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Stetson Law student mediation team wins ABA competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa Bay, Fla. – A team of students from Stetson University College of Law won the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Regional Representation in Mediation Competition at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., on March 4.

The student team of Jason Martell and Emily Morgan beat a team from Roger Williams University. The team heads to a national competition in Washington, D.C., April 25-27.

A second team of students Sarah Olsen and Rob Varkonyi also competed.

“I was very impressed with our teams’ preparation, talent and professionalism,” said Professor Kelly Feeley, who coached the student teams.

There were eight teams competing from around the country in this regional competition. In all, 192 students compete from 49 schools in 10 regional competitions for a chance at making it to the nationals.

To learn more about the mediation competitions, visit the ABA online at http://www.abanet.org/dispute/mediation/home.html.

Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee announces retirement plans

Contact Cheryl Downs or Cindi Brownfield
Office of Public Relations and Communications, Stetson University DeLand
386-822-7213 or 386-822-7214

DeLand, Fla. – Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee, whose visionary leadership over nearly two decades strengthened academic quality and transformed Stetson into a more diverse and socially responsible institution, will retire in May 2009.

Dr. Lee’s retirement will coincide with Stetson’s 125th anniversary in the 2008-09 academic year. Upon his retirement, he will become chancellor of the university, a position equivalent to president emeritus. Lee will be just the third chancellor in Stetson’s history.

“When Margaret and I moved to DeLand and Stetson, we did not know we were making a lifelong career commitment,” Lee said. “We were inspired by and fell in love with the people of Stetson and the community. We have enjoyed every minute of our work and life here.”

“My personal goal has always been to help create a model university for the 21st century committed to academic excellence, the integration of values into the teaching-learning process, and active forms of social responsibility,” Lee said. “This goal has become a reality through the joint commitment of all members of the Stetson community. It has been a privilege and honor for my wife, my family and me to be a part of Stetson and the DeLand community transformation.”

The Stetson University Board of Trustees has initiated the process to prepare for a national search for Lee’s successor. On Friday, the Board of Trustees selected Board Chairman Nestor de Armas to lead a search committee.

“Over the past 20 years, Dr. Lee has courageously led the university through a transformation to a more diverse and socially responsible institution, while also focusing on academic excellence,” de Armas said. “The board is looking forward to working closely with the rest of the university community as we attract and hire the right person to lead Stetson to build on its current academic excellence and to have that excellence nationally recognized.”

A Trustee Presidential Succession Task Force, chaired by Trustee David Rinker, has already conducted focus groups with faculty, students, staff, alumni, trustees and members of Stetson advisory boards to get input on the key strengths and characteristics desired in the next president.

The task force will finalize the presidential search profile this spring and appoint the search committee to be led by de Armas by August 2007. The search committee will lead the national search during 2008. The Board of Trustees expects to hire a new president in early 2009 and have the person on-board by around June 2009, de Armas said.

Dr. Lee, 63, has served as president of Stetson since June 1987, when he was promoted from his previous position as executive vice president at the university. Lee and his wife, First Lady Margaret Lee, have been heavily involved in Volusia County civic affairs over the years. They have purchased a home and plan to live in DeLand.

During Lee’s presidency, Stetson has improved its academic quality, increased its endowment fund from $26 million to $124 million, completed many capital projects, added Stetson centers in Tampa Bay and Celebration, and undergone a cultural transformation built on an institution-wide commitment to seven core values: religious and spiritual life, ethical decision-making, diversity, gender equity, environmental responsibility, community service, and health and wellness.

“In addition to improving academic quality, campus facilities and the university’s financial health, Dr. Lee has cultivated numerous major gifts and improved the quality of our board,” de Armas said. “Most importantly, from my viewpoint, Dr. Lee’s commitment to the vision of educating good people to lead great lives in the context of Stetson’s Christian heritage has been profound. His rich legacy will influence the university for decades after he retires.”

Founded in 1883, Stetson University in Central Florida is a private, liberal arts university that consistently earns high rankings in national college guides. The university’s College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration and School of Music are housed on the historic main campus in DeLand. The university system also includes the Stetson University Center at Celebration, and two Stetson College of Law campuses in Tampa Bay.

For more information, visit https://www.stetson.edu
or call (386) 822-8920.

Stetson’s trial team wins regional, will advance to national ABA trial competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s trial team will advance to ABA Nationals in Houston in March.

The team of Rosa Brown, Haldon Greenburg, Brandon Held and Dennis McCarthy defeated a team from Emory University at the ABA Regional Competition Feb. 10 in Atlanta.

“I am constantly amazed at the dedication, skill and professionalism of our student advocates,” said Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law Roberta Flowers, who heads Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “We are looking ahead to a great tournament in Houston.”

