A rare ghost orchid blooming in Big Cypress National Preserve
Delicate, elusive, and visually striking, the ghost orchid lives deep within southwest Florida’s wetlands.
A rare white flower with two delicate tendrils descending from its center, it draws photographers and nature enthusiasts to trek for hours through dense swampland just for a chance to see it. It’s also on the brink of extinction as habitat destruction, poaching, hurricanes, and other occurrences threaten its habitat in places like Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand State Park.
With Stetson Law’s Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment as their advocate, environmental groups hope to change that.
Stetson Law Professor Jaclyn Lopez
Environmental conservationists have long been calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend Endangered Species Act protection to the ghost orchid, but they say the agency has been unlawfully delaying that decision. Listing the ghost orchid as endangered would make it easier to hold accountable those who seek to harm the ghost orchid or its habitat.
That is why the Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity, and the National Parks Conservation Association are demanding immediate action, and why the Jacobs Law Clinic has filed suit on their behalf.
The case was filed September 13 in the U.S. District Court in Southern Florida.
“It is an honor that this coalition of powerful environmental conservation organizations has entrusted the Jacobs Law Clinic with the critical work of advocating for meaningful policy that will protect this iconic flower for future generations,” said Law Professor Jaclyn Lopez, Director of the Jacobs Law Clinic. “Moreover, we are thrilled that we can give our students the chance to channel their passion into such an important cause.”
A unique learning opportunity
With its robust and extensive Clinics and Externships program, Stetson Law is committed to experiential education to ensure students can connect their studies with real-world matters.
For student Stefanie Stockwell, who has spent extensive time diving into the intricate world of environmental litigation, applying her learnings in a manner that may benefit the ghost orchid has been incredibly rewarding.
“The work in preparation for litigation is arduous, marked by countless hours of research, collaboration among passionate organizations and their members, and navigating the procedural matters of the legal system,” Stockwell said. “However, what truly sets this experience apart is the profound love and dedication that everyone involved has for the ghost orchid.”
She added that there’s a greater meaning to this work. “The commitment to this cause goes beyond legal arguments; it’s a heartfelt dedication to the orchid and the ecosystems it inhabits,” Stockwell said. “Through this work, I’ve not only gained a deeper understanding of environmental law, but also witnessed firsthand the unwavering determination of individuals who recognize the importance of protecting and preserving the planet’s treasures.”
A network of passionate advocates
Alumna Elise Bennett ’13
When it comes to the fight to protect the ghost orchid and its habitat, the Stetson Law ties run deep.
Alumna Elise Bennett ’13 is Florida and Caribbean Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. She said it has been a joy to see students from her alma mater sharpen their legal skills while working on unique and meaningful case.
“Stetson’s Jacobs Law Clinic has given these students a rare opportunity with this case—not only to learn through engaging directly in public interest environmental law work, but also to do the honorable work of defending this incredibly rare flower’s very existence,” said Bennett, who as a law student was invited by Professor Lopez to clerk at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These students will graduate knowing they played an important part in the work to stem the extinction crisis.”
Classes and events are cancelled Thursday, August 31 and Friday, Sept. 1. The Office of the Associate Dean [email protected] will be providing class updates soon.
The Gulfport and Tampa campuses will reopen tomorrow morning, Thursday, August 31.
Dorm residents may return tonight, Wednesday, August 30, starting at 6:00 p.m. The Office of Residential Housing [email protected] will be in touch.
We are thinking of our community and hopeful you and your loved ones are safe and secure from the aftereffects of Hurricane Idalia.
The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust has chosen Law Professor Judith Scully as one of eight recipients of its prestigious Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award.
Each year, the award aims to honor a teacher or professor who has inspired former students to “create an organization which has demonstrably conferred a benefit on the community at large” or established “on a lasting basis a concept, procedure or movement of comparable benefit to the community at large.”
As founder and co-director of Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy Concentration and a champion of Stetson Law’s robust, pioneering pro bono program, Scully works tirelessly to help turn students’ passion into actionable initiatives capable of creating transformative outcomes. This includes having led the Stetson Law Innocence Initiative and co-chairing the St. Petersburg Higher Education for Racial Equality (SPHERE) Consortium.
