Perspectives: Fall 2016 by Western New England University

W E S T E R N N E W E N G L A N D U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F L AW

FA L L

2016

Perspectives Changing Tides LLM Alumni Help Elders and Families Navigate the Waters of LLM Alumni Help Seniors Elder Law and Estate Planning and Families Navigate Their Way Through Elder Law and Estate Planning

in this issue

Alumni JAG Corps Attorneys Working in Service to Their Country

Volunteer Honor Roll Salutes Gifts of Time and Talent

Homecoming 2016 Celebrates Our Distinguished Alumni

Dear Alumni/ae and Friends, When you launch a new program, you can make predictions on how it will affect your institution, but it is hard to gauge the impact it will have on its graduates and the clients they serve. The LLM in Elder Law and Estate Planning has empowered its alumni to be passionate advocates for elders and their families. In this issue of Perspectives, our feature focuses on graduates of the LLM program (William Carmines LLM’10, Dr. Leslie Tar LLM’13, and Aimee Griffin LLM’09) to see how they are applying the knowledge and expertise in their practices. It is also our formal introduction of Professor from Practice Mark Worthington, a longtime adjunct faculty member of the program, who has been newly named as director of the program. In highlighting the LLM program, much has to be said about Professor Fred Royal, who championed and built the LLM into a widely respected and distinctive offering that has graduated more than 200 students. Fred’s tireless commitment to the LLM program has contributed to the reputation of our School of Law and helped us to find new ways to make our highly personal legal education available to students seeking advanced legal education. While Fred is stepping down as director, he remains on the full-time faculty in both the JD and the LLM programs. Looking at our JD alumni, I am likewise impressed at the diversity of career paths they have chosen to follow and to learn where their Western New England legal educations have led them. This issue is a real example of that. We are honored to showcase the careers of Maj. Lynn Kincaid ’89, the deputy staff judge advocate at USAR Legal Command in Maryland, and her colleague Col. Christopher J. Wood ’90, a civilian attorney for the Department of the Army and also a reserve JAG attorney. Closer to home, we share the story of Boston immigration attorney Valerie Fisk ’88, who was recently honored by the Massachusetts Bar Association. Across the country, our “Where Are They Now?” spotlight catches up with Tom Moran ’06, who journeyed from western Massachusetts to become City Manager of Nome, AK. We then head miles across the pond for our other “Where Are They Now?” profile with Tom’s classmate Ryan Costello ’06, operations manager for eTERA Consulting Europe, who is based in Italy. Our faculty focus also brings a global perspective as we journey with alumnus turned Western New England University College of Business Associate Professor Curt Hamakawa ’84 as he travels with undergraduate students to study the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil and look at work done by Professor Erin Buzuvis on Olympic policy. Here on campus, we are happy to welcome new members to our Law Alumni Board of Directors, including new President Stephen Button ’06. They joined with other board members to plan and host our important alumni traditions, including our Alumni Recognition Reception, and our Alumni and Students of Color Dinner. It was wonderful to see so many of you in attendance at these events. Wherever your life’s path takes you, each of you is a part of our collective history of the School of Law. I look forward to connecting with you here on campus and on the road to continue to tell our story. Sincerely,

Eric Gouvin Dean and Professor of Law

Changing Tides LLM Alumni Help Elders and Families Navigate the Waters of Elder Law and Estate Planning

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

contents FALL 2016

Perspectives Perspectives is a publication of Western New England University School of Law ERIC GOUVIN Dean and Professor of Law

BARBARA MOFFAT Vice President for Marketing and External Affairs

CHERYL BRODOWSKI Director of Donor Relations and Communications

MARY MCLEAN ORSZULAK G’10 Editor

JUDY CURRAN PAT GAGNON ALEXANDRA L. LYMAN BA’12/G’16 SPENCER NAAKE ’10 MARY MCLEAN ORSZULAK G’10 KIM ROEDER VARIOUS FACULTY/STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS Writers

BRIAN FITZGERALD G’16 BARBARA MOFFAT KATHERINE PAPPAS G’98 KIM ROEDER DEBORAH PORTER SAVOIE

Proofreading

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

David Bedford 3L JD/MBA

KIM ROEDER Alumni Notes Editor and Faculty Notes Editor

DEBORAH CHAPPELL

OLA FROM RIO

Students study the Olympics with Alumnus Curt Hamakawa ’84

Creative Director

LENARD DESIGN GROUP Design & Production

AM LITHOGRAPHY Printing

also in this issue

PAUL SCHNAITTACHER Principal Photography

COMMENCEMENT

2016 Volunteer Honor Roll

BRIAN ZELASKO Additional Photography

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT In Service to Their Country: JAG Attorneys Maj. Lynn Kincaid ’89 and Col. Christopher Wood ’90

COMING HOME: Dinners Highlight Homecoming 2016 Festivities

H O W T O C O N TA C T U S

CAMPUS UPDATE

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI BOARD REPORT

ALUMNI NOTES

Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs

IN MEMORIAM

ALUMNI BENEFITS

Dean’s Office 413-782-1413 Eric Gouvin eric.gouvin@law.wne.edu Admissions 413-782-1406 Amy Mangione amangione@law.wne.edu Law Development 413-796-2316 Robert Ziomek robert.ziomek@wne.edu

22 ALUMNI PROFILE

Valerie Fisk ’88

Law Alumni Relations 413-782-1311 Kim Roeder kim.roeder@wne.edu Career Services 413-782-1416 Paula Zimmer pzimmer@law.wne.edu Student Records 413-782-1402 Terese Chenier terese.chenier@law.wne.edu Law Library 413-782-1616 Pat Newcombe pnewcombe@law.wne.edu Faculty Members Call 413-782-3111 and ask for specific faculty member. Main Fax Number 413-796-2067

Visit Perspectives alumni magazine online at law.wne.edu/alumni

Mailing Address 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01119-2684

Changing Tides LLM Alumni Help Elders and Families Navigate the Waters of Elder Law and Estate Planning Navigating the complex medical and financial challenges associated with aging can be daunting for elders and their families. But they need not go it alone. Whether it is helping families plan for long-term care or guiding closely-held businesses to succeed for generations, graduates of our online LLM in Elder Law and Estate Planning program are helping clients prepare for the changes that lie on the horizon. Begun in 2005, the LLM in Elder Law and Estate Planning has long been championed by Professor Fred Royal. The program broke new ground as the first in the nation to include a focus on Elder Law and remains the only program in that specialty offered live and in real time. While his official title was director, Fred wore many hats, helping to recruit students, teaching, and assembling a stellar faculty. Royal Changing with the times, Fred tested the waters with an MS program currently in development for non-lawyers in financial and insurance fields, and last year led a change of name and focus of the program to reflect the growing prominence of elder law over estate planning since changes in the tax code. This fall, the School of Law welcomes attorney and long-time LLM faculty mentor Mark Worthington to the director’s post. Fred will continue to teach in the program. “Fred Royal championed an idea and turned it into a highly successful program, attracting students from across the country and even around the globe,” says Dean Eric Gouvin. “He advocated and pioneered a live, online learning model years ahead of its time. His passion and knowledge for his subject, ability to attract expert faculty, and foresight in adapting the curriculum to changing developments in the field have built it into an outstanding program ready to begin an exciting new phase under the leadership of Mark Worthington.” Mark was most recently a Managing Partner of the Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, P.C. in Framingham, MA, practicing exclusively in special needs law, estate planning, and elder law for nearly 25 years. He continues his relationship with the firm as special counsel. A Super Lawyer (2008-16), Mark has been a member of the LLM faculty since its inception.

2 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

“Mark Worthington is a great choice to fill the shoes of Fred Royal, the designer and creator of the LLM program in Estate Planning and Elder Law. Mark has been a leader in the field of Elder Law not only in Massachusetts, but also around the country, having lectured and written for NAELA for many years,” says Attorney and LLM adjunct Worthington faculty member Hyman Darling ’77, president-elect of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and chair of the Estate Planning and Elder Law Department at Bacon Wilson, P.C. “Mark has been an adjunct professor in the Western New England University LLM program, and his knowledge and expertise in the area as well his practical experience over his career provide it with a unique prominence to continue to lead to even higher enrollments.” Mark is excited about the opportunity to continue to build on the success of the LLM and looks forward to helping the next cohorts of students find ways to be stronger advocates for their clients. “I never thought anything could lure me from full-time private practice in elder and special needs law, not even the offer of being a full-time professor,” says Mark. “But then this incredible opportunity opened up. There are truly not enough attorneys able to serve the needs of the elderly and families with special needs. My mission is to change that. We will be raising awareness and enrollment, and expanding the subject areas covered by our curriculum in the next few years.” As Mark takes on his new role this fall, Perspectives reached out to three former students to see how they are using their degrees to serve their clients in distinct ways.

P E R S P E C T I V E S

feature

FEATURE By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10

LLM Study Leads Young Attorney William Carmines LLM’10 to Kick-start a Career in Estate Planning

newly minted young attorney is not what many clients expect to find when seeking out advice on estate planning. So in 2007, when William Carmines found himself hired by noted Virginia Elder Law Attorney Susan I. Jean to handle her firm’s most complicated estate planning cases, he knew he wanted to offset his experience gap with in-depth expertise. He found it in the LLM program at Western New England University. “I believe my LLM has certainly enhanced my practice,” he says. “It supercharged my learning and abilities when I was just starting out as an attorney. Without the LLM, it would have taken me years and countless CLEs to get up to speed.” In his own life plans, estate planning was not first on William’s list. When he graduated with his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University, he initially wanted to work in Wash-

“

ington, DC, and focus on national security and counterterrorism. “I enrolled in law school right after 9/11 and my primary focus was in international law and those issues, with a secondary focus on estate planning,” he recalls. “But I quickly determined I did not enjoy working in DC, so I moved back home to Williamsburg, VA.” Since Virginia’s Hampton Roads region does not have a high demand for international law attorneys, William switched his focus to elder law and estate planning and later expanded into business planning and estate, trust, and conservatorship administration. Eager to build a stronger foundation in the field, he began researching LLM programs. “I found a lot of programs that were focused on taxation, but the one at Western New England was the only offering I discovered that was centered on estate planning and elder law,” he says. “That matched the needs of my firm and my clientele perfectly, so I enrolled in the online program.” As a new hire, William didn’t have the luxury of taking a year off to attend an on-site program so the online delivery model at Western New England was an ideal choice. “If I had not found that flexibility, I would never have been able to get my LLM,” he says. “Fred Royal and the other faculty were very good, very personable and very experienced at running these types of classes. I was engaged and interested. The other students were also a big advantage. Throughout the program, you got to know each other, even if we never met in person. So, the interaction with them was definitely a plus.”

