Stetson Lawyer Magazine: Fall 2019/Winter 2020

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LAWYER WINTER 2020

A M A G A Z I N E F O R S T E T S O N U N I V E R S I T Y C O L L E G E O F L AW A LU M N I & F R I E N D S

NEW DEAN, NEW VISION FOR STETSON LAW

Michèle Alexandre implements dynamic plans for the College of Law.

A LETTER FROM THE DEAN Celebrating all that we have achieved so far, as well as what’s to come.

There are certain stops on life’s journey that prove to be truly transformational. While there, we gain new insights, acquire new knowledge, learn a little more about ourselves and, hopefully, establish new friendships. Though my time here has been brief, I can already sense that Stetson Law is such a place for me. I imagine that as a graduate, your feelings are probably very similar.

I believe that Stetson is quite distinct from other law schools. First and foremost, we are more than an institution. We are a community, a community that supports and looks out for one another, not just professionally, but personally as well. Of course, our campus is also Dean Michèle Alexandre quite unique in its beauty. Plus, unlike other law schools that are part of a larger campus, everyone here shares a singular focus – excellence in the practice of the law. At Stetson, we join together to make a difference in the lives of one another and in the lives of our neighbors, both nearby and around the world.

Of course, Stetson distinguishes itself far beyond the boundaries of our campus. Many of this year’s accomplishments are highlighted in this magazine. For instance, we have won a variety of awards, including the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award, as well as three competition wins (so far!).

Plus, we can now lay claim to the No. 1 spot in the Fordham rankings.

We also celebrate the accomplishments of our prestigious alumni with the induction of three outstanding individuals into our Hall of Fame, as well as with the Stetson Law Alumni Association awards that recognize the continued support of our most dedicated graduates. And, of course, we must acknowledge the amazing generosity of our alumni and their families as they consider giving to our wonderful institution as a way of commemorating the honored memory of a loved one or to establish a living legacy of giving.

All of us associated with Stetson have much in which we can take great pride. We can celebrate our place in the Stetson “family” and the fact that we all play an integral role in furthering Stetson Law’s influence locally, nationally and even internationally. I thank you all for the warm and generous welcome you have given me so far, and I look forward to meeting and working with even more of you in the months to come!

Dean Michèle Alexandre Dean and Professor of Law Stetson University College of Law

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES Aja Williams

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Tyrell Daniel

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Cover Story: New Dean, New Vision

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Brad Kaufman *

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Steven Schwartz

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SECTIONS Letter from the Dean

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Briefs 4 Events 20 Faculty Forum

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Class Notes

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Giving Back

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STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW Wendy B. Libby, President Michèle Alexandre, Dean and Professor of Law Patricia Toups, Associate Director of Development Michael Casey, Associate Director of Alumni Relations Ashley McKnight-Taylor, Managing Editor Lisa Diliberto, Editor, Director of Communications and Marketing Darryl Wilson, Faculty Editor Tomeka Jackson, Contributing Editor Taylor Allyn, Kathryn Bonti, Molly Kaelin, Sarah Shirley, George Thurlow, Brittany Given, Sandra Carr, Writers Sandy Cromp, Graphic Designer * The feature profile on Brad Kaufman is being reprinted to reflect the correct version.

Stetson Lawyer magazine is published for alumni and friends of Stetson University College of Law. Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s first law school, has prepared lawyers and leaders since 1900. Today, Stetson leads the nation in blending legal doctrine with practical training, evidenced by its top-ranked programs in advocacy and legal writing. Through our academically rigorous curriculum and commitment to social responsibility, Stetson lawyers are ethical advocates ready to succeed in the legal profession.

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S T E T S O N L AW Y E R

BRIEFS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY AND STETSON LAW FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

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The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law have formed a new partnership to benefit the Tampa Bay area.

The two organizations have created the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy, which will align the power of advocacy with the heart of philanthropy. This new alliance reflects both organizations’ long-standing commitment to addressing important issues for an even more vibrant community.

The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy is a collaborative partnership that makes a strong case for creating positive change through the lens of activism and the spirit of giving.

The Alliance is a unique initiative to engage the community and spark deep discussion through: • Connection, by building partnerships and leveraging resources to enhance the common good; • Education, by developing self-advocacy and institutional capacity through access to experts and educational opportunities; and • Collaboration, by providing pathways for members of the community as well as students to become actively involved.

As part of the collaboration, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay will offer two paid fellowships each semester for students attending Stetson University College of Law. The two fellowships will begin in spring 2020, and students will gain an in-depth understanding of community philanthropy and have hands-on experience in working with nonprofit organizations.

On Nov. 19, Stetson Law hosted a VIP event to share more details about the partnership with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Pictured here from left: Jenay Iurato, J.D. /MBA ‘00, secretary of the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers; Patricia Douglas, member of the CFTB Board of Directors; Jesse Coraggio, vice president of community impact for the CFTB; and Stetson Law student Alexis Deveaux. (Photo by Mark Wemple)

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students and our community. Working together, we can empower the next generation of nonprofit and Tampa Bay leaders to become effective community advocates, which will have a positive impact on our region.”

— Michèle Alexandre Stetson University College of Law is providing office space at its Gulfport campus for the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Stetson also will provide meeting and conference space to the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay at its Gulfport and downtown Tampa campuses.

The general public, local nonprofits, and corporations will have opportunities to take part in conversations sparked by the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy during events held at Stetson University College of Law. Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, said, “We look forward to working with Florida’s first law school to create opportunities for our region, to discuss communitywide challenges and possible solutions, and to promote the economic health and vitality of Tampa Bay through an innovative program.”

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay awards about $20 million each year to nonprofit organizations. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the Community Foundation has granted more than $230 million.

Faculty and students at Stetson University College of Law provide more than 30,000 hours of pro bono legal and advocacy services through various institutes, programs and centers, including the Veterans Law Institute, the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, the Social Justice Advocacy Program, the Center for Excellence in Elder Law, etc.

From left: Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the CFTB, with Dean Michèle Alexandre and Jesse Coraggio, vice president of community impact for the CFTB. (Photo by Mark Wemple)

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The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy formalizes the organizations’ shared belief in aligning resources and investing in advocacy, thought leadership, and programs to solve community challenges.

BRIEFS

Meredith E. Level, J.D. ’94 was posthumously recognized with the Certified Lawyer of the Year Award during the 2018 Florida Bar Convention in Orlando.

Pictured, from left: Mary Robison; Stetson alumnus Roberto Fleitas, J.D./MBA ‘04, LL.M. ‘05; June Saine Level; Diana Basta, J.D. ’03; Stetson alumnus William Kramer, J.D. ’80; Stetson alumnus Dennis Cohrs, J.D. ’84; and Lynn Lovejoy.

MOTHER ESTABLISHES NEW SCHOLARSHIP IN MEMORY OF DAUGHTER B Y B R I T TA N Y G I V E N

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une Saine Level visited Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus this summer to discuss with Dean Michèle Alexandre something very dear to her heart: a way to honor the memory of her daughter, Meredith Level, J.D. ’94.

Meredith graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1983 and earned an MBA from the University of Kansas in 1986. She worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City as an examiner before realizing she wanted to change careers. Meredith decided to attend law school at Stetson University College of Law and graduated in 1994.

While at Stetson, Meredith was an editor of Stetson Law Review.

After graduating, Meredith went on to become a highly respected attorney. She practiced real estate law at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. in Orlando. During her 20-year career, she helped represent local, regional and national businesses, as well as real estate investment companies, banking associations, and other retailers.

Meredith also served as the firm’s Charitable Contributions Committee Chair, organizing hundreds of fundraising initiatives on behalf of the firm and in the community for organizations such as the Heart of Florida United Way, United Arts of Central Florida, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Second Harvest, Jewish Family Services, and many more.

June joked that every organization Meredith joined, she rose to be the president. Meredith was a hard worker who was dedicated not only to her career but also to her community. She touched many lives throughout her life.

She was honored with the “Leader in the Law” award by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, as well as the “Women of Distinction Award” during the Annual Women of Distinction Gala hosted by the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council.

Sadly, Meredith passed away from cancer on Oct. 5, 2017.

Her mother decided to create the Meredith E. Level Memorial Endowed Scholarship in her honor.

It will provide financial resources for a second- or third-year female student. The scholarship may be awarded to the same student(s) more than once, and preference will be given to nontraditional students.

June wants Meredith to be remembered as someone who always made time to listen to people and to help them, not just attorneys but children, too. June was very proud of Meredith when she won the National Junior Achievement Bronze Leadership Award. Meredith was a member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Central Florida and helped launch the JA Academy for Leadership and Entrepreneurship at a local high school. She also helped create a finance virtual curriculum to teach budgeting, investing, setting financial goals and other practical skills to ninth grade students at the JA Academy.

June said Meredith had to take out a lot of student loans to attend law school and remembers going out to dinner to celebrate with her the night she paid them all off. Given Meredith’s own experience and her lifetime dedication to educating young people about finances, June said she thinks that Meredith would have liked the idea of giving money to a law student who needed it.

She served as the chairperson of the Florida Bar Real Estate Certification Committee, where she wrote and graded the exams for board certification in real estate. Meredith was posthumously awarded the Certified Lawyer of the Year Award in 2018 – an honor recognizing her exemplary professionalism, excellence and character, as well as her commitment to The Florida Bar’s certification program and to the practice of law.

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BRIEFS

STETSON WELCOMES NEW DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS B Y M O L LY K A E L I N

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oCynda Hudson joined the College of Law as the new Assistant Dean of Student Affairs this year. An Indiana native, Hudson graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, and earned a Master of Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education from Texas A&M. She went on to receive her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.

Hudson’s interest in higher education began during her time as an undergraduate. Georgetown College was a small, private, liberal arts college. The dean of students recognized that Hudson held several leadership roles on campus, including resident assistant, ropes course facilitator and many others. He told her she could turn that initiative into a career and would excel at it. Hudson realized she enjoyed her leadership roles more than her classes and was closer with the administrators than she was with other students. She appreciated how they had the power to encourage change on campus and decided to pursue a career in student affairs administration.

Hudson has worked all over the country at multiple universities.

She moved to Florida in 2007 when she accepted a position at the University of Florida. At UF, Hudson noticed the students did not have as much access to the administration as they did on a small campus. She missed the intimacy of a smaller school, and

Photo credit: Daniela Gomez

the opportunity to work for a professional college appealed to her – hence the move to Stetson College of Law. Hudson wears many hats and enjoys the variety of challenges her daily work presents: “Every day is something new,” she said.

Her favorite part of the job is helping students achieve success as they define it and achieve their goals, big or small. How does she know she’s made progress with a student? If the student speaks to the person at the front desk after leaving a meeting with her.

“If the student says goodbye to the person at the front desk, that means we’ve had a good meeting and made progress. It is my litmus test that they felt heard, comfortable and validated,” said Hudson.

Hudson sees the future of higher education as being centered on free speech and First Amendment rights issues.

Administrators will increasingly face how best to facilitate and foster uncomfortable dialogue in a respectful way. Other challenges she points out are federal regulations such as Title IX. Whatever challenge comes Hudson’s way, she meets it headon with a wealth of experience and natural leadership ability.

