Stetson Law Welcomes 6 New Faculty for Fall ‘23

Ahead of the start of the Fall 2023 semester, six members have joined Stetson University College of Law’s dynamic faculty and visiting faculty.

Though they come from a wide range of backgrounds, all share a love of teaching and a lengthy list of professional and scholarly achievements.

From an award-winning environmental and legal writing scholar to a seasoned international business law expert, here are Stetson Law’s newest faculty members.

NEW FACULTY

Law Professor Erin Okuno

Assistant Professor of Law Erin Okuno – Legal Writing

A familiar face to many at the college of law, Professor Erin Okuno returns to her alma mater with extensive scholarship and teaching experience. The top-achieving 2013 Stetson Law graduate comes to Stetson Law from University of Miami School of Law, where she taught Legal Communication and Research Skills as well as Animal Law.

Here at Stetson Law, she will be teaching Legal Research and Writing.

The 2013 Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award was editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, a Biodiversity Fellow for the Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy, and an advocacy skills trainer, and an adjunct and visiting professor.

Professor Okuno has worked with a small team of attorneys to prepare amici curiae briefs on behalf of scientists and scientific organizations in cases related to the Clean Water Act and its administrative regulations. In 2020, Justice Breyer cited the team’s amici curiae brief in his majority opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court case County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

See Professor Okuno’s full bio.

Law Professor Anthony Palermo

Assistant Professor of Law Anthony Palermo – Commercial Law

Professor Anthony Palermo comes to Stetson Law from prominent Tampa firm Holland & Knight LLP, where he litigated in state and federal courts, including at the trial and appellate level, and advised on regulatory and corporate compliance for clients in the financial sector and other industries. While in this role, Palermo was appointed to the role of Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan, where he helped the state’s Housing Development Authority ensure the agency was complying with consumer protection and lending laws.

Professor Palermo has written on and presented on dozens of legal topics, won multiple awards, and taken part in numerous professional and community activities in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

A 2012 graduate of Harvard Law, Professor Palermo earned his B.A. in political science with highest distinction, with a minor in philosophy, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

See Professor Palermo’s full bio.

Law Professor Em Wright

Assistant Professor of Law Em Wright – Legal Research and Writing

Joining Stetson Law from the University of Oregon School of Law, Professor Em Wright, is known as an effective national leader in legal research and writing. They graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University School of Law in Macon, GA. After graduating, they remained on campus as an adjunct professor to teach upper-level students enrolled in the school’s advanced legal writing certificate program as well as bar exam prep.

As a practitioner, Professor Wright has years of professional experience, including as an attorney representing plaintiffs on personal injury matters for Macon-based Adams Law firm. They also served as a pro se law clerk for the United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia. In this role, they led the screening of pro se civil rights and habeas actions filed by Georgia prisoners.

The sole founding member of Wright Source, LLC, Professor Wright tutored law school graduates preparing for the Multistate Bar Exam as well as the Georgia Bar Exam.

See Professor Wright’s full bio.

VISITING FACULTY

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law Mary Adkins

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law Mary Adkins – Legal Research & Writing

Distinguished Visiting Professor Mary Adkins is an expert in the history and evolution of Florida’s constitution at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she is a highly respected scholar and educator in the areas of legal writing and Florida constitutional law. She is also a member of the executive boards of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society and the Florida Historical Society.

Her notable achievements include serving as 2020 Chair of the American Association of Law Schools’ (AALS) Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research, receiving the Board of Directors of the Association of Legal Writing Directors’ Outstanding Service Award, and publishing two books on the history of Florida’s constitution: Making Modern Florida: How the Spirit of Reform Shaped a New Constitution (2016) and Chesterfield Smith, America’s Lawyer (2020).

She co-authored the casebook Florida Constitutional Law: Cases in Context, served as an expert witness in cases involving the Florida Constitution, and conducted oral histories of numerous important historical, political, and legal figures.

See Professor Adkins’ full bio.

Visiting Law Professor Jagdeep S. Bhandari

Visiting Professor of Law Jagdeep S. Bhandari – International Business Law

With a deep background in both scholarship and practice, Visiting Professor Jagdeep S. Bhandari joins Stetson Law from Wake Forest University where he was most recently a Professor of Law as well as a Research Professor of Economics. He will teach International Trade Law, Criminal Procedure, International Business Transactions and International and National Security Law.

He earned his J.D. from Duquesne University, an LL.M. in International Law from Georgetown University, a Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Methodist University, and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Rochester.

Professor Bhandari has taught law as well as business at numerous universities authored six books and been published in over 75 in peer-reviewed journals worldwide over more than three decades.

A certified mediator for Duval County, Florida, he has conducted pro bono work with organizations like Lutheran Social Services and Legal Aid.

See Professor Bandhari’s full bio.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Mason Clark

Visiting Professor of Law Mason Clark – Privacy Law

Visiting Assistant Professor Mason Clark has an extensive background in privacy and security law.

As a Global Deputy Privacy Officer for EVERSANA Life Sciences Services, LLC, an industry-leading company in Milwaukee, Professor Clark developed and implemented a global privacy program and led other initiatives related to privacy.

Professor Clark was an associate attorney at Chicago-based Baker & McKenzie LLP, Professor Clark, where he aided international corporations responding to possible data breaches, helped multinational corporations comply with privacy policies, and developed privacy and cybersecurity compliance programs. As an associate attorney with Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis, Professor Clark specialized in litigation as well as data security and privacy.

As founder and chair of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Data Security & Privacy Section, he developed CLE curriculum and presentations for attorneys and other professionals.

See Professor Clark’s full bio.

Alumna Anisha Patel Sworn in as FL Bar YLD Chair

A woman smiles and raises her left hand in the air while being sworn into office on a book. Her family stands next to her smiling. — Anisha Patel ’15 was sworn into office as ’23-’24 president of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division in June of 2023.

At the Florida Bar Annual Convention in Boca Raton, Stetson Law Alumna Anisha Patel ’15 was sworn in as president of the Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

It’s the latest in a string of leadership roles and achievements for Patel, who will succeed outgoing YLD President Iris Elijah in the role. She was elected to serve a one-year term as president in 2022 and sworn in June 23. She officially takes the reins July 1 – and has big plans for the division when she does.