One of the advantages of the program is teaching students how to develop their own customized drafting template. While many estate planning firms purchase so-called “hotdocs” based document drafting systems to create their planning documents, firms such as William’s also use their own drafting systems for state-related documents. William and his partner have established their own business called Virginia Solosolutions, LLC, which sells a Virginia-specific drafting system to other attorneys in the commonwealth. “We are constantly editing and updating our drafting system for us as well as for our clients,” says William. “Thus, the skills I learned studying at Western New England have definitely benefited me in that area.” William’s expertise in estate planning has brought him full circle with his original mentor Attorney Susan I. Jean. After several years at Jean’s firm, William started his own practice, and today the two firms have merged to form Heritage Law Group, with four offices in the Hampton Roads area. Pursuing his LLM and own business gave William both the expertise and the experience that builds client trust. “For a younger attorney in elder law and estate planning, you really need something to make you stand out in order to make your prospective clients trust you,” he says. “I believe having the LLM really helped me do that. From law school, and my experience, I had a good start. But, the LLM gave me the extra credentials to convince my clients that I really knew what I was doing and that I could help them.”

I believe my LLM has certainly enhanced my practice. It supercharged my learning and abilities when I was just starting out as an attorney. Without the LLM, it would have taken me years and countless CLEs to get up to speed.” —William Carmines LLM’10

(Continued next page)

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 3

feature Attorney and Physician Dr. Leslie Tar LLM’13 Uses His Unique Expertise to Practice in Two Realms of Healthcare oday, the key to survival in medicine as a healthcare provider is diversification,” asserts Dr. Leslie Tar LLM’13, both a practicing physician and an attorney. “The United States’ healthcare needs continues to increase, but the available dollars to pay for it continue to decrease,” he explains. “This means, healthcare providers will continue to be reimbursed less and less each year. I decided to go to law school in 1996 because I saw the practice of medicine being increasingly regulated by insurance companies that were refusing to pay for medically needed patient treatments. I thought I would be more effective in advocating for patients doing so as an attorney. It turns out that was correct but it also gave me an avenue for diversification.” Dr. Leslie Tar, JD, MD, MPH, is board certified in Rheumatology. He earned his

“T

“ 4 ◆

MD at the Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Fifteen years later, he returned to the classroom for a JD from the University of Pittsburgh while simultaneously earning his master’s of public health there. Looking to gain more expertise in elder law, he then pursued his LLM online from Western New England University. With a growing focus on health law, last year he completed a second LLM in Health Law from Loyola University. Such diverse credentials make Dr. Tar uniquely qualified to serve his medical and legal clients in his Port Charlotte, FL practices, particularly the area’s senior citizen population. “As an arthritis doctor practicing rheumatology, most of my patients are senior citizens,” he says. “I chose elder law as an area of legal concentration and practice because I knew I would be able to help my patients with end of life concerns, succession planning, and estate planning needs. Obtaining my LLM in Elder Law and Estate Planning from Western New England University School of Law provided me practical skills to manage by patients’ needs.” But it is not just diversification of his own businesses that drives Dr. Tar to continually enhance his knowledge; it is his passion to advocate for his patients and clients who urgently need guidance navigating current medical issues and anticipating paying for long-term care. “The biggest challenge for the baby boomers as they approach the last quarter of their life will be the cost of long-term care,” says Dr. Tar. “This population has now put away money for retirement although they expect to acquire inheritance

from their even older parents. As our nation continues to age, and as the aging population continues to grow, Medicaid planning will become increasingly important for the elder law attorney to master. Medicaid rules will change to make it harder for applications to receive support. It is the elder law attorney’s job to be aware of such changes in order to properly counsel the client on such matters.” Removing the barrier of distance, the online, interactive classroom of the Western New England program was key to helping Dr. Tar gain more expertise in elder law issues. “Western New England has a synchronous learning program that allows for live interaction,” he says. “This is the next best thing to actually being in the classroom because it allows for active participation.” He added, “Fred is wonderful. He is interactive, truly committed to teaching, and he invites students to participate during his presentations. The other faculty are also friendly, authentic, and supportive of students. They make themselves available.” Similarly, it is a commitment to his patients and clients and a desire to stay current in health and elder law that inspires Dr. Tar to be a lifelong learner. “As a solo practitioner I felt the need to enhance my knowledge base in both of these areas. Learning is a lifelong process and it never really ends. There is so much to know and so little time to acquire skills. Unfortunately, information cannot merely be downloaded to our minds. An LLM program provides an efficient means to acquire specialized information that would otherwise take years to do.”

The biggest challenge for the baby boomers as they approach the last quarter of their life will be the cost of long-term care.” —Attorney Dr. Leslie Tar LLM’13

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

FEATURE By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10

“

A huge portion of people don't have any estate plans. When you have an LLM, you can have a conversation about this. You can change the course of many families and communities by doing true estate planning. When you empower and educate a family, you can empower a community, which is transformative for the region.” —Attorney Aimee Griffin JD’03/LLM’09

Attorney Aimee Griffin JD’03/LLM’09 Helps Build Family Businesses from Startups to Legacies ashington, DC Attorney Aimee Griffin is known in the Northeast as an original incorporator and the former executive director of the New England Black Chamber of Commerce and nationally as the general counsel and corporate secretary to the U.S. Black Chamber. To longtime readers of Perspectives, she will be remembered as the University’s former director of the Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship, today’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she has been principal of The Griffin Firm, PLLC, which works with individuals to create wealth and maintain it through business and estate planning support. It was Aimee’s passion for economic and social justice and educational opportunities for African Americans that led her to believe that growth and planning of an organization were inextricably intertwined with estate and succession planning. Working at the School of Law with the Springfield business community, Aimee observed “a huge poverty reality,” she recalls. “I wanted to get into entrepreneurship to see how we could create more wealth in the community.” One of her first realizations of why wealth wasn’t retained was the lack of planning for the future of closely-held businesses. “We realized that generationally as the families got older they didn't necessarily plan for succession; their businesses would just dissolve,” she says. To enhance her expertise, Aimee pursued her LLM and took courses in elder law, estate planning, and closely-held businesses, which laid the foundation for the focus of the Griffin Firm.

F A L L

2 0 1 6

While Aimee may hold a record for taking the most JD classes with Professor Fred Royal (at least six she estimates), she was equally impressed with how Fred and his faculty taught complex subjects in the online program. She joined a cohort of students studying across the country, taking courses live and online. “The great thing about it was that it compelled me to be a part of the online, global world which is vital for success right now,” says Aimee. “It was amazing how no matter what the class was or no matter what course you were taking, you felt like your professor took an interest in you specifically. Everything about the LLM was truly centered around what you thought was important to your practice and professional development. So you felt very confident about not wasting any of your time. And the network that you were creating was phenomenal.” With her LLM in hand and the national connections she had made through the U.S. Black Chamber, Aimee relocated to Washington, DC. There the economic downturn and many government employees’ early retirement made it a hotbed for burgeoning entrepreneurs. Aimee dedicated her practice to helping her clients create business plans that looked far into the future. “Typically family owned companies do not survive multi-generationally because of lack of planning,” she says. “What I could do for businesses was not only help them get established and grow, but also to have succession plans. I was able to marry both my estate planning work and my entrepreneurship work in really

great ways. What I try to do is to educate people from the beginning as early as possible so that they can be transformative in the succession.” Aimee’s focus on business and estate planning has attracted a broad-based list of clients. From physicians to financial firms, a mental health clinic, to new startups, Aimee has built her practice through writing, speaking, and volunteerism. “These relationships have allowed me to get in front of people so writing and presenting has been truly miraculous in providing the opportunity to grow,” she says. Aimee says it is essential to look at each family individually and acknowledge the values that they feel are important. “We can’t take a cookie cutter approach to the work that we do,” she says “I think I’ve been successful in my practice because I remember hearing in the LLM classes to ‘listen to what they want.’ What we may think is best is not important and sometimes that’s painful. But as a result I’ve been invited to more family reunions and holiday dinners because people feel that I cared enough to become a part of the individual family’s transformation.”

Want to learn more? Visit the LLM program website at wne.edu/llm.

◆ 5

Commencement

2016

6 â&#x2014;&#x2020;

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10

Law Graduates Celebrate Day of Triumph and Joy at Doctoral, Law, Pharmacy, and Master’s Ceremony In what has become a new University tradition established last year, graduates of the School of Law were conferred their JD and LLM degrees at a ceremony for all master’s and doctoral students. The ceremony was held during Commencement Weekend on Sunday, May 25, at the University’s Alumni Healthful Living Center. School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Beth Cohen presented the Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees to the law graduates. This year’s 120 graduates included 105 receiving JD degrees and 15 awarded the LLM.

Lisa Bachman BS’83/G’90

Lisa Bachmann BS’83/G’90 served as the keynote speaker and was the recipient of a President’s Medallion from the University. She is executive vice president and chief merchandising and operating officer for Big Lots, Inc.

Lisa spoke about creating opportunities in one’s life and career and making bold moves to differentiate yourself. “My message to all of you: don’t be afraid of the big idea,” she said. “I encourage you to push yourselves, to step into opportunities that will help you create your personal happiness.” University President Anthony S. Caprio took the opportunity to speak about the University’s origin as an institution created to serve adult learners and the amazing evolution which continues today. The 2016 ceremony saw the first-ever students graduate from the MFA in Creative Writing, the MS in Organizational Leadership, and the PhD in Engineering Management programs.

F A L L

2 0 1 6

President Anthony S. Caprio presents diploma to Adwoa Nkrumah ’16 at Commencement 2016

“You have sacrificed and worked hard,” President Caprio told the graduates. “I congratulate you. Today you will certainly reflect upon your experience here at Western New England University, and I hope you feel pride in all that you have accomplished through your own efforts and the fine guidance and teaching provided by our excellent faculty. I hope you will look back fondly and with appreciation for all you have learned here and for all those whom you have met here and learned from here—faculty, staff, and fellow students.”

Outstanding students and faculty of the School of Law were recognized at the annual Dean’s Awards Reception in April.