Flowers coached the winning team with Thea Kubiak, who won the national championship while still a student at Stetson.

A second student team of Joanna Bilgutay, Nathan Hatcher, Melody James and Eric Ochotorena also competed.

The competition was sponsored by the Texas Young Lawyers Association.

Stetson’s moot court wins national competition second year in a row

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s moot court team won the 2007 National Tax Moot Court Competition Feb. 10 in St. Pete Beach.

This year’s team of Katie Cole and Tino Lisella remained undefeated throughout three days of competition. Sixteen teams from law schools around the country competed.

“This is the second year in a row that Stetson’s moot court team has won the National Tax Moot Court Competition,” said Professor Stephanie Vaughan, Stetson’s moot court advisor. “It is a remarkable achievement, and we are extremely proud.”

The team was coached by Professor Jennifer Murphy and Adjunct Professor Craig Behrenfeld.

A three-judge panel of U.S. Tax Court judges presided over the final rounds of competition, sponsored by the Florida Bar.

Stetson Law moves graduation location due to rain

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is moving graduation ceremonies from the Gulfport campus to the Pasadena Community Church, 227 70th St. S., St. Petersburg, due to inclement weather. The commencement ceremony will begin Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m.

  • Directions to Pasadena Community Church: From Stetson Law in Gulfport,

head south on 61st St. S. towards 15th Ave. S. Turn right on 15th Ave. S. Turn right on Gulfport Blvd. S. (22nd Ave. S.). Turn right onto Pasadena Ave. S. (first major intersection). Turn left onto Central Ave. Turn left onto 70th St. S.

Link to Stetson online for a detailed map to the rain location here:
http://justice.law.stetson.edu/graduation/location.asp.

  • The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. to allow time for graduates and visitors to report to the new location. Students should report to Hamilton Auditorium at 1:45 p.m. and faculty should report to the Gathering Room.
  • The graduation reception will take place at the church.
  • The book signing with commencement speaker Chris Matthews will take place immediately after graduation in the reception hall at the church.
  • The law library will be open for visitors on campus from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • The Internet Webcast of the ceremony has been canceled.

 

Stetson Law accepting nominations for William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is accepting nominations for the 2007 William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the community and to the law. The award will be presented at Stetson’s spring honors and awards ceremony on May 11 on the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Stetson established the William Reece Smith Jr. Award in 1990. William Reece Smith Jr., the award’s namesake and its first recipient, is past president of the American, International and Florida Bar associations. His relationship with Stetson began in the 1950s, and he has been a distinguished professorial lecturer since 1991.

“This annual award recognizes outstanding public service to the community and to the legal profession,” said Stetson Law Dean and Vice President Darby Dickerson.

Previous winners included community service leader Louie N. Adcock Jr.; Community Law Program, Inc. trustee Murray B. Silverstein; Tampa Safe and Free founder Rochelle Reback; and pro bono advocate Sylvia Walbolt.

Nominations should be sent by March 30 to Todd Marrs, director of alumni and annual giving at Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.

Stetson Law hosts premier conference on law and higher education

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law hosts the 28th National Conference on Higher Education, Feb. 17-21 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd., on Clearwater Beach, Fla.

The conference for higher education administrators and attorneys presents current legal issues in higher education.

The topics of this year’s law and higher education discussions and workshops include:

  • Free expression and hate speech on campuses
  • Emerging issues for students with disabilities
  • The legacy of the civil rights movement
  • Faculty rights and protected works
  • Federal immigration law and compliance
  • Accountability of administrators
  • Tort law and recreation, sports and field trips
  • Hazing cases
  • Campus sexual assault
  • Emergency management
  • Managing economic crises
  • Nondiscrimination law and employment implications

Presenters from around the country include:

  • Joan VanTol, corporate counsel for the Law School Admission Council.
  • Dr. Gwen Dungy, executive director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
  • Ted Shaw, director-counsel and president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.
  • USF Professor Raymond Arsenault, author of Freedom Riders.
  • Conference Chair and Stetson Law Professor Robert Bickel who co-authored the Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumes the Risks of College Life? with Stetson Law Professor Peter Lake.

To register for this event, please contact the Office of Conferences and Events at Stetson at 813-228-0226, e-mail [email protected] or visit
http://www.law.stetson.edu/conferences/.

To learn more about upcoming higher education programs at Stetson, please visit the Center on the web at http://www.law.stetson.edu/excellence/HigherEd/ or call 727-562-7392.

The mission of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy is to advance the field of higher education law and policy by:

  • conducting quality research and producing outstanding scholarship in the area of higher education law and policy
  • presenting interdisciplinary conferences and special programs in areas affecting higher education law and policy and by
  • forging productive relationships with other organizations devoted to the advancement of law and higher education both within the United States and throughout the world.