When she is not focusing on making the Stetson experience top notch for students, Hudson enjoys painting with watercolors, crafting, crocheting and reading.

2019 TOTAL J.D. STUDENTS 139

2019 ENTERING CLASS 44

PART TIME

PART TIME

723

255

FULL TIME

FULL TIME

2019 J.D. ENTERING CLASS 28%

MINORITY

Data as of August 26, 2019

6

52%

FEMALE

BRIEFS

STETSON LAW ALUMNI HONORED FOR THEIR ONGOING DEDICATION TO THE SCHOOL

BY SANDRA CARR

During the 2019 Annual Florida Bar Convention in June, the Stetson Law Alumni Association presented awards to four alumni who have made a positive impact in the community and supported Stetson University College of Law. Outstanding Alumni Representative Award

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tetson Law alumnus Hugo de Beaubien, J.D. ’73, received the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award for his dedication and service to the SLAA, commitment to the Central Florida alumni chapter and encouraging other alumni to participate in the group’s activities. His efforts have been an integral Hugo de Beaubien part of the alumni group’s continuous growth. Beaubien, the founding partner of DSK Law in Orlando, also established the DSK Law Book Award, which is presented annually to the Stetson Law student who has the highest grade in contracts.

“I’m honored to receive the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Representative Award,” said Beaubien. “Stetson Law has produced a number of outstanding lawyers. I have always felt that alumni should support and give back to Stetson Law as they are able to do so for the great education that we all received.”

Distinguished Alumnus Award

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Bob Gualtieri

inellas County Sheriff and Stetson Law alumnus Bob Gualtieri, J.D. ’02, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The accolade recognizes alumni who have been outstanding in their chosen profession and brought honor to the individual and Stetson Law. The award also acknowledges the recipient’s dedication and service to humanity, which fosters Stetson Law’s ideals. Gualtieri is the 14th sheriff of Pinellas County in its 104-year history.

“I have been the Pinellas County sheriff for the past eight years, and during that time, I have worked to uphold the rule of law and protect individual rights while reducing crime in the county and ensuring effective public safety,” said Gualtieri. “Receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award is a humbling honor, especially because of the many other Stetson Law graduates who have achieved so much during their law careers.”

Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award

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tetson Law Prineet Sharma, J.D. ’98, was recognized for his utmost dedication and support of Stetson Law and the SLAA with the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award.

Sharma is the founding partner of Sharma Eminent Domain Lawyers in Winter Garden, Fla. He is a member of the Veterans Prineet Sharma Law Institute’s advisory board, and along with his wife, Shamila Sharma, J.D. ’96, has established the Sharma Family Veterans Endowed Scholarship.

“I’m very honored and humbled to receive the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award,” said Sharma. “Supporting veteran scholarships allows me to give back to those who have given so much for us to enjoy our country’s freedoms. If anyone deserves recognition, then it’s the brave men and women and their families who serve so honorably to protect us.”

Ben Willard Award

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s a fourth-generation Floridian, Pam Bondi, J.D. ’90, was elected twice to serve as Florida’s attorney general. She chairs Ballard Partners’ corporate regulatory practice, but at press time was serving as an adviser to the White House on proactive impeachment messaging and other special projects. The SLAA acknowledged her accomplishments Pam Bondi with the Ben Willard Award. The recognition honors alumni who have expended extra efforts to prevail for the benefit of Florida’s citizens, and whose humanitarian achievements have brought distinction to themselves and Stetson Law. “I’m beyond humbled and do not feel deserving of this great honor because so many Stetson Law graduates do so much for Florida and our country,” said Bondi. “I was a career prosecutor and became attorney general to help people. My Stetson Law professors had a tremendous impact on my career goals, and I learned the value of giving back and have tried to make a small impact on the world.”

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BRIEFS

FLOWERS USING INTERIM STINT TO DRIVE GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN ADVOCACY B Y G E O RG E T H U R LOW

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rofessor of Law Roberta Kemp Flowers has taken the helm of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy as its interim director for the 2019-2020 academic year. She previously served as the Center’s first director from 1999 to 2007.

Flowers, a professor at the College of Law since 1991, came to Stetson as a former prosecutor — at both the state (in Colorado) and federal (in Florida) levels — to teach Trial Advocacy. She has since expanded her teaching to include courses such as Evidence and Criminal Law, as well as a focus on issues in ethics and professionalism and how those connect to Elder Law. During her previous tenure as director, one of her biggest accomplishments was bringing together Trial Team, Moot Court, and the new (at the time) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Team under one roof to work together to achieve more than any single team could have done alone. She also brought in Trial Team alumni to help coach teams. Along with her work on the competition teams, Flowers led efforts to add course offerings to the J.D. program, such as the tethered Trial Advocacy/Evidence course.

In her time away from the Center, Flowers became increasingly involved with Elder Law issues. Her interest in the area comes from a passion for ethics and professionalism, as well as her understanding of issues surrounding exploitation from her time as a prosecutor. She dedicates a lot of her time to providing trainings around the country on these topics and currently serves on the board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

With her return to the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, Flowers has set a number of ambitious goals. One of the biggest is fundraising to build a new Advocacy Center that would bring everyone involved in Stetson’s advocacy programs — including the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration and other programs — into one space.

Another significant goal is, of course, to find and hire the next director and assistant director for the Center. For these roles, Flowers is looking for visionaries who will maintain the program’s current national reputation and expand it even further. She currently is in the beginning stages of the interview process, and she hopes to have a new director in place by the summer.

In addition to those overarching goals, Flowers is focused on hosting student competitions and two major conferences — the Reimagining Advocacy conference and the Educating Advocates: Teaching Advocacy Skills (EATS) conference. The Reimagining Advocacy conference was held on campus Nov. 8 and 9 and

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brought more than 30 speakers from around the country to explore the future of legal advocacy and advocacy education. The EATS conference in the spring will focus on training professors how to teach advocacy courses.

Flowers is also working with Director of Trial Programs and Professor of Practice Julia A. Metts to develop programs to train Emilia adjunct professors in trial advocacy from around the Soliman country how to be better educators. The two are also developing trainings for state and territorial bar associations, especially in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they conducted a conference during the summer.

Despite everything on her plate, Flowers will remain focused on the academic Advocacy program during her time as interim director. She wants to grow the LL.M. and concentration programs, including building a pipeline from participation to obtaining jobs in litigation. She aims to expand course offerings, including more tethered courses and those that are a semester long.

Though she will be back in the Center for Excellence in Advocacy for only a year, Flowers is going full throttle to maintain Stetson’s No. 1 national ranking in trial advocacy and to continue to find ways to improve the advocacy program as a whole.

BRIEFS

STETSON STUDENTS WIN REGIONAL NEGOTIATION COMPETITION, ADVANCE TO NATIONALS Pictured from left are Jeremy Funt, Julia Knoll, Brittany Kovalskaya, Erica Eddy, Kaile Bennett and Corey Roberts.

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wo Stetson students won a regional negotiation competition and will advance to the nationals in Chicago in February.

Stetson Law Dispute Resolution Board members Brittany Kovalskaya, Corey Roberts, Erica Eddy, Jeremy Funt, Julia Knoll and Kaile Bennett competed Nov. 1-2, 2019, at the regional rounds of the American Bar Association Law Student Division Negotiation Competition hosted by Brigham Young University’s J.Reuben Clark Law School.

Stetson Law alumnus Bill Greiner J.D. ’07 and Professor Jim Sheehan J.D. ’77 coached the teams. In a field of 24 teams, duo Jeremy Funt and Kaile Bennett placed second in preliminary rounds and advanced to the final round, which they won. Funt and Bennett will represent Stetson at the national competition, which will take place in Chicago in February at the headquarters of the American Bar Association.

“Not only am I very proud of all six of these students, but I am deeply grateful to coaches Sheehan and Greiner, who invested countless hours in mentoring and preparing our teams,” said Professor Kristen David Adams, faculty director for the Dispute Resolution Board. “Our stalwart coaches are the bedrock of Stetson advocacy.”

MOOT COURT BOARD WINS COMPETITION IN VIRGINIA

MOOT COURT BOARD BRINGS HOME 2 AWARDS

Stetson Moot Court Board team members who participated in the Annual Leroy R. Hassell Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition are, from left: Tyler Vaughn, Tiffani Thornton, Chris Lawson, Evan Dahdah, Audrey Gangloff and James Nealon.

Moot Court Board members from left: Christopher Gieger, Sean Mullen, Judge Michael Allen, Christopher Odgers and Vasilios Zimarakos.

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embers of Stetson’s Moot Court Board added another plaque to the case after winning the 19th Annual Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Va., on Oct. 4-5, 2019.

Teams from around the nation participated in the competition, including powerhouses Baylor, Liberty, St. Mary’s and South Texas. Stetson fielded two teams for the competition.

A team comprising Chris Lawson, Tiffani Thornton and Tyler Vaughn had the second-best brief in the competition, but fell to South Texas in a close quarterfinal round.

The team with Evan Dahdah, Audrey Gangloff and James Nealon won multiple rounds to end up head-to-head with South Texas in the finals. The trio persevered and brought home the championship. To top it off, Nealon won the award for the best oralist in the final round!

Professor of Law Brooke J. Bowman, J.D. ’02, and the Rev. Bill Wildhack, J.D. ’05, coached Stetson’s teams at this year’s competition.

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oot Court Board members took Best Team and Best Oralist in the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition at The George Washington University Law School, in Washington, D.C., Nov. 1-3, 2019.

Not only did Stetson win, but two Stetson teams faced off against each other in the semifinal round! The participants were Sean Mullen, Christopher Odgers, Vasilios Zimarakos and Christopher Gieger.

Teams from around the nation, including those with veterans projects or clinics such as Baylor, Brooklyn, George Mason, University of Denver, and Widener, participated.

Vasilios Zimarakos won Best Oralist, and Sean Mullen and Christopher Odgers were named Best Team.

The victories add to a trove of Stetson trophies outside the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), giving us five Best Team plaques, eight Best Brief awards, and five Best Oralist wins.

Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox, director of the Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic, and Professor Brooke J. Bowman, J.D. ’02, director of Moot Court Board and interim Law Library director, coached this year’s winning teams.

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BRIEFS

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Q&A I N T E RV I E W S B Y M O L LY K A E L I N , P H OTO S B Y D A N I E L A G O M E Z Kia Tolbert for Stetson Law Republicans What motivated you to reinstate the Stetson Law Republicans?

How is the area of Space Law expanding?

1) I am a Republican and hold conservative values; and 2) I think it’s important to have a safe space for all forms of beliefs and ideals. There seems to be some stigma about the Republican Party in our current political climate. As with every demographic, there are a range of ideals and beliefs within the party. I am the type of person who advocates for hearing from the other side.

A person can’t make informed decisions, if he/she doesn’t know the alternatives. It allows us to get a chance to review current events and politics in a context other than law. We plan to participate in local campaigns and encourage our community to vote, regardless of party affiliation. Recently, we co-sponsored a roundtable discussion with the Federalist Society, Stetson Law Democrats, and Constitutional Law Society. Working with other groups is important to us. Emily, the president of the Stetson Democrats, has been very helpful to me in understanding how organizations work and how to effectively lead an organization.