These goals will build on impactful work Patel has already done in leadership roles within YLD, including as vice chair of the division’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee alongside Elijah. The duo spearheaded an initiative to highlight the division’s diverse membership through the “#YLDisME” Campaign.

Being sworn in as YLD president is a milestone for both Patel and the division.

“To say my professional dreams came true today would be a gross understatement, and I am so incredibly proud to be the first Indian American president of the Young Lawyers Division,” Patel said.

Big plans, transformative impact

Prior to being elected to her new role, Patel campaigned on a desire to help inspire a cultural shift within the legal profession toward a more inclusive, compassionate culture that aims to foster sustainable careers for YLD members.

“My goal for the YLD this year is to reach as many of our young lawyers as possible,” she said. “The YLD’s theme is ‘Professionalism in Practice.’ Consistent with The Florida Bar’s core function, it is the YLD’s role to ensure that young lawyers are given the tools and education they need to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism, remain out of the disciplinary system, and, ultimately, excel in the legal profession. The YLD will be working on multiple new initiatives designed to achieve this, and I am planning to visit every law school in Florida, including my own alma mater, to share these resources.”

A mother of two who advocates for balance in a profession known for burnout, her recent work includes contributing to the YLD’s Parental Leave Guide.

Effective leadership early on

When she enrolled at Stetson Law, Patel had already earned a law degree from the London School of Economics. Upon moving to the U.S. to join her husband two years later, she wasn’t able to practice law in the U.S. – so she enrolled in Stetson Law’s J.D. program and worked as a paralegal at Hill Ward Henderson, the firm where she now practices.

While at Stetson Law, Patel’s involvement with YLD began with three years on the board of Stetson Law’s YLD Law Student chapter. The Florida Bar honored the group for a 2013 event it organized titled “Balancing Law and Life.” In 2014, the chapter won a Florida Bar award for best student chapter.

The experience is what inspired her to stay involved.

“When I passed the Bar and started practicing, I knew that I really wanted to join the YLD board to continue giving back to the community, and to really make a difference for young lawyers,” she said.

When she was a member of a Moot Court team, they won Best Brief at the 2014 Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition. She was also a part of the Stetson Law Review.

More Stetson Law leaders recognized

As part of the Florida Bar convention, Stetson Law alumni were recognized for their leadership in a multitude of areas.

The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, led by president and Stetson Law alumna Valeria Obi ’13, and the Florida Hispanic Bar Association were honored with the Florida Bar’s Group Professionalism Award for their Civil Litigation Boot Camp. A half-day program that took place at The Florida Bar’s Winter Meeting in Orlando, it aimed to help attorneys grow their litigation skills and equip them with key professional advancement tools. Obi is one of several Stetson Law alumni to serve in a leadership role in the Tampa-based Virgil Hawkins chapter.

“As we work to foster new generations of Stetson Lawyers, we place particular emphasis on leadership skills,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “That is why it is so rewarding to see our alumni rise to such important leadership roles so early in their careers.”

Radwan was also honored with the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism’s Law Faculty/Administrator Award during the convention.

Double Hatter Selected for Prestigious SCOTUS Fellowship

Alumna Viviana Vasiu is dressed in a suit and standing in front of a large library shelf full of law books. — Viviana Vasiu B.A. ’15, J.D. ’18.

A Stetson “Double Hatter” – that is, a graduate of both Stetson University and Stetson Law – is one of four individuals chosen for a prestigious U.S. Supreme Court fellowship.

Viviana Vasiu B.A. ’15, J.D. ‘18, has been assigned to the United States Sentencing Commission, which sets sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. Her yearlong term begins in September of this year – and it’s a perfect fit.

“I have been passionate about the United States Sentencing Commission and the U.S. sentencing guidelines since my first semester in law school,” she said. “To me, the sentencing guidelines represent the most important math because it involves the math of life and liberty.”

Prior to starting her term, she served as a clerk for the Honorable Gregory H. Woods in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She has also clerked for another Double Hatter, the Honorable Anthony E. Porcelli B.A. ’93, J.D. ’98 of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and participated in the Attorney General’s Honors Program at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she was a Trial Attorney in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Criminal Division.

Vibrant student, promising career

As a child in Romania, Vasiu had been fascinated with the comparative law books her parents kept in their library. Her curiosity with legal history and the law’s relationship to other disciplines inspired her to study law in the U.S., where she emigrated to in 2011. She first majored in paralegal studies in San Diego, but was recruited by several universities, including Stetson, due to her being president of her school’s Phi Theta Kappa Society.

With its warm weather, tight-knit campus community, and curriculum offerings, Stetson won Vasiu over. During her time at Stetson, Vasiu was a dynamic student fascinated by case law and the written word. She became a star student on the DeLand campus, where she wrote and served as editor of the college’s Vision and Stetson magazines.

She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, before pursuing her law degree at Stetson Law in Gulfport, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, was a star moot court competitor, and had five scholarly articles published, some of them in highly regarded journals.

She has written on various aspects of criminal law such as white collar crime and juvenile law, as well as the intersection of law with other disciplines, such as poetry, which she was inspired to pursue after taking Professor Kristen Adams’ class, Law Through the Lens of Poetry. She even began analyzing and writing legal fiction inspired by her studies and experience as a woman in the legal profession. She earned the American Law Institute CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award and participated in the Honors Program.

As a 3L, she also coauthored a book review on white collar crime with Professor of Law Ellen S. Podgor, whom Vasiu considers a key mentor.

She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Stetson Law in 2018.

“I want to challenge myself and break down barriers for myself, for other women, and for anyone who needs inspiration,” Vasiu said at the time. “Stetson taught me what’s possible, and how to push for what you want when it gets hard. You have to show that you believe in yourself and show others why they should believe in you.”

Podgor said Vasiu’s upcoming role as a Supreme Court fellow are a great fit for someone with so much passion and drive.

“It is wonderful to see Viviana selected for this prestigious Supreme Court fellowship,” said Law Professor Ellen Podgor. “Her unique story of coming to the United States, excelling as a Double Hatter at Stetson, being editor-in-chief of the law review, successfully completing two federal clerkships, and being a part of the Department of Justice Honor’s Program, serves as an inspiration to us all.”