◆ 7

Western New England University School of Law

Volunteer Honor Roll

2015-2016

The annual Volunteer Honor Roll recognizes the hundreds of people who donate their time and talent to enrich the law school experience for our students without seeking remuneration in return. As always, I am deeply appreciative of the many people—alumni, non-alumni, lawyers, judges, and others—who share their time and experience to make the School of Law a dynamic and vibrant learning community. Simply put, we could not run the first-year moot court, prepare competition teams, offer externship experiences, hold informative panels, or enrich courses with guest lecturers without the generous donation of time from numerous volunteers. Because our school is devoted to student-centered professional education, finding ways to integrate the profession into the program is a high priority. While we rely on our excellent adjunct faculty to bring the world of law practice into the classroom, we also rely on the efforts of volunteers in many varied ways. As this list shows, the involvement of the School of Law with the Bar and the Bar with the School of Law is very robust. While the list is impressive, I know I am running the risk of leaving some volunteers off the list by accident. For example, I realized far too late that I forgot to ask the adjunct faculty to let me know the guest lecturers they had in their classes. I apologize for the oversight. I am sure I missed other volunteers here and there. If you know of a name that should be on the list, please let me know and I will publish an addendum in the next issue of Perspectives. To all the people on this Volunteer Honor Roll: Thank you very much—we cannot do it without you. Sincerely,

Eric J. Gouvin, Professor and Dean

8 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

VOLUNTEER HONOR ROLL By Eric J. Gouvin

Admissions Michael Borg ’88 Stephen Button ’06 Linda Fakhoury ’04 Nicole Garcia ’15 Talia Gee ’10 Marcy E. Spratt ’09 ALUMNI Alumni Board Evan Bjorklund ’13 Michael Borg ’88 Stephen Button ’06 David P. Cortese ’11 James Doyle ’06 Linda Fakhoury ’04 John Fitzgerald II ’99 Talia Gee ’10 Chad Greiner ’10 Cristina M. Ianello ’02 Brian G. Levin ’06 James J. Martin ’06 Spencer M. Naake ’10 Krystal Orr ’06 Ellie Rosenbaum ’04 Zachary Ryan ’09 Michael Smith ’04 Marcy E. Spratt ’09 Marc Strange ’04 Ijemoa A. Ugoezi ’06 Sarah Willey ’96 Event Hosts Evan Bjorklund ’13 Michael Borg ’88 Eli Farrah ’78 Margaret Gilmartin ’07

F A L L

2 0 1 6

Byrnes Guillaume ’06 Kristen F. Haseney ’08 Len McCue ’82 Krystal Orr ’06 Class Agents John Bandeian ’09 Kendra Berardi ’08 Michael Blanchard ’97 Michael A. Borg ’88 Jeremy M. Colvin ’98 Kelley Cooper Miller ’05 Jenny Desch ’01 Linda Fakhoury ’04 Hon. Ina Forman ’84 Marc S. Gaffrey ’87 Amber Gould ’13 Michelle Hummer ’08 Judith Jones ’86 Kelly Koch ’07/LLM’11 Maren Law ’11 Julia Lentini Marquis ’06 Marty Martin ’77 Rebecca Mitchell ’99 Lenore M. Montanaro ’15 Hon. William J. O'Grady ’80 Hon. Tina Page ’82 Kathleen Porter ’90 Karen Romano ’03 Rachel Rosenberg ’14 Stephanie Schlatter ’07 Erika L. Scibelli ’12 Hirak S. Shah ’10 Kathleen Stone Harrington ’93 Ellen Teller ’83 Gary Thomas ’76 Jim Winston ’00

HCBA Legal Help Hotline Ryan Alekman ’97 David Bartley ’05 Charles Casartello Jr. ’87 Kathleen Cavanaugh ’02 Cristina Ianello ’02 Vanessa Martinez ’11 Daniel McKellick ’14 Jeffrey Morneau ’98 Daniel Morrissey ’07 David Ostrander ’89 Stephen J. Phillips ’10 Robert Sacco ’88 Jennifer Thorn ’97 Kristopher Toomey ’15 Christina M. Turgeon ’10 Hector Zavala Jr. ’12 MBA Dial-A-Lawyer Wm. Travaun Bailey ’01 Michelle Bugbee ’00 Corey Carvalho ’09 Kevin Chrisanthopoulos ’96 Mark Cress Leslie Curley Kelli Ryan DiLisio ’86 Raymond Dinsmore ’06 Michele Feinstein ’84 Robert W. Harnais Kimberly Klimczuk Kelly A. Koch ’07 Timothy Macri ’13 Stephen Manning ’75 Susan McCoy ’96 Amy Megliola ’02 Timothy F. Murphy ’90 Thomas O'Connor Jr. ’95

Patricia Olier David Ostrander ’89 Stephen J. Phillips ’00 Edward M. Pikula ’83 Patricia Rapinchuk Christopher Reavey ’89 Sanjiv Reejhsinghani ’11 Barry M. Ryan Michael R. Siddall ’90 Gillian Szlachetka ’09 Christina M. Turgeon ’01 Dorothy Varon ’95 Diana S. Velez CAREER SERVICES Program Panelists Jeffrey L. Adams ’14 Karen Adamski ’14 Douglas J. Brunner ’88 Justin Dion ’00 Christopher Erchull ’14 Hon. Dina Fein Anne Fitzgerald Esq. ’14 Matthew Fleischner ’10 Laurie Frankl Hon. Geraldine S. Hines Anne Houlihan Brogan Kirkman 3L Carly Koebel Mandie A. LeBeau Julia Lentini Marquis ’06 Barbara Pope Claudia Quintero 3L Hon. Mary-Lou Rup ’78 Sarah Scharf ’11 Tylar A. Suckau ’16 Dorothy Varon ’95

◆ 9

Volunteer honor roll

Etiquette & Networking Luncheon John Bandeian III ’09 David Bartley ’05 Kathryn Crouss ’12 Marissa Elkins Chris Erchull ’14 Talia Gee ’10 Kyle Guelcher ’02 Robert Harnais Mandie LeBeau Colleen Monroe ’14 Jeffrey Morneau ’98 Rachel Rosenberg ’14 Erika Scibelli ’12 Marcy Spratt ’09 Angelina Stafford ’12 Chris Todd ’00 Damian Turco Christina Turgeon ’01 Mentors Karen A. Adamski ’14 John Bandeian III ’09 Gerald Berg ’76 Michael A. Borg ’88 Michelle Bugbee ’00 Christopher Cava ’89 Jennifer L. Cava-Forman ’11 Kevin Claffey ’98 Kathryn Crouss ’12 Hyman Darling ’77 Kelli Ryan DiLisio ’86 Justin H. Dion ’00 Michael A. Fenton ’12 Elena Gervino ’88 Kyle Guelcher ’02 Gerald Hecht ’77 Kaley Lentini ’14 Julia Lentini Marquis ’06 Maria Puppolo ’99 Cheryl Smith ’83 Kristen Sopet ’10 Angelina Stafford ’12 CLINICAL AND EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS Criminal Defense Practicum Lawrence Madden ’89 Tracy Magdalenski ’05 Greg McCormack ’79 Jarrett McCormack ’10 Alejandro Ramos

10 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

Criminal Prosecution Clinic Marie Angers Diane Dillon ’77 Jarrett McCormack ’10 Elder Law Clinic Lisa Beauvais ’95 Matthew Stillman LLM’11 Eileen Sullivan-Boss ’95 Real Estate Practicum Michael Agen ’78 James Czapiga ’94 Thomas Fahey Philip Fanning Timothy Goetz ’10 Dawn Henry Jim Jurgens Carl Landolina Lisa Lugauskas Scott McCuin Milly Parzychowski Christine Kumiega ’97 Jane Rothchild Dennis Tully ’76 David Veleber Robert Walker ’05 Christine Webster ’98 Small Business Legal Clinic Martin Caine Patricia Pasterczyk David Renauld William Trudeau Externships Heather Beattie ’99 Meris Bergquist Hon. Henry Boroff Hon. William Boyle ’83 Eric Brown ’92 James Brown ’13 Evan Brunetti ’09 Douglas Brunner ’88 Aimee Cameron-Browne ’90 Linda Condino ’98 Hon. Evelyn Daly ’82 Kristen Dannay Thomas DeMatteo Karen Duffy Marissa Elkins Hon. Linda Fidnick

Hon. Robert Fields Karen Goodwin Michael Gove Jonathan Hitsous Joseph Kasper Lori Landers ’90 Bruce Lorenzen Melissa Luckman Judith Machuga Bonnie Mangan ’88 Andrew Markowski ’05 Hon. Mark G. Mastroianni ’89 David McGuire ’06 Olivia Mercadante Thomas Moore ’06 Patrick Nicoletti ’09 Kevin O'Regan Chris Pelosi Hon. Sean Peoples Jose Pol Nicole Reeves Lavallee William Reichelt ’13 J. Lizette Richards Thomas Ring Hon. Katherine A. Robertson ’90 Hon. Mary Lou Rup ’78 Sandra San Emeterio ’10 Robert Sawyer Adam Scott Mara Shulman ’12 Hon. Richard A. Simons Selena Smith Cheryl Smith ’83 Margaret Solis ’07 Patrick Sparks Hon. Dominic J. Squatrito Kerry Strayer Hon. Daniel J. Swords ’76 Mark Tanner Lindsay Weber Daniel Wood Hector Zavala Jr. ’12 Benjamin Zivyon

ABA Negotiation Competition New England Regional Mark Borenstein ’14 Kristen Brierley ’13 Kathleen Breck ’86 Vincenzo Caracciolo ’08 Corey Carvalho ’09 Jennifer Cava-Forman ’11 Janice Chiaretto Jenney Crabbe ’14 Bernardo Cuadra ’10 Diane Esser Morissa Fregeau ’03 John Fries IV ’14 Richard Goldman Cara Hale ’15 Eleni Hantzis ’15 Natalie Jones ’08 David Keller ’11 Mary Klaes ’00 Jon Kent Pamela LeBlanc ’12 Stephen Linsky Jonathan Longobardi ’10 Janet McGowan Nicole Murray ’05 William Newcomb ’12 Matthew Paradisi ’11 Stacey Pietrowicz Caitlin Reed Julia Reuschemeyer Kevin Roy ’03 Sandra San Emeterio ’10 Susan Stark ’15 Nancy Sykes ’89 Kelvin Thomas ’14 Adam Zahn ’13 National Moot Court Reuki Schutt Anne Fitzgerald-Pittman ’14 Transactional Law Meet

MOOT COURTS AND COMPETITIONS AAJ Trial Team Kevin Murphy ’78 Hon. Robert Murphy ’87 Glenn Rooney ’12 John Ross ’85

Tatenda Chitemerere ’15 Daniel McKellick ’14 Kelvin Thomas ’14 Transactional Law Meet New England Regional Joseph Aboyoun ’78 Stan Cohen ’76 Justin Dion ’00 Antonio Dos Santos

P E R S P E C T I V E S

John Drost ’91 Jeffrey Fialky ’94 Scott Foster Ellen Freyman ’88 Kimberly Klimczuk David Parke Kathleen Porter ’90 Christopher Rixon ’88 PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION First Year Moot Court Gina Birchall ’95 James Brown ’13 Paul Caccaviello ’89 Jeffrey Cedarfield ’95 Kevin Claffey ’98 Richard Goldman John Gravalec-Pannone ’77 Kyle Guelcher ’02 Charles Healey Peggy Kelly Luchansky ’83 Julia Lentini Marquis ’06 Anna Levine ’07 Stephen Linsky Nicole Murray ’05 Marc Needelman ’77 Andrea O'Connor ’14 Jeffrey O'Connor ’07 William O'Neil ’86 Joseph Patchen ’85 Andrew Rome ’84 Leslie Scoville ’96 Lynn Scull ’09 Christopher Sugar ’10 Jeff Weisser ’76 Paula Zeiner ’80