I have a science background, so I am always looking for where science and law overlap. I am most excited about our upcoming speaker, Chris Quilty of Quilty Analytics.

He will be joining us and International Law Society to share in-depth knowledge of the private space sector.

Student Affairs was very helpful in creating the Space Law Society. The hardest part was getting the word out to students. Many people don’t know about this area of law and thought it was a joke.

Blair Brannan for Intellectual Property Law Society

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Cori B. Foster for Space Law Society

Space Law is growing in every way possible. It encompasses international law and policy, contracts, environmental/ sustainability issues, and even criminal law. The first space crime was committed just this year. As space itself becomes more accessible to private individuals and companies, all the legal issues relevant to this planet will follow us into outer space. Space Law is such a new area, and we want Stetson to be a leader. The organization is a way to make sure students are up to date on all things space law.

Rebecca Klonel and Emily Preu for Stetson Law Democrats

How does Intellectual Property Law Society plan to connect with alumni?

Why is it important to have your organization on campus?

This year, we are hosting “Pathways to IP Practice,” where we invite local intellectual property attorneys and professors to speak. It’s a great networking event, and members learn about career paths and current issues in patent, trademark and copyright law. My favorite event was our “Trademarks Crash Course,” where our vice president, Alyssa Castelli, taught the basics of Trademark Law. The organization was inactive when I became president, but I wanted to ensure IPLS remained active to provide law students with important resources. Intellectual property is a constantly evolving field, and it is important for new and undecided students to learn about the variety of opportunities it offers. Stetson has many IP internships and externships.

The future of intellectual property law will focus on globalization; as technology and international trade expand, nations will need to find new ways to protect their intellectual property, inventor’s rights, and consumers.

We think it’s important to have political organizations on campus in general.

Rebecca initiated reinstatement of the organization after attempting to join the Stetson Law Democrats and finding it was no longer active. We aim to encourage political discussion and civic involvement. This year, we are focusing on community outreach. We just had Mary Fahy from the Pinellas County Democrats train students on how to register voters. Last year, we worked with Alan Brock, J.D. ’17, LL.M. ‘18, the Florida Democrats' Regional Voter Protection Director, on numerous pro bono events such as phone banking, poll watching and voter registration. Our favorite event is Bringing Respect to Politics — a collaboration with American Constitutional Society, the Federalist Society, and the Stetson Law Republicans, and the focus is on civil political discourse. It’s always really awesome to hear other perspectives and bring people together instead of pushing them apart.

BRIEFS

STETSON AGAIN RANKS NO. 1 NATIONALLY IN TRIAL COMPETITION PERFORMANCE

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he 2018-2019 results are in, and once again Stetson Law ranks No. 1 nationally in trial competition performance.

This most recent recognition comes in addition to the more than 20 years Stetson has been recognized as No. 1 in trial advocacy according to U.S. News & World Report.

The Trial Competition Performance Ranking (TCPR) from Fordham University School of Law is a points-based system that ranks student trial teams in interscholastic law school trial competitions at national and regional competition levels.

All TCPR points are allocated based on the competition result data compiled by Faulkner Law School, and Fordham University School of Law used the data to create a three-year analysis of the top 25 performing schools. The TCPR tracks points for the current academic year, as well as provides a historical ranking based on the accumulation of points beginning in 2016.

For the current academic year, Stetson ranks No. 1 with 21 points, followed by Loyola University School of Law with 17 points and UCLA with 15 points. For the 2016-2019 period, Stetson tops the chart with 43 points, outpacing its closest competition by 14 points. Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law comes in second for the period with 29 points, followed by Fordham University School of Law with 26 points.

“While we appreciate this recognition and the achievements of our students, our core mission will always be about the invaluable training our students receive,” said Julia Metts, J.D. ’04, Director of Trial Programs and Professor of Practice at Stetson. “The trophies are nice, the wins are encouraging, but the difference we make in the lives of others will forever be our purpose!”

STETSON LAW PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE WINS AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AWARD

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tetson Law’s “Professional Development Conference: Campus to Career” won the 2019 American Bar Association’s E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award.

“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor, and we are thrilled to be included among so many other wonderful programs,” said Joann Grages Burnett, J.D. ’08, conference co-chair and associate director of Career and Professional Development.

The award is renowned in the law community.

“The E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award is a longstanding and well-regarded award,” said Prof. Kirsten K. Davis, Ph.D., Campus to Career faculty co-chair, and director of the Institute for Advancement of Legal Communication.

“Stetson Law has been a leader in legal professionalism education, and receiving the award is great feedback that we are providing professional development opportunities that are meaningful to our partners at the bar and on the bench.”

The one-day conference, now in its third year, was held on campus last February and is geared toward the professional development of first-year law students but is open to all students. It is designed to prepare participants for success through programs focused on resilience, time management, professionalism, decision-making, planning, civility, selfassessment, mentoring and wellness. It featured keynote speakers who provided insight about their student-to-professional journey, breakout sessions on topics such as self-advocacy, teamwork, mentoring and more.

“At Stetson Law, we are committed to preparing students for professional success, no matter which path they choose,” said Burnett. “We are proud of what we do and are excited about continuing to grow and expand ‘Campus and Career.’”

The $3,500 award, which was established in 1991, is named after former ABA and American Bar Foundation president E. Smythe Gambrell. It recognizes the nation’s exemplary, innovative and ongoing professionalism programs in law schools, bar associations, courts and other legal organizations that ensure integrity and dedication to the legal profession and public.

Clinton W. Simmons III, at right, president of the Stetson Chapter of the American Bar Association-Law Student Division, accepts the award on the college’s behalf from Josh Camson, Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism. (Courtesy photo)

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PA R T - T I M E S T U D E N T S U C C E S S

AJA WILLIAMS

STETSON LAW CLASS OF 2020

Photo credit: Emily Preu

B Y TAY L O R A L LY N

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ja Williams is a part-time student and full-time advocate who balances her studies with raising a big family. Williams, 33, is in her fourth year of study at Stetson University College of Law and plans to graduate in May of 2020. She currently works full time as a property manager in St. Petersburg, overseeing HUD-based programs and low-income tax credit housing. She has been working in the field since 2007 and handles everything from tenant issues to accounting and payroll.

Williams' legal interest was initially sparked when she was in third grade. The O.J. Simpson trial was in full force at the time.

“I remember my teacher watching it in class, and I wanted to be Johnnie Cochran,” she said. After the trial was over, everyone wanted Cochran to represent them in their legal battle. Williams was enthralled with the level of respect he commanded in the courtroom — and she wanted to do the same.

Find your balance, and do what you have to do.

If you give it your all, you can be just as successful – if not more so.”

— Aja Williams, Part-Time Law Student After law school, Williams hopes to be an advocate for families experiencing housing issues. She wants to continue handling HUD and fair housing issues, as well as ADA violations. Her public interest goals were bolstered by her experiences as a property 12

manager and her time working with low-income families. She sees the unfairness when families are forced to advocate for themselves and simply don’t know how to. There are so many rights people have that they either don’t know they have, or they just don’t know how to assert them, Williams said. Many people get mistreated because they don’t know their rights, especially when it comes to landlord-tenant issues. Williams said she wants to help these kinds of people secure the justice that they deserve.

Williams balances her full-time job and part-time schooling with raising six children, ages 7-17.

“I call it my own little circus – there’s always something going on in one of the arenas,” she joked. She is insistent that it’s a juggle rather than a struggle because it’s what she wants to do. Becoming a lawyer has been her dream since she was a child, and she is driven to see that dream become a reality. Williams said she views her time as a part-time law student as a wholly positive experience.

However, she sometimes found herself putting off taking certain classes or having to adjust her schedule to find time to fit in everything. Despite all of her external responsibilities raising a big family and handling a full-time job, Williams finds ways to be involved on campus. She is the vice president of Phi Delta Phi and was involved in the Student Summer Advisory Council in 2017 and 2018.

Because part-time law students are more likely to be older and have more responsibilities, Williams emphasizes the importance of individuality. She doesn't compare herself to full-time students who are on a completely different timeline.

Find your balance and do what you have to do. If you give it your all, you can be just as successful – if not more so.

PA R T - T I M E S T U D E N T S U C C E S S

TYRELL G. DANIEL

STETSON LAW CLASS OF 2020

“Not just one person, but the entire Stetson Law community has made a significant impact on my life, especially my Fall 2016 Part-Time student cohorts.

Dealing with so many people with different life experiences, backgrounds, and ways of thinking has been extremely beneficial to me as a future attorney. ” — Tyrell G. Daniel, Part-Time Law Student

BY SARAH SHIRLEY

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yrell G. Daniel is enrolled in the part-time program at Stetson Law and averages about 11 credit hours per semester. He broke his leg one week before starting law school but did not let the temporary physical incapacitation distract him from achieving his goal of becoming an attorney. As he prepares to graduate in May 2020, he understands from experience the bedlam law school can sometimes be.

“The life of a law student is organized chaos,” he said.

Daniel knows law school is all about time management and maintaining focus, so he uses his Apple calendar as his daily planner to keep his chaos organized. In addition to classes, he works 40 hours a week as a paralegal with the Florida Office of the Attorney General. His entire weekends are dedicated to preparing for class.

“Learning the law is a complex process,” Daniel said. “At times, you feel like you have no idea what you are doing and none of it makes any sense. Then it all starts to come together, and your mind becomes a developed hub of information that at one point you didn’t believe was possible.”

Daniel has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Biology from Hampton University in Hampton, Va. He also has a Master of Public Health degree from Florida State University. When he graduates, he will be the first attorney in his family.

During his time at Stetson Law, Daniel won the second annual William Reece Smith, Jr. Pro Bono Competition for his work with Children's Legal Services. The experience opened his eyes to the countless children who are victims of their environment and who cannot advocate for themselves. It inspired Daniel to become part of the solution by making pro bono work a part of his career as a future lawyer. His long-term goal is to practice health care law, specifically health policy and administration. He said he hopes to advocate for people in the community who are unable to advocate for themselves and to find ways to provide health care to disadvantaged groups in rural communities.

Daniel said he has learned many things during his time at Stetson Law, including that hard work does pay off and you shouldn’t be afraid to try new things, because you never know what opportunities you might be missing. For example, before law school Daniel did not intend to do litigation; however, after taking trial advocacy with Judge David Demers, B.A. ‘68, J.D. ’72, and Susan Demers, B.A. ‘71, Daniel gained an interest in litigation that he never thought he would have.

“Not just one person, but the entire Stetson Law community has made a significant impact on my life, especially my Fall 2016 PartTime student cohorts,” Daniel said. “Dealing with so many people with different life experiences, backgrounds, and ways of thinking has been extremely beneficial to me as a future attorney.”

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F E AT U R E

NEW DEAN HAS STRONG VISION FOR STETSON LAW’S FUTURE

IT INCLUDES A CALL TO ACTION FOR YOU, OUR ALUMNI B Y A S H L E Y M C K N I G H T - TAY L O R

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ichèle Alexandre has a broad and ambitious vision as the new Dean of Stetson University College of Law, but she knows she cannot accomplish it alone. Her biggest and most influential group of collaborators will be you: our alumni.

