Johnson that his family was not eating well or getting an education in Haiti.

So, Johnson suggested they start a small school in Haiti.

A tent was set up with one teacher and in the first class, 100 people showed up. Then, the school moved to a large carport cover and a couple of teachers taught in shifts.

“I didn’t want to own the school, I just wanted to uplift Haitians to do their own stuff. We started in 2011 and added a grade every year until 2019 when we had our first graduating class,” said Johnson.

Since 2009, Johnson has made 51 trips to Haiti. She speaks the language, and even helped some of Bildad’s family members successfully and legally come to the United States, like Nehemie, Bildad’s youngest brother, who attends Volunteer State Community College. Bildad graduated with honors from Cumberland University in 2016.

MISSION WORK WITH A CROWN ON MY HEAD

Johnson has experienced additional passions in her life.

She met her husband, Sam Johnson, a critical care nurse, in 2018. The couple married in 2019, sharing a family that includes Bildad and Nehemie, who she adopted, six stepchildren, and seven grandchildren. They have

also sponsored and hosted international college students.

She has also been inspired to advocate for senior women. Johnson found herself entering a competition she never anticipated.

“I wanted to find a fun way to show how much senior women have to offer. I started to Google ‘fun ways to promote senior women,’ and the Senior Ms. America pageant came up. I kind of laughed because I was not a pageant girl growing up,” she said.

After attending the first pageant meeting, Johnson knew this adventure would not be easy. In the competition, she would have to demonstrate a talent, be interviewed several times about various topics, and share her philosophy on life. Once again, she set a goal and was determined to succeed.

In May, Johnson won the Ms. Tennessee Senior America pageant.

“I knew I progressed, and I felt good about myself regardless of what happened. To win it was like a kid’s dream come true, and it has been wonderful,” she said.

“I didn’t do it for the crown, but you put a crown on your head, and it opens a lot of doors. I can walk in the door with my crown and attract a crowd. They all want a picture, and then I get to advocate. It is an immediate audience that I can get anywhere. I advocate for senior women and promote whatever event I am at. It’s mission work with a crown on my head, and it gets me in the door to do it.”

BACK AT NSL

Johnson now teaches Law Office Management at NSL. She still enjoys interacting with law students, sharing her experience with running a law firm, and providing life-long lessons.

“Be more worried about what you are leaving behind than what you are getting while you are here.”

Kimberley Reed-Bracey Johnson ‘00, top left, wins the 2024 Ms. Tennessee Senior America Pageant. Johnson with her husband, Sam Johnson

Johnson celebrates with the first graduatingclass at Complexe Educatif De Laffito School in Haiti in July 2019.

New NSL Faculty

“In the eyes of the legal community and the public, Nashville School of Law’s faculty is its greatest asset. These talented and experienced lawyers and judges approach their courses by appropriately balancing the theoretical and the practical. Since 2014, my guiding principle when recruiting new faculty members is to ‘shoot high’ and to hire the very best,” said NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr.

Nashville School of Law welcomes three new faculty members this 2024-2025 Academic Year.

Tamika Parker ’15, NSL Professor of LSV I

Nashville criminal defense lawyer and Nashville School of Law alumna Tamika Parker ’15 is teaching Legal Skills and Values I.

She has experience as an adjunct law professor, previously teaching Business Law at Tennessee State University. Parker has been in private practice since 2015 and served as a State of Tennessee Unemployment Insurance Appeals Tribunal Hearing Officer. She has given back to NSL as a lecturer for the bar exam, Wills Clinic volunteer, and most recently as a Rigorous Writing mentor, receiving the 2022 NSL Rigorous Writing Exercise Mentor of the Year award.

Parker obtained her undergraduate degree in engineering from Drexel University, her master’s degree in organizational dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania, and her law degree from the Nashville School of Law.

of Constitutional Law

Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Usman is teaching Constitutional Law. Judge Usman is widely recognized as having one of the best legal minds in Tennessee’s legal profession. He is an acknowledged expert in Constitutional Law and taught the foundational Constitutional Law course at Belmont University College of Law for many years where he was recognized as one of Belmont’s most admired and respected professors.

