Stetson Law student Leah Ellington and Professor Lance Long discuss campus efforts to curb pollution from plastic bottles. Click for high-resolution image.
Five Tampa Bay area campuses addressed questions of sustainability in a free public forum Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Academic community leaders from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, Stetson University College of Law, the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg and USF in Tampa gathered to discuss how higher education institutions can model ways to combat global warming and educate students and others about the environment.
The expert panel included Joseph Dorsey, assistant professor of Environmental Policy at USF St. Petersburg; Leah Ellington, member of the Student Bar Association “Go Green” Committee at Stetson Law; Jason E. Green, sustainability coordinator at St. Petersburg College; moderator David Hastings, associate professor of marine science and chemistry at Eckerd College; Lance Long, assistant professor of legal skills at Stetson Law; Alison Ormsby, associate professor of environmental studies at Eckerd College; E. Christian Wells, director of the Office of Sustainability and associate professor of anthropology at USF Tampa; and Diana Wright, energy coordinator for St. Petersburg College.
Student Leah Ellington gave an overview of the educational experiences at Stetson with a focus on the environment. Ellington highlighted the International Wildlife Law Conference, International Environmental Moot Court Competition, ecosystem banking workshop, collaborations with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention, and the Alliance for International Reforestation.
“All of these educational experiences emphasize to Stetson students our role in environmental stewardship and sustainability,” Ellington explained.
Professor Lance Long, faculty liaison to Stetson’s “Go Green” Committee, discussed some student environmental initiatives, including a recycling program, annual transportation fair, electronics recycling, beach cleanups, and a new initiative discouraging the sale and use of polluting plastic bottles on campus.
“There is a groundswell amongst Stetson students of interest and commitment to environmentally progressive activity,” Professor Long told the panel and audience gathered in St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.
A roundtable discussion with members of the audience followed panelist presentations on current and future campus sustainability efforts.
Stetson University College of Law hosted the 2009 Southeast Regional Legal Writing Conference on Sept. 11-12 and the ALWD Scholars’ Forum/Workshop on Sept. 13. The workshop and conference allowed participants opportunities to present their scholarship ideas, works-in-progress, or well-developed drafts of legal writing articles to other legal writing faculty.
The conference theme, “Remixing the Classics,” honored classical legal writing concepts of the last 25 years and recognized the need to “remix” those traditional ideas to meet the needs of new students, to adapt to new faculty expectations, and to move the discipline forward. The plenary speaker for the conference was Mary Beth Beazley, associate professor of law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in Columbus, Ohio.
Professor Beazley has been teaching legal research and writing for more than 20 years and is the author of the highly regarded book, A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy, now it its second edition. She is president-elect of the Association of Legal Writing Directors, chair of the ABA Communication Skills Committee, former president of the Legal Writing Institute, 2005 recipient of the Thomas F. Blackwell Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Legal Writing, and 2008 recipient of the Burton Award for Outstanding Contributions in Legal Writing Education.
Contact Brandi Palmer
Manager of Media Relations
727-562-7381 [email protected]
Stetson Law student Onyema Anene graduates in December. Click for high-resolution image.
This month, Stetson University College of Law student Onyema M. Anene was named a 2009 Carlton Fields Diversity Fellow. Anene will spend an average of 200 hours this semester working on a variety of legal projects at Carlton Fields under the guidance of attorneys from all seven of the law firm’s locations.
“I am so grateful and honored to have been selected,” Anene said. “I look forward to the learning experiences, legal training, and great opportunities that this fellowship has to offer.”
Anene will graduate from Stetson in December 2009 with a dual J.D./M.B.A. degree. She plans to practice as a civil litigation attorney in her hometown of Atlanta, Ga. At Stetson, Anene has been student editor of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, a member of the trial team, a teaching fellow for the legal writing department, a teaching assistant in the Center for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, and a member of the Student Leadership Development Committee. She was an Equal Justice Works fellow in 2008-2009 and a recipient of the Judge Susan F. Schaeffer Scholarship for Leadership in 2009.
Carlton Fields created the Diversity Fellowship Program at Stetson Law in 2004 to help improve access to the practice of law in a large firm for students interested in the fellowship who experienced socioeconomic or cultural barriers to their legal education.
Carlton Fields also selected Stetson Law student Vilma Martinez, who graduated in May, as a fellow earlier this year.
A group of distinguished print and broadcast journalists from India visited Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus on Friday, Sept. 11, to meet with international law scholar Professor Luz Nagle.
The group of five editors and top correspondents were traveling as part of a “National Security and Defense Reporting” program sponsored by the International Council of the Tampa Bay Region and the United States Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program. The group talked with Professor Nagle about global peacekeeping strategies and learned more about the class she teaches at Stetson on international law.