F A L L

2 0 1 6

Guest Lecturers Stephen Arons Alexander Bauer Teresa Bogacz ’07 Stuart Weissman ’87 Introduction to the Legal Profession Course Lisa Beauvais ’95 Peter Benjamin Michelle Bugbee ’00 Charles Casartello ’87 Brian Clifford ’10 Justin Dion ’00 Michael Doherty Joseph Dusel ’78 Laura Gentile ’91 Meg Gilmartin ’07 Chad Greiner ’10 Kyle Guelcher ’02 Matthew Harrison ’05 W. Garth Janes Nicholas Lata Jonathan Longobardi ’10 Hon. Mark Mastroianni ’89 Jeffrey Morneau ’98 Hon. Robert Murphy ’87 Andrea O'Connor ’10 Luigi Petruzziello ’90 Robert Reeve ’83 Hon. Katherine A. Robertson ’90 Jennifer Rymarski ’04 Marc Strange ’04 Christopher Todd ’00 Christopher Visser ’09 Sarah Willey ’96

Speakers, Panelists and Events

Joint Judiciary Hearing Committee

Heather Beattie ’99 Linda M. Benoit Barbara Bowe James Brislin ’13 Michelle Bugbee ’00 Scott Burke ’98 Juan Canelaria Wayne Carpenter Stewart Eisenberg ’81 Kathryn Foster ’09 Michael Frazee ’89 Mary Jo Kennedy David Lanoie Lauren Marcous ’12 Patrick Murray ’85 Cheryl Smith ’83 John Sodipo ’04 Terrence Welsh

William N. Brownsberger Claire D. Cronin John V. Fernandes Carlos Gonzalez Sheila C. Harrington Jeffrey N. Roy Paul Tucker John C. Velis

Annual Civil Rights Conference Jamie Williamson Meris Bergquist Color of Law Roundtable Discussion Series

Massachusetts Appeals Court Hon. Judd J. Carhart Hon. William J. Meade ’89 Hon. Mary T. Sullivan Hon. Ariane D. Vuono Naturalization Ceremony Melissa Calderon Luis Chaves Joseph Forte Kathryn Foster ’09 Noreen Nardi Hon. Katherine A. Robertson ’90 Phyllis Ryan ’81 Orientation Speaker Hon. Katherine A. Robertson ’90

Rishi Desai ’09 Jacquelyn Lee-Washington

Students and Alumni of Color Dinner Speakers

Dean of the Mini-Law School Hon. Kenneth P. Neiman

Hon. Roderick Ireland LLD’04 Jennifer Obodo ’16

◆ 11

In Service to By Patricia Gagnon

ajor Lynn Kincaid ’89, deputy staff judge advocate, and Colonel Christopher Wood ’90, staff judge advocate, U.S. Army Reserves Legal Command, are members of the oldest and largest law firm in the country—the elite Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Also known as JAG or JAG Corps, judge advocates are commissioned officers in one of the U.S. Armed Forces, who serve as legal advisors to the command in which they are assigned, assist in a wide variety of practice areas, as well as serve as prosecutors and defense counsel in courts-martial. On July 29, 1775, General George Washington founded the U.S. Army JAG Corps and since then judge advocates have played an integral role in some of the most important legal work in history from the trials of Benedict Arnold and Nuremburg to the formation of Bosnia/Herzegovina. Entry into the JAG Corps is highly competitive with strict academic standards and leadership qualities befitting an officer in service to his or her country. “All JAGs need to be a graduate of an ABA-accredited law school and pass the bar in any state. We are not required to take the bar of every state to which we may be assigned over our military careers because we practice exclusively in federal courts,” explains Lynn. “We go through initial JAG training at the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. Once trained, all JAGs must be certified by The Judge Advocate General of the Army or that of their military service which allows the JAG to appear in courts-martial or advise commanders and soldiers depending on the particular duty assignment.”

Lynn says the Army has JAGs move to different places and practice different legal work, enabling them to be well rounded and prepared to meet the needs of the Army and supervise and mentor younger officers. This has meant that both Lynn and Chris have traveled great distances to join different units during their careers. Lynn has been deployed to Iraq and has been to South Korea, China, and Germany. “I’ve been blessed to have worked and lived in so many unique locations, including New York City; Saint Louis, MO; as well as my adopted home state of Alabama,” says Chris. “I have served in Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan and have traveled to numerous countries, including Kuwait, Ireland, Germany, Japan, China, and Thailand.” As JAGs, Lynn and Chris’ work encompasses a wide range of legal disciplines, including civil litigation, tort claims, labor law, and international law. The areas of law they practice can include anything from Uniform Code Military Justice (UCMJ) actions, adverse administrative actions, law of war and rules of engagement, fiscal law, government ethics, to military personnel law and legal assistance issues such as divorce and landlord/tenant advice. Chris explains that as an Army JAG officer, you are both a lawyer and a soldier. “So, in addition to needed lawyer skills that the JAG Corps teaches you, you must also be proficient in Soldier skills that other Army officers use on a daily basis,” he says.

Major Lynn Kincaid ’89

12 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

ALUMNI in PROFILE JAG Attorneys Lynn Kincaid ’89 and Christopher Wood ’90

Their Country As a female, Lynn says the JAG Corps has been a wonderful career path. “There is no question about equal pay for equal work,” she says. “We are paid by rank and years of service, so the longer you are in the military and are promoted, your pay will increase as you progress in your career. Females in the JAG Corps are given leadership roles just like the men. The Army’s current senior JAG, the Judge Advocate General of the Army, is a female and a three star general, which is the highest rank for JAG Corps officers in all the services.” Chris, an Army Reservist, is also a practicing supervisory contracts law attorney with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command. Both he and Lynn say their education at Western New England University School of Law has made them well prepared for the exceptional challenges of being a JAG and note the academic rigor, practical skills, family atmosphere, mentoring, and the openness and accessibility of faculty at the School of Law were instrumental.

“While president of the International Law Society in my third year of law school, we hosted the International Law Moot Court competition,” Lynn recalls. “That is where I learned about organizing and facilitating a high profile event, which has helped me at various times in the Army. My experiences at the School of Law gave me a sound basis for continued learning and excelling in my legal career as both a private practitioner and in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.” Both Lynn and Chris are amazed to have their connection as Western New England University alumni and, today, to be working together in the JAG Corps. They say serving as a JAG has been a humbling experience which has allowed them to serve their country in a unique way. “I have traveled to numerous countries and know how tremendously lucky we are to live in the United States and have the freedoms that we enjoy as U.S. citizens, says Chris. “I hope that my Army JAG Corps service has helped in a small way to preserve our freedoms and to better the lives of our children and future generations.” ◆

“

My 25-year Army JAG Corps career service has always been about public service—serving our great nation and the young men and women who volunteer for our armed forces.” —Colonel Chris Wood ’90

Colonel Christopher Wood ’90 and family

Colonel Chris Wood ’90 and his wife, Tina, with their daughter, Sarah

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 13

The Ties That Bind: David Bedford 3L JD/MBA Connects with Legal Alumni to Forge His Future Career By Alex Lyman BA’12/G’16

14 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT David Bedford 3L

{

David Bedford, born and raised in New York City, is no stranger to the unpredictability and noise that come from the crowded city streets on a daily basis. Perhaps this comfort with chaos is what orients him towards being a lawyer. It was his undergraduate education in rural Pennsylvania, however, that not only gave him the culture shock of his

life, but also piqued his interest in the pursuit of law school.

He began double majoring in psychology and business, but eventually found history to be much more to his liking. His area of interest is 1960s Social America, where much of the groundwork for our modern day Civil Rights Movements was laid. The Stonewall Riots, Women’s Liberation, and African American Civil Rights Movements all changed our country not just in a social sense, but in a legal one as well. We are still seeing the effects they have had on our society in the law today. For David, his biggest takeaway is that change doesn’t happen overnight, it is a constant struggle that is well worth the effort. When David came to Western New England, he found early on that the School of Law’s value is not just in the education it provides, but also in alumni networking and the vibrant Springfield legal community. Through the school’s connections, David landed a law clerk position at Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C. with Trustee Emeritus Frank Fitzgerald BS’68/L’73. “I believe both current students and alumni mutually benefit from the strong connection they share,” he says. “Students, like myself, benefit from professional connections to the legal field, and personal connections to members of the Western New England community. This makes it easier to relate with the person who will mentor you, or, as in my case, give you a great job opportunity. It also demonstrates to us the great talent the School has fostered.

F A L L

2 0 1 6

“Conversely, for alumni, it provides a window into how the practice of law will be changing as the new generation of legal minds enters the workforce. The practice of law and business is not stagnant. Each group benefits from different and new ways of thinking and with the strong connection afforded to current and former Western New England students—the legal field is advanced.” As David gets closer to becoming an alumnus himself, he is already connecting with his classmates and incoming students as a member of the Orientation Committee, Black Law Students Association, and the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He is also a member of the housing committee, which maintains a list of safe and affordable off-campus housing options for students so that they don’t have to resort to community boards such as Craigslist, to find a place to live. Also pursuing his MBA concurrently with his Juris Doctor, David sees himself practicing in either criminal or corporate litigation. He is currently working as a student attorney at the Committee for Public Counsel Services, which works exclusively in criminal defense. David hopes to gain as much in-court experience as possible, including the public speaking and personal interaction that goes along with criminal trials. He expects to be working on bail arguments and arraignments, something that will speak to his enjoyment of interacting with a variety of people. As a future lawyer and likely mentor to the next generation of law students, David’s career will reflect on the past to improve the future. ◆

◆ 15

Coming Home: Alumni Return for Homecoming Festivities Homecoming Dinners were the center of this year’s celebration, which also included a visitor’s tent on Golden Bear Blvd., the 21st Annual Supreme Court Review, the 17th Annual Alumni and Students of Color Dinner, and a meeting of the Law Alumni Board of Directors.

