Skip to content
Stetson Law Logo

December 6- Legal analyst Dan Abrams to speak at Stetson Law fall graduation

Contact

Gulfport, Fla. – Dan Abrams, NBC’s chief legal correspondent and MSNBC anchor, is Stetson University College of Law’s fall commencement speaker. The graduation ceremony will take place 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, in the College’s outdoor courtyard.

Abrams covers high-profile trials as NBC News’ chief legal correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s “The Abrams Report.” Prior to joining NBC News, Abrams was an anchor and reporter for Court TV.

“We are honored to have Mr. Abrams as our graduation speaker,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “Mr. Abrams combines his communications skill with his legal background to explain complex legal issues to national audiences.”

During the ceremony, 93 students are expected to walk, including five who will receive a Master of Laws degree in International Law and Business. Thirteen students will earn a dual Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Stetson Law and the Stetson’s School of Business Administration.

At Stetson’s fall honors and awards ceremony, Friday, Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m., Stetson will celebrate the accomplishments of high-achieving graduating students. During the ceremony, Professor Luz Nagle will be honored with a robing ceremony recognizing her achieving the rank of full professor; she is the first Hispanic to earn that honor.

There are many graduating students with noteworthy stories. Here are just a few:

Koinonia Martin Givens created The Cyrus Initiative: Building Bridges, Restoring Hope, a program designed to promote diversity in the legal profession by working to increase the number of African-American males on law school campuses, traditionally an underrepresented group at law schools.

Neelofer Syed is a lawyer in her native Pakistan, where she has fought for human rights. Four years ago, Syed won a landmark case in Pakistan that legally validated the Right of Muslim women to marry without the consent of their parents. She also fought against child labor in Pakistan. Earlier this year she was awarded a Woman of Achievement Award by the human rights organization Women on the Way.

Blake Thompson was named to Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “30 under 30” list honoring outstanding young business leaders in the Tampa Bay area. At 23 he is CEO of The Blake Whitney Thompson Co., acquisition director for the Beckett Whitney Group, and development coordinator for Walker Whitney. He is currently developing multiple real estate sites in Florida and South Carolina.

December 3- Stetson Law to honor first Hispanic full professor

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law Professor Luz Nagle has a career marked with distinction, dedication and achievement. She has fought drug lords and human rights violators in her native Colombia and excelled at Stetson Law as a scholar and teacher. Stetson will honor Nagle’s rise to full professor with tenure at a robing ceremony during the fall Honors and Awards Ceremony, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Great Hall of Stetson’s Gulfport Campus.

“Professor Nagle’s work and research has significantly affected drug and human rights policy,” said Stetson Dean Darby Dickerson. “She has earned respect on a global level, and we are delighted to celebrate her full professorship.”

Nagle is the College’s first fully tenured Hispanic professor. She was a district court judge in Colombia until assassination attempts by drug lords compelled her to leave the country. Her commitment to improving conditions in Colombia continues through her research and work as a lecturer and expert in the areas of human rights violations and drug war-related foreign policy.

“As the first tenured full professor of Hispanic descent, and as an immigrant to this country, I am deeply honored to represent the Hispanic community on this faculty. I hope that this achievement, 104 years in the making at Stetson, will inspire others to work toward their dreams and overcome the adversity they encounter on the way to reaching their goals,” Nagle said.

Most recently, Nagle has worked with the Pentagon and the U.S. Southern Command’s Office of the Judge Advocate General to train Colombian military lawyers in international humanitarian law and how to work more effectively with non-governmental organizations in conflict zones. Professor Nagle has become an integral member of the team providing instruction to Colombian army commanders, Colombian JAG lawyers and military paralegals in efforts by the United States to improve respect for human rights among the Colombian military. The goals include targeting of suspected guerrilla sites and forces, mitigation of collateral damage, relief of effected civilian populations and most importantly advise in respect for international humanitarian law and human rights in conflict zones. In the last few weeks Professor Nagle has instructed at the Colombian National War College in Bogota and with the Colombian army’s 4th Brigade in Medellin.

December 2- Stetson Law programs to warn about holiday consumer dangers

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications

Gulfport, Fla. – ‘Tis the season for generosity and selflessness. But by helping and giving, people may be exposing themselves to increased danger of being targets for scams and frauds. To help prevent this danger, Stetson University College of Law’s Elder Consumer Protection Program will present two programs.

  • At Stetson’s Gulfport campus at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Mann Lounge the College of Law will sponsor a seminar warning people about scams involving charities.
  • At Stetson’s Tampa Law Center from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16 the College of Law will sponsor a Senior Consumer Forum and Agency Fair.

The Gulfport session is designed to help people determine whether a charity is legitimate. It will also cover dangers involved with professional fundraisers, telemarketing and mail fraud.

“During the holiday season, many people want to help those less fortunate by making donations to charities. Unfortunately, there are some who take advantage of that giving spirit by pretending to operate a legitimate charity when actually it is a scam,” said Rebecca Morgan, director Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law. “Everyone needs to know how to determine when a charity is a legitimate one.”

The Senior Consumer Forum and Agency Fair in Tampa will feature law enforcement and consumer protection professionals who will instruct seniors on how to protect themselves from scams and financial frauds and other crime prevention tips during the holiday season. Crime prevention, consumer protection and senior service experts and agencies will staff tables with information and hand-out materials. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

These free programs are examples of a number of outreach efforts by Stetson Law’s Elder Consumer Protection Program. The program has partnered with the Attorney General’s Office, AARP and the legal community to increase public awareness of consumer fraud against senior citizens. Funding for these programs was provided in part by the Administration on Aging.

For more information, call Stetson’s Elder Consumer Protect Program at (727) 562-7800 extension 7235. To RSVP for the Senior Fair in Tampa, please call (813) 228-6625.

November 15- Stetson Law postpones Fifth Annual Judge Stringer Youth Day to February

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law has postponed the Fifