24 Stetson Law Highlights of 2024

2024 was full of exciting developments.

Everyone can agree – 2024 was a year like no other. With all of its challenges and triumphs, it was a year in which the Stetson Law community shined – and brilliantly so.

Here are 24 highlights from an unprecedented year. To see a photo slideshow with highlights from the past year, scroll to the bottom of this page.

In January, Admissions Director Darren Kettles and others traveled to the American Association of Law Schools’ annual meeting to accept an award from the AALS Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues. The award honored the College of Law for its robust LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives.
Stetson Law’s award-winning Campus to Career event offered a day of amazing programming that invited students to explore not just job opportunities, but ways to develop their professional identity.
The AALS section on Technology, Law, & Legal Education honored Law Professor Kirsten Davis with its inaugural Technology Mentorship Award for her tireless work training faculty on virtual learning – and for her important work around generative AI and legal education. She was later named Stetson University’s Provost Faculty Fellow for Generative Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education.
The spring 2024 semester marked the end of a groundbreaking career for Law Professor Luz Nagle, who has now earned the status of professor emerita. The first Hispanic member of Stetson Law’s faculty, she is known for her meticulous lesson-planning and passion for international law informed by her early-career experience as a judge in Colombia.
In March, criminal justice reform advocate Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez gave a moving talk about his harrowing experience being falsely accused and convicted of murder – and how future legal professionals like those in the audience have the power to fight for reform.
When it was time for Stetson’s yearly Giving Challenge, Dean Barros did not hesitate to use his influence to inspire others to contribute – even if it meant getting multiple pies in the face!
It was also a year that Stetson Law reclaimed its status as U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 Law School for Trial Advocacy – and retained its No. 3 spot for Legal Writing.
In April, student Mia Bartolomei – then a 2L – was in for quite the surprise when the nonprofit AccessLEX handed her a giant $40,000 check to help her cover tuition for her final year of law school. She had been automatically entered into a drawing for the generous prize simply by using AccessLex’s services, so it was unexpected, to say the least.
Stetson Law’s 2024 Inns of Court speaker was alumna Irene Sullivan, a retired judge known for her passionate advocacy on behalf of children. She was honored with Stetson’s 2024 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award.
The conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year marked the end of the inaugural inns of court-inspired 1L orientation format. The holistic approach to acclimating students to law school and professional life has shown measurable improvement in student confidence.
Three of Stetson Law’s gorgeous fountains were restored to their full glory thanks to a historic preservation grant and careful work.
Nearly 300 students walked across the stage at the spring 2024 commencement ceremony. The commencement speaker was none other than University of South Florida President and 1977 alumna Rhea Law.
Just after graduating from Stetson Law with her J.D., alumna Ana Gabrielle Geiger was one of three individuals from a national pool of contenders to win the Federal Bar Association Criminal Justice Award.
Leah Burnett, a 2024 alumna of the College of Law’s Social Justice Advocacy Concentration, was chosen by the Immigrant Justice Corps for a fellowship in which she will serve as a staff attorney for Florida Legal Services’ Immigrant and Migrant Rights Project. Starting September 1 of this year, her work has focused on the Unaccompanied Children’s Project.
In July, Dean Barros joined numerous current and past Stetson Law faculty members in being elected to the prestigious American Law Institute.
The Florida Legislature awarded generous support to Stetson Law’s celebrated Veterans Law Institute, which will allow the Veterans Advocacy Clinic to expand its critical work supporting those who have served our nation.
Law Professor Kristen Adams expanded her horizons by publishing a children’s book about the inspirational story of her beloved dog, Allie, and her perseverance against cancer.
Law Professor Ellen Podgor did important work as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section’s Prosecutorial Independence Task Force.
Renowned Florida immigration lawyer Michael Vastine joined Stetson Law as Distinguished Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education.
In the wake of back-to-back hurricanes that wrought widespread devastation to the Tampa Bay region, the Stetson Law community stepped up in a major way by generously donating to the College’s student food pantry and student emergency fund.
For the fifth time in a row, Stetson Law received Insight into Diversity’s HEED Award for Diversity.
In early November, scientists, policy makers, legal professionals, and students joined forces for a day-long symposium exploring the underrated issue of nitrogen pollution and ways to address it.
Alumna and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi ’90 was chosen to be the next United States Attorney General.
Stetson Law’s talented advocacy teams brought home their 100^th National Competition win!