(Clockwise L to R) Marcy Spratt ’09 with Rick Sullivan ’84; William Reichelt Jr. ’13/L’14; Dean Eric Gouvin with Hon. Anne Geoffrion ’77; and Judge Stephanie Silvas ’11 and Sarah Scharp ’11

Alumni Recognition Reception Western New England University celebrated some of its many stellar alumni at the School of Law Alumni Recognition Reception on September 23, 2016 in the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. The event featured special recognition for the classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011, as well as the presentation of the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award, two Ascending Alumni Awards, and the Dean’s Award. “The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award and the Ascending Alumni Award afford us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate those achievements on an annual basis. The Association is honored to recognize Rick Sullivan ’84 as the 2016 Distinguished Alumni,” said Marcy Spratt ’09, president of the Alumni Association. Sullivan is the president and chief executive officer of the Western

16 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

Mass Economic Development Council, he was the former Chief of Staff to Governor Deval Patrick and former Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and former Mayor of Westfield, MA. The Ascending Alumni Award spotlights the achievements of new alumni who have graduated 10 years or less from the School of Law. West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt Jr. ’13/L’14 and Judge Stephanie Silvas L’11 of Bee County, TX, were this year’s recipients. Judge Anne M. Geoffrion ’79 was honored with The Dean’s Award. “Judge Geoffrion’s career epitomizes the kind of lawyer this award is meant to honor,” says Dean Eric Gouvin. “As a member of the bar and as a judge on the bench, she has not only met the highest level of professional competency, but she has given back to her community and to the School of Law in many ways.” ◆

P E R S P E C T I V E S

HOMECOMING 2016 By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10

(L to R) Egzon Beha, Caroline Montiel, Claudia Quintero, Michelle Tsang, Tameka Huntley, and Anthony Huntley Speaker Alesia H. Days ’99

Alumni and Students of Color Dinner The Alumni and Students of Color Dinner was held on September 24 at the Springfield LaQuinta Inn and Suites. Alesia H. Days ’99 served as the keynote speaker. The dinner was attended by more than 120 alumni, students, and faculty. For alumni it provided an opportunity to reconnect with classmates and former professors as well as to meet and mentor current students. (L to R) Chelsea Donaldson, Jade Thornton, Barbara Curatolo, and Claudia Quintero

Representing the student body was Claudia B. Quintero 3L, president, Latino/a Law Student Association chapter, which was founded last year. She spoke of her challenges to become a citizen and the inspiration she finds in seeing people of color in positions she aspires to. Alesia H. Days, director of licensing for the City of Springfield Law Department, began her remarks by sharing what it meant to her to be asked to speak at the dinner. “My mother used to clean Western New England College when I was in high school and I was later to graduate from the law school. So I am immensely humbled that one generation later, here I stand and my mother used to clean the library at the law school.” Addressing the students, she said, “Always remember that it is important to give back. It's not just important; it's a duty. You are fortunate to have a law degree, more fortunate than a whole lot of other people. But it's our duty and our responsibility to give back. We give back in every single realm of the law. It doesn’t matter whether you’re criminal defense or criminal prosecution. It matters not if you’re in a private practice or you are in the corporate scene. We, as people of color, bring our cultural experiences and our life experiences to the table.” ◆

F A L L

2 0 1 6

21st Annual Supreme Court Review Saturday morning saw a large attendance at the Supreme Court Review moderated by Professor Art Wolf. At its 20152016 term of court, the Court decided very important cases addressing search and seizure, abortion, and affirmative action. Offering insightful observations, the panelists explored these topics. Among other cases, Professor Emeritus Arthur Leavens reviewed a Fourth Amendment decision involving police attempts to compel a person suspected of driving under the influence to take a blood or breathalyzer test without a search warrant. Law Review student Chelsea Donaldson 2L examined the Court’s latest abortion decision, which shored up, with five votes, the “undue burden” test. Finally, Professor Bruce Miller discussed the affirmative action case from the University of Texas at Austin.

◆ 17

“Ola” from Rio! Associate Professor Curt Hamakawa ’84 Gives Western New England University Business Students a Global Education Thanks to law alumnus and Associate Professor of Sport Management Curt Hamakawa ’84, Western New England University business students don’t just watch the Olympic Games, they study them in person. As the founder and director of the University’s Center for International Sport Business (CISB), Curt gives business students an unparalleled global perspective of the sport industry. His longtime love of the Games and professional connections to international sports figures provide an educational backstage pass into how major world sporting events such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup operate, and how industry leaders have turned their passion for sports into stellar careers. Curt’s love of sports began back in his roots growing up in Hawaii, where he was influenced by his father who taught physical education and coached basketball, and where he played high school basketball. After graduating from the University of Hawaii, he enrolled in the JD program at Western New England, before continuing his graduate studies at Springfield College. During his time in Springfield, Curt coached women’s volleyball as an assistant coach, first at Springfield College and later at American International College. After completing his graduate studies, Curt worked for the NCAA in Compliance Services before joining the U.S. Olympic Committee, first as associate general counsel, subsequently as director of athlete services, and finally as director of international relations. While Curt was working at the USOC in Colorado Springs, Western New England was never far from his heart. He served as a member of the Law Alumni Board, spoke to classes, and helped recruit students. In 2006, he came full circle, returning to the campus to join the faculty of the College of Business as a member of the Department of Sport Management. In addition to directing the CISB, he also serves as director of the Business Honors and the Sophomore Experience Abroad (London) programs.

“

Through the Center for International Sport Business, Curt has championed one of the most popular study abroad programs on campus, and unique among universities worldwide. “As far as I am aware, Western New England University is the only program of this kind that regularly takes students to the Olympic Games. There is another university (George Washington) that takes graduate students to the Olympics, but their purpose is data-gathering for research, so their focus is different,” says Curt. “It is indeed a rarity for college students anywhere to have the chance to attend and experience such a high-profile sporting event.” To date, the CISB Seminar Abroad program has focused on the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup Finals, in alternating even-numbered years (since both mega sporting events are held in four-year cycles). Curt and his colleagues have led seminars in Brazil (twice), China, South Africa, and the UK. “In the sport travel course, students are enrolled in an international practicum that focuses on the historical significance of these global events, where they study the business aspects of staging gatherings of this magnitude, in addition to the controversies and issues—economic, political, and social—peculiar to the Games at hand,” says Curt. While we may not have the good fortunate to be in Curt’s class, he says the Olympic games still offer important lessons for all of us. “For me, the Olympic Games are a celebration of humanity. In other words,” says Curt, “it symbolizes the quintessential global village in that it summons at one place and at the same moment people from virtually every nationality on the planet. As the prime mover of the Modern Olympics Pierre de Coubertin, said, ‘The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.’ If you think about it, Coubertin’s statement is really a metaphor for life.” ◆

My coming of age about the Olympics was the 1972 Munich Games, watching the Israeli hostage saga in the Olympic Village unfold on live TV. It was gripping viewing, but it piqued my awareness of this thing called the Olympic Games. Of course, my 16-year career with the U.S. Olympic Committee sealed my fate as a lifelong student of the Games.” —Curt Hamakawa ’84

Associate Professor of Sport Management Curt Hamakawa ’84

18 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10

Students helped run the Truce Foundation’s Awards Ceremony and had a private session with the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Liliana Ayalde.

Making the Case for Olympic Athlete Gender Policy Changes

The group had photo-ops at an Ipanema street fair with NBC Today Show weatherman Al Roker, and atop a scenic mountain lookout with NBC Today Show host Natalie Morales and NBC News correspondent Jenna Bush Hager.

In May 2016, Professor of Law Erin Buzuvis presented at the Athens Institute for Teaching, Education and Research 16th Annual International Conference on Sports: Economic, Management, Marketing, and Social Aspects. She discussed the efforts of the International Olympic Committee and the International Track and Field Federation to exclude female athletes with hyperandrogenism (naturally high levels of testosterone) and presented arguments in favor of a policy that would permit such athletes to compete as women on the basis of their sincerely held female gender identity. These athletes were allowed to compete in Rio.

The Center for International Sport Business invites international sports figures to speak on campus. Bookmark wne.edu/business/cisb to attend these free and public events.

Our students were the largest American-flag-waving contingent at a preliminary women’s tennis match between Madison Keys and Kristina Mladenovic, and spurring the American Keys to victory in a hard-fought marathon match over her French competitor (which earned the students a moment of attention on NBC’s live telecast of the match).

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 19

CampusUPDATE By Judy Curran

Western New England University Names New Trustees

Janet Johnson Bullard BSBA’69 (Management) is the owner, president, and registered investment advisor of A.T. Whitehead, Inc., an investment management firm headquartered in Tampa, FL, with offices in Watertown, MA, and Bristol, RI. Bullard has established the Janet Johnson Bullard Annual Scholarship, and the Janet Johnson Bullard Endowed Scholarship Fund. She also serves on the College of Business Student Managed Investment Fund Advisory Board, and has supported the Cohen Trading Room Technology Maintenance Fund.

Legal Summer Camp Held for High School Students Attorneys with the MassMutual legal department along with faculty and law students from the School of Law, and other local attorneys, participated as volunteers in the Springfield Summer Legal Institute. One of the highlights of the week was a mock trial in the U.S. Federal District Court in Springfield conducted entirely by the students. The Honorable Justice Mark Mastroianni ’89 presided over the mock trial and explained the process step-by-step as the students conducted the trial. The program is sponsored by the Just the Beginning Foundation.

20 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

Philip “Bud” C. Beaudry has worked in the aerospace/defense sector for more than 30 years. Over the past 13 years, he has been the president/owner of BTP systems, an engineering firm located in Ludlow, MA, which he started and has grown into a multimillion dollar company. Bud and his wife, Jill, have established the BTP Systems Endowed Scholarship for College of Engineering students to help increase awareness in the career field of Radio Frequency/Microwave Engineering, and to encourage students to pursue studies within this growing specialized discipline.

Richard M. Cassata BSBA’80 (Finance) is managing director of public finance of Assured Guaranty Corporation. Assured Guaranty is a leading provider of financial guaranty insurance. Cassata played on the Golden Bear Baseball team which was the first to win 20 games in a season. In addition to supporting Golden Bear Athletics, especially the Men’s Baseball Team, Cassata and his wife have established the Richard M. and Catherine Cassata Scholarship for students in the College of Business.

Dr. Robert E. Kleine III Appointed Dean of the College of Business Robert (Rob) E. Kleine III joins the College of Business after serving as associate dean and James F. Dicke professor of marketing at Ohio Northern University for the past 14 years. While at Ohio Northern, he collaboratively led the creation of several programs, including a whole campus entrepreneurial mindset initiative, the Pharmaceutical Business major, for which he served as coordinator for several years, and more recently a Risk Management & Insurance major. He earned a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati and a B.S.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.

P E R S P E C T I V E S

alumni giving Create your legacy today A planned gift today can change the life of deserving law students for generations to come. Whatever your age or your means, it’s never too early to consider what type of legacy you’d like to leave at Western New England University. Explore how a commitment through your estate or other vehicles can benefit both you and the School of Law that made such an impact on your life.