A year in the nation’s capital

The Supreme Court Fellows Program launched in 1973 with the aim of inviting recent law school graduates, doctoral degree holders, and mid-career professionals to grow their experience within the federal judiciary. Each of the four fellows was selected by the Supreme Court Fellows Commission, a panel comprising individuals appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The four fellow appointed to work in Washington, D.C. at the Supreme Court of the United States, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, or the U.S. Sentencing Commission. In addition to the practical experience they gain through taking part in policy development and judicial administration, they are also to research and write and present a publishable scholarly work relevant to their fellowship experience.

They will also have the opportunity to observe the Supreme Court’s oral argument and non-argument sessions from the gallery, attend events, and network with others in their field.

To passionate, dedicated professionals like Vasiu, the program has the potential to lead to lifelong bonds over the shared desire to serve the U.S. justice system.

EATS 2023 Recap: A Successful Gathering of Advocacy Educators

Dozens of conference attendees gathered in the Great Hall during the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference. — The 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference brough over 100 attendees to Stetson Law.

More than 100 professors, program directors, and coaches from across the country gathered at Stetson Law for the annual Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) Conference June 12-14 to collaborate and discuss important issues related to teaching advocacy.

One of Stetson Law’s most important events on the national trial advocacy stage, EATS invited attendees to explore the art of advocacy through a variety of lenses, from pop culture to breakthrough technology. Education professionals passionate about advocacy were invited to talk trade in a collegial setting, with sessions ranging from conversational keynotes to insightful breakout sessions.

Professor Elizabeth Boals speaks at a podium at the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference. — Law Professor Elizabeth Boals at the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference.

“EATS is all about collaboration and this year’s conference not only brought together many experienced advocacy educators, but also dozens of new advocacy teachers from both established and developing programs all across the country,” said Law Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

From AI to Lessons from Lasso

The event kicked off with a tour of the new Stetson Advocacy Institute, an innovative facility scheduled to open in the fall.

Conference topics included the forthcoming advocacy component of the Nex-Gen Bar Exam; developments in artificial intelligence and their impact how advocacy is taught; utilizing new technology tools to explain and present evidence; model competition rules; effective storytelling and skill-building exercises; and extracurricular and development initiatives. A beloved TV show was even the focus at one point.

A man stands with a microphone in front of a screen that says "Ted Lasso for Trial Lawyers." — University of Texas School of Law Advocacy Center Director Mike Golden gives a keynote address during the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference.

During a lunchtime keynote, advocacy skills were explored through key moments from Ted Lasso, a series in which the namesake character’s unflappable optimism collides with a flailing U.K. soccer team. The speaker, University of Texas School of Law Lecturer and Director of Advocacy Mike Golden, used clips from the show to emphasize the importance of shaking off a loss, curiosity over judgment, and being oneself.

While winning competitions is thrilling, he concluded, advocacy coaches and teachers should always be focused on helping students build on their skills.

“Why we do this is not for wins and losses – it’s to make these folks be the best versions of themselves,” he said.

The perfect place to talk shop

Each year, EATS brings the national advocacy community together at a venue famous for its leadership in advocacy. Stetson Law has ranked No. 1 in advocacy by U.S. News and World Report numerous times, including in its most recent rankings cycle.

A banner on a gate on the Stetson Law campus says "Welcome Annual EATS Conference." — Welcoming attendees to the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference.

Stetson’s advocacy competition teams have won countless awards at the state, regional, national, and international levels, and Stetson annually hosts important tournaments like the National Pretrial Competition and the International Environmental Moot Court Competition. It’s an ideal setting to welcome the tightknit advocacy community to discuss and collaborate on the work about which they are so passionate.

A man talks to a group of people surrounding him in a classroom. — A breakout session during the 2023 Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference.

“Through panel presentations, group discussions, and enthusiastic debates, the conference attendees were able to explore and learn new ways to best teach their students the art of advocacy,” Boals said. “The future of advocacy education is bright, and we are already looking forward to next year!”

Alumna Creates Resource for Youth in Foster Care

A screenshot from a YouTube video featuring a smartphone that reads "Foster Power" on the screen. — FosterPower was designed to be an easy-to-access resource for youth in the foster care system.

What started as a student’s idea for a local print guide to key resources for local youth in foster care has evolved into a multimedia platform available to anyone in the nation currently in the foster system.

As a student within Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy (SJA) Concentration, Taylor Sartor (formerly Greenberg) had an idea she hoped could eventually help empower children in the foster care system. It was a “know-your-rights” guide to help them access mental healthcare, education opportunities, and legal information.

Now an attorney with Bay Area Legal Services, Sartor said she was inspired after feeling helpless watching the needs of local underprivileged youth being overlooked by an overburdened child welfare system. Realizing she was required to complete a Directed Research Project to receive her SJA Certificate of Concentration, Sartor thought carefully about what she could do that would fulfill the project criteria while having an impact.

Sartor, whose accolades while at Stetson Law include receiving the 2017 Pro Bono Service Award for Outstanding Service by a Law Student from the Sixth Judicial Circuit and serving as an Equal Justice Works fellow in 2018, realized she could draw on her volunteer experience within Florida’s foster care system.

“I was, at the time, a guardian ad litem volunteer for two teenagers in foster care, and I was frustrated about how I could not easily find information on their rights or on things they were entitled to receive while in foster care without doing a deep dive into the law,” she said. “After some online research, I discovered there were no ‘Know Your Rights’ guides for kids in foster care in Florida, so I decided to create one myself.”

A print version of the guide launched in 2018 with help from grants from American Bar Association and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which allowed for its distribution in Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties.

Over the years, the guide has transformed into a critical digital resource.

Collaborative effort, unique solution

Spearheaded by Sartor, created and managed by Bay Area Legal Services, and funded by the Legal Services Corporation and the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, the FosterPower app and website launched May 3.

Numerous student volunteers enrolled in Stetson Law’s SJA program as well as lawyers from the firm Greenberg Traurig LLC helped evolve the guide into a groundbreaking website and mobile app featuring accessible, easy-to-digest information on critical matters. The project moved forward with help from a 2021 Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) of $274,032.

Those involved with the project hope it will help the more than 20,000 children navigating Florida’s foster care system access benefits and learn more about their rights and protections.

Rachel Friant, a 2023 Stetson Law alumna, helped out on the project in spring and summer 2022 as a way to fulfil her legal pro bono hours requirement. She had always gravitated toward children’s law; her earliest legal experience was volunteering with her local teen court while in high school. She had been working in the Florida Legislature at the time the volunteer opportunity was advertised and thought her statutory research skills would be a good match for the project.