He clerked for Judge W. Harold Albritton of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and Judge Mary Beck Briscoe of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He also previously served as a career clerk for then Justice William C. Koch, Jr. of the Tennessee Supreme Court and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee.

Judge Usman earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School, and his LL.M. from Harvard Law School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, and Order of the Coif.

Nashville attorney Jacob Vanzin co-teaches Appellate Practice with Donald Caparella.

Vanzin joined the appellate practice team at Dodson Parker Behm & Caparella PC in 2022, after practicing for almost a decade, as partner, with the firm of King, Turnbow, Smith & Vanzin, PLLP, in Franklin, Tennessee. He also previously clerked for the Honorable Patricia L. Cohen of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Vanzin is the assistant editor of the Nashville Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Handbook.

Vanzin graduated from University of Pittsburgh, with a B.A. in History and Political Science, summa cum laude. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.

Honorable Jeffrey Usman, NSL Professor

Jacob Vanzin, NSL Professor of Appellate Practice

NNashville School of Law Professor of Family Law Stephanie J. Williams made history on Aug. 1 when she was elected to the Circuit Court, Division IV, in Davidson County. Williams will serve as Davidson County’s first African American female Circuit Court Judge.

“Judge Williams is already widely admired by the members of the family law bar in the Twentieth Judicial District. I have no doubt that this regard will spread in very short order and that she will become one of the most respected judges in Tennessee,” said NSL Dean William C. Koch, Jr.

For a decade, Williams held the position of Special Master at the Fourth Circuit Court, working alongside the late Judge Philip E. Smith, who was the former NSL Professor of Family Law. She resigned from the Special Master position in April 2023 to run for judge, during which time she worked as a Rule 31 Family Mediator as a partner at Thompson, Burton, PLLC.

On Sunday, Aug. 25, more than 500 people gathered for Judge Williams investiture at Boone Auditorium on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University. Pam Smith, the widow of Judge Philip Smith, who passed away in 2022, held the Bible as Judge Williams took the oath.

“Judge Smith thought very highly of Judge Williams. He was impressed by her work ethic and empathy with the people appearing in his court. It was Judge Smith’s hope that Judge Williams would succeed him when he stepped down from the bench. Judge Smith urged me to appoint Judge Williams to succeed him as NSL’s Professor of our Domestic Relations course. I was delighted to follow his advice. In very short order, Judge Williams demonstrated not just her command of the

NSL Professor of Family Law

Stephanie J. Williams Becomes Family Court Judge

subject matter, but also her commitment to her students,” said Koch.

Judge Williams received her bachelor’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University and her J.D. degree from University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville. She now becomes part of a distinguished group of judges who have provided legal education at NSL.

“Having judges on the faculty provides students with a unique opportunity to better understand the judicial process,” Koch said. “Judges are able to provide not only a theoretical explanation of legal principles and rules, but they can also provide practical explanations regarding how these principles and rules operate in real life situations. Having a faculty that includes members of the judiciary helps students learn and better understand the judicial decision-making process. This understanding, in turn, helps students become better advocates for their clients.”

We congratulate Judge Williams on achieving this significant position, and we express our gratitude for her exceptional contributions in educating our NSL students on the subject of Family Law. Her term began on Sept. 1.

Judge Stephanie J. Williams is sworn in as Judge for the Circuit Court, Division IV, in Davidson County.

Photo credit – Martin B. Cherry

Catching Up with: NSL Alumna Tonya Craft ’16 T

onya Craft, a 2016 graduate of Nashville School of Law, devotes much of her law practice to defending those who are wrongly accused.

It’s a subject she knows all too well.