F A L L

2 0 1 6

Contact Elizabeth Simpson BA’02/L’07/LLM’09 associate director of planned giving at 413-796-2108 or elizabeth.simpson@wne.edu or visit wne.edu/giving to learn more. Western New England University Advancement Division 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01109-2684

◆ 21

Forging Ahead: By Patricia Gagnon

22 â&#x2014;&#x2020;

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

ALUMNI PROFILE Valerie Fisk ’88

{

Valerie Fisk ’88 has represented hundreds of clients in immigration proceedings throughout the past 25 years and feels grateful for getting to know each one of them. “I feel like my clients have always given me more than I have given them,” Valerie says. “I get to meet the most amazing people who have suffered so much but are so resilient.” alerie is the immigration supervisor at Community Legal Services and Counseling Center (CLSACC) in Cambridge, MA, which provides free civil legal aid and affordable psychological counseling to low-income people. Their services combat the effects of poverty and violence by helping clients and their children meet basic human needs for safety, income, health, and housing. “My clients come here with nothing, sometimes losing their entire families and yet they build amazing lives here and contribute so much,” she says. “It makes me angry when I hear the negative things people say about immigrants. I wonder if they even know any. If they knew the people I know, they would want them as their friends and neighbors.” Valerie supervises two other staff attorneys, one accredited representative, approximately 15 volunteer attorneys, students (one to three a semester), volunteer paralegals, and translators. She has a caseload of about 100 cases. “I represent clients before USCIS

Valerie Fisk ’88, the 2016 recipient of the Access to Justice Legal Services Award, with family and friends.

F A L L

2 0 1 6

and at the Immigration Court of Boston. My caseload is about 35% Violence Against Women Act cases, 25% U-visa victims of crime cases, 10% Special Immigrant Juvenile cases and 30% asylum cases.” Born in Westfield, MA, Valerie moved to Worcester when she was four. Her father was a surveyor and her mother, a dietician. She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science, minoring in Spanish, from North Park University in Chicago. Valerie decided on a career in law because “I wanted to help people and thought the law would give me that opportunity.” She earned her degree from Western New England University School of Law. After passing the bar, she worked for Centro Presente in Cambridge, MA, working with Central American immigrants fleeing the wars. “I did mostly asylum applications then later applications for Temporary Protected Status,” says Valerie. She then worked at a community agency in Worcester called Centro Las Americas and another law office until she started at her present job at CLSACC in February of 1997. Known as an immigration and domestic violence expert in Massachusetts, Valerie was one of the first attorneys in the state to focus on providing representation in Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Uvisa cases. She has also been one of the pioneers in successfully representing Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases. Valerie recently received the 2016 Access to Justice Legal Services Award from the Mass Bar Association. She has conducted numerous immigration law trainings throughout the commonwealth, and frequently participates in trainings facilitated by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.

“I have trained many attorneys and students who have gone on to do this work and they are doing great work,” she notes. “Training others has helped more people get quality representation.” As an example, Valerie says, “One thing we were able to do was to get immigration services expanded out to Worcester when previously most people had to come in to Boston. That allowed access to services for so many more clients who would never been able to be helped. I am happy I was able to contribute to that.” Valerie is an accomplished musician, athlete, coach, bee keeper, and rosarian. She enjoys playing soccer, softball, and kayak racing. She coached swimming for 25 years. She is a past president of the New England Rose Society. “I am not a very good beekeeper at this point, but it is a very interesting hobby,” she says. Valerie has played the trumpet since third grade and sometimes volunteers to play at military services through the BAA (Bugles Across America). She gives back to her community and has served on several boards, including the Worcester Community Action Council, Community Legal Aid, and the LGBT Asylum Taskforce. Valerie says her work in immigration has allowed her to both give and receive. “I have learned so much from my clients. I have learned a lot about other countries which I would never have known,” she says. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been born in this country and to have opportunities I have had and to feel safe here. To me it is important to acknowledge that I have so much. How can I not help someone else who has suffered so much to have an opportunity to have a good life? It is not even a hard choice. It is really great work and makes anyone who does it a better person.” ◆

◆ 23

alumni news

First Week. Better Day. First Tuesdays is Moving to Thursdays. The monthly alumni “First Tuesdays” event is moving to a better day of the week for social gatherings—“First Thursdays” starting in November. See the back cover of this issue for upcoming dates.

First Tuesdays Recap

CHARLOTTE, NC (Top Left L-R) Jessica Young ’80, Denzil Forrester ’95, Krystal Orr ’06, James Doyle ’06, Ben Cassarino ’90, Kate Irwin-Smiler ’07 and Amy Howard ’95 MELVILLE, NY (Above L-R) Kathy Small Mazarra ’87, Tim Mazzara ’86, and Rosemarie Bongiorno Montalbano ’90. BOSTON, MA (Top Right L-R) Peter Frasca, and Evan Bjorklund ’13 at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston.

The First Tuesdays Networking Social featured some great new locations this past spring. In March, Krystal Orr ’06 and James Doyle ’06 hosted alumni in the Charlotte, NC area for an evening of fun. Alumni Denzil Forrester ’95 and Kate Irwin-Smiler ’07 were among the attendees. In April Michael Borg ’88 welcomed Long Island alumni to Melville, NY. Tim Mazzara ’86 and Kathy Small Mazzara ’87 reminisced about how they met in law school at the Barrister’s Ball. Their daughter just finished law school. And finally in May, Evan Bjorklund ’13 spearheaded the last First Tuesday of the year at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston.

Keep informed about speakers, events, and other news from the School of Law by visiting law.wne.edu. For news about the Law Alumni Association, visit wne.edu/alumni/law.

24 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

ALUMNI NEWS By Kim Roeder

Boston Food Tour Dean Eric Gouvin, law alumni, their guests, and current law students took a three-hour food tour of South Boston in May. The first stop was the Parish Café, an American restaurant featuring sandwiches created by renowned Boston Chefs. The group tried Sean’s Meatloaf Club sandwich, created and named after the café’s executive chef and owner, a twist on a classic, but with chipotle meatloaf with applewood smoked baked and a chipotle aioli. It was a great way to start off the sweet and savory tour. As the tour walked through South Boston, the guide shared historical, architectural and cultural information about the neighborhoods. From Morse Fish Company, where everyone tried fried clams to a delightful finish of bread pudding and a sampling of Harpoon’s seasonal ale at Stephi’s, the group walked away well-fed and entertained.

(Photo above) Kristen Brierley ’13 and her husband, Dan, enjoy sandwiches at the Parish Café. (Top right) Evan Bjorklund ’13 and his wife, Cammy Keiler, tried fried clams at the fish market. (Bottom right) David Bedford 3L had a chance to network with alumnus the Hon. William O’Grady ’80.

‰ Alumni Board of Directors Welcomes Newest Graduates The Alumni Association Board of Directors welcomed the Class of 2016 into the alumni community by attending the graduation dinner where President Marcy Spratt ’09 gave a champagne toast. She also inducted the graduating class into the Alumni Association the next day at the Commencement ceremonies.

Join us on

F A L L

2 0 1 6

‰ Blue & Gold Alumni Receptions Are Coming to Town Western New England University may be coming to a major city near you. The Blue and Gold Alumni Receptions are on the schedule for New York City, Washington, DC, Hartford, Pioneer Valley, and Boston. These alumni gatherings are open to all Western New England University alumni in the respective areas (or if you happen to be traveling in those areas) including undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s a great opportunity for you to mingle with alumni in a variety of professions in your own city! For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 413-782-1311.

‰ The Law Digest Is Going Digital Read Law Digest the way you view most publications these days—on your computer, phone or tablet. Our next issue will be going digital. To make sure you continue to receive it, please send us your preferred email. Send your contact information to Kim Roeder, associate director of Alumni Relations, Professional Programs at kim.roeder@wne.edu.

Updated several times a week, the School of Law LinkedIn page features articles and information about our alumni, law school events, and current students. Finding us is easy—search Western New England University School of Law.

◆ 25

alumni board

By Spencer Naake ’10

Law Alumni Association Board Dedicated to Engaging Alumni The School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors welcomed Stephen Button ’06 as its new president during its fall of 2016 meeting. As president-elect, Stephen devoted his efforts to adapting our governing documents to fit the Board’s future direction. With a strong foundation in place, Stephen will work with Immediate Past President Marcy Spratt ’09 as part of the leadership team that is dedicated to engaging our alumni. Stephen will also provide guidance to new members of the Board, who were recently installed. Kaley Lentini ’14 is an attorney at the Connecticut State Democratic Caucus. Nicole Murray ’05 is a local attorney at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Ed Pikula ’83 is the City Solicitor for the City of Springfield. Hirak Shah ’10 is the Legal Counsel in the Office of the Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr.

“

It is my sincere hope that we will be able to continue to build upon the successes of Marcy Spratt and the Board. With her continued assistance and the dedication of the Board and its new members, we will fulfill our obligation to the alumni and Western New England University School of Law to increase our outreach within the communities in which so many of our dedicated graduates serve.” —Stephen Button ’06

Lentini ’14

Murray ’05

Pikula ’83

Mike Borg ’88 and Linda Fakhoury ’04 have been selected to renew their terms and Jon Longobardi ’10 rejoined the Board for a second term after a two-year hiatus. Mike and Linda will continue to be proven leaders for the Communications Committee, and Jon brings insight from his first term during which he was part of the task force that provided the framework for the Distinguished Alumnus Award. At the fall meeting, the Board also thanked those Directors stepping off the Board, James Martin ’06, Spencer Naake ’10 and Zachary Ryan ’09, for their service. These outgoing

26 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

Over the past year, it has been a tremendous honor to have served as president of the Alumni Association. The members of the Board of Directors have displayed an incredible commitment to enriching our law school community, and the future of the Association could not be brighter. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and I am thrilled to pass the leadership baton to Steve Button, whose passion and dedication to community service has truly inspired me.” —Marcy Spratt ’09

Shah ’10

members were encouraged by the Board to continue to be actively involved with the Alumni Association. Members also encourage you to volunteer your time and talent. Become a class agent, an event host, or even serve on a committee as a way to get involved with your alumni association. The Board also invites you to join the LinkedIn page or Facebook group for weekly updates on alumni and to look for our e-news letter in your inbox. Stay connected by emailing Kim Roeder at kim.roeder@wne.edu. ◆

P E R S P E C T I V E S

alumni notes FALL 2016

REUNION YEAR

MacMillian ’79, Geoffrion ’90, and Grover ’79

1975 Wanted: Class Agent

1976

The Hon. Winnie Zimberlin was selected as a Super Lawyer for Social Security disability in Connecticut. Her firm Zimberlin Law LLC is located in Manchester, CT.

1981 Wanted: Class Agent

Class Agent Gary Thomas gary@wealthtechnology.com

1977 Class Agent Marty Martin Marty_Martin@martinlegalhelp.com Marc N. Needelman was reappointed as town attorney for Bloomfield, CT. He has served in this role since 1990, making him one of the longest serving municipal attorneys in the state.

1978 Wanted: Class Agent

1979

1982 Class Agent Hon. Tina S. Page Tina.page@comcast.net Larry Cafero was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the LockwoodMathews Mansion Museum, which is a National Historic Landmark. Larry served in the Connecticut General Assembly as state representative from 1993-2015 and is currently managing his own practice, Cafero Law and Strategies, LLC in Norwalk, CT. Ringler Associates Incorporated, the nation’s largest structured settlement company, selected Geoffrey E. Hunt as its chief executive officer in March 2016.