Her work included research on changes to applicable state statutes as well as reformatting and proofing the medical, mental health, education and financial sections of the guide.

“I thought this would be an opportunity to help on a worthwhile project and stay connected to the Stetson community while I was away in Tallahassee for my legislative fellowship,” Friant said. “I am so happy to hear the project has come to fruition and that I was able to be a small part of its journey.”

Of utmost importance was that the content be clear and easy to navigate. To help ensure this, Sartor invited individuals formerly part of the foster system to review it and other experts to help ensure a good user experience.

“I truly spent years editing the flow and language to ensure it was readable for foster youth,” Sartor said. “We also had former foster youth who are a part of the advocacy organization Florida Youth Shine edit content line by line and provide feedback on things they didn’t understand, what was missing, etc. We worked with a web/app developer and also have a full-time digital project manager, Rastko Durika who manages all technical aspects of the project.”

Success & recognition

The first program of its kind in the nation, FosterPower has been lauded by members of Congress as an important initiative to help improve the lives of youth living in Florida’s foster care system.

“We have a moral obligation to support these children and give them the best possible start in life,” said U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis, a Stetson Law alumnus whose district includes parts of the Tampa Bay area, at the time the grant was issued. “Through this grant, BALS will be able to support that goal by offering these children critical guidance about their legal rights. I am thrilled to see expanded availability of these critical services within our community.”

The platform has already seen measurable success. Youth who helped test the app – and who helped review the “Know Your Rights” guide before that – reported calculating hundreds of dollars they were owed in allowance, learning how to reconnect with siblings they hadn’t seen in years, speaking up about harmful side effects of psychotropic medications, and generally feeling like they had a greater a say and that their voice matters for the first time in their lives.

“When youth have access to information on the care they are entitled to receive, outcomes improve and they have safer and better lives,” Sartor said.

Recent Grads Win FL Bar Criminal Law Award

Two pictures of graduating law students. — Stetson Law graduates Haley Kinart (left) and Skyler Jackle (right), who both won 2023 Florida Bar Association Criminal Law Section awards for their work in the field.

In 2022, the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar Association began offering a prestigious annual award to a select few third-year students from accredited Florida law schools. The goal of the scholarships, according to 2021–22 Section Chair Jason B. Blank, was “to have a long-lasting impact on the criminal court system.”

This year, two of the three award recipients are from Stetson Law.

Skyler Jackle and Haley Kinart, both recent Stetson Law graduates who were 3Ls at the time they were nominated, have been named recipients of the $2,500 awards for their demonstrated dedication to the criminal justice system at either the trial or appellate level.

To Jackle, the award will help offset a major challenge that follows law school for many recent grads: having enough time to prepare for the Florida Bar Examination.

“I am so grateful to be a recipient of this award as it will allow me to focus on my bar studies,” Jackle said. “Upon passing the Florida bar, I will be starting as an Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County.”

Section leadership members say the opportunity will also motivate current law students focusing on criminal law to excel in their academic performance, pro bono service, clinical work, and other endeavors related to this critical area of law.

“Criminal Law Section members are united by the shared goal of providing a fair, just, and efficient criminal justice system for everyone, and the section’s purpose is to assist all criminal law practitioners in this shared goal,” said 13th Judicial Circuit Judge Samantha L. Ward, the 2022-23 Section Chair. “The awards program is an excellent way to encourage academic achievement, community service, and high standards of ethics and professionalism among law students who are pursuing careers in criminal law.”

A thorough vetting process

The two-step selection process for this award begins with the recommendation of a professor who teaches in the area. At Stetson, all members of the Criminal Law faculty work together to identify the very best candidates for this award: students who truly stand out as leaders in the criminal law arena.

According to the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar, winners are chosen based on factors including but not limited to academic achievement, community service, litigation skills or advocacy accomplishments, clinical internships, high standards of ethics and professionalism, letters of recommendation from a law school professor or administrator, as well as one from a judge or practitioner, and one from someone outside the school or legal profession, and the submission of a personal essay.

Law Professor Susan Rozelle said she immediately thought of Kinart, who served as her research assistant, when asked to recommend a student.

“When she spoke in class, she illuminated not only the doctrinal law, but the human impacts of those doctrines,” Rozelle said of Kinart. “She’s wanted to be a prosecutor her entire life; it is her passion to ensure justice for victims and perpetrators alike.”

Law Professor Ellen Podgor nominated Jackle – who had served as her teaching assistant in her criminal law course – for her award.

Active in the classroom and beyond

Kinart held numerous leadership positions on campus: She was a member of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board. As the Clinic Fellow for the Office of Clinical and Experiential Learning, she connected students with experiential opportunities that best aligned with their specific interests. Her primary focus was on the State Attorney and Public Defender Clinics, and she participated in many discussions with students and clinic professors about these opportunities.

Kinart graduated with a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy-Criminal Track, writing multiple papers on the subject of survivors of sexual assault and how the criminal legal system should do better to achieve justice for them. As a certified legal intern for the Office of the State Attorney 6^th Judicial Circuit, she has tried criminal cases in circuit court under the supervision of an attorney, a role that has built on previous experience as a certified legal intern in the 13^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

“I am immensely honored to receive the award. In public service work, sometimes, you are not recognized for the time and effort you put into achieving necessary reform,” said Kinart. “And this work is not about the personal recognition, but the result from that effort.”

She added that the award helps her continue her forward momentum despite the rigors of law school.

Jackle, meanwhile, said she has “a passion for criminal law and advocacy.” A former member of Stetson Law Review, she was a Senior Stetson Ambassador, a member of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board, and a competitor and national semi-finalist in the ABA Arbitration Competition for 2021-2022 and Regional Semi-finalist in the ABA Arbitration Competition for 2022-2023.

She has worked as a legal intern at the Public Defender’s Office in Pinellas County, where she returned to complete all of her pro bono hours the following year and participated in the federal judicial externship in the fall of her 2L year. This past spring, she was a certified legal intern at the State Attorney’s Office for Hillsborough County.

“Her academic credentials and success speak for themselves but also reveal her commitment to hard work and her natural intelligence,” said Irene M.G. Maslanik, Deputy Chief, Juvenile, 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, who is among those who nominated Jackle. “She is passionate about criminal justice and has the skills to go far in our field.”