Mentee honors mentor
Educators who are honored with this award must be nominated by a former student whose work they inspired.
In Scully’s case, Alumna Taylor Sartor, a graduate of Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy Concentration, nominated her. It was Scully’s guidance in helping her develop and establish what ultimately became FosterPower, a digital platform that empowers youth in the foster care system to advocate for themselves, that compelled Sartor to nominate her.
The platform, which launched in June of 2023, grew out of a know-your-rights guide offering information and resources to youth in the foster system, which Sartor worked on under Scully’s mentorship.
“Professor Scully has inspired so many students to go on and do impactful work with our law degrees, and I am grateful she gave me the tools to be the social justice attorney I am today,” Sartor said. “Professor Scully planted the seed during my time in law school, and in years to come my vision of kids knowing their rights bloomed into a movement that has given youth across the state of Florida access to vital information on their rights.”
FosterPower was designed to be an easy-to-access resource for youth in the foster care system.
To the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Advisory Committee, Scully’s guidance on the project reflects the purpose of the award.
In addition to being honored at an October 14, 2023 ceremony in Atlanta, Scully will receive a $25,000 award.
Spotlighting transformative work
Scully said she is profoundly thankful to Sartor for taking the time to nominate her, and that she hopes it will help spread awareness of the Social Justice Advocacy program and the important work of program graduates like Sartor.
“I am deeply honored to be named as an awardee particularly because of the spotlight we can place on both our SJA program and the work that Taylor began several years ago as a student in our program,” Scully said.
The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award honors Hurlock Beckman’s contributions to the field of psychology. It was established by her daughter, Gail McKnight Beckman in 2008. Though the committee has given the award to more than 20 educators in some years, in 2023, just eight educators received the award, Scully among them.
Director of Admissions Darren Kettles and Assistant Dean for Strategic Enrollment Karla O. Davis Jamison take a selfie in front of the incoming 2023 1Ls
Reflecting a focus on professional development as well as the sense of community on campus, Stetson Law’s brand new orientation format introduced Fall 2023 1Ls to life in law school and beyond.
The dynamic, four-day program invited students to immerse themselves in the fundamentals of both law school and the legal profession itself in preparation for the first day of classes. With smaller groups, interactive sessions, and opportunities to interact with professors, key staff members, and classmates, the new format offered incoming students a holistic experience to equip them for the rigors of law school.
“We really wanted to show incoming students that, while law school is very challenging, there is an entire community here that is committed to helping them succeed – and is passionate about doing so,” said Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins. “This year’s Orientation is the result of the very hard work of a large team of people from every campus space, including faculty, staff, and our upper-level students.”
The format
Each student was assigned to one of eight Stetson “Inns” consisting of about 40 1L students, 10 upper-level students serving as “Readers,” and one faculty member serving as their “Bencher.”
The Readers, all members of the Stetson Law Ambassadors, served in a structured mentoring capacity. The Benchers offered leadership, guidance, and support during orientation – and will continue to do so throughout the year. Full-time students arrived on campus each afternoon for refreshments before joining their Inns for a day of compelling programming. In the late afternoon, their part-time counterparts arrived for dinner with their Inns, after which they participated in programming designed with the part-time experience in mind.
Before Day One
Students got to experience the legal profession before even coming to campus.
They completed the Lawyering Fundamentals course online. Associate Professor of Law and Director of Academic Success and Bar Prep Alicia Jackson suggested the BarBri-designed course; Professor Brooke Bowman served as the on-campus professor. The interactive course gave students over 40 hours of experience reading and briefing cases as well as other work they can expect to do in law school and beyond. Assistant Professor Grant Christensen, who meets individually with each of his Civil Procedure students before the semester begins, said the course was “the talk of the 1L class.”
Then, the Inns were divided into smaller groups called “Tables,” and with a dedicated Reader serving as a mentor. The Tables met to talk about what they expect of each other.