Professor Nagle frequently travels around the world to speak and teach on topics including human trafficking and the rule of law. She was recently honored with the 2009 Freedom Award by the Florida Coalition against Human Trafficking. She has published in English and Spanish on four continents on topics related to international humanitarian law and internal armed conflict, transnational crime, corruption, national security, and the rule of law/judicial reform movements.
During their visit to Tampa Bay, the delegation of journalists also met with local military outreach, journalists and media scholars.
For more information, contact Brandi Palmer, manager of media relations, at [email protected] or (727) 562-7381.
Contact Brandi Palmer
Manager of Media Relations
727-562-7381 [email protected]
Please Note: This event has been postponed. New date to be determined.
Stetson University College of Law, the Business Law Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce invite local business owners to learn more about “Surviving the Slump: How to Protect Your Business Legally in a Down Economy,” on Sept. 23 on Stetson’s Gulfport campus at 1401 61st St. S. Registration and a networking breakfast begin at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 9 a.m. in the Great Hall.
Speakers include risk management expert and professor Deborah Brown of Stetson Law speaking on legal and practical employment law considerations and consumer debt expert Guy P. Coburn of the Ruden McClosky law firm speaking on collection law and strategies. The St. Petersburg Times Fund, Inc. is sponsoring this event.
“Now, perhaps more than ever before, it is crucial for Pinellas County business owners to learn more about how to protect themselves from legal troubles in an uncertain economic climate,” said Brown, who serves as associate vice president of legal affairs and human resources at Stetson Law.
To pre-register for this event for a fee of $25, please contact the Office of Conferences and Events at Stetson at 727-562-7312 or e-mail [email protected]. Registration details are available at www.law.stetson.edu/conferences.
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please call Chip Collins at the St. Petersburg Bar at 727-823-7474 or e-mail [email protected].
Founded in 1925, the St. Petersburg Bar Association serves the legal community, to strengthen the noble calling of the practice of law, and to foster excellence in the legal profession.
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, with 2,800 members, is the largest business organization in the region and is celebrating its 109th year. For more information on the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce visit www.stpete.com.
Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889 [email protected]
Dr. H. Douglas Lee. Click for high-resolution image.
Dr. H. Douglas Lee, DeLand, who recently retired after 22 years as president of Stetson University, died early Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, at Florida Hospital-DeLand of complications following surgery. He was 66.
A native of Danville, Va., Dr. Lee served as president of Stetson from June 1987 to May 31, 2009. He became chancellor – a position equivalent to president emeritus – upon his retirement. Before serving as president of Stetson, he served as the university’s executive vice president from 1983 to 1987, as vice president for Planning and Development from 1980 to 1983, and as vice president for Development from 1978 to 1980.
His visionary leadership strengthened academic quality and transformed Stetson into a more diverse and socially responsible institution. He led Stetson through her separation from the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1990s, moving Stetson forward into the 21st century as an internationally respected university.
“This is a huge loss to Stetson and the larger community, and our hearts go out to Margaret and the rest of his family,” said Nestor de Armas, chair of the Stetson Board of Trustees and a university alumnus. “Doug was a man of integrity who dedicated the last 30 years of his life to Stetson. Under his leadership, we distinguished ourselves by rolling up our sleeves and doing the work of faith without letting theology get in the way.”
“His legacy is our deep commitment to social justice and to inclusivity,” de Armas said. “We are sad, but we are comforted by knowing we were able to share in his life and work, and by seeing his legacy thriving in our Stetson family.”
“I will miss Doug’s wisdom and his enlightened world view, his passion for servant leadership and his fierce commitment to social justice,” said Stetson President Wendy B. Libby. “Stetson University has been greatly blessed by having this giant at her helm for so many years. Together, with Margaret at his side, Doug transformed every person and institution he touched. I am humbled to follow in his path.”
Dr. Lee’s presidency focused on a commitment to academic excellence, the integration of values into the teaching-learning process and active forms of social responsibility. Under his exceptional leadership, Stetson remained true to her 125-year heritage.
During his 22 years at the helm, Stetson hired more faculty and lowered the student-faculty ratio to 11 to 1, significantly increased the university’s overall endowment, completed numerous major capital projects, added satellite centers in Tampa Bay and Celebration, and boosted enrollment. The university underwent a cultural renewal built on an institution-wide commitment to seven core values: religious and spiritual life, ethical decision-making, diversity, gender equity, environmental responsibility, community engagement, and health and wellness.
In December 2008, the university named historic Elizabeth Hall chapel the Lee Chapel in his honor. During Homecoming 2009, Doug and his wife, Margaret Easley Lee, received Stetson’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their many contributions to the university. They also were recipients of the first George and Mary Hood Award, which honors those who personify the university’s core values.
Dr. Lee was well-known and respected as a leader in higher education and, with his wife, as an active member of First Baptist Church of DeLand and as a supporter of the arts and charitable causes in DeLand, Volusia County, Florida, the Southeast and beyond. Among their favorite causes were the Cultural Arts Center of DeLand, the Spring Hill community, the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Florida Museum for Women Artists.