To the faculty members with whom they worked closely, both were an obvious choice for the award.

“I was not surprised at all to see them both win,” Rozelle said. “Haley and Skyler embody the kind of dedication to the criminal justice system this award was designed for.”

The third recipient of the award, Victoria Thacker, graduated from Florida International University College of Law.

The awardees will be honored during a June 22 reception at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton.

Stetson Law Student Wins National Public Service Award

Stetson Law student Jessica King

A major national nonprofit has chosen a Stetson Law student as one of just eight recipients of an award honoring law students who excel in their public service endeavors.

A Washington, DC-based nonprofit, Equal Justice Works aims to foster the next generation of legal professionals committed to public service through fellowships and other opportunities. The organization named Stetson Law student Jessica King among the 2023 winners of its Regional Public Interest Award.

“These exceptional law students have demonstrated their commitment to increasing access to justice on their campuses and in their communities,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, vice president of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works, in an announcement.

Advocating for social justice

King’s work on an array of public interest initiatives, which she performs on top of the rigorous demands of law school, is truly extensive.

She is a student within Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy (SJA) concentration, which inspires students to see themselves as effective leaders on campus, in the surrounding community, for the state and nation, and in the world at large. The program connects students with important opportunities to advocate for social justice in concrete ways that give them real-world experience.

The program has helped King harness her passion, drive, and growing legal prowess, which has manifested in her tireless efforts promoting racial justice, disability rights, mental health awareness, and LGBTQIA+ rights on campus and beyond.

Those familiar with King and her work are not surprised she was selected.

“Jessica is a great example of how a student can channel their passion in ways that can be transformative both within the campus community as well as in the world at large,” said Law Professor Judith Scully, King’s faculty mentor and a coordinator of the Social Justice Advocacy concentration. “She is just one of many exceptional SJA students who are poised to make a difference in this world.”

An exceptional level of service

The SJA program has helped connect King with numerous opportunities.

In the last academic year alone, she has been a community associate with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, served as a Racial Justice Fellow with the St. Petersburg/Pinellas Higher Education for Racial Equity (SPHERE), was named chair of the legal redress committee at her local NAACP chapter, and mentored minority undergraduate students at the University of South Florida. The nascent NAMI chapter has tabled bi-weekly and held events like a pottery-painting group and a discussion called “Identity and Law School,” a Diversity Week event that invited students from marginalized backgrounds to speak on their law school experiences.

“I came to law school with a focus on public interest law and my commitment to public interest law has only grown since,” said King.

Promoting accessibility on campus and beyond

A key area of importance for King is promoting accessibility for all.

Her passion for disability rights has inspired her to advocate for more accessible features on campus and serve as a legal intern at Disability Rights Florida, the only statewide designated protection and advocacy system for those with disabilities. She also founded Stetson Law’s first National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

“While at Stetson Law, Jessica has been at the forefront of advocacy for underrepresented groups on campus, including students with disabilities and mental health initiatives,” said Kathryn Pelham, ’06, Associate Director of Accessibility Resources and ADA Coordinator at Stetson Law. “She has brought students, staff, and faculty together for important discussions surrounding the social justice needs of our community. It is fitting that Equal Justice Works chose to honor her tireless work with this award, which I know will only motivate her further.”

For King, the work has only just begun.

“Public interest law is and will be my focus for the rest of my life,” King said. “Serving others is my duty and my passion, and I look forward to a long life of fighting for exactly what I believe in: equal and equitable treatment for all regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation, or gender.”

Inaugural Gassman Tax LL.M. Award Supports Student Advancement in Tax Law

A collage image features the headshots of Alan Gassman, alumni Peter Farrell, and Professor Appleby — Left to right: Attorney Alan Gassman, Alumnus Peter Farrell, and Law Professor Appleby.

Thanks to the generosity of prominent Clearwater attorney Alan Gassman and his wife, Marcia, Spring 2023 graduate Peter Farrell will continue his studies as a candidate for an LL.M. in tax law at the University of Florida with help from a new financial award.

The endowed award, which will be given out every year to a graduating Stetson Law student admitted to the tax law LL.M. program at UF, is an opportunity for a student who is passionate about tax law to have a deepened understanding of this critical area with a significantly reduced financial burden. Gassman earned his LL.M. in Taxation from UF in 1983 thanks to its relative affordability, the availability of subsidized housing, and Marcia, who supported him in his final year of advanced legal study. He said a J.D. from Stetson Law combined with an LL.M. from UF will provide unique value for someone who earns them – and, by extension, the financial health of their future clients.

“Stetson has an amazing J.D. tax program and professors, which is a beautiful match for Florida’s well-respected and excellent LL.M. in tax program,” Gassman said. “The opportunity to help and encourage Stetson students to reach forward to get an LL.M degree is very much appreciated.”

It will also be of great benefit to future students, should a recipient of this award pursue a career in education.

A unique combination

While Stetson Law does not currently have an LL.M. program in taxation, many of its law graduates, go on to attend the University of Florida and pursue an LL.M. in Tax Law.

This opportunity can help bolster Stetson Law’s presence within the program – and elevate the greater tax law community (and their clientele) in doing so.

As the first-ever Alan and Marcia Gassman LL.M. Award recipient, Farrell was recognized at Stetson Law’s annual Honors and Awards ceremony.

He was selected due to his demonstrated passion and effort in preparing for a career in tax law, among other factors that Stetson Law’s tax law professors believe make him uniquely equipped to fulfil the promise this award represents.

“UF Law’s highly regarded Graduate Tax Program is an ideal place for Peter and other exceptional students to build on the solid tax law foundation they developed while at Stetson Law,” said Law Professor Andrew Appleby, Stetson Law’s foremost faculty expert in taxation. “I look forward to seeing how this generous award will help these Stetson Law grads grow their careers in this critical, dynamic, and rewarding area of law.” As a student at Stetson Law, Farrell was active on campus as president of the college’s chapter of the Christian Legal Society. As a member of Stetson Law’s Moot Court Board, Ferrell was part of a team that was a top contender in the 2022 edition of the prestigious Hunton Andrews Kurth National Championship.