The day closed with an hour spent identifying, prioritizing, and reflecting on their values as they enter law school, and visualizing how they plan to live those values in the coming months.
Day 2: Briefing on life as a 1L
Each section met Dean Benjamin Barros, who talked about what to expect of one another as a learning community, especially when encountering controversial topics. Associate Dean Jason Palmer and other professors then spoke about the 1L academic experience, and Bowman debriefed them on Lawyering Fundamentals.
Over dinner, Readers led conversations about timely topics from generative AI and its impact on the profession to popular culture depictions of lawyers and their work.
Day 3: Exploring, bias, resilience, & more
The third day of orientation was an introduction to the core values of the profession.
Students watched an ABA Chair Chat with Sarah Redfield, author of Extending Justice: Strategies to Increase Inclusion and Reduce Bias. It was their first opportunity to explore issues of cultural competence, inclusion, and implicit bias in their role as law students.
They then had an in-depth look at cultural competence with Dean Palmer, explored the philosophy of law with Dr. Tim Kaye, and took part in a conversation about the skills of self-assessment, adaptability, and resilience with alumna Ashley Ward Singleton and Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development Cathy Martin.
Days 4 & 5: Celebrating a new beginning
Full time students began the day reflecting on what they’re nervous about in law school – and many found that they are not alone – before identifying something they’re looking forward to doing this semester and making a commitment to follow through and do that thing for themselves.
They also explored ethical and cultural challenges they might face in law school and how to resolve them, had a lesson in networking, and took an oath of professionalism inspired by the oath that Florida lawyers take.
A reception welcoming them and celebrating the students’ entry into the profession followed.
Shorter programming on the fifth and final day of orientation included a tour of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library and meetings to plan a volunteer service opportunity.
A Stetson “Double-Hatter” (someone who holds a B.A. from Stetson University and a J.D. from Stetson Law) now leads the Florida Bar Foundation, a nonprofit that fosters access to justice for those of limited means.
Murray Silverstein B.A. ’80, J.D. ‘82, took office as president of the foundation on July 1, 2023, and will lead the organization in its efforts to fund legal services, develop innovative tools and programs, and support providers of legal aid as well as the courts through pro bono initiatives and other projects. Through its support of Florida organizations that provide legal services, the 501(c)(3) has recently helped find permanent homes for children in Florida’s foster system, helped hundreds of Central Florida residents remain in their homes, and assisted organizations that advocate for children with disabilities.
Silverstein is partner in a national law firm, Stinson LLP Silverstein, which recently opened the Tampa office where he works. His practice areas include intellectual property, trade secrets, unfair competition, health care litigation, contract claims, and restrictive covenants.
Bettering the legal system & profession
His extensive involvement with the Florida Bar Foundation and other legal professional organizations includes eight years of service on the Florida Bar Board of Governors, which regulates over 110,000 members of the Florida Bar Association, as well as service on multiple Florida Bar committees.
Silverstein also chaired the Florida Bar Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration Committee.
Outside of his Florida Bar-related activity, he served and led committees of the Florida Courts Technology Commission, which advised the Florida Supreme Court on how to improve technology in the state’s courthouses. Silverstein was also past president and on the board St. Petersburg’s Community Law Program, which provides free civil legal aid services to eligible individuals and nonprofits throughout Pinellas County.
In 2006, Stetson Law honored him with that year’s William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award. Other honors he earned include The Florida Bar President’s Award of Merit in 2010 and The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award in 2011.
A Florida Bar Foundation Fellow, Silverstein is also a member of its Silver Lifetime Giving Society.
A legacy of alumni leaders
Stetson Law alumni have a longstanding tradition of leading organizations that aim to improve the legal system and the legal profession itself.
Another Double Hatter, Gregory Coleman B.B.A. ‘85, J.D. ’89, is past president of the Florida Bar Association (2014-2015), a role that was the culmination of decades of service on local and state bar organizations and committees and other organizations. He was inducted in the Stetson Law Hall of Fame in 2022 and serves on the Stetson University Board of Trustees.
In June, alumna Anisha Patel ’15 was sworn in as president of the Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.