In 2008 Craft had a master’s degree in education, was living with young daughter and son in Chickamauga, Georgia, near her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was happily teaching kindergarten at Chickamauga Elementary School.

“It seemed like this quaint little town like you see in the Hallmark movies,” Craft said. “My kids had friends. I had friends. It was a good fit.”

Until it wasn’t.

On May 30, 2008, she was accused of molesting her own daughter and two girls who had spent the night with her daughter at their home between May 2005 and August 2007.

“My doorbell rang, and when I answered it, all hell broke loose,” she said.

Detectives at her front door told her she was being arrested for 22 charges of child molestation, sexual battery and aggravated child molestation against the three girls.

As she met with the detectives, a “safety plan” was immediately enacted for her children who were quickly taken away by her parents. They would live with Joal Henke, their father and Craft’s ex-husband, for the next two years.

“I only had time to tell the kids I loved them, to go with Grandma and Pop Pop. That was the worst part of the day. I should have told them I loved them 10 times. I should have given them 20 hugs. I shouldn’t have rushed them away,” she said. “I went from a kindergarten teacher who was really welcomed, to being accused of this really terrible thing, and being arrested. My picture was all over the news because I was a teacher and a woman. I lost my kids, my job, my career. I lost my house. I was living in a motor home in my friend’s driveway because of my bond condition. It was an emotional trauma, a physical one.”

“Accused,” the story of Tonya Craft’s fight for justice. Authors: Tonya Craft and Mark Dagostino.

Craft was very involved in preparing for her trial, working closely with her Atlanta defense attorneys. She flew to California to research another case similar to her own. “I was rotating between incoherency and ‘I need to pull my crap together and figure out what to do.’” she said. She respected her attorneys who “knew the law so much better than I did,” but she wanted to be an equal participant “because it was my life.”

Before her arrest, she was figuring out whether she wanted to go to law school or get her PhD in education. She had applications for both in the house the day the detectives came to her door.

“It was almost like, ‘Ok God, if going to law school is what you wanted me to do, you didn’t have to make it quite this complicated. I could have figured it out a little easier,” she recalls.

During the five-and-a-half-week trial, Craft took the stand for two days, repeatedly maintaining her innocence. On the day of the verdict, after listening to the jury foreman say “not guilty” 22 times, a visibly shaken Craft had to be supported by her attorneys as she was ushered out of the courtroom.

First on her agenda following the verdict was regaining custody of her son and daughter who were 11 and 8 respectively. She had filed a $25 million lawsuit against Henke and his wife, Sarah, and her accusers, but after talking privately with her husband, agreed to dismiss the lawsuit against the Henkes with prejudice, meaning she could not sue them again. She ended the lawsuit against her accusers as well.

“It was a really cool forgiveness, and ‘let’s forget the anger,’” she said. “I felt like emotionally it was going to be devastating to continue (with the lawsuit). I wasn’t going to put the kids through any more than they had already been through.”

In November 2010, six months after her trial ended, she regained joint custody of her children. “People thought that I had this trial, and it was all over, but no. The trial was really a huge Mount Kilimanjaro in the way of me getting my kids back. I had to fight to get them back,” she said.

Soon after the trial, she opened a consulting business to help those wrongly accused, then after the custody hearing, she took the LSAT and applied to NSL.

“I applied to Nashville School of Law for one specific reason. Other schools were logistically difficult. I wasn’t going to move somewhere else. The kids were young. They were in school. I wasn’t going to miss anything else after missing two years with them,” she said.

“NSL was the perfect fit, and I really liked it. I had only heard wonderful things,” said Craft who commuted from Chattanooga to Nashville for classes. “I’d get home at 3 in the morning and get the kids up at 6 to get them ready for school. I was sleepy for four years, but NSL offered me a wonderful and appropriate education and allowed me to have a life with my kids. We all experienced a lot of trauma during the trial. I had to make sure that they were OK, and I was OK.”

After graduating from NSL, Tonya Craft Consulting became Tonya Craft Legal. Craft and the three attorneys she has hired handle “pretty much everything except for bankruptcy.”