You, better than anyone, know the value of the education you received at Stetson Law, as well as any possible shortcomings. As working lawyers and leaders in your chosen industry – be it law firm, corporate counsel, nonprofit, government or something different altogether – you understand what knowledge and skills attorneys in the 21st century need to succeed.

And so, Dean Alexandre calls on you to join her in creating an inclusive environment that provides a superior legal education, and a law college with the most robust alumni engagement and support and the national prominence it deserves. She believes in starting on day one and has wasted no time implementing a number of initiatives in her first six months at Stetson.

Community Partnerships

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ean Alexandre wants to continue to build on Stetson’s strong history of social justice activism and further cement the College of Law as an advocacy hub in the community by expanding pro bono initiatives. To start, she facilitated a new partnership with the large regional nonprofit organization the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. The new initiative is called the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy, and its goal is to align the power of Stetson’s advocacy with the heart of the CFTB’s philanthropic efforts.

“People tend to think of law schools as simply a place where you go to learn how to be a lawyer, but the business of law saves lives,” Dean Alexandre said. “From defending those wrongfully convicted, to winning crucial medical benefits for veterans in need, to protecting migrants fleeing persecution, lawyers change lives.”

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People tend to think of law schools as simply a place where you go to learn how to be a lawyer, but the business of law saves lives,” Dean Alexandre said. “From defending those wrongfully convicted, to winning crucial medical benefits for veterans in need, to protecting migrants fleeing persecution, lawyers change lives.”

— Michèle Alexandre

Dean Alexandre speaks during a Nov. 19 VIP event Stetson Law hosted to share more details about the partnership with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Marlene Spalten, right, is the president and CEO of the CFTB. (Photo by Mark Wemple)

The collaboration with the CFTB will help expand the reach of what Stetson students can achieve in the community. As part of the alliance, the CFTB will offer two paid fellowships each semester for Stetson Law students beginning in spring 2020.

The fellows will gain an in-depth understanding of community philanthropy and hands-on experience working with nonprofit organizations. In addition, Stetson Law will provide office and meeting space at its Gulfport and Tampa campuses for the CFTB.

Collaborations with Businesses

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n addition to nonprofits, Dean Alexandre seeks to forge new partnerships with local businesses. The first company on deck: Clearwater-based cybersecurity company KnowBe4.

Founded in 2010, KnowBe4 now has offices around the globe, and Stetson alumna Alicia Dietzen, B.B.A. ’12, J.D. ’16, serves as the company’s general counsel. The company will be working with Stetson Law to offer a variety of internship opportunities for students.

Another goal for Dean Alexandre is to provide a diverse array of career options to students, including J.D. Advantage opportunities in Tampa Bay and nationally. There are myriad careers where law students can utilize their education in new and exciting ways – from technology and education, to elected office and nonprofit work. Opportunities beyond the typical law firm job abound for law grads. Dean Alexandre believes internship opportunities with companies such as KnowBe4 will expose students to different industries and spark ideas for alternative paths after graduation.

This is one area where Dean Alexandre is calling on alumni to help. Those who have carved out unique careers should share their stories with her, as their life experience and advice could be used to benefit students or adjust the curriculum. She would also love to hear from alumni who could offer internships to Stetson Law students; together you can develop relationships that strengthen your company, the college, and future lawyers.

LEADING THE WAY ON DIVERSITY Dean Michèle Alexandre received the John Mercer Langston Legal Education Leadership Award at the 15th Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair at Columbia Law School in New York in early November.

The award is named for John Mercer Langston, the founding dean of the Law Department at Howard University and first black law school dean in 1869. Today, 150 years after Langston’s achievement, we have reached the largest number of black law school deans serving at American law schools in history.

Also during the conference, Stetson University College of Law was honored with a Diversity Outreach Champion Award. The award recognizes Stetson Law’s demonstrated commitment to recruiting black law students. The conference previously recognized Stetson Law as a Diversity Outreach Champion in 2014.

“My vision is to call on the whole Tampa Bay business community, including our alumni, to make them aware that we are here, we want to collaborate, and that collaboration doesn’t have to mean spending money,” Dean Alexandre said.

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F E AT U R E

GETTING PROFESSIONAL U N D E R G R A D UAT E S C H O O L Dean Alexandre graduated summa cum laude and was the first black valedictorian of her class at Colgate University in 1996 with a degree in English and French and background in Philosophy.

LAW SCHOOL She graduated from Harvard Law School in 2000.

BOOKS “The New Frontiers of Civil Rights Litigation” (Carolina Academic Press, 2019) “Sexploitation: Sexual Profiling and the Illusion of Gender” (Routledge, 2014)

SAMPLING OF JOURNAL ARTICLES When Freedom Is Not Free: Investigating the First Amendment’s Potential for Providing Protection Against Sexual Profiling in the Workplace (William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law, 2009) We Reap What We Sow: Reversing Detrimental Pre-Disaster Policies Using Post-Disaster Development Strategies in Mississippi and Haiti (University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change, 2011) First Comes Legalization, Then Comes What? Tips for Washington and Colorado to Help Break the Cycle of Selective Prosecution and Disproportionate Sentencing (Oregon Law Review, 2013)

Law Firm Challenge – She Wants YOU

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hen it comes to money, Dean Alexandre does not shy away from the fact that higher education is a business and philanthropic endeavor that must find a way to be self-sufficient to continue its mission. She recognizes Stetson Law’s need to balance that with staying laser-focused on the end goal of developing quality lawyers. She believes in asking people to commit to an act of philanthropy when it’s in service to education and, ultimately, to students in need.

As proof, at press time the law school was nearing the end of a new fundraising program called the Stetson Law Firm Challenge.

The pilot program was designed to be a friendly competition where law firms with multiple Stetson Law graduates vied for the highest percentage of alumni giving back to Stetson Law. The focus was on achieving 100 percent participation – getting all 16

alumni to give something, however much – rather than an overall financial goal.

While it should be obvious, Dean Alexandre cannot overstate this: More money for student scholarships means Stetson Law is better able to compete with state and other prestigious schools for the highest quality students who are recruited by other law schools. She firmly believes Stetson Law is worth the investment, and clearly you – as alumni – do, too. Dean Alexandre says it is critical to stand behind that belief by showing your support.

Culverhouse Chair brings expertise in anti-discrimination law and criminal procedure

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ean Alexandre is determined to reinvigorate Stetson Law from the inside as well as the outside. She has focused much of her legal scholarship and time in private practice on civil rights, gender and race. As an attorney, she was part of the legal team that worked on the black farmers’ lawsuit that represented members of the National Black Farmers Association in a discrimination case against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The suit resulted in a $1.2 billion settlement. At the University of Mississippi School of Law, she organized the Race and Sustainability Conference, a national conference focused on sustainability and social justice for the poor in the rural South.

Her latest book, “The New Frontiers of Civil Rights Litigation,” examines foundational cases and doctrines from current and evolving civil rights jurisprudence to help students master key lessons from litigation, lawmaking and activism. And Dean Alexandre cannot stay away from the classroom; she will be teaching her civil rights course this spring.

Dean Alexandre understands that higher education has struggled to achieve significant inclusion at all levels. Stetson Law students are currently 6.6 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, and 3.3 percent Asian, and one of her goals is to increase student diversity by focusing on inclusion – meaning targeted efforts to reach and recruit students, faculty and staff with varied backgrounds and perspectives. Engaging quality off-campus speakers, such as Devon Carbado, to foster conversations about the issue is just the beginning of her efforts to accomplish that objective.

Her choice of Carbado, a Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law, to serve as Stetson Law’s 2019-2020 Culverhouse Chair was a clear effort to bring a unique voice to campus. Carbado has devoted much of his career to the examination of race, writing in the areas of employment discrimination, implicit bias, and critical race theory. His latest book is Acting White? Rethinking Race in “Post-Racial” America. In addition to holding lectures and other sessions with faculty and students at Stetson Law this school year, Carbado will teach a two-credit course called “Critical Race Judgments: Critical Race Theory and Supreme Court Decision making.”

GETTING PERSONAL Alexandre is vegan and is a firm believer in practicing self-care, including regular meditation. She also is an avid runner who has run with members of Stetson’s running club and participates in local races.

She has a 4-year-old daughter and family in Orlando and Miami.

Her favorite TV show is The Good Place.

Her favorite book is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Academic Success and Student Support

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tetson Law’s pass rate for first-time takers exceeded the statewide average for the July 2019 Florida Bar Examination, but Dean Alexandre is motivated to improve the rate significantly. She is in the midst of a national search for a new Director of Academic Success and Bar Preparation and increased the amount of direct involvement from faculty on Bar prep. The Office of Bar Preparation Services also has full-time attorneys who provide individual counseling on bar prep, and Dean Alexandre welcomes any alumni interested in helping with this effort.

One way Dean Alexandre hopes to increase comprehensive practice readiness for students beyond the Bar is through establishing an alumni-student mentoring program. While internships offer great practical training opportunities, one-on-one mentorship would give students a chance to glean more practical guidance and potentially provide a lifelong resource to help shape their careers. Sometimes the greatest gift really is time, and alumni interested in sharing theirs can participate in this endeavor.

“Sometimes even the smartest, most talented students need the outside perspective of someone who recognizes something in them that they may not see in themselves,” Dean Alexandre said.

“That bit of encouragement or nudge in a new direction can make all the difference.”

Dean Alexandre’s Bona Fides

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ean Alexandre knows just how much the right word, at the right time, from the right source can impact a person’s life because her life trajectory was propelled by a key constituency: teachers.

She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1975 under the dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, and came of age during the tumult that drove Duvalier to flee and led to subsequent government coups. She fled the violence when she was 15, immigrating to Brooklyn with her mother and brother.

Though she spoke no English when she arrived, she was able to utilize her exposure to Latin in Catholic school in Port-au-Prince and her love of Toni Morrison’s books to become fluent in the language and excel at Prospect Heights High School. The teachers there opened her world in ways she could never have imagined, exposing her to books, ballet, food, culture and more.

The most pleasant thing about living in the Sunshine State so far: the weather in November.

black valedictorian, and went on to attend Harvard Law School.

After graduating from law school, she clerked for U.S. District Court Judge John P. Fullam in Philadelphia, and practiced law in New York and Alabama. She taught at the University of Houston, The University of Baltimore, American University, and The University of Memphis, and was professor at the University of Mississippi since 2008. She served at UM until joining Stetson in 2019.

Dean Alexandre was most recently the associate dean for Faculty Development and Intellectual Life, as well as a professor of law and the Leonard B. Melvin Jr. Lecturer, at the University of Mississippi School of Law. During her professional and academic career, Dean Alexandre received Fulbright and Watson fellowships; won the Ben A. Hardy Faculty Excellence Award for outstanding teaching, scholarship and service; was selected as an SEC-U Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow; was named one of Ebony Magazine’s Top 100 Influential African Americans of 2013; and was named one of the 50 “Most Influential Minority Law Professors 50 Years of Age or Younger” by Lawyers of Color Magazine.