The 2023 class of Stetson Law’s Youth Civic Engagement Program heard from alumni on life in the legal profession.
It’s not often that a 17-year-old knows what kind of career they want to pursue.
Grace Edmonds, on the other hand, knows what she wants to do.
“I want to be a civil litigation attorney,” the rising Riverview High School senior said. “My mom wants me to be a judge. We’ll see when I get there.”
Left to right: Professor Judith Scully, Riverview High School student Grace Edmonds, Dean Benjamin Barros.
Edmonds, who hopes to attend Bowie State University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Maryland, recently completed Stetson Law’s Youth Civic Engagement Program, an immersive, week-long series of seminars, conversations, and events tailored to local teenagers from underrepresented backgrounds. Now in its third year, the hybrid virtual and in-person program invites participants to deepen their understanding of society, their community, and themselves through honest discussions and advanced civics lessons.
“It has been an incredible week,” said Law Professor and Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia, a co-organizer of the program, after it concluded. “It truly is our privilege and honor to share our teaching and learning space.”
The 2023 class consisted of nearly two dozen high-school students representing diverse racial, economic, cultural, and gender identities and backgrounds. Though some expressed an interest in eventually attending law school, others took part with the aim of learning about how to be effective advocates within causes for which they are most passionate.
A holistic approach to civics education
A collaborative effort among Stetson Law’s offices of Admissions; Diversity, Collaboration, and Inclusion; Clinical Education; and other departments, the five-day program consisted largely of virtual workshops and culminated Friday with a series of in-person sessions as well as an awards ceremony on campus.
The broad range of discussions included advocacy, social justice, human rights, leadership, civic responsibility, understanding local government, mental and emotional self-care, how to successfully advocate for oneself on social media, and preparing for college. Speakers ranged from Stetson Law faculty, staff, and alumni to prominent community leaders.
Judge Steve Berlin of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit gave a comprehensive overview of the justice system as part of Friday’s on-campus programming. Alumni Keongela Randle, Forest Sutton, and Assita Toure also offered a glimpse into what it is like to pursue a legal career as well as a demonstration of the jury-selection process.
Students were open about their thoughts and how they felt over the course of the week, something the facilitators recognized – and commended.
Assistant Dean for Strategic Enrollment Management Karla O. Davis-Jamison addresses students who took part in the 2023 Youth Civic Engagement Program.
“We covered a lot of topics, and each day, program participants engaged, shared, debated, reflected, you listened, and you were respectful,” said co-organizer and Assistant Dean for Strategic Enrollment Management Karla O. Davis-Jamison at the event honoring the students for completing the program. “Most importantly, you showed up every day and you committed fully to participating in this program.”
Organizers said they hoped the conversations that took place will inspire them to be changemakers in their communities.
Law Professor Judith Scully speaks to students who completed the 2023 Youth Civic Engagement Program.
“I hope that the issues we discussed in our social justice advocacy and social change portion of this class motivate you to continue to educate yourself and to continue to educate others as well as it relates to justice. I hope that you’ll remember our conversation about what it takes to be an advocate, an activist, and a leader,” said program co-organizer and Law Professor Judith Scully, who is director of Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy Program.
Open discussions on timely topics
Over the course of the week, the conversations weren’t always easy – but each one had potentially transformative value for participants both personally and professionally, Stetson Law Dean Benjamin Barros told the students at the event honoring their successful participation in the program.
Dean Benjamin Barros commends students who took part in the 2023 Youth Civic Engagement Program.
“To all of you who completed this program, I hope that you see how you’ve developed, how your skills have developed, your advocacy and communication skills have developed, and think about how that will help you in the future – and will help you develop and serve your community,” he said.
Students of the Youth Civic Engagement Program and their parents tour the Stetson Law campus.
Despite their many differences, said Edmonds, what stood out most over the program’s five days was the respect participants had for one another.
“I honestly was surprised about the amount of kindness and caring that everyone showed,” she said. “Everyone was able to listen to each other. Even if we have differing viewpoints on things, we could all be respectful of each other. That was really surprising and really nice to be around.”