Craft, who wrote a book about her experience, “Accused: My Fight for Truth, Justice, and the Strength to Forgive,” said her cases include defending the wrongly accused, family law, dependency and neglect and mediation. Many of her clients are teachers.

She is currently working with filmmakers on a documentary about her case, and a company in California has expressed an interest in making a movie. She continues to get media requests from all over the world.

Craft said she learned a valuable lesson from her own case: being wrongly accused of molestation can happen to anyone, and it’s important to know the facts before forming an opinion.

“Before my case, if I had seen someone’s mug shot on TV and they were accused of what I was accused of, I wouldn’t have said, ‘did they do it?’ I would have said ‘how in the world could someone do something like that?’ So, I have learned that you have to understand situations and be knowledgeable before you form an opinion. I definitely learned not to just listen to something haphazardly on the news and just assume what I’m hearing is correct,” she said.

Time has healed some of the emotional wounds that Craft experienced during those two years. She tries not to dwell on the past and chooses instead to focus on the positives.

Her legal practice is flourishing. She and her husband, David, and the Henkes spend time together, often going out for dinner. Her daughter, Elizabeth, 22, graduated from the University of Tennessee and is working in marketing in Nashville. Her son, Kohl, 25, played football at University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and is in the insurance business and doing well. “We were close before this, and we’re even closer after.”

NSL alumna Tonya Craft ’16 meets with members of her law firm.

1978

Beth Jones has retired and is enjoying life in Collington, Maryland. Her career highlights include law clerk for the Grand Ole Opry, litigation work in the banking industry, an appointment to the Treasury Department’s Waco Investigative Team during the Clinton administration, and volunteering with a Sandra Day O’Connor program that sent attorneys to Eastern European countries to help change criminal laws.

1979

Patsi Gregory was recognized as the Tennessee, the Southeast, and the National School Nutrition Program Director of the Year for

2023. She is serving as the president of the Tennessee School Nutrition Association. In her position, she deals with regulations from the USDA every day and says her law degree is invaluable.

1980

Marlene Eskind Moses was named to the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers list, a collection of leading advisors for

divorce, separation, asset division and custody issues. She was also named to the 2023 MidSouth Super Lawyers list.

CLASS NOTES

Renard Hirsch was appointed Referee of the Environmental Court for Nashville and Davidson County. This court hears cases involving violations of the Municipal Code of Nashville and Davidson County.

1991

Sam Edwards received the Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award for 2024 from the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys’ Association at their summer seminar in Knoxville.

1995

Judge Melinda Rigsby retired as a Magistrate Judge in Davidson County Juvenile Court in 2022. She was appointed to the bench in 2012.

1997

Memphis attorney David Gold received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubble.

1998

Nashville criminal and DUI defense attorney David Ridings wrote and published his first book called “I Don’t Answer Questions.” It’s about knowing and invoking your rights under the constitution to remain silent. Ridings was also appointed in October 2023 to be a part-time Davidson County Night Court Judicial Magistrate.

2000

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway of the 13th Judicial District has been named president of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. As president, he will oversee operations, strategic direction, and policies for the conference as well as judicial districts throughout the state.

2001

Madeline Coleman has written a book titled “Losing My Way” under the pen name, Maddy Carroll.

2003

Sharon Reddick received the Rutherford County Child Advocacy Center’s 2024 Hometown Hero Award. Reddick is a member of the Rutherford County Child Protective Investigative Team. She prosecutes child abuse cases and seeks justice for child abuse and child sexual abuse victims.

2006

Joseph Fuson was named a Nashville Bar Foundation’s 2024 Fellow. The NBF Fellows program honors Nashville Bar Association members who have been in practice for at least 10 years and have

made outstanding contributions to the legal profession.