Having grown up in a country where free speech and civil rights did not exist and violence was commonplace, and then having endured the challenges of starting over in a new country, Dean Alexandre now carries a sense of fearlessness and urgency. Very little can be as frightening as what she experienced in her youth, and she is keenly aware of just how much of a difference teachers, education and lawyers can make in a person’s life – because she is living proof.

Dean Alexandre brings that fervent belief to her role at Stetson Law and hopes to ignite that passion in you – our dedicated alumni. She wants to remind you of the difference you set out to make in the world when you decided to become a lawyer and that Stetson Law is here to help nurture those goals in you and all future students.

“The College of Law’s priorities regarding advocacy, social justice, comprehensive practice readiness, academic rigor and student engagement are dear to my heart. I am eager to work with all aspects of the law school, the university, and with its amazing alumni to help the law school continue to grow and reach new heights.,” Alexandre said.

She enrolled at Colgate University at just 16, became its first 17

ALUMNI PROFILE

BRAD KAUFMAN

STETSON LAW CLASS OF 1986

My career has been a long and wondrous journey filled with many highs and lows and despite the hard work, I wouldn’t change anything. You don’t know where it is going to end, so just do the best you can day to day. Don’t spend time worrying about getting to the top, just strive to do the best you possibly can for your clients.”

— Brad Kaufman B Y K AT H RY N B O N T I

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rad Kaufman, J.D. '86, a first-generation college graduate, never imagined when he sat in his first class at Stetson Law that one day he would end up becoming one of the most respected lawyers in the nation. His only dream at the time – was to become a lawyer like his TV idol Perry Mason. But fast forward 33 years, and one can now find Kaufman traveling from state to state and country to country, proudly serving both his clients and the firm in his role as Co-President for Greenberg Traurig, one of the world’s largest law firms.

“I grew up in Florida and always knew I wanted to go to law school.

I just really didn’t know much about law firms, how they worked, or how the industry worked. All I thought I wanted to do was become a prosecutor then a defense lawyer,” Kaufman said.

Kaufman met his wife, Jill, three days before his first class at Stetson.

The two met at the school’s bookstore and started dating in their third year. The two now have been married for 31 years and have three extremely bright and driven children, two heading for careers in law.

Kaufman realized early on his talent for advocacy and grit for big law life. He finished his first year at the top of his class and with a clerkship at a coveted law firm. Kaufman went on from there, navigating the legal market, graduating with a job offer at Gunster in West Palm Beach.

In 1989, Kaufman was recruited by Steel Hector & Davis – then one of Florida’s oldest, most prestigious firms. A law firm that was known to not hire Stetson grads. But to Kaufman it was his opportunity to prove that he belonged in the big leagues. In 1992, Kaufman made partner at Steel Hector.

Seven years later, Kaufman was recruited by Greenberg Traurig.

Greenberg Traurig was becoming a nationally prominent firm, and Kaufman made the decision to move to the larger platform.

He brought his entire team of secretaries, paralegals, associates and partners with him when he made the move. That team, almost twenty years later, is largely still with him. It is the team that Kaufman credits for his success.

“Be honest about your own weaknesses, and hire people who make

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you better. Treat them with respect and loyalty. That is how you can become the best lawyer for your clients,” he said.

At Greenberg Traurig, Kaufman also serves as the Global Hiring Partner and Chairman of Professional Development and Integration.

Kaufman has also served the Bar. In the past, he has acted as a Chairman of a special appointed grievance committee investigating famed attorney F. Lee Bailey’s alleged bar violations. That investigation ultimately led to Bailey’s resignation from the Bar. Kaufman served as vice-chair of the Vision 2016 Commission, a three-year project aimed at making recommendations to reform legal education. Kaufman has also served on many boards in both the United States and Europe.

Outside of his leadership positions, Kaufman is still highly involved in his day-to-day legal practice. His list of career highlights includes trying cases and arbitrations throughout the country and arguing appeals in many of the Federal Circuit courts. Many of his cases involved hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.

But the one that meant the most to him involves his mother and stepfather, who were able to stand on the steps of the United States Supreme Court with him just after he and his co-counsel, a national figure, Ken Starr, appeared at oral argument.

Kaufman is currently working on a very high-profile criminal case in London involving a famous British financier (a case closely watched by the media). The work is hard, Kaufman notes, but rewarding.

“My career has been a long and wondrous journey filled with many highs and lows, and despite the hard work, I wouldn’t change anything. You don’t know where it is going to end, so just do the best you can day to day. Don’t spend time worrying about getting to the top, just strive to do the best you possibly can for your clients.”

Although Kaufman may not have envisioned himself ending up here, it is evident from his continued dedication to the betterment of his firm, the legal community and most importantly his clients, that he was always destined to be a lawyer. A lawyer that even Perry Mason would be proud of.

ALUMNI PROFILE

STEVEN SCHWARTZ

STETSON LAW CLASS OF 2015

It’s rewarding when all the preparation comes together and gives you the ability to make quick decisions when needed. We prepare for three major time periods: the trade deadline, NBA Draft, and free agency.”

— Steven Schwartz

B Y M O L LY K A E L I N

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here is nothing more inspiring than watching someone pursue their passions, and Fort Worth, Texas, native and Stetson College of Law alumnus Steven Schwartz, J.D. ’15, is doing just that.

Schwartz’s journey to becoming the current Director of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz started when he was young. As a child, he was a huge basketball fan and knew he wanted to work for the NBA. Throughout his life, he always engaged in activities that kept him close to basketball. Schwartz attended The University of Texas, majoring in finance. He applied to become the manager for the UT basketball program the summer after his freshman year. Schwartz didn’t get the position but was referred to the Austin Toros (now known as the Austin Spurs). He worked for the Toros his sophomore, junior and senior years of college. It was here that Schwartz became connected with coach Quin Snyder, who, at the time, was the Toros head coach.

After working with the Toros, Schwartz knew he needed to differentiate himself from former players and coaches if he wanted to advance his career and work for the NBA. Law school seemed like the perfect way to do so. At a law school recruitment event, Schwartz met Darren Kettles, Stetson’s Director of Admissions, who convinced him to come to Stetson. Schwartz was taken with the combination of the great weather, good vibes, friendliness, and small environment.

He dove right in and began taking as many business law courses as he could. Professor Louis J. Virelli III and Professor Mark D. Bauer were his greatest mentors and gave him invaluable general life advice. During the years, he took full advantage of the internships offered at Stetson and gained exposure to the “real world of law.” In his 2L year, he interned with a federal judge in Tampa, and in his 3L year, he interned with the league office of Minor League Baseball. Schwartz was grateful for this opportunity because it meant he could dedicate his summers to the NBA.

Steven Schwartz, right, with David Morway, who is the assistant general manager for the Utah Jazz and Steven’s current boss and mentor. (Image courtesy of Steven Schwartz)

His 1L summer was spent with the Orlando Magic, assisting their summer league team, and his 2L summer was spent with the Utah Jazz assisting with their pre-draft process and preparation for free agency. Schwartz recalls working for the Jazz in May and June after graduation and driving back to Texas to cram for the July bar.

“I know you aren’t supposed to do that, but it ended up working out,” he said.

After passing the bar, Schwartz began applying for jobs in the NBA. His path crossed again with Coach Snyder when Snyder offered Schwartz a newly created assistant position. It seemed like a good opportunity, so he took it. In this position, Schwartz did a little bit of everything. He was still able to collaborate with the front office while learning how an NBA coaching staff operates during the season.

One year later, the assistant general manager left the Jazz for another opportunity. This was Schwartz’s time to shine: He was given the opportunity to put his knowledge of the NBA collective bargaining agreement and salary cap to use. It wasn’t long before Schwartz nabbed his current position of Director of Basketball Operations.

As with any career, there are rewards and challenges.

“It’s rewarding when all the preparation comes together and gives you the ability to make quick decisions when needed. We prepare for three major time periods: the trade deadline, NBA Draft, and free agency.”

As for the challenges? Like with any high-intensity job, the work never stops.

“Things change quickly, and you have to forecast those changes and plan ahead,” he said.

Still, Schwartz is exactly where he wants to be. He is grateful to his parents for supporting him in what most would call a risky, unpredictable career path, as well as to his fiancee, Lauren, and his goldendoodle, Bennie, for their support and patience while he travels.

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EVENTS

HALL OF FAME

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tetson University College of Law inducted Susan S. Demers, B.A. ’71, the Honorable Michelle T. Morley, J.D. ’76, and Thomas “Tommy” D. Roebig Jr., J.D. ’86, into its prestigious Hall of Fame on Oct. 26, 2019. For the past 15 years, Stetson Law has honored distinguished luminaries in the legal and academic arenas at its annual Hall of Fame event, and previous winners include Charles A. Dana, William R. Eleazer and Dolly Hand, LL.B. ’49.

served on the board of directors of the Clearwater Bar Foundation. Three times she earned the CBA President’s Award, which honors exceptional service to the public and the legal profession. She is active with the People’s Law School, an 18-week program that teaches members of the public about different areas of the law.

Demers is on the board of the St. Petersburg City Theatre and helped spearhead the 2017 effort to save the company when it began to struggle financially. She and her two granddaughters continue to perform in Florida’s longest continually operating

Dean Susan S. Demers, B.A. ’71 with her daughter, Kristin Demers-Crowell, J.D. ’ 97 and husband, Judge David A. Demers, B.A. ’68. J.D. ’72.

SUSAN S. DEMERS

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usan S. Demers is a 1971 graduate of Stetson University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Theatre and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law. Since 1982, she has served as the Dean of St. Petersburg College’s ABA-approved Paralegal Studies Program and taught a variety of law-related classes. She is currently the Dean of the College of Policy Ethics and Legal Studies at SPC, and one of her most important endeavors is the Civic Engagement Project designed to develop more informed citizens. She also oversees the four-year program in Public Policy and Administration.

In addition to her work at SPC, Demers has served as an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy and Technology at Stetson University College of Law. She devotes time as a consultant and coach for Stetson’s competitive trial teams. In 2009, she, along with husband David Demers and Professors Roberta Flowers and Lee Coppock, J.D. ’96, coached the trial team that won the prestigious American Association of Justice competition. They also coached three Chester Bedell Competition teams, two of which won the championship.

In 2008, Demers was honored with Stetson Law’s Distinguished Service Award, which was created for non-alumni who devote their time, integrity and scholarship to make Stetson Law the outstanding legal institution that it is today.

She is a past president of the Clearwater Bar Association and

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The Hon. Michelle T. Morley, J.D. ’86, with Professor Emeritus Robert Bickel.

community theater.

T H E H O N . M I C H E L L E T. M O R L E Y

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ichelle T. Morley is a 1986 graduate of Stetson University College of Law. She spent several years in private practice before being elected to the 5th Judicial Circuit in Florida in 2006.

As a judge, Morley has distinguished herself in Family Law, Child Dependency and Dependency Mediation Training, Guardianship, Domestic Violence, Poverty Law and Economic Diversity Issues, Eldercare Issues, Judicial Ethics, and the future of Equal Justice. She became an Arbitrator for the Florida Attorney General’s Office, resolving “Lemon Law” complaints and joined the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators. She also serves on the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Morley has always been active in her community, including being a member of or volunteering with the Tri-County Business

EVENTS

and Professional Women’s Club, the Inverness Rotary Club, the Lake Sumter Community College Advisory Board, the Sumter County Sheriff’s sexual assault response team, The Refuge at Jumper Creek, and the Sumter County Adoption Support Focus Group, among other organizations. She also participated in Leadership Sumter County and was on the board of the Thomas E. Langley Medical Center.