Students and parents attended an awards ceremony after the students completed the Youth Civic Engagement Program.
Stetson Law Spring 2023 Valedictorian Samuel Ciulla
When Santo “Sandy” Ciulla brought his family to Florida in the 1970s, he had little more than ten dollars in his pocket and the van that brought them to the Sunshine State.
Through hard work and perseverance, he built a loving, supportive environment that encouraged his family to thrive. Though he passed away in 2015, his grandson, Samuel Ciulla, who graduated from Stetson Law in May of 2023, said his grandfather’s legacy inspires him toward great achievement – including becoming valedictorian of his law school class.
It’s an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
“Getting the news that I was class valedictorian brought perspective to all the hard work I have put in over the past three years,” said Ciulla between intensive sessions preparing for the Florida Bar examination. “Law school was an extraordinary time in so many different ways, and to have not only graduated, but to have graduated as valedictorian, is a feat that I am very proud of.”
Setting goals – and surpassing them
Ciulla said he had two big objectives as a 1L: getting good enough grades to help him secure employment prior to graduation and being part of the Stetson Law Review.
After doing better than he had expected on his first round of exams and being invited to join Stetson Law Review, he realized he had a shot at a third goal: becoming class valedictorian. To Ciulla, it was an aspiration worth pursuing even if he didn’t quite make it.
“I looked at this goal as an internal competition with myself to always work my hardest, and I knew if I did that, I would be rewarded in some way,” he said.
In the end, he believes it was “passion and perspective” that gave him an edge.
“Once I figured out how to take a law school exam, I tried to frame all my learning during the semester into the question, “How does this fit into an exam?” Through this lens, I was able to take each topic I learned in each class and fit it into the bigger puzzle piece of an exam, which fit into a bigger puzzle piece of getting good grades, which fit into a good job, good career, and so on,” Ciulla said. “This perspective helped motivate me on the tough days where I was tired – each little point learned in each class was a small piece leading me onto the rest of my life and my dream of becoming an attorney.”
He made the Dean’s List four times, received the highest grade in ten classes, was a runner-up in the Spring 2021 Freeborn & Peters First-Year Appellate Advocacy Competition, and won Outstanding Editor (Fall 2022) and the Leadership Award (Spring 2023) for his work on the Stetson Law Review, on which he ultimately served as Executive Editor. His work was also recently published in the Stetson Law Review.
His diligence, kindness, and contributions to the Stetson Law community stood out to those around him. “Samuel represented everything one could ask for in a law student,” said Law Professor Andrew Appleby, who was a mentor to Ciulla. “He consistently demonstrated intellectual curiosity and always contributed valuable insights to class discussions. He is also a genuinely nice person and is a pleasure to be around.”
The start of a promising career
As he looks beyond the bar exam – and some time spent traveling – Ciulla will join Gunster in the firm’s real estate practice group. He’ll be based out of their office in Tampa, the city where he grew up and where he always dreamed of launching his legal career.
It’s why Stetson Law was the only law school he wanted to attend.
“Tampa has always been home and it will continue to be my home for the foreseeable future, and if I wanted to be a Tampa lawyer, I knew that went hand-in-hand with being a Stetson lawyer,” Ciulla said. “I did not want to go out of state for law school and wait until after graduation to start setting roots and making connections in my community. I wanted to start this journey during law school, and what better place to get started than at Florida’s first law school.”
The role of family
In addition to his grandfather, Ciulla believes his success so far would not have been possible without the support and inspiration of his father James, his mother Erin, and his brother Santo.
He also credits his cousin, Michael Caldarelli, who tragically passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cystic fibrosis, for inspiring him to persevere, even on the worst days, and to see the good in everything.
“I am so honored to become the first lawyer – and valedictorian – in our family, and I hope it makes them proud,” Ciulla said.
The winners of the 2023 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association awards.
To recognize individuals dedicated to the legal profession, the community, and the College of Law, the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) held its annual awards ceremony in June of 2023. The event aims to honor alumni and others who have distinguished themselves in their work and service.
Alumna Brittany Maxey-Fisher ’07 became president of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association in June of 2023.