Judge Stringer continues to be role model for young people

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa, Fla. – Judge Thomas E. Stringer Sr., a celebrated jurist with Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, repeatedly inspires countless young people to follow their dreams of pursuing a legal career. Stetson University College of Law’s first African-American law graduate continues the tradition Feb. 16 as he meets with minority high-school students at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center at 1700 N. Tampa St.

The Judge Stringer Youth Prelaw Conference, now in its seventh year, is part of Stetson’s celebration of Black History Month. The youth conference will feature a mock trial in Stetson’s William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom.

“Early intervention is crucial to drop out prevention,” said Admissions Director Laura Zuppo. “By allowing young people to view life on a college campus, we hope to inspire them to pursue college degrees and a legal education.”

Stetson’s Admissions Office, the Black Law Student Association and the ABA Law Student Division will sponsor the annual event, which is made possible by a grant from the Law School Admissions Council.

Students from Middleton High School and Tampa Bay Academy of Hope are expected to attend.

Stetson Law trial team again wins the Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Stetson University College of Law Trial Team won the Florida Bar Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition for the second year in a row on Jan. 18 in Miami.

This is the 17th time the team has won the competition. Student teams from eight Florida law schools competed.

Stetson’s team of Matthew Easterwood, Johanna Castellon, Anthony Wilson and Rachael Wood defeated students from the University of Florida in the final round of the state-wide competition.

Also competing were Andrew Hill, Ann Fiddler, Petra Risco-Adam and Tony Perez.

Stetson professor and trial team program director Professor Lee Coppock coached the winning team with former trial team member John Grant III.

“Stetson is honored to win another top spot in this premier annual competition,” said Professor Coppock. “We strive to train our students to be outstanding advocates and professionals.”

Stetson has won first place in more national-level trial competitions than any other law school in the nation and has consistently ranked as a top law school for trial advocacy by the U.S. News & World Report since it started rankings.

Ebony Scholars visit Stetson Law for annual college scholarship workshop

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – On Jan. 20, Stetson law professors and students invited local high school students from the Ebony Scholars club to the Gulfport campus to learn about preparing for the scholastic and financial rigors of a college education.

Stetson Professor Dorothea Beane partnered with Stetson’s Black Law Student Association to offer the weekend workshop. Seminar topics included “Funding Your College Education,” “Preparing for College and Beyond,” and “What Parents Need to Know About the Hidden Costs of College.”

The Ebony Scholar students and their families learned about computer-based research for scholarships in Stetson’s state-of-the-art law library.

“This program strengthens Stetson’s commitment to the community to support academic excellence,” said Professor Beane, who believes that mentoring can be key in shaping the futures of young people.

The Ebony Scholars program was started more than two decades ago by retired Pinellas educator Vyrle Davis to honor African-American students for their scholastic and community achievements and to challenge them to continue their education.

The Ebony Scholars program annually targets elementary school students who are recommended for awards. The students must maintain a 3.3 grade point average in middle school and a 3.0 average in high school to stay in the program. As 11th graders, they are invited to join the Ebony Scholars academic club, where they meet monthly to discuss career and college opportunities and social etiquette. They also complete an eight-week Toastmasters International youth leadership program to develop communication and leadership skills.

An annual luncheon in May honors graduating seniors and their parents. Various scholarship awards are available for the students.

Stetson promotes technology chief and development officer

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Daniel Orie has been promoted to chief technology officer and Karen Griffin has been promoted to director of development at Stetson University College of Law.

In the new position, Orie will continue to assist with the college’s new technology initiatives, including developing an intranet and distance education programs.

Orie was formerly executive director of information technology at the College of Law. Prior to joining the law school, he led information systems at Stetson University in DeLand.

Griffin will focus on planned giving, major gifts and corporate and foundation giving in her new role.

Griffin previously directed corporate and foundation relations at the law school. She was director of institutional and government grants at Stetson University in DeLand prior to joining Stetson law school.

Stetson hires new directors to oversee alumni and campus operations

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – William Weller has been selected as the new executive director of operations and Todd Marrs has been selected as the new director of alumni and annual giving at Stetson University College of Law.

Weller will oversee several non-academic support units on the Gulfport and Tampa campuses of the College of Law.

Weller was formerly executive vice-president of Crescent Communications Corp. in North Carolina and vice-president of corporate operations for Beasley Broadcast Group in Florida and North Carolina. He is a 2004 graduate of Stetson University College of Law.

Marrs will oversee the college’s annual fund campaign and will be responsible for alumni programming and involvement.

Prior to coming to Stetson, Marrs held positions in alumni relations and development at the University of Tampa.