Her biggest initiative has been the Eldercaring Coordination project. As a judge, she saw many cases where an elderly person was losing the capacity to care or make decisions for himself or herself, and the person’s family began fighting about what to do. They would take their disputes to court, forcing judges to micromanage delicate situations best left to families.

In 2013, she and co-chair Linda Fieldstone brought together a task force of 20 statewide agencies (including Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law) to create the Eldercaring Coordination project. The goal was to train eldercaring coordinators as an alternative dispute resolution option to help families care for their loved ones without the need for micromanagement from the courts. Since 2015, eldercaring coordination has successfully assisted 70 families.

Morley has also taken an active role in mentoring Stetson Law students through on-campus presentations and other teaching opportunities, including serving as a guest faculty member in the Constitutional Law and Civil Rights History travel course.

Tommy Roebig, J.D. ’86, with his wife, Paula.

T H O M A S “ TO M M Y ” D . RO E B I G J R .

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ommy Roebig is a 1986 graduate of Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of the National Moot Court Team and a Dana Scholar. He now is partner in the civil litigation law firm Florin Roebig with fellow Stetson alumnus Wil Florin, J.D. ’80. In 2007, the Stetson Lawyers Association awarded Tommy and Wil its outstanding Alumni Award (Paul May Meritorious Service Award).

Susan Demers, B.A. ’71, and Dean Michèle Alexandre share a laugh with Josh Magidson, J.D. ’ 80, during the Hall of Fame awards dinner.

During his more than 30 years in practice, Roebig has received many accolades, including those from Florida Trend™ Magazine, U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers Magazine, and Martindale-Hubbell.

In 2007, he was listed as one of “America’s Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers” by the national legal organization Lawdragon. Every year since 2009, Roebig was selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the state of Florida.

Roebig has obtained jury awards of a million dollars or more in both federal and state court trials, including recoveries in the areas of medical malpractice, discrimination and civil rights, liquor liability, product liability, class action, and motor-vehicle negligence. In 2016, Roebig obtained a $42 million jury verdict against Applebee’s and others in a personal injury case that was the largest contested jury verdict in Hernando County history. His successes have led to induction into the “Million Dollar Advocates Forum,” a national organization that recognizes Trial Lawyers who have received jury awards in excess of a million dollars, and he has been named to the “Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum” for numerous jury verdicts of multiple millions.

Roebig is a frequently requested lecturer at Stetson University College of Law on the topics of negligence and wrongful death damages. He has often been a requested speaker on trial tactics to numerous legal associations and trial lawyer seminars, including the Florida Justice Association. He has served as an adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College teaching civil law courses.

You can watch the individual inductee videos on the Hall of Fame page on our website.

Roebig is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar and The National Board of Trial Advocacy, as well as Board Certified as a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certifications. He is a member of the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation and numerous other associations that promote civil justice.

21

ALUMNI EVENTS

Spring Scholarship Banquet – Howard Ross J.D. ’64, and The Hon. Anthony Johnson J.D. ’80

Orlando Alumni Chapter Reception at Greenspoon Marder – Michou Phenelus J.D. ’15, Chantay Perry J.D. ’17, Carlos Manresa J.D. ’17, Evelynn Passino J.D. ’18, and Danny Kavanaugh J.D. ’16

Atlanta Alumni Chapter Reception at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens – Kathryn Rand J.D. ’15, Roxy Richardson J.D. ’15, and Marissa Dunn J.D. ’ 17

New York City Alumni Chapter Reception Spring 2019

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Professor Emeritus William Eleazer, Jan Eleazer, Dianne Swygert, and Professor Emeritus Michael Swygert

22

Alumni and Student Mixer at The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art – Lucas Fleming J.D. ’90, Carrie Pilon J.D. ’02, Chad Pilon J.D. ’02, and Brittany Maxie-Fisher J.D. ’07

ALUMNI EVENTS

Orlando Alumni Chapter Reception at Greenspoon Marder – Michou Phenelus J.D. ’15, Dr. Timothy Letzring J.D. ’91, and Izi Pinho J.D. ’16

Washington, D.C., Alumni Reception on Capitol Hill – Shelby Mars J.D. ’17, and Agata Kuzniar J.D. ’19

Atlanta Alumni Chapter Reception at the Atlanta Botanical Garden – Kaleena Weaver J.D. ’11, Olivene Makerson J.D. ’11, and Dean Michèle Alexandre

Detroit Alumni Cocktail Hour – Matthew LaMaster J.D. ’11, Richard Page J.D. ’85, Thomas DeCarlo J.D. ’84, Stacy DiDomenico J.D. ’09, and Jessica Newton J.D. ’15

Sarasota Alumni Chapter Tea at the Ritz-Carlton – John Ferrari J.D. ’13, Andrew Boyer J.D. ’06, and Ed Boyer J.D. ’77

Sarasota Alumni Chapter Reception at the Sarasota Yacht Club – Slade Dukes J.D. ’04, Callie Cowan J.D. ’08, and Kimberly Bleach BBA ‘00

Alumni and Student Mixer at The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art – Kaitlyn Dugas J.D./MBA ’17, and Justin Homburg J.D. ’18

23

ALUMNI EVENTS

Atlanta Alumni Chapter Reception at the Atlanta Botanical Garden – Lily Ngo J.D. ’12 and Jennifer Tindell J.D. ’15

United States Supreme Court Admission Ceremony - Tim McFadden, J.D. ’90,, Nick Dorsch, J.D. ’13, Amber Dorsch, J.D. ’13, Vivien Monaco, J.D./MBA ’97, Dean Michèle Alexandre, Emily Morgan, J.D. ’07, Professor Stephanie Vaughan, J.D. ’91, Stephanie Mensing, J.D. ’01, and Marcus Rosin, J.D. /MBA ’97

Alumni and Student Mixer at The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art – Paul Suppicich J.D. ’05 and Ahmad Yakzan BA ’03, MBA ’05, J.D. ’08, LLM ‘09

Stetson Law Alumni Reception at the Florida Bar Convention – Jennifer Eden J.D. ’90, Deniece Eden, and Nathan Eden J.D. ’69

New York City Alumni Chapter Reception at Greenspoon Marder, Fall 2019

Stetson Law Alumni Reception at the Florida Bar Convention – Giovanni Giarratana J.D. ’16 and Richard Harrison BA ’83, J.D. ’86

24

F A C U LT Y F O R U M

S T E T S O N L AW Y E R

FACULTY FORUM January – February 2020

ANDREW APPLEBY,

Assistant Professor of Law, presented Targeted Taxes: Localities Take Aim At Large Employers to Solve Homelessness and Transportation Challenges, at the Junior Tax Scholars Workshop, and at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) Annual Meeting. This paper was also selected for the National Tax Association Annual Conference. Prof. Appleby also presented Designing the Tax Supermajority Requirement and participated in the Tax Policy Discussion Group at the SEALS Annual Meeting.

LINDA ANDERSON,

Professor of Law, authored Florida Bar Exam Essay Prep: Strategies and Study Material (preliminary edition) for Cognella publishing. The book is a combination of substantive rules important for the Florida Bar Exam essays and specific study techniques and tools.

JASON R. BENT,

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, published the article Is Algorithmic Affirmative Action Legal? which was selected for publication in the Georgetown Law Journal and won the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) Call for Papers contest. Assoc.

Dean Bent also presented the article at the annual SEALS conference in July in Boca Raton, Fla. Assoc. Dean Bent also attended the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Bi-annual Associate Deans Conference in Chicago, IL.

PAUL BOUDREAUX,

Professor of Law, who edited volume 22 of the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, taught the course, The World at Stake! International Environmental Adjudication and Arbitration, as part of Stetson’s summer program in The Hague, Netherlands. Prof.

Boudreaux also drafted the article Species … in Law, as well as the article Rethinking Suburban Segregation.

BROOKE J. BOWMAN, J.D. ’02, Professor of Law; Director of Finances, Advocacy Boards; Director, Moot Court Board; Interim Director of the Law Library, was invited to join the editorial board of Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing, an online journal published for legal research and writing professors, as well as law firm and law school librarians. At the editorial board retreat in early May, Prof. Bowman was elected to be the journal’s first Managing Editor. In May, Prof. Bowman oversaw the logistics of hosting 125 students participating in Stetson’s 2019 Advocacy Workshops and Tryouts. In June, Prof. Bowman coached Stetson’s Orseck Moot Court Team of Christopher Pate and Christopher Lawson, who advanced to the final round of the competition, and Christopher Pate won the best oralist award in the final round. The final round is judged by the justices of the Florida Supreme Court.

Additionally, Prof. Bowman was one of two panelists for the “Open Forum About the ABA’s

National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC),” at 2019 Coaches and Competitions Clinic, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., Aug. 16, 2019.

CATHERINE J. CAMERON,

Professor of Law, completed the second edition of the book titled The Science Behind the Art of Legal Writing. The Carolina Press publication was coauthored with Lance N. Long, Professor of Law, and Coordinator of Legal Research & Writing.

KIRSTEN K. DAVIS,

Professor of Law, and Director of the Institute for Advancement of Legal Communication, was appointed Chair of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism for 2019-20. Dr. Davis is a regular contributor to the Law Professor Blog Network’s Appellate Advocacy Blog, and her Aug. 8, 2019, post, “Setting Off Text for Attention and Meaning—The Visually Rhetorical Em-Dash,” was selected by Litigation World as its Pick of the Week article in August. Further, in August, Dr. Davis’ article “Reading Legal Writing Together: Reading Groups Can Build the Disciplinary Community of Legal Writing Scholars” was listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for the Legal Writing eJournal and in the Legal Practice topic area. Dr. Davis also co-chaired Stetson Law committee planning the “Reimagining Advocacy” conference. The conference

brought together law school faculty, judges, practitioners, and others to explore ideas about the future of legal advocacy.

KELLY M. FEELEY,

J.D. ’95, Professor of Law, served as co-chair of the ADR panelists presentations, and spoke on four panels at the 2019 Coaches and Competitions Clinic at American University’s Washington College of Law. Prof. Feeley continues to serve as the ABA Law Student Division Competitions Co-Chair, which presides over four law school competitions, and on the Negotiation and NAAC committees. She also submitted the final manuscript for the Carolina Academic Press published co-authored text Mastering Interviewing and Counseling. Prof. Feeley also participated in oversight of the Stetson Law dispute resolution board tryouts, which included conducting two of the three mandatory lectures and judging three preliminary rounds as well as the final round.

MICHAEL S. FINCH,

Professor of Law, and his co-author(s) revised the following Aspen publications: An Illustrated Guide to Civil Procedure (4th Ed. 2019) by M. Finch, J. Bent, and M. Allen, and Federal Courts-Context, Cases, and Problems (3rd Ed. 2019) by M. Finch, C. Roberts, and M. Allen.