Led by incoming SLAA President Brittany Maxey-Fisher ’07, the event took place during the Florida Bar Association’s Annual Convention in Boca Raton. In all, six awards honoring seven individuals were given over the course of the evening.
“Each year, the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association presents awards to alumni and friends of the College of Law who have helped to advance the goals of the College of Law and have served the law school and the legal community with distinction,” Maxey-Fisher said.
The honors include: the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Ben Willard Award, the Paul May Meritorious Service Award, the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the President’s Award.
Distinguished Alumni Award – Kimberly Rodgers ‘98
Stetson Law alumna Kimberly Rodgers ’98
Honoring alumni who excel in their chosen profession and in their service to humanity, the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award was given to 1998 Stetson Law alumna Kimberly Rodgers, who has spent nearly two decades advocating for individuals who could not otherwise afford legal representation as executive director of the Community Law Program.
“Mrs. Rodgers has worked tirelessly and passionately for vulnerable residents of St. Petersburg as an attorney and Director of the Community Law Program for almost two decades,” said Maxey-Fisher. “Mrs. Rodgers utilizes all means of pro bono and philanthropic support to ensure the legal needs of the community’s most vulnerable citizens are met.”
Rodgers, who served on the board of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association, said that the award was truly an honor.
“Public service has been an integral part of my life since childhood,” Rodgers said. “As attorneys, we have the unique privilege and power to use our voices and skills to make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate, and I am so thankful to have received this award for doing something so necessary in our community and so fundamental to my personal story.”
Ben Willard Award – Jim Shore B.A. ’77, J.D. ‘80
Stetson Double Hatter Jim Shore B.A. ’77, J.D. ‘80
Recognizing alumni whose tireless efforts and humanitarian work have demonstrably benefited Floridians, the Ben Willard Award for 2023 was given to Stetson Double Hatter Jim Shore.
Since 1982, Shore has served as the General Counsel of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The first member of the tribe to practice law, Shore fights to preserve the Seminole Tribe’s natural resources and protect its water rights – including the impacts of Everglades restoration and Lake Okeechobee water management. The American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources gave him its Government Attorney of the Year Award in 2020 for his work in that arena. He was also instrumental in the purchase of “Hard Rock International” by the Seminole Tribe.
“Mr. Shore is a humble and relentless advocate for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and for Indian Tribes across the country,” Maxey-Fisher said.
Paul May Meritorious Service Award – The Honorable David Seth Walker ‘65 and Joan LoBianco Walker ‘71
The Honorable David Seth Walker ‘65 and Joan LoBianco Walker ‘71
Given to alumni for showing continued support for the College of Law through both time and gifts, the 2023 Paul May Meritorious Service Award was given to Judge David Seth Walker and his wife, Joan LoBianco Walker.
Judge Walker served as an active judge for 32 years, then a senior judge for an additional 13 years. He was one of the youngest judges to be sworn in at age 30. Mrs. Walker had a law practice which focused on family law. They worked hard while raising three children.
“The Walkers have worked diligently for justice over the years serving the community and they have remained connected to Stetson College of Law.” said Maxey-Fisher.
Recently, they created a Law Review Award to honor the Stetson Law Review Editor-in-Chief each year and provide a stipend for their efforts.
Judge Walker stated that he is “very filled with gratitude” for the opportunities he had due to his legal education from Stetson Law.
“We were surprised, flattered and honored to receive the Paul F. May Meritorious Service Award,” the Walkers said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to be permitted to serve our legal and civil communities and we have received far more in benefits then we would ever be able to repay.”
Outstanding Alumni Representative – Howard Williams ‘12
Stetson Law Alumnus Howard Williams ‘12
Recognizing dedication and service to SLAA through involvement in local alumni activities, the Outstanding Alumni Representative award for 2023 was presented to Howard Williams.
An Assistant Federal Defender with the Federal Public Defenders office in the Middle District of Tampa, Williams has worked as a Senior Assistant Public Defender with the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pasco County. He was named Public Defender of the year for the Pasco County Office and also worked in private practice for three years in general civil litigation.