Recognized for his passionate commitment to the community and social justice, Dr. Lee was presented the NAACP West Volusia Branch Humanitarian of the Year Award and the B’nai B’rith Citizen of the Year Award, both in 1998. Under his leadership in environmental responsibility, Stetson earned the Year 2000 Sustainable Florida Award for Initiative presented by the Governor’s Council for Sustainable Florida. In 2008, Stetson University and Dr. Lee, specifically, were awarded the first Historic Preservationist of the Year Award by the West Volusia Historical Society. He also was a leader in the evolution of the Volusia County ECHO Initiative.
Along with the many awards each has received as individuals, the Lees together were named Volusia County Citizens of the Year in 2006 and received the 2008 Spring Hill Neighborhood Association Exceptional Community Partner Award. In 2008, the Lees were recipients of the Volusia County Cultural Alliance (VCCA) Second Annual Tippen Davidson Award, presented to those who have made significant contributions to the arts.
Dr. Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Richmond, along with Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. He earned a doctorate in Religion from the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
In addition to Margaret, his wife of 44 years, Dr. Lee is survived by a son, Gregory Lee and wife Lara, Orlando; a daughter, Elizabeth Lee Williamson and husband Heath, Cary, N.C.; grandsons, Parker Lee, Grayson Lee and Ayers Williamson; granddaughters, Maggie Williamson and Piper Williamson; father, Dr. Howard Lee, Danville, Va.; brother, David Lee and wife Ethel and their children and grandchildren, Richmond, Va.; sister-in-law, Sarah Easley Drummond and her children and grandchildren, Richmond, Va.; and brother-in-law, Charles Easley III and wife Claudia and their children, Danville, Va.
In lieu flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Margaret and Doug Lee Endowed Scholarship Fund at either the DeLand Campus, Stetson University Office of Development, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8286, DeLand, FL 32723; or the College of Law, Stetson University College of Law Office of College Relations, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.
Details regarding a memorial service will be forthcoming. Allen Summerhill Funeral Home, DeLand, is in charge of arrangements.
Contact Brandi Palmer Manager of Media Relations 727-562-7381 [email protected]
Stetson University College of Law professors Mark Bauer, Joan Katherine Bohl, Clark Furlow, Charles Rose and Stephanie Vaughan have all recently received tenure.
Bauer is the associate dean of academics at Stetson Law. Dean Bauer graduated from the University of Chicago and EmoryUniversity, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. Dean Bauer is currently chair of the American Association of Law Schools section on education law.
Bohl joined the Stetson Law faculty in 2004. She is a graduate of BostonUniversity and SuffolkUniversity and the author of more than 18 articles and book chapters. Four state supreme courts, four state appellate courts and more than 40 law review articles have cited Bohl’s law review articles in evaluating the constitutionality of grandparent visitation statutes.
Furlow graduated from BostonUniversity and Emory University School of Law where he served on the editorial board of the Emory Law Journal and as a director of the Moot Court Honor Society. Prior to joining the faculty, Furlow practiced corporate law in Wilmington, Del. He is a national member of the Order of Barristers.
Rose joined Stetson Law’s faculty after retiring from the United States Army in December of 2004. He is a graduate of IndianaUniversity at South Bend and Notre DameLawSchool. Since joining Stetson, Rose has written Fundamental Trial Advocacy and co-authored the well-received Military Crimes & Defenses and Fundamental Pretrial Advocacy. A 2008 co-recipient of the Florida Bar’s Professionalism Award given to law school faculty, Rose currently serves as the director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson. .
Vaughan has been promoted to Professor of Legal Skills in addition to receiving programmatic tenure. Vaughan has been teaching legal research and writing at Stetson Law since 1996. She has advised Stetson Law’s world-renowned Moot Court Board since 2000. In addition to being a tenured professor, Vaughan continues in her administrative roles as both moot court advisor and associate director of international programs at Stetson Law.
Contact Frank Klim Executive Director of Communications 727-562-7889 [email protected]
Stetson University College of Law professors have pioneered a new project introducing U.S. law to students around the globe.
TheOverview of U.S. Law Project includes an online course and companion book specifically designed to help pre-law students, international LL.M. students, and students who have been away from the classroom for some time.
“Each segment of the course and chapter of the book supports the framework for effectively learning the nuts and bolts of U.S. law,” said Stetson Law Professor Ellen S. Podgor, who co-edited the book along with Professor John F. Cooper, Stetson Law’s associate dean of international and cooperative programs. “The project can assist those who need a head start with law school, those with English as a second language, and those who seek knowledge of how the U.S. legal system is structured and functions.”