ROBERTA K. FLOWERS,

Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy 25

F A C U LT Y F O R U M

and Professor of Law, along with Julia A. Metts, J.D. ’04, Professor of Practice and Director of Trial Teams, presented a two-day Advocacy Training program for the Virgin Islands Bar Association in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Prof. Flowers serves on the Board of Directors for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and served on the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) Exam Writing Committee, where she assisted in drafting the exam for the National Certified Elder Law designation. Prof. Flowers presented at the Aging in America Conference in New Orleans on the ethics of representing the elderly and, as the chair of the NAELA Faculty Development Committee, spoke at the NAELA Annual Conference on Adult Learning and Effective Presentations.

ROYAL C. GARDNER,

Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, was the lead author of “Advocating for Science: Amici Curiae Brief of Wetland and Water Scientists in Support of the Clean Water Rule,” which appears in the June 2019 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Wetlands. Co-authors of the article, which has more than 1,100 downloads, include Erin Okuno, J.D. ’13, Foreman Biodiversity Fellow and Adjunct Professor, as well as Dr. Kirsten Work and Dr. Ben Tanner of the DeLand campus. Prof.

Gardner was also the lead author of an article published in the June 2019 issue of the Environmental Law Reporter and a co-author of a technical report published by the Environmental Law 26

Institute. In July, he and Prof.

Okuno filed an amici brief on behalf of aquatic scientists and scientific societies in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving the Clean Water Act. Prof. Gardner received the Dickerson-Brown Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship in May.

CYNTHIA G. HAWKINS,

Professor of Law, was the recipient of the Homer & Dolly Hand Award for Excellence in Faculty Research, 2018-2019.

Prof. Hawkins recently authored The Child Support Enforcement Handbook (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2019) and the article Throwing the Baby Out with the Bath: Florida’s Flawed Approach to Post-Adoption Inheritance. She also continued her extensive public service as a board member for numerous organizations, including the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys (AAVIA), AALS Section on Family & Juvenile LawPublications Board Member, ABA Section on Dispute Resolution-Editorial Board, St. Petersburg Bar Association (SPBA)-The Paraclete Magazine, Guide Dog Users of Florida, and Pinellas County Council of the Blind (PCB).

REBECCA C. MORGAN,

J.D. ’80, Boston Asset Management Chair in Elder Law, Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Elder Law, wrote the August Elder Law Prof Blog post, “The Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging RFP for 2020 Academic Research Grants.” The Center also worked with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, LL.M. ’10, on a webinar series for investigators and prosecutors on how to put together cases of elder financial exploitation.

The first webinar was in May.

In June, the Center presented an elder law ethics webinar on dementia, gun ownership and red flag laws. The speakers included Roberta K. Flowers, Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy and Professor of Law, as well as the General Counsel for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Prof. Morgan is the current chair of the AALS Aging & Law section. She also finished a guardianship video series for the Florida Office of State Court Administrator.

Additionally, Prof. Morgan participated in NAELA’s case law update at their annual meeting, presented on elder law ethics at the Texas Elder Law section annual meeting, completed two sets of book updates, and agreed to write a short article for the ABA Criminal Justice section quarterly magazine. She has also become a faculty adviser for the Journal of International Aging, Law, and Policy. In addition to serving as the Director, M.J. In Health Care Compliance, Prof. Morgan is serving as Interim Director, M.J. In Aging, Law and Policy and Interim Director of the LL.M. In Elder Law.

ANNE E. MULLINS,

Associate Professor of Law, chaired the Association of Legal Writing Director’s 2019 Biennial Conference. This August, she began her tenure as President of ALWD, one of the nation’s largest professional legal writing organizations.

Prof. Mullins is currently co-authoring the book Florida Legal Research, which will be published by Carolina Academic Press. At the SEALS annual meeting, she presented the article-in-progress Stare Mutata, and moderated an advisory panel to new scholars. Prof. Mullins also

participated in the discussion group Diversity + Inclusion = Change.

JASON S. PALMER,

Professor of Law and Leroy Highbaugh Sr. Research Chair, has been selected as the Leroy Highbaugh Sr. Research Chair for 2019-2021. His article A Separation of Powers Analysis of Forum Non Conveniens’ Adequate Available Forum was accepted for publication by St. John University’s Law Review, and his article on Emotional Intelligence and Homophobia will be published by Wake Forest Law Review in a symposium issue on Cognitive Emotion and the Law. Prof.

Palmer is one of the new faculty advisers for Stetson’s Journal of International Aging Law and Policy. Prof. Palmer has been appointed to a three-year term as Chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Committee on Professional Development.

Prof. Palmer also has been elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla.

ELLEN S. PODGOR,

Gary R. Trombley Family White-Collar Crime Research Professor and Professor of Law, published Bennett Gershman on the Prosecutor’s Role as “Minister of Justice,” 16 OHIO ST. J. OF CRIM. L. 399 (2019) as part of a Symposium in honor of Professor Bennett L. Gershman and Bruce Jacob: A Leading Voice in Public Defense, 48 STETSON L. REV. 305 (2019) as part of a Symposium honoring Dean Emeritus Bruce Jacob, J.D. ’59,. She also co-authored a book review, Organizational Opportunity and Deviant Behavior: Convenience in White Collar Crime, with Viviana I. Vasiu, B.A.’15, J.D. ’18, in Rutgers

F A C U LT Y F O R U M

School of Law & Rutgers School of Criminal Justice’s Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, reviewing the book Petter Gottschalk, Organizational Opportunity and Devient Behavior.

Additionally, she completed as official reporter The Florida Bar Criminal Justice Summit: A First Step in Improving Florida's Criminal Justice System. She also completed as chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)working group The Strategic Impact Litigation Working Group Report. In addition to these two articles/ essays, one co-authored book review, and two bar-related Reports, she was a discussant on four programs at the Southeast Association of American Law Schools (SEALS): Business Law Workshop - Insider Trading Stories; The Mueller Investigation; A 2020 Vision of Criminal Prosecution and Defense, and Effective Teaching Strategies for Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Faculty.

Additionally, at SEALS, Prof. Podgor was a panelist for the program Scholarship Fundamentals: Becoming a Productive and Fulfilled Scholar.

Prof. Podgor also presented in Brisbane, Australia, at the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL) on the topic The Prosecution of Bribery & Corruption in the United States, at the NACDL West Coast White Collar Crime Seminar on the topic The Ethical Side of Brady, and at the Association for the Promotion of Political Economy and the Law (APPEAL) held at University of Maryland School of Law on a panel on White Collar Crime. Prof. Podgor continued her service as a member of the AALS Membership Review Committee and continued to

be listed in the top 10% of Authors on SSRN by total new downloads.

THERESA J. PULLEY RADWAN,

Professor of Law, completed the article Members Only: Can a Trustee Govern an LLC when its Member Files for Bankruptcy, which will be published in the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review this fall.

STACEY-RAE SIMCOX,

Associate Professor of Law, Director, Veterans Law Institute, and Director, Veterans Advocacy Clinic, presented on the plenary panel at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Conference on “Changes in the Law.” Prof.

Simcox also participated on Congressman Charlie Crist and Congressman Gus Bilirakis’, J.D. ’89, Joint Task Force on Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans Advocacy Clinic won several cases this past summer, including a sexual assault case that resulted in a lump sum payment of benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs of $70,000 and hundreds of thousands in future benefits. The Clinic also helped a Vietnam veteran with PTSD win his case, resulting in $72,000 in lump sum payment that had been wrongfully withheld and future benefits. The Clinic received attorneys’ fees this summer in the amount of $10,500 for a case Max Yarus, J.D. ’19, and Dustin Sjong, J.D. ’19, won at the U.S. Court of Appeals. This money will be used to pay for medical testing and evaluation for future clients.

CIARA TORRES-SPELLISCY,

Professor of Law, published an article in the Harvard Law & Policy Review titled

“Deregulating Corruption.”

This article was referenced in an Aug. 14 CrimProf Blog post. Prof. Torres-Spelliscy also wrote the June 5 Brennan Center for Justice article, “The Supreme Court Nixes Corporate Contributions for the 2020 Campaign,” and the opinion piece “Don’t Rebrand Corruption,” which was published by the Brennan Center for Justice in May.

LOUIS J. VIRELLI,

Professor of Law, wrote the May 31 opinion piece “Recusal Rules for Administrative Adjudicators” for The Regulatory Review. This piece was republished on June 4 in Administrative Fix, a blog hosted by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS). Prof. Virelli was invited to testify before Congress this summer on issues of judicial recusal and ethics, but scheduling conflicts prohibited him from attending. He is currently co-authoring the eighth edition of his Administrative Law casebook, Administrative Law: Cases and Materials.

Prof. Virelli contributed a chapter titled Constitutional Appointments to the book The Mueller Investigation and Beyond, and presented a related essay this past summer at an Administrative Law Discussion Forum in Lyon, France. Prof.

Virelli continues to serve as managing editor of the ABA Section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice’s quarterly publication, the Administrative and Regulatory Law News (ARLN), as well as co-author of ARLN’s recurring “Supreme Court Update” column and vice chair of the Section’s constitutional law committee.

He is also currently chair of the Association of American

Law Schools (AALS) Section on Constitutional Law. Prof.

Virelli recently completed his three-year term as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) and has upcoming speaking engagements at the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Conference, the GoldburgCacciatore Criminal Inn of Court, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Eckerd College, and a Constitution Day event sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

DARRYL C. WILSON,

Associate Dean for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives, Attorneys Title Insurance Fund Professor of Law, and Co-Director, Institute for Caribbean Law & Policy, attended the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Bi-annual Associate Deans Conference in Chicago, and the annual meeting of the International Association for Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property (ATRIP) in Nashville, Tenn.

Prof. Wilson also provided expert opinions in two intellectual property cases, and continued in his role as Chair of the City of St. Petersburg Code Compliance Board.

Additionally, Prof. Wilson was one of the presenters for an ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section Professor’s Corner webinar series where he discussed “Short Term Rentals.”

27

CLASS NOTES

S T E T S O N L AW Y E R

CLASS NOTES What’s New in Your Life? Tell us. Email us at alumni@law.stetson.edu or visit www.stetson.edu/law.

Please send us your high-resolution photo, too.

1960s

Seymour A. Gordon, J.D ’60, has joined the firm of Fisher and Wilsey, P.A., as Of Counsel. Mr. Gordon has practiced law in St. Petersburg, with the firm of Gay and Gordon, Attorneys, since the early 1960s. Mr. Gordon has served as Past President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, Hospice, Kiwanis and the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, and is a recipient of the Heroes Among Us Award awarded by the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation.

1980s Mike Boryla, J.D. ’81 was a former Stanford All American quarterback, former Pro Bowl quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback when he arrived in Mickey Smiley's Torts 1 class. Smiley said that we would never be the same after his class. He was right. After Boryla took his class and after he met his wonderful Stetson classmates he became a new 28

man! Today he is a playwright and a highly trained Stanislav Method stage actor. He has performed his one-man play, The Disappearing Quarterback (DQ) 40 times in Philadelphia and Denver. In the first week of October he performed DQ at the Denver Performing Arts Center. He cannot adequately tell you how much his Stetson Law degree helped him become the playwright and stage actor he is today. "I rest my case, your Honor!"