Despite a busy schedule, Williams has stayed involved in the legal community and Stetson Law. An active member of SLAA, he regularly mentors students. He also supports students through the Black Lawyers Student Association and, with fellow alumni and friends, is always seeking ways to increase access to a Stetson education.
“Mr. Williams is passionate about Stetson and about future attorneys’ growth and success,” Maxey-Fisher said. “We are lucky to have him as an alumnus.”
Williams, who also teaches trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Stetson Law, serves as a judge for Trial Team competitions, and was a Parliamentarian of the George Edgecomb Bar Association in Tampa, said he is honored and humbled to receive such a great award from his alma mater.
“Stetson has provided me so many opportunities and I just want to make sure I am doing my part to ensure others can walk through the door that so many alumni helped me through,” he said. “Service to the community is the debt you pay for all the blessing bestowed upon you.”
Distinguished Service Award – Sally Waters
Stetson Law Adjunct Professor and Reference Librarian Sally Waters
Honoring a non-alumni member of the Stetson Law community, the 2023 Distinguished Service Award recognized Adjunct Professor and Reference Librarian Sally Waters for her over four decades of incredible support of students, alumni, faculty, and beyond.
Lovingly referred to as the Queen of Reference, Waters started in her role at the library in 1982 and began teaching Legal Research and Writing I and II the following year. She currently teaches Advanced Legal Research. Waters co-authored Free Internet Legal Research, now in its second edition, with fellow librarians Wanita Scroggs and Kristen Moore, and co-wrote A Lawyer’s Guide to Florida Legal Research.
“Her proficiency and ability to assist law students at all levels is incredible,” said Maxey-Fisher. “Her enthusiasm to welcome students to the library and the law school is unmatched.”
To Waters, the award reflects her passion for helping students succeed. “I was so excited and honored to receive this award,” Waters said. “Working with the students has always been my very favorite part of this job, and it’s what has kept me here for so long. I’m always so thrilled to see them doing well in their lives after Stetson, and so proud to have known them along the way.”
President’s Award – Mitchell Schermer ‘15
Former SLAA President Mitchell Schermer
The final honor of the evening, the President’s Award, recognizes the outgoing SLAA president. It was given to outgoing SLAA President Mitchell Schermer, who served in that role for the last two years, and joined the SLAA Advisory Council five years prior.
Schermer commended SLAA for carrying out its mission of supporting the College of Law, enriching the alumni base, and making the College of Law stronger with a solid foundation that will allow for continued growth and success.
“Stetson is an incredibly special place for me; having met my wife Mary, and many of my best friends in law school quite literally changed my life,” said Schermer, who is now an attorney with Morgan & Morgan in the firm’s Business Trial Group. “In addition, Stetson set me up for success as an attorney and advocate due to the strong emphasis on practical education and professionalism.”
He said serving on the SLAA Advisory Council was an obvious way to give back to the Stetson Law community, and he looks forward to seeing the organization succeed further under Maxey-Fisher’s leadership.
“The ability to serve as the representative for the over 11,000 College of Law alumni was an experience that I will not soon forget,” he said. “I am glad to hand over the organization to Brittany Maxey-Fisher, who has a long and demonstrated track record of success as a leader, and who will usher the SLAA into its next chapter of success.”
As he embarks on his new role as Dean of Stetson University College of Law, Dean D. Benjamin Barros brings a wealth of experience and success to the table. He joins the college of law from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he served as Dean. During his leadership, the institution saw great gains in bar passage, fundraising, and other key areas.
An expert in property law, he wrote a textbook on the subject and has held leadership roles in professional organizations such as Association of American Law Schools Executive Committee. He will be teaching property law in spring of 2024. (See Dean Barros’ full bio.)
Here are 10 things to know about Dean Barros.