A legacy of advanced tax law scholarship

A board-certified estate planning and trust lawyer, Alan S. Gassman, J.D., LL.M. practices in Clearwater with the law firm of Gassman, Crotty and Denicolo, P.A., where he is a senior partner. He specializes in the areas of trust and estate planning, taxation, wealth preservation, and the representation of physicians and medical practices.

He has a strong desire to see Stetson Law students flourish as members of the legal profession. Recently, he helped facilitate a groundbreaking new fellowship that aims to foster greater diversity in estate planning.

“One measure of success is to what extent you help others and your profession,” Gassman said. “Our law firm has been greatly enhanced by Stetson graduates who have gone to LL.M. programs, so we are pleased to support all of those who wish to do so, and are very thankful for the opportunity.”

Gassman is also currently an adjunct professor at Stetson Law. He has authored many books and was inducted into the National Association of Estate Planning Counsel’s Hall of Fame in 2021.

Stetson Law Reflects on Legacy of Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands next to Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody. — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (left) and Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody (right) at the 1998 dedication of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library.

As the Stetson Law community mourns the loss of former Dean Lizabeth A. Moody, who passed away on May 19, former colleagues say her impact on the College of Law – and the legal profession itself – was nothing short of transformative.

Moody, who was the school’s first female dean, served in that role from 1994 through 1999. Thereafter, she was named Dean Emeritus and remained involved at the College of Law. She was inducted into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame in 2009. During her deanship, Moody championed advocacy education initiatives, was critical in the planning of and fundraising for the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library, and supported growth in International Programs and Elder Law.

“Stetson Law is a better place because of Dean Lizabeth Moody – as is the world,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “She didn’t just shatter a glass ceiling by being the first woman to serve as dean. She inspired and encouraged other women lawyers to lead – and she saw Stetson Law’s potential as a national leader in multiple areas. We are all saddened by the loss of such an important changemaker, and we invite our community to learn about Dean Moody and celebrate her legacy.”

A celebration of her life is currently being planned, the details of which will be made public when they are available.

A lifelong love of law

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Moody knew her path very early in life.

When she was six, she asked her father if she could be a lawyer – he said “yes.” By the time she was in the seventh grade, Moody had a large collection of law school catalogues. Her family moved to Ohio, where she was valedictorian of her high school class. Thanks to a Junior Achievement Scholarship, she attended Columbia University.

Dean Lizabeth A. Moody wears a cap and gown and speaks to a graduating class. — Stetson Law Dean Emeritus Lizabeth A. Moody

Moody then attended law school at Yale, where she was one of just seven women out of her 1959 graduating class of 160.

She continued to break the glass ceiling when she became a member of a major Cleveland law firm, was one of the first women to obtain an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and was the first female president of the Cleveland Bar Association.

Giving back through service to the profession

In 1971, she left private practice to teach at Cleveland State University College of Law, but remained tirelessly active within the greater legal community.

While serving on the Women’s Law Fund together in the 1970s, Moody befriended Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who ultimately became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. After working on a case challenging the Cleveland Public Schools’ policy regarding pregnant people, the two friends stayed in touch.

In 1990, Moody signed on as president and CEO of Law School Admissions Services, the organization behind the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). She was instrumental in developing the Law Access Loan Program, which made billions of dollars available to students pursuing law.

Breaking barriers at Stetson Law

In 1994, she joined Stetson Law as Vice President and Dean. She was the first woman to serve in this role at the college. Over her five years as dean, she helped grow Stetson Law’s national presence through substantive initiatives.

“Dean Moody played a pivotal role in the College of Law’s emergence into national prominence in the 1990s,” said Law Professor Peter Lake, Director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy. “Our first female law dean recognized Stetson’s distinctive prowess in Trial Advocacy, and created the foundation for extraordinary success and recognition in training great trial lawyers.”

Under her leadership, the College of Law broke the U.S. News and World Report barrier and was ranked in the top 100 law schools in the nation. She helped plan and fundraise for a new law library, which is now the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library. Her friend, Justice Ginsburg, spoke at the library’s opening ceremony.

In 2015, Stetson Law dedicated a seminar room to her on the second floor of the law library. It was the room where she taught her nonprofit corporations class. She was an early champion of the now-popular practice of teaching class in small seminar groups.

Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Lizabeth A. Moody spoke at the dedication of the Dean Lizabeth A. Moody Seminar Room.

Moody was also instrumental in helping establish Stetson Law as a national leader in the area of elder law.

“Dean Moody understood the importance of elder law,” said Law Professor Rebecca Morgan, who pioneered Stetson Law’s elder law program. “The Elder Law Center, the first Center for Excellence at the College of Law, was established during her deanship. Additionally, she was active in the ABA Senior Lawyers Division, serving as Vice-Chair.”

Moody also helped lay the foundation for the college’s part-time and international programs – and encouraged Stetson Law’s moot teams to compete on the international level.

“Dean Emeritus Liz Moody and her loving husband Alan Buchman were instrumental in promoting and encouraging Stetson Law to become involved in the Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot, which began Stetson’s 20-year successful run in the competition,” said Law Professor Stephanie Vaughan, who has co-coached Stetson Law’s championship-winning teams for the prestigious annual moot in Vienna, Austria, and Hong Kong. “Dean Moody understood the importance of advocacy and international law, and her commitment to both put us on the global map. She was a dear friend and will be truly missed.”

Slideshow: Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody

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A nationally recognized legal professional

She won dozens of awards over the course of her career, including the Ohio State Bar Association’s Bar Medal, the highest award for unusually meritorious service to the community, the profession, and humanity. In 1997, the American Bar Association gave her the Glass Cutter Award for her tireless work helping other women in the legal profession. She received the ABA Business Law Section’s Author Award for her work on the revised Model Nonprofit Corporation Act and Martindale-Hubbell’s Highest Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards.

The city of Cleveland declared May 8, 1990 as Lizabeth A. Moody Day.

In 2012, the ABA included Moody as part of its Women Trailblazers Law Project, which featured her oral history of her career at Library of Congress and the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University.

She was heavily involved in the ABA, the American Law Institute (which named her a Life Member, a prestigious designation), and the American Association of Law Schools and served her community through philanthropic efforts and by serving on nonprofit boards like those of Tampa General Hospital and Academy Prep.

Through the years, she set standards not just for women lawyers, but for the legal community to follow. The Stetson Law will continue to celebrate Moody’s legacy. Many of her awards are on display in the Dean Lizbeth A. Moody Seminar Room on the second floor of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library.