Judge Gary Flower, J.D. ’87, is the recipient of the Amy Karan award. This is only the second time the award has been given. The award honors Judge Amy Karan’s legacy and her special contributions to the judiciary and the legal system. This award recognizes scholarship, the faithful application in the administration of justice, and the education and encouragement of stakeholders in their public service. Above all, the award goes to someone who is a visionary in improving the legal system locally and statewide.

Tori L. Kaufholz J.D. ’86, was appointed to the Florida Bar Certified Arbitrator Committee through June 2030.

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP announced that Bradford D. Kaufman, J.D. ’86, joined Ernest L. Greer as co-president. Kaufman, resident in the firm’s West Palm Beach office, is currently defending the key figure in the Barclay’s case in London — the only major prosecution stemming from the financial crisis. Most recently, he served as a senior vice president and treasurer of Greenberg Traurig and as global chairman of the firm’s Professional Development and Integration.

With corporations making strides to improve their environmental practices and sustainability footprint amid an increasingly complex regulatory environment, Gray Robinson, P.A., announces the establishment of an Environmental and Sustainability Law practice group, led by chair Stephen Tilbrook, J.D. ’94.

1990s 1990s

Carlton Fields Shareholder Robert S. Freedman, J.D. ’90, who co-chairs the firm’s Real Estate & Commercial Finance practice, was elected as chair of The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section (RPPTL).

John R. Herin Jr., J.D. ’91, has joined the Fox Rothschild LLP Miami office as partner.

Florida law firm Lewis, Longman & Walker (LLW) is pleased to announce Robert Angus Williams, J.D. ’95, has joined the firm’s Tallahassee office as Of Counsel. Robert joins LLW from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where he served as General Counsel, and before that, as Chief Deputy General Counsel, serving FDEP’s Public Lands Section and Defense Section.

CLASS NOTES

James Byrne, J.D. ’95, has been confirmed as deputy secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Lee-Ann Perkins, J.D. ’96, was recently installed as President-Elect of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association during its 58th annual Installation Gala on May 18. Ms. Perkins has served on the Board of Directors of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association for more than 9 years. She is founding partner of Perkins Pershes, PLLC’s.

CSI Leasing, Inc. (CSI) recently announced that Jeff Rousseau, J.D. ’97, has been promoted to executive vice president of global business development. Previously senior vice president, Jeff will continue to spearhead CSI’s global efforts and oversee its merger and acquisition team.

He joined CSI in 2000 as a corporate attorney and has served in a management role within CSI’s international group since 2007.

Todd S. Aidman, J.D./MBA ’99, has been elected to the FordHarrison LLP’s Executive Committee, the firm’s highest governing body.

Ryan N. Singleton, J.D. ’05, has joined Amanda O. Singleton, J.D. ’05, at Singleton Legal PLLC in St. Petersburg, Fla. The firm focuses on Estate Planning, Probate, Bankruptcy, and Consumer Rights.

Kelley Kronenberg has added Stetson Law graduate Katherine L. Koener, J.D. ’08, to the firm’s Tampa office as Partner.

Sass Law Firm, an employee rights law firm in Tampa, is proud to announce that Yvette D. Everhart, BBA ’03, J.D. ’06, has made Partner.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, J.D. ’02, from Pinellas County, Fla. is the recipient of the 2019 Ferris E. Lucas Sheriff of the Year award from the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA).

2010s

Patrick Causey, J.D. ’10, has been appointed to the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.

2000s

Angela Cottrell, J.D. ’96, has joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Raleigh, N.C., office. She is a member of Kilpatrick Townsend’s nationally recognized Mergers & Acquisitions Team.

Matthew Bachman, J.D. ’07, was awarded the Impact Award from the State of Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program and Heartfelt Child Advocacy. This award is given for the Attorney of the Year who has demonstrated exemplary legal advocacy and innovative thinking that has greatly impacted Florida’s most vulnerable children.

Faegre Baker Daniels is proud to announce that Traci McKee, J.D. ’07, has joined the firm’s product liability practice as counsel. McKee earned her law degree, summa cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law, and a bachelor’s from the University of North Florida.

Chase Florin, J.D. ’12, became board certified in Civil Trial by The Florida Bar Association last spring, making him the youngest attorney in Florida to have earned that distinction.

29

IN MEMORIAM

CLASS NOTES

William Bray Whitaker, B.A.’51, J.D. ’51, March 22, 2019 Judge George Carey Nelson III, J.D. ’77, March 18, 2019 Thomas H. Ostrander, J.D. ’84, August 2019 Laura Jo Lieffers, J.D. ’13 Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that construction lawyer Laura Jo Lieffers has joined the firm.

Lieffers holds a professional degree in Architecture and is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects. Her practice primarily focuses on construction litigation.

ShuffieldLowman recently announced that attorney Alexander E. Howell, J.D. ’17, has joined the firm, working in the Orlando office’s tax and corporate law sections.

W. S. Lovejoy, J.D. ’72, March 22, 2019 Donna R. McBride, J.D. ’97, March 27, 2019 Judith Simmons, J.D. ’78, April 3, 2019 Marvin L. Ivey, J.D. ’78, April 5, 2019 George H. Brown, J.D. ’88, April 23, 2019 John J. Wall, J.D. ’75, May 4, 2019 George W. Baldwin, J.D. ’65, May 21, 2019 Philip J. Rogers, J.D. ’61, June 26, 2019 Dudley J. Clapp, J.D. ’76, June 29, 2019

Alexandra (Taylor) Devine, J.D. ’15, Associate Counsel at Lincare, was published in the Stetson Law Review, Vol. 48, Summer 2019, as co-author of the article “The Intersection of Intellectual Property and Government Law.”

Kevin Reali, J.D. ’18, has joined Stearns Weaver Miller’s Tampa office in the Land Development and Real Estate groups.

Robert P. Cole, J.D. ’75, July 8, 2019 Robbyn W. Howie, J.D. ’02, July 12, 2019 John E. Watson, J.D. ’64, July 19, 2019 Sheila F. McNeill, J.D. ’90, July 20, 2019 Thomas H. Ostrander, J.D. ’84, August 7, 2019 Elizabeth B. Osmond, J.D. ’89, August 10, 2019 Thomas B. McCoun, J.D. ’77, August 27, 2019 Eugene J. Cella, J.D. ’74, September 2, 2019 Teresa H. Harrison, J.D. ’79, September 8, 2019

Aaron Reichelson, J.D. ’16, has been appointed to the ABA Construction Steering Committee.

Paul M. May, J.D. ’17, has been elected to the Broward County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section Board.

30

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is proud to announce that Sean McQuaid, JD/MBA ‘00, has been elected as the firm’s new president effective Jan. 1, 2020. McQuaid will take over from Aubrey O. Dicus, J.D. ’74, who served as president for over 20 years. Sean will become the firm’s fourth president in its over 60-year history.

Evelyn W. Cloninger, J.D. ’76, September 9, 2019 Lawrence W. Borns, J.D. ’53, November 9, 2019 Berrien Becks Sr., J.D. ’49, December 15, 2019 Joseph L. Cardozo Jr., J.D. ’58, November 3, 2019 The Honorable Horace Andrews, J.D. ’70, April 14, 2019.

Charles M. Waygood, J.D. ’60, December 18, 2019

PHILANTHROPY

My parents set a great example for me and my brother in their stewardship of time, talent and treasure.”

— Lori Baggett, J.D. 2002 law is important to her, and she realized she needed to take an active role to make that happen.

“You have to be intentional about the things you are passionate about,” Baggett said.

WHY I GIVE Lori Baggett, J.D. 2002 B Y A S H L E Y M C K N I G H T - TAY L O R

L

ori Baggett has thought a lot about how to be intentional in life – particularly in regard to how she spends her time, talent and money. It is a mindset instilled in her by her parents, both of whom were schoolteachers deeply rooted in their faith community.

“My parents set a great example for me and my brother in their stewardship of time, talent and treasure,” she said.

One initiative worth Baggett’s focus was the establishment of the Baggett Family Scholarship. She hopes to continue her family’s legacy by providing financial assistance for African American students interested in entering the legal profession.

Established in 2019, the Baggett Family Scholarship pays expenses for three years at Stetson Law for students who exhibit exemplary academic and personal leadership and have demonstrated financial need. The overall goal is to support the academic achievement and potential of African American students who, through sharing their varied cultural perspectives, will enhance the education of all law students and the excellence of the Stetson College of Law. “I was blessed to earn a diversity scholarship from the State of Florida called the Minority Participation in Legal Education (MPLE) that was matched by Stetson, allowing me to obtain a full scholarship for law school and additional funds toward The Florida Bar exam,” Baggett said. “It was a great benefit to me and a reward to be able to receive something like that and helped propel my career.”

If we want historically underrepresented groups to achieve greater educational advancement in the legal profession, then financial assistance earmarked for them is key, Baggett said.

Increasing diversity and equal representation in the practice of

She grew up in Crestview, Florida, and played Division I college basketball at the College of Charleston and at the University of South Alabama. Baggett earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in African American studies and sought a new avenue to continue the reading and writing she loved while incorporating analytical and critical thinking. Law offered that.

And Stetson offered a beautiful campus with no distractions and a scholarship match that made it the obvious choice.

During law school, she was active with Black Law Students Association, as well as Moot Court and Law Review. She won a Labor and Employment Moot Court competition, and that experience, along with internships and courses taught by Professor Emeritus Robert Bickel, helped inform the direction her law career would take.

Baggett graduated in 2002 and now works for Carlton Fields in Tampa, representing companies in many aspects of labor and employment law, with a particular expertise in workplace safety and health (OSHA) issues. She is one of a handful of Florida lawyers with OSHA 30 certification. She represents clients dealing with fatal and catastrophic accidents and helps them resolve OSHA citations and whistleblower complaints. She also advises and counsels employers on workplace legal compliance issues and defends employment-related claims.

Despite a busy career, Baggett continues to be involved with the Stetson community by serving a second term as a member of the Stetson Law Alumni Association and was recently inducted into the U.S. Supreme Court with other Stetson alumni. She wants her fellow alumni to understand that giving back doesn’t have to be through monumental, one-time gestures. Small, monthly donations have a cumulative effect and provide vital support for Stetson’s mission.

“Give what you can, when you can. Many people are intimidated by the impression they must give a large gift at end of year, but for most of us, it’s more palatable to break it up and donate monthly,” Baggett said. “It can be regular, intentional giving over time. If everyone gives what they can, it will have an impact!”

Legacy is important, too. Baggett lost her brother in 2018. It made her think about how she can both leave the world a better place and have an impact while she’s still here – to be intentional about where to give her time and treasure. It had to be for something of significance to her, and again, Stetson was the obvious choice.

“Stetson is important to me.”

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COLLEGE OF LAW Development & Alumni Relations 1401 61st Street South Gulfport, FL 33707

Dean Michèle Alexandre enthusiastically invites you to come back to campus to reconnect, reminisce, and make some new memories with your former classmates.

Cocktails • Dinner Buffet • Live Music & Dancing RSVP at stetson.edu/law/alumniweekend