1. What sparked your interest in the legal profession?
Throughout high school and my first couple of years of college, I was interested in chemistry and the sciences. I gradually moved towards philosophy, and took a wonderful Philosophy of Law course during my junior year taught by a wonderful professor named Jerry Balmuth. That was the beginning of my interest in law. Around the same time, I was sued for libel for an article that I wrote in the school newspaper. It was a ridiculous lawsuit – I didn’t even write the offending text, but it accompanied an article that I did write – and ended up just fizzling out after a year or so. Getting sued is never fun, but the exposure to the legal system increased my interest in law. The lawsuit also gave me something to talk about in my law school application essay.
2. What compelled you to specialize in property law?
Like my experience as an undergraduate, I went into law school expecting to want to do one thing and ended up after my first year focusing on something completely different. I thought that I wanted to be a prosecutor, but after my first year I never took any courses related to criminal law. Property was my favorite course in law school. The course was taught by Bill Treanor, now the Dean of Georgetown Law School. Among other things, he is an expert in regulatory takings law. This ended up being my main area of academic interest. So again, a great teacher had a major impact on the trajectory of my career.
3. Of what professional accomplishments are you most proud?
I’m very proud of the progress that the University of Toledo College of Law made during my eight years as dean. We went through a series of major challenges, including COVID, and came out stronger. A core job of a dean is to leave the institution in a materially stronger place than it was in when you started. I’m proud that we were able to do that at Toledo, and I’m looking forward to working with the Stetson community to do that here.
4. What are some strategies or habits you deem critical to your success as a leader?
I’m very committed to the idea of servant leadership – that the key job of a leader is to create the conditions for success for all of the members of the organization. As dean, I can achieve so much more by supporting and empowering everyone in the community than I could ever achieve doing things on my own. My goal every day is to be positive and to lift the people around me up. I’d ask that everyone else in our community try to do the same.
5. What is your favorite thing about being dean of a law school?
This might surprise some people, but my favorite part of being a dean is fundraising. I really enjoy working with donors who care deeply about Stetson Law. Their giving has a tremendous impact on our students on our ability to continue to grow and thrive as an institution.
6. How would you describe your teaching style?
Very straightforward and supportive, but I expect a lot from students in return. I put a lot of effort into helping my students to understand the fundamentals of property law, some of which are a bit arcane. I’m very transparent about what I expect from my students. My quizzes and exams are not easy but shouldn’t be surprising. My goal is to have students walk out of my final thinking that it was very challenging but fair.
7. What drew you to Stetson Law?
I see Stetson Law as an incredibly strong law school that has the potential to become even stronger in the future. I’ve known of Stetson’s outstanding reputation in advocacy for as long as I’ve been a lawyer. I love the fact that we have the best advocacy program in the country, and I want to be sure that we continue to maintain that leadership position. I also love the fact that our areas of strength, including advocacy and legal writing, are focused on training our students to be outstanding lawyers. The culture of our school is committed to student professional success, which is a great thing. I share Stetson Law’s values, which made me think that Stetson Law would be a good fit for me and that I’d be a good fit for Stetson Law.
8. What do you hope to achieve in your first year as dean?
In my first year, I want to listen, learn, and meet as many people in our community as I can. I already have ideas about some priorities, but I want to hear from our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends about what is important to them. So far, some of my areas of interest are working to make our evening program more flexible for our students, continuing our efforts to improve student success on the bar exam and on the job market, developing our non-J.D. and international programs, and taking better advantage of our facilities in both Gulfport and Tampa.
9. What are some ways you measure a law school’s success?
I always focus on bar passage, job placement, and student professional success more broadly. We are a professional school, and the basic point of law school is for our students to pass the bar and get good jobs. We do many other things as an institution – our faculty create new knowledge through their scholarship, we serve our community through our clinics, etc. – that are very important and that I value highly. But always come back to student success as the key measure of our success as a law school. The biggest positive impact that Stetson Law has on our society is by training our students to be outstanding lawyers who will do great things in their careers.
10. What are you looking forward to most about living in the Tampa Bay region?
My grandparents lived in St. Petersburg when I was growing up, so I have very fond memories of the region. It probably goes without saying that I’m looking forward to the better winter weather. I love to fish and spend time at the beach, so I’m looking forward to being so close to the Gulf.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Visiting Professorof 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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