Wanted: Class Agent Classmates, Janet MacMillian, Hon. Anne M. Geoffrion, and Deborah Grover presented at the Massachusetts CLE program in Springfield last March. William “Bill” Perrone received the Connecticut Law Tribune’s 2016 Professional Excellence Award. He is currently the corporate department chair and cochair of the firm’s Family Office Practice.

1980 Welcome Hon. William O’Grady as the new Class Agent. wogrady@parkerandogrady.com

Katherine E. McMahon was appointed by fellow alumnus Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni ’07 to the position of chief appeals for his office. Lisa Prager joined the firm of Holland & Knight in its National White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. Her focus is on government investigations and enforcement actions relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Lisa is based in the New York City office.

1983 Class Agent Ellen Teller eteller@frac.org

Don Anderson is the founder and CEO of The Cruise Store, CruiseStore.com and MilitaryCruises.com in East Longmeadow, MA.

1984 Class Agent Ina Forman aliforman@aol.com Jeffrey Somers is with the firm of Farber Brocks & Zane LLP in the greater New York City area.

1985

Cafero ’82

Wanted: Class Agent Elizabeth J. Barton Young is with Westcor Land Title Insurance Company in Natick, MA, as vice president and senior underwriting counsel.

1986 Wanted: Class Agent The Emerald Society of New York City Department of Corrections Chapter honored Gerarda Rella as its Business Person of the Year. Gerarda is a founding member of Rella & Associates, P.C. in Westchester County.

Hunt ’82

(Continued next page)

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 27

Become a fan on

Ryan Costello ’96 Operations Manager eTERA Consulting Rome, Italy

facebook Western New England University School of Law

REUNION YEAR

Where are they now?

Fox ’90

How has your professional and personal life taken off since graduation? “I graduated from the School of Law in 2006, and passed bar exams in Connecticut and District of Columbia. I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to steer my career. A college friend of mine suggested applying for roles as a contract attorney in the then nascent field of eDiscovery. I managed to land contract attorney work in the key Washington, DC market. The work was abundant and allowed an attorney at the very outset of his or her career to be exposed to a breadth of area of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, finance and securities, SEC investigations, and even foreign-based corruption and fraud matters. I worked in eDiscovery for three years, working my way up to project manager. “I was also fortunate enough to travel extensively across the U.S. and into Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia. In the course of my travels, I met my wife, who has born and raised in Rome. She and I married in 2009, and now have three children.”

1987 Class Agent Marc Gaffrey mgaffrey@hoaglandlongo.com

Aaron Smith, P.C., a certified public accounting firm in East Longmeadow, MA, named Bernard “Buzz” F. Travers III as its managing director. Buzz has been with the firm since 1999.

Charles R. Casartello Jr. of the firm Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley PC, received the Pro Bono Publico Award from the Massachusetts Bar Association in April.

1990

Dennis Guthinger was named deputy commonwealth’s attorney for the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Virginia.

Alaric J. Fox was promoted to Colonel for the Connecticut State Police and will serve as the division’s commanding officer.

1988

1991

“I left the eDiscovery world in 2009 to work in compliance for an intergovernmental agency in Italy. However, I found myself being steered back toward eDiscovery, as globalization continued to drive growth in the field in Europe. In 2015, I was hired by eTERA as Operations Manager for its European branch. “eTERA Consulting is an international, award-winning organization focused on solving the challenges of complex, big data projects in the areas of information governance, investigations, litigation, regulatory compliance, and security breach response. I handle much of the logistics, administrative aspects, and project management necessary for growth of the business in the UK and the European continent. It is a challenging role that requires continual travel and flexibility, but I enjoy it a great deal.”

Class Agent Michael Borg mborg@SRBLLP.com

Wanted: Class Agent

What drew you to Western New England, and how did it give you the momentum to make the career leap into international consulting?

1989

You are now working as an operations manager—how that did change come about, and what does your role entail?

“One of the initial draws to the School of Law was the small class sizes, access to professors, and attention paid to legal research and writing as a fundamental part of the legal education. This hands-on aspect of the legal education, particularly during the theoretical, old-school, Actus Reus/Mens Rea sometimes esoteric and often overwhelming first semester of law school, provided a good grounding in the practice of law and hands-on application of legal education. These aspects of the learning process were to pay off in spades later on, as both research and writing have become huge aspects of my work as a legal consultant and project manager.”

28 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

Ellen Freyman was named one of the 2016 Excellence in Law honorees by the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Ellen is an attorney with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. in Springfield. Sister Sally Hodgdon was elected to a second six-year term as superior general. She is a member of the United States Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery in West Hartford.

Wanted: Class Agent

Class Agent Kathleen Porter kporter@rc.com

Philmore H. Colburn II was selected for a Professional Excellence Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune. Philmore is a comanaging partner of Cantor Colburn. Joel Felber was promoted to partner in his firm of Leason Ellis in White Plains, NY. Joel has been with Leason Ellis since 2012 and his focus has been on domestic and international intellectual property protection, particularly related to computing hardware and software.

1992 Wanted: Class Agent

Ellen Berger was selected by the Massachusetts Bar Association as the recipient of the Prosecutor Award at the Access to Justice Award dinner in April. Ellen is a prosecutor in the Hampden County District Attorney’s office.

Erica Cushna celebrated five years as the trial panel director for the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Boston.

P E R S P E C T I V E S

alumni notes

FALL 2016

George ’95

Hussar ’96

Quimet-Rooke ’99

Keever ’05

1993

1996

1999

2002

Wanted: Class Agent

John Flickinger was honored at the Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation Awards dinner in May for his role in fighting Buffalo’s drug trafficking organizations. As the resident agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the Buffalo Police Department, John’s primary mission is to identify, investigate, and dismantle the most significant domestic and international drug trafficking organizations operating in western New York.

Robert A. Hussar has joined the firm of Barclay Damon, LLP in Albany, NY, as partner in May. Previously, Robert served as the first deputy of New York State’s Medicaid Inspector General’s Office.

The firm of Rawle and Henderson LLP announced the addition of Anthony D. Luis from the New York City office as partner. His practice focuses on commercial motor vehicle litigation, medical malpractice, oral surgery and dental malpractice, architectural and engineering malpractice, construction litigation, workers’ compensation, and commercial litigation.

2003

1994 Wanted: Class Agent Anna Maria College named Timothy P. Murray to its board of trustees. Timothy serves as the president of Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

1995 Wanted: Class Agent Sunila Thomas George, commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination was the graduation speaker at her undergraduate institution, Wheaton College, for its 181st Commencement ceremony.

1997 Class Agent Michael Blanchard Michael.blanchard@bingham.com Dennis Guthinger was named deputy commonwealth’s attorney for the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Virginia. Jeffrey Hussey is the assistant general counsel for Permasteelisa North America in Hartford, CT. The company specializes in engineering, project management, manufacturing, and installation of architectural envelopes and interior systems.

In February, Michele Ouimet-Rooke was confirmed for a district court judgeship in Springfield, MA. Michele has served as a victim/witness advocate and assistant district attorney in the Hampden District Attorney’s office and practiced with law firm Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy.

2000 Class Agent Jim Winston james@jameswinstonlaw.com

1998

2001

Welcome Class Agent Jeremy Colvin jcolvin@mcdonaldhopkins.com

Class Agent Jenny Desch jenny.desch@yorkcountygov.com

John Kenealy joined the Chicago Title Insurance Company as vice president and district manager of the Syracuse and Oswego branches in January. Carol Shaw was appointed to a judgeship in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court after serving as an assistant clerk magistrate for the Hampden County Juvenile Court since 2012.

Michael Kennedy has served as the Lawyer-Foreign Legal Consultant for Ingenuity Counsel in Ontario, Canada, for the last four years. Michael provides U.S. tax and business legal services to Canadians and their businesses.

Class Agent Karen Romano Karen161@msn.com Benjamin Coyle was named as one of the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars. Benjamin is an attorney with Bacon Wilson. Jennifer Cunningham and her husband, Jason Hunt, welcomed a baby girl, Sierra Corrine, in May 2015.

2004 Class Agent Linda Fakhoury ldfakhoury@gmail.com Kim Andereck is now with Praxis Alliance, a medical services organization that contracts with doctors and hospitals to run the nonmedical aspects of the business. He is based in Texas.

2005 Class Agent Kelly Cooper Miller kelleycoopermiller@mac.com Desiree Keever and her husband Kevin Bennison BS’03 welcomed their son, Caleb Robert, in September. Luke Ryan received the Edward J. Duggan Private Counsel Award from the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Boston.

(Continued next page)

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 29

REUNION YEAR

Tom Moran ’06 (center) City Manager Nome, AK

Trahan ’05

Gilligan ’08

Where are they now? You are now working as a City Manager in Nome, Alaska. What is your role there, and what challenges do you face?

Kelly A. Trahan of Murtha Cullina LLP was named one of the 40 Under 40 from the Fairfield County Business Journal in Connecticut.

“Municipal government is an interesting animal due to the widely varying systems that are used from place to place. Nome has implemented a City Manager form of government, which means that I have what some people envision as “mayoral duties.” Nome does have a mayor (and a City Council), but I’m personally tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. By ordinance, the city manager is the chief administrative officer. To that end, I serve as both the personnel director and the treasurer. Unequivocally, the most challenging aspect of my job is personnel management. My executive assistant often quips that being the city manager requires one to be able to satisfy three very divergent factions at the same time: the public, the City Council, and my employees. She’s right, as very rarely do those three factions’ interests coincide.”

Janice Ward was appointed as senior vice president, wealth advisor and senior fiduciary officer for Bershire Bank in Pittsfield, MA.

How did you wind up living and working in Alaska?

Brian Levin welcomed his son, Augustus “Gus,” in February.

“I was working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2009 when the northeast was hit by the recession and I was laid off. For almost two years, I tried my hand as a solo practitioner. I was never drawn to the conventional practice of law, though, so I knew that wouldn’t last. A college roommate of mine (who had been to Nome on an adventure cruise) had accepted the position of assistant director of recreation. For nearly a year, he “recruited” me for city clerk—a position that they were having trouble filling. Finally, I applied to the City of Nome and was hired. After four years, the former city manager resigned to work for the new Governor of Alaska, leaving the position vacant. I applied for the job, and the rest is history.” How did Western New England prepare you to stand out in your career? “As I mentioned, the traditional practice of law was never really in the cards for me. I was a political science major in college, and I always presumed that I’d end up in politics. I made the decision to attend law school because I felt that it would provide a skillset that was marketable to a number of different fields. In fact, I think that’s the most valuable thing about going to law school. When my career in government is finally over, perhaps I’ll enter the niche market of municipal law. That’s the beauty of a law degree: regardless of where the world takes you, you’ve always got a soughtafter contingency plan. The first-rate education that I received from Western New England is still with me today.” 30 ◆

l a w . w n e . e d u

2006 Class Agent Julia Lentini Marquis juliaklentini@gmail.com Ryan Costello is the operations manager for eTERA Consulting Europe, an international organization focused on data projects in the areas of information governance, investigations, litigation, regulatory compliance, and security breach response. He is based out of the office in Rome, Italy.