After 11 years at the Vanderbilt Police Department, ending as Major over the Campus Police, Donnie Harville was appointed in 2022 as Judicial Magistrate for Williamson County. Then, in December 2023, he became an instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.

2007

Stephen Kent won Clarksville’s Best Physician in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Neil Campbell recently opened a new law firm in Franklin. Campbell Perky Johnson PLLC will represent clients in family law matters. Campbell is also a Rule 31 Family

Law Mediator, mediating more than 70 cases annually.

Mary Frances Parker works for the Benoit Law Firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. She

specializes in personal injury law with a focus on negligent security, sexual assault/batter and catastrophic injury.

2009

Chelsea Nicholson received the 2023 Rising Star award in criminal defense from Midsouth Super Lawyers. She followed it up by receiving the award as Midsouth Super Lawyer for the first time in the area of criminal defense, and this year, she received the Father Jack Hickey Changemaker Award from Dismas House. Nicholson has her own law practice in Germantown (in Nashville).

2011

Chrissy Mincy was recently board certified as a Family Trial Law Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).

Michael Wennerlund was named a 2024 Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation.

2012

Theresa Scott accepted a position with Hughes & Coleman in Gallatin. She is a staff attorney specializing in personal injury law. Previously, Scott was an attorney for the State of Tennessee in the Juvenile Court.

2013

Spicer Rudstrom attorney Lance Thompson was recognized as a Super Lawyers Mid-South

Rising Star. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Thompson has also been selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

2014

This year, Ryan Lux opened Lux Title &

Escrow, LLC, and law firm Lux Law Group, PLLC. They are located in Germantown in Nashville.

Gary Bobo is a Senior Trial Attorney with Client Legal Services for Allstate Insurance Company. He represents Allstate clients and their subsidiary companies who have been named as defendants in personal injury and property damage lawsuits.

2015

Ashley Parker has been promoted to Family Law Unit Manager for West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc (WTLS) servicing the 21 counties in West Tennessee.

James Vince Witty was promoted to Executive Officer for the Human Resources Division with Metro Nashville Public Schools.

2016

Catherine D. Treadwell is now the Chief of Staff and General Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kayla Szyperski Rachal opened her Spring Hill law firm–Rachal Law Group, LLC–this summer. Rachal’s team is fluent in Spanish and specializes in immigration law.

2017

Eric Winters accepted a position with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as Assistant Attorney General. His experience with the Department of Health, Office of General Counsel over the last eight years will be invaluable as he works for the newly created Administrative Law Division.

Sarah Vivet was promoted to Senior Associate at Fragomen law firm specializing in immigration services. She works in Fragomen’s London, UK office.

Terria Blunt is a partner at Ritchie-Mize & Blunt in Clarksville. She works in several areas of law but concentrates on juvenile and criminal defense.

Chadwick Meyers is the 2024 recipient of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association’s

Young Trial Lawyer Award. The award is given annually to an attorney under 40 or in practice 10 years or less who has demonstrated excellence and professionalism in the legal practice, made a substantial contribution to the community, and advanced the mission of TTLA.

2019

NSL classmates Drew Clements and Bryson Eubanks are now working together at Clements & Eubanks, PC. Their firm, which specializes in probate and estate planning, originated in Chattanooga, however Eubanks just opened a satellite office in Mt. Juliet.

Christi Akins Holt received the 2023-24 Tennessee Community Corrections Association, “Director of the Year” award for the second time. This award is given in recognition for outstanding service, dedication and managerial leadership. She first received this

Bar Exam

Success List

Congratulations to these Nashville School of Law alumni who passed the February 2024 Tennessee bar exam.

Stephen Chadwick Butler

Tatyana Wingo Constable

Kevin Francis DeMar

Daimon Scott Duggar

Brian Patrick Harbaugh

August Danielle Kirby

Joshua Hall Lewis

Anna Carson McClearn

Robert Andrew Pope

Hannah Michelle Rule

Allison Nicole Wilson

Robert Allen Yager

CLASS NOTES

award in 2018 while she was still a student at NSL. She will also begin her tenure as the vice-president of the Tennessee Community Corrections Association this year.