There are 17 chapters in the book and 17 online video segments to the course, which covers a basic overview of the U.S. legal system, a comparison with a civil code system, and a description of the practice of law in the United States. A national faculty of law professors from distinguished American law schools wrote the chapters and present corresponding video lectures.
The project provides an overview of first-year courses offered in most U.S. law schools. Additionally, bar-related subjects, emerging issues, and popular topics such as intellectual property are also covered.
To learn more about the Overview of U.S. Law Project and to view an online video introduction, visit www.law.stetson.edu/USlaw.
Contact Frank Klim Executive Director of Communications 727-562-7889 [email protected]
Stetson University College of Law is accepting nominations for the 2010 William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award, which recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the legal profession and to the community. The deadline for nominations for this year’s prestigious award is Oct. 9.
Nominations are not limited to members of the Stetson Law community, and are open to anyone who has made an outstanding positive impact through public service.
Stetson Law will present this year’s winner during the annual Inns of Court Banquet and William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture on Jan. 25, 2010.
Previous honorees include community leader Louie N. Adcock Jr., Tampa Safe and Free founder Rochelle Reback, First Step Inc. President Denis de Vlaming and former St. Petersburg Bar Association president Jeannine S. Williams.
Stetson established the award in 1990 for William Reece Smith Jr., past president of the International, American and Florida Bar Associations. His relationship with Stetson began in the 1950s, and he has been a distinguished professorial lecturer at the law school since 1991. Smith was inducted into the Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame in 2004.
The nomination form is available online at http://justice.law.stetson.edu/reece/2010.doc and submissions may be sent to Karen Griffin in Stetson’s Office of College Relations, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, Fla., 33707, via e-mail at [email protected], or by calling 727-562-7818.
Contact Davina Y. Gould Director of Publications and Online Communications (727) 562-7346 [email protected]
As the world grows smaller through technology, Stetson University College of Law is keeping pace in building community through social media.
“Social networking sites offer a great opportunity for alumni, prospective students, and other groups to connect with each other and Stetson in a way that fits into their busy lives,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “We want to encourage these connections while also providing interesting, up-to-the-minute information about Stetson.”
Anyone online can follow law school news or find classmates and colleagues at the following sites:
Contact Brandi Palmer
Manager of Media Relations
727-562-7381 [email protected]
(L-R): Moot Court Advisor Professor Stephanie Vaughan, student Kristen Chittenden, team coaches Professor Michael Allen, Nancy Meyer, Jennifer Kennedy, students Brice Zoecklein, Joseph Herbert, Amie Patty, Derrick Connell and Pamela Vergara. Click for high-resolution image.
Stetson University College of Law began the academic year by winning first and second place in the E. Earle Zehmer Workers’ Compensation Moot Court Competition in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 16-17.
Two teams of Stetson students advanced to compete against each other in the final round, beating a dozen teams from other law schools around the country. This is the second consecutive year that Stetson Law has won the competition, sponsored by the Workers Compensation Section of the Florida Bar. The winning Stetson team of Derrick Connell, Amie Patty and brief writer Pamela Vergara narrowly defeated the Stetson team of Joseph Herbert, Brice Zoecklein and brief writer Kristen Chittenden, who came in second place. Fourteen teams competed.
“The teams argued brilliantly in the final round before three judges from the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal,” said Professor Stephanie Vaughan, moot court advisor. “We could never ask for more in a competition.”
Stetson Law Professor Michael Allen coached the first-place team of Connell, Patty and Vergara, and moot court alumnae Jennifer Card Kennedy and Nancy Slack Meyer of Abbey Adams in St. Petersburg, Fla., coached the second-place team of Herbert, Zoecklein and Chittenden.
Contact Brandi Palmer
Manager of Media Relations
727-562-7381 [email protected]
Mark Whittaker, Stetson Law's associate vice president for college relations. Click for high-resolution image.
Mark Whittaker recently joined Stetson University College of Law as associate vice president for college relations. Whittaker will lead law school fund-raising and alumni relations activities in his new role.
Whittaker has served as the top development officer at Hollins University, Rhodes College and Sweet Briar College. For the past six years, he led Whittaker & Associates, a fund-raising firm for a nonprofit organization.
From 1987 to 2002, Whittaker was vice president for university relations at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. During that time, he directed the largest campaign in Stetson’s history, raising more than $235 million. Under his leadership, Stetson University twice received the Circle of Excellence in Educational Fund Raising Award for Overall Performance from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Whittaker served on the first CASE Commission on Fundraising and helped write the original gift policies, procedures and accounting practices for the higher education association. He is a charter member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Whittaker attended New College of Florida and graduated from the University of Maine. He completed the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management Program.
He and his wife Pam have two grown children, Emily and Andrew.
A group of distinguished print and broadcast journalists from India visited Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus on Friday, Sept. 11, to meet with international law scholar Professor Luz Nagle.