Lisa Lippiello is a founding partner of the practice Burrows, Weiss, Mintz & Lippiello in Northampton, MA. She practices criminal law. Mark Moon took over the family business and is now the principal owner of Seoul BBQ & Sushi in West Hartford.

Running with the NYPD Running Club, police officer Michael J. Gilligan completed the 2015 New York Marathon. He was recently transferred to the 33rd Precinct, covering Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan as a field intelligence officer. Michael Viscosi was appointed to the Johnstown City Court in New York as the assistant city court judge in December.

2009 Class Agent John Bandeian jbandeian@gmail.com Lynn A. Scull is now a board member for the Enfield Zoning Board of Appeals in Connecticut. Jeanne Traugot is the director of development at the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter.

2010 Welcome Class Agent Hirak Shah Hirak.sh@gmail.com

2007

Bernardo Cuadra is part of the Marathon Strides Against MS and has completed the Boston Marathon for the last two years. His team raises money for the National MS Society, which provides funding for research on the disease.

Class Agents: Kelly Koch Kellykoch32@gmail.com Stephanie Schlatter sschlatter@hotmail.com

2011

Jeff Mogan is attorney–senior labor and employee relations specialist for UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA.

2008 Class Agents: Kendra Berardi Kendra.berardi@gmail.com Michelle Hummer mhummer@ofalaw.com

Class Agent Maren Law Maren.law@gmail.com The Massachusetts Bar Association presented the Community Service Award to Amelia Holstrom who is with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. in Springfield. The Committee for Public Counsel Services in Boston awarded Lauren J. Honigman the Jane Addams Award.

P E R S P E C T I V E S

alumni notes

Become a Class Agent

FALL 2016

If you are interested in serving as a Class Agent, please contact Kim Roeder at kim.roeder@wne.edu or visit the School of Law Alumni Class Agent webpage in the “Get Involved” section.

We are always interested in hearing from you. If you have news of career advancement or change, professional accomplishments or activities, marriages, births, changes in address, or any other news, please share it with us. Email: kim.roeder@wne.edu

In Memoriam The magazine has received notice of the deaths of the following members of the School of Law family.

2012

2014

Class Agent Erika Scibelli Erika.scibelli@gmail.com

Welcome Class Agent Rachel Rosenberg Rachel.rosenberg2015@gmail.com

Gerard L. Pellegrini ’57

Connor Fallon is a litigation associate at Keane and Bernheimer PLLC, in Hawthorne, NY.

Amber Duguay is the appellate division law clerk for the Workers’ Compensation Board for the State of Maine.

John David Millgate ’63

Victor Quinn is the vice president for SocialRadar in Washington, D.C. His company specializes in location-based technologies.

Col. Archer B. Battista, USAFR (Ret) ’77

George H. Ramsdell Jr. ’63 James “Jimmy” McEwan ’77

2015

Alfred J. Monahan ’67

2013

Welcome Class Agent Lenore Montanaro Lenore.montanaro@gmail.com

Class Agent Amber Gould Amber.m.gould@gmail.com

Mark Squires was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Enfield Police department in Connecticut.

Matthew R. Tavares was admitted to the New York Bar this past spring.

Norman Friedland ’62

John J. Parrow Jr. ’73 Robert Francis Connelly ’74 Bruce Fogel ’75 Eliot White ’80

2016 Wanted: Class Agent

law alumni benefits As an alumnus/a of Western New England University School of Law you receive all the benefits available to all graduates of the University. School of Law alumni, however, have additional benefits: Publications

Transcripts

School of Law publications such as Perspectives magazine printed twice a year and the Law Digest electronic newsletter emailed two times a year.

Request through the Student Records Office at the School of Law. Call Student Records Office at 413-782-1402 or fax your request to 413-796-2067.

Replacement Diploma

JD Course Auditing

If your diploma is lost or damaged, contact Student Administrative Services at 800-325-1122 ext. 2080 (a $50 service fee is required).

For a nominal fee and on a spaceavailable basis. You must obtain the permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Law Library

Career Services

Use of the School of Law Library is another benefit. Alumni need to request an access card by visiting University Police and showing your School of Law Alumni Card.

The School of Law offers assistance in résumé writing, employment correspondence, interview preparation, career decision-making, job search strategy, and access to electronic job postings. For more information, contact Career Services at jopost@law.wne.edu or call 413-782-1416.

For specific information visit wne.edu/alumni/benefits-services

F A L L

2 0 1 6

◆ 31

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS By Professor Arthur D. Wolf, Director SUMMARY OF EVENTS FOR SPRING 2016 The Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs presented three major events during the spring semester, 2016. The Institute cohosted, with the Latino/a Law Student Association, Connecticut State Representative Juan Candelaria (right), who spoke on his experiences as a lawmaker leading efforts to empower youth and Latinos statewide to get involved in the democratic process through voter registration drives and education. Having served since 2002, in 2013 Rep. Candelaria was elected by his colleagues to be chair of the Black and Latino Caucus to lead their legislative agenda in the legislature. In that role, he has sought to pass legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for Connecticut driver’s licenses. Additionally, he was instrumental in passing Connecticut’s instate tuition legislation in 2011 to allow students without legal documentation to pursue their educational dreams. ‰

‰

32 ◆

With the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court, the Senate, and the country were thrown into political turmoil over the vacancy. Ten days before Justice Scalia died, Chief Justice Roberts, speaking at New England Law School, stated that the Senate should “ensure that nominees are qualified and leave politics out of it.” The Institute invited Professors Bruce Miller, Sudha Setty, and Art Wolf to address the wide-ranging issues related to “replacement politics,” historically and currently. Among other topics, the panel discussed the history of replacing justices during an election year, the factors that may inform President Obama in his selection, the Republican opposition to holding confirmation hearings until after the presidential election, and the Senate’s institutional practice of holding hearings. The presentation gave rise to a lively discussion with the overflow audience, largely composed of students, staff, and faculty. The School of Law and the Institute were again cosponsors of the annual New England Civil Rights and Fair Housing Conference, which has grown to an annual gathering of over 500 attendees. This year was no exception to the varied workshops, plenary sessions, and other scheduled events that the Conference offers to its participants. The entire program was devoted to cutting-edge current topics relating to civil rights and fair housing. Among the many distinguished speakers this year was Ernest Green, one of nine African American students to integrate Central High School, Little Rock, AK, in 1957. When the Governor refused to admit them, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock to ensure compliance with the federal court order requiring their admission. Green is the first African American to graduate from Central High School and served in the Carter administration as assistant secretary of labor for training and employment. President Clinton appointed Green to chair the African Development Foundation by President William J. Clinton. Professor Wolf had the honor of working with Green in Cleveland many years ago.

Representative Juan Candelaria

Jonathan Kozol, a New York Times best selling author, educator, and activist, also addressed the Conference. He is well known for his books on public education in the United States. Kozol has devoted nearly his entire life to the challenge of providing equal opportunity to every child in our public schools. The Conference also had the honor of hearing Attorney P. David Lopez, who was sworn in as general counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2010. He was nominated by President Barack Obama. Prior to this appointment as General Counsel, Attorney Lopez had a distinguished career at the EEOC. For example, he won significant jury verdicts against Alamo Rent-a-Car (the first "post9/11 backlash" religious accommodation case brought by the EEOC), and Go Daddy (a national origin, religion, and retaliation case). Conference participants also greeted Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, whom President Obama nominated as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts in 2009. She is the first Hispanic and the first woman to represent Massachusetts as U.S. Attorney. She oversees the work of more than 200 attorneys and support staff in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. Among her many accomplishments, U.S. Attorney Ortiz implemented the District’s first civil rights initiative. Through extensive community outreach efforts, she reinvigorated enforcement efforts of federal civil rights laws and increased visibility among affected communities. The Conference annually invites high-ranking officials from the federal government who are critical to the implementation of our fair housing programs. This year we had the privilege of presenting the Honorable Gustavo Velasquez. the assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He leads the President's efforts to combat housing discrimination through the affirmative action command of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Prior to his nomination, Assistant Secretary Velasquez was executive director of the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. LEDC serves thousands of Latinos and other immigrants and underserved populations, helping them to gain the necessary skills and capital to start and maintain their own businesses. ◆

Read more about the Institute at law.wne.edu/ilga.

l a w . w n e . e d u

P E R S P E C T I V E S

A gift every year makes a difference in law students’ lives every day. The financial burden of attending law school can be significant, which is why providing student aid for our law students is a top priority. Gifts to support Student Aid allows the School of Law to offer a program that is affordable, engaging, and provides an attractive return on investment. Each year, the Western New England University School of Law makes the dream of obtaining a great legal education a reality for our students. However, we know that many find it challenging to afford tuition. Students pursuing their dreams in the legal profession shouldn’t have to be discouraged by cost and debt, which is why we need you to partner with us. The Fund for Western New England University is the foundation of the School of Law’s fundraising efforts and your gifts help ensure access to our unique brand of legal education.

To make a gift today, contact Deidre Swords, associate director of annual giving, at 413-782-1335 or deidre.swords@wne.edu. You can also give online at wne.edu/thefund. Western New England University Advancement Division 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01119-2684

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage

PA I D Springfield, MA Permit No. 896

Office of Alumni Relations 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01119-2684 law.wne.edu

Law Calendar NOVEMBER 2016 3 4

FIRST THURSDAY / Armsby Abbey / Worcester, MA / 6-8:00 p.m. Road Show / Shipman and Goodwin / Hartford, CT / 12-1:00 p.m. / RSVP required “Voter Registration Law and Its Impact on the Election,” with guest speakers Professor Bruce Miller and Professor Art Wolf Blue & Gold Reception / Dupont Circle Hotel / Washington, DC / 5:30-8:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 2016 1

FIRST THURSDAY / Northampton, MA / 6-8:00 p.m.

JANUARY 2017 24

Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting / School of Law

FEBRUARY 2017 2

FIRST THURSDAY / New Haven, CT / 6-8:00 p.m.

MARCH 2017 2 2

Blue & Gold Reception / Delaney House / Holyoke, MA / 5:30-8:00 p.m. FIRST THURSDAY / Albany, NY / 6-8:00 p.m.

APRIL 2017 6

Blue & Gold Reception / Society Room / Hartford, CT / 5:30-8:00 p.m.

visit law.wne.edu