See Dean Moody’s Hall of Fame induction video

New Fellowship Aims to Boost Diversity in Estate-Planning

A composite photo of two law students. — Left: Chriseanna Mitchell. Right Jeffrey Southerland. Both students are the inaugural Diversity Estate Planning Fellows.

With help from a key community partner, Stetson Law is now offering an opportunity for students from underrepresented populations to gain critical experience in elder law and estate planning.

With its first two recipients set to start the program in the fall of 2023, the Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship and Award is a combination of learning, mentorship, and real-world experience earned while helping underserved community members access critical legal services. The program offers each fellow a $1,500 award per semester. The two Stetson Law students to participate in the program’s inaugural year are Chriseanna Mitchell and Jeffrey Southerland.

Mitchell said she looks forward to helping underrepresented communities access critical legal services to help families financially prepare for loss of a loved one so that money challenges don’t overwhelm them during the grieving process.

“I want to help families prepare so that bridge will not be as stressful when it’s time to cross it,” Mitchell said. “Communities of color are often discouraged by the price tag attached to legal services so I’m excited about the pro bono aspects. The program itself will be an opportunity to explain different hypothetical situations to clients and find solutions to problems they did not even know where there. My hope is that this experience will further emphasize the importance of estate-planning within the community.”

A community collaboration

Created from a contribution from Gassman, Crotty & Denicolo, P.A., and the efforts of the Suncoast and Pinellas County Estate Planning Councils, the program’s purpose is two-fold. It aims to introduce estate planning and elder law as a viable career opportunity for students of color, who have historically been underrepresented in these areas. In turn, the fellowship will directly serve communities of color, which have been underserved in the areas of elder law and estate planning.

Clearwater attorney and Stetson Law adjunct professor Alan Gassman

Clearwater attorney and Stetson Law adjunct professor Alan Gassman said he hopes the program will be a win-win for the fellows as well as those they serve.

“I have had a deep-seated desire to do something for diversity that can impact both the lives of the minority participant and the lives of those who offer to help,” Gassman said. “In thinking this through, I came across the idea of helping law students acclimate to being professionals and networking by participation in an actual estate planning council.”

How it works

As members of one of the local Estate Planning Councils, fellows will attend their respective group’s monthly breakfast or lunch meetings. They will be assigned two mentors active in the estate planning community, who will help them create an educational presentation on estate planning and end-of-life documents to be presented in community centers and churches within communities of color.

The fellows will meet, shadow, and work with lawyer members of Estate Planning Councils to improve their communication skills, network with the community, and learn about estate planning and elder law as a career.

“This will provide them with mentorship, a network of friends in a community, job opportunities, education, and the opportunity to show leadership and develop confidence and presentation skills and experience,” Gassman said.

The program also aims to connect the fellows with employment opportunities and the opportunity to take part in paid clerking positions with Council members.

“The monetary fellowship award, clerking opportunities and the ability to apply time spent towards pro bono hours are icing on the cake,” Gassman said. “The reaction that we have had from students, law professors, and members of estate planning counsels has been very gratifying.”

Southerland said he hopes this work will have a direct impact on local families and help make the field of estate-planning more equitable – and he’s thankful to Gassman for the opportunity to do so.

“I am so grateful to have been selected for the Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship,” Southerland said. “Over the next year, I hope to grow as an advocate for my community and help increase representation in this area of practice.”

Spring 2023 Commencement Celebrates over 300 Graduating Students

An overhead view of the Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony — The Spring 2023 Commencement in Stetson Law’s Plaza Mayor

During a beautiful morning ceremony in Stetson Law’s scenic Plaza Mayor, 302 students celebrated their successful completion of law school. They were surrounded by faculty, Stetson Law staff, family, friends, and others who supported them through a uniquely challenging journey. (See full video below.)

The event began with a processional featuring bagpipe players, marshals, graduating students, legacies, faculty, and members of this year’s platform party, who represented campus and university leadership, faculty, alumni, and the Student Bar Association.

When everyone was seated, Dr. Noel Painter, a long-time faculty member at Stetson and the university’s Executive Vice President and Provost, greeted those gathered.He commended the class – which consisted of May 2023 graduating students, December 2022 graduates, and students intending to graduate in August of 2023 – for completing over 20,000 hours of pro bono service,advocating for others through clinics and externships, championship-level moot competition performance, and succeeding despite unprecedented challenges.

“All in all, you are well prepared for whatever may be next for you in life, and you have much to look forward to,” Painter said.

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President Roellke’s Remarks

Noting how the graduating class was the first to enter law school amid a global pandemic and all of the challenges it presented, Stetson University President Christopher Roellke urged the graduating students to value empathy and kindness alongside the practical knowledge and skills they learned at Stetson Law.

“Here at Stetson, you have learned the law and the skills required to apply it to legal practice with integrity and professionalism,” Roellke said. “Moving forward, I ask that you also bring kindness and empathy to all that you do. As you grow and thrive, I challenge you to help those around to thrive, to offer small acts of kindness and empathy to your clients, partners, institutions and organizations. By practicing these two things, kindness and empathy, you will, indeed, do your part in making the world a better place.”

More words of encouragement from leaders

Kind words followed from Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Elect Steve Alexander, who told the graduates they are now lifelong members of the Stetson community and urged them to stay connected.

“As a graduate of this university you join a community of alumni that is more than one hundred years old, large, and well established. So stay connected to your Stetson classmates and reach out to your new Stetson colleagues,” he said. “If I have learned anything from my time with Stetson it is the ready-made network out there that can advise and assist.”

On behalf of more than 11,000 Stetson Law alumni, Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Mitchell Schermer said while law school was no doubt challenging – full of “sleepless nights, endless studying and preparation, and even a global pandemic” – the students showed resiliency and grit. There was fun sprinkled in, he said with “networking events, social events, and probably too many nights out at O’Maddy’s,” he said, referring to a popular bar and grill nearby in downtown Gulfport. All of these experiences, he said, have helped shaped them into the kind of professional often referred to on campus and beyond as Stetson Lawyers.