Jesse Walker is associate general counsel for Roadie, a subsidiary of UPS, and is a candidate for the Goodlettsville City Commission in November’s election.

2020

John Murphy has been named the Tennessee Bar Foundation’s new executive director. Murphy is a Nashville lawyer who most recently served as senior advisor for economic inclusion

at the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. He has been an active member of the Tennessee Bar Association, serving on the Young Lawyers Division Board.

Pooja Bery obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of Alabama. She graduated cum laude with a concentration in taxation.

Jeremy Moseley is now the Senior Associate Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Correction. Previously, he was the Legal Resources Supervisor for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

2021

Stephen Gallant is the Assistant Public Defender for the 15th Judicial District in Tennessee which includes Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson Counties.

Andrew Collignon joined Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. in the role of Senior Facility Planning Specialist. Collignon has extensive experience in the health care field having worked as a consultant, as well as working for

major medical facilities in both the education and private sector.

2022

Pulaski lawyer Rob Laxson has been elected president of the Giles County Bar Association.

Dennis Disney was named legal counsel for the Gospel Music Association Foundation. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gospel Music Association. Its mission is to enhance the health and development of the genre through education, preservation, and general welfare needs.

2023

Dan Smith joined Prager Metis, an international accounting and advisory firm, as a manager of their Entertainment and Music Group. He is based out of Los Angeles. Smith has been instrumental in helping clients address unreported and underreported royalties by bringing audit claims and securing settlements while utilizing a collaborative approach with artists, attorneys, managers, and investors.

Heather Asbell is a legislative attorney at the Tennessee General Assembly.

Allison Wilson is an associate attorney with the Choosing Justice Initiative, a nonprofit in Nashville. Its goal is to end wealth-based disparities in the criminal legal system. Wilson represents indigent defendants in criminal cases across the state.

BOARD & FACULTY NOTES

Nashville School of Law Board Member Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. was recognized as this year’s Distinguished Service Award Recipient by Vanderbilt University Law School. Crenshaw,

who graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981, was celebrated at the law school’s Founders Circle Dinner in April. Nominated in 2015 by President Barak Obama, Crenshaw is Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He joined the NSL Board of Trust in 2016.

The 2025 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America awarded Dan Berexa for best personal injury litigation – defendants and best personal injury litigation – plaintiffs. For more than 40

years, Best Lawyers has been esteemed by both legal professionals and the public as a premier benchmark for legal integrity and distinction in the United States.

Lisa Helton was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation - Trusts and Estates

in Nashville in the 2025 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. This recognition is determined through a comprehensive peer-review survey. The award recognizes Helton’s exceptional work in Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, and Litigation - Environmental.

Barbara Moss once again won the 2024 Best of the Bar in Estate Planning. “Best of the Bar” is voted on by peers in Nashville.

Moss was voted one of the 100 best lawyers in Nashville for years in litigation and now estate planning. She consistently won the award for the past four years.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight E. Tarwater appointed Nashville School of Law Civil Procedure and Remedies Professor Clark Spoden as Reporter for the

Tennessee Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure, effective Sept. 1, 2024.

In Memoriam:

Lauren Anne Rollins Alexander, 2022

“Dick” Russwurm Clark, Sr., 1971

Elana Donde, withdrew as a 2L due to illness

S. Carmack (Mack) Garvin, Jr., 1984

Robert Harden Goodall, Sr., 1968

Hon. Burton Dunn Glover, 1988

Oscar Bernard Hofstetter, III, 1978

Donnell John Kelly, 2007

Peggy Duncan Mathes, 1976

Richard Hughes McFerrin, 1974

John H. Morris, 2016

Niles Stephen Nimmo, 1974

Robert Thompson Stroop, 1974

James Murray Sykes, 1974

Kyle Dewitt Williams, 2003

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