“As many of you have undoubtedly heard, there is the concept of what it means to be a Stetson Lawyer,” he said. “To be a Stetson Lawyer means that you will always strive to demonstrate integrity, ethics, competency, and an unwavering commitment to representing the interests of your client. It means to be professional and cordial in the face of those who act otherwise, and to never forget that you are an advocate who represents real people, who come to you with real problems, in their time of greatest need.”

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Addressing his classmates, Student Bar Association President Blake Radford remarked on how the Class of 2023 boldly faced the rigors of law school despite unprecedented challenges affecting society at large. As incoming 1Ls, they attended orientation wearing masks. They figured out how to network and gain critical experience while respecting social distancing guidelines. In their final year, as the pandemic waned, he said, they had to deal with two hurricanes.

He urged his fellow graduates to never lose their “fire” or the indomitable spirit that got them through law school despite unprecedented challenges – to bring it with them to professional life.

“Show them what I’ve had the honor of seeing all these years,” Radford said. “That maybe out of all the years prior, this is the class that’s going to change the world. And we’ll change it by working together. By being there for one another. And by never letting anything stop us. Because so long as we have each other, nothing can.”

Wisdom from a seasoned professional

Before the students walked across the stage, they heard from one last speaker, Leslie Caldwell, who delivered the event’s commencement address.

A seasoned white-collar law professional known for leading the federal investigation into Enron and other high-profile cases, Caldwell used her own experience with a shifting career pathway to illustrate the many directions in which one can take a legal career. She, after all, went from working in a large firm to a small firm to a U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn before Robert Mueller – who had just been appointed U.S. Attorney in San Francisco – recruited her to a management position in his office.

“You already have and will continue to develop a body of knowledge and a way of thinking that is mysterious and foreign, and even scary, to most people. And it is those people – many of whom will be perfect strangers – who will be putting their trust in you, putting their most important interests – including sometimes their very futures and lives-squarely into your hands,” Caldwell said. “And that will be the case no matter what area or areas of the law you choose to start off or end up in.”

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She concluded her remarks by elaborating on the quote by philosopher John Locke, “Where law ends, tyranny begins,” telling the graduating students that, as lawyers, they are a firewall against tyranny.

“In that role, you are assuming an obligation to do your part to maintain the integrity of our laws, and to protect the rights that the Constitution and other laws at least promise to all of us,” she said. “A big part of that obligation is that we must practice ethically, and operate with honesty and integrity, with our clients, with the courts, and even with our adversaries… If the legal profession were to lose sight of the need for candor and integrity, if the courts were to become or even be seen as advocates for specific agendas, the public rightly would lose confidence in our system. Law would end, and tyranny could begin.”

The students were then called to walk across the stage, one, by one, to accept their diplomas as the exuberant crowd cheered for each new Stetson Lawyer.

Watch the full Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony

Recap: Stetson Law Honors & Awards 2023

Rows of statues featuring Lady Justice and the phrase "Order of the Barristers" line a table. — Honors & Awards at Stetson Law

Reflecting a spirit of service and commitment to enter the legal profession with robust experience, members of Stetson Law’s 2023 graduating class were recognized for their exceptional work.

Held yearly on the eve of Spring Commencement, the Honors and Awards Ceremony lauds those who have gone above and beyond Stetson Law’s rigorous curriculum and pro bono requirements. This includes participation in a Stetson Law legal journal, going well above the College of Law’s pro bono requirement, honors program participation, advocacy board membership, superior academic performance, and earning a certificate of concentration. (See full video below.)

Outstanding students were also given awards named for key members of the Stetson Law community.

College of Law faculty and leadership commended the graduating students and invited them to remain involved as they build their careers.

“It is my hope that you will remain committed to improving your community, wherever you might be,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer — it also teaches you to be a leader. You defined yourselves as leaders who are dedicated to justice and public service, you have also defined yourselves as leaders with stellar academic achievements.”

Unique challenges, indomitable spirit

Noting that most members of the 2023 graduating class started their law school journey in 2020 – squarely within the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic – Stetson Law Board of Overseers member Tracy Raffles Gunn, who earned her J.D. from Stetson Law in 1993, said it was evident early on that this class shared a common characteristic: “fierce.”

Students challenged themselves and others, she said, and took ownership of their time at Stetson Law in ways that will benefit them as lawyers.

“Please know that the Board and the school are extremely proud of your class and that we are committed to continuing to support you as Stetson Alumni,” Gunn said. “I hope that you will consider your Board of Overseers and your Law Alumni groups to be a resource for you.”

Noting their next set of challenges, passing the bar and launching their careers, she encouraged them to keep in touch with their alma mater.

“We want you to stay involved with the school. I hope you will share your knowledge and experience with the Stetson students who come after you in whatever way fits your time and passions,” Gunn said. “It’s going to be your turn to be the mentors, coaches, guest speakers and competition judges. You have a lot to offer.”

In Photos: Honors & Awards 2023

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Prestigious awards bestowed

At the ceremony’s culmination, the focus turned toward three students whose activity and performance were so exceptional that they were recognized with the three most prestigious named awards: The Walter Mann Award, The Dean’s Excellence Award, and The Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.

The Walter Mann Award, which recognizes a student who has shown the greatest promise of becoming an outstanding leader in the legal profession, was given to Nancy Eriksen, a student veteran whose past recognition includes a national award for women in the white collar field. The Dean’s Excellence Award, which honors a graduating student who has given extraordinary service to Stetson University College of Law, was given to Student Bar Association President Blake Radford.

At the request of the Foreman family, special guest Kathryn Christian, a 2006 graduate and past recipient of the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, presented that award to Kathryn Alkire. Heavily involved on campus, Alkire served as the Stetson Law Review editor-in-chief for the 2022-2023 academic year. As the award’s recipient, her name has been cast in bronze and is being secured to the plaque outside of the Great Hall. She will also be given a $5,000 check as part of the award.

Alkire said she was “honored and humbled” to receive the award, adding that she and her classmates now have a “tremendous opportunity” to have a positive impact – just as the award’s namesake and his wife, Bonnie Foreman, had over their lifetimes.

As the event drew to a close, Interim Dean Radwan once again commended the graduated students for their exemplary commitment to the values at the core of Stetson Law’s mission.

“Stetson Law is a remarkable law school filled with dedicated individuals with one, unified goal — to prepare our students to be change agents who make significant contributions to our communities and to society,” she said. “I think you saw today that we have a new group of graduates who are going to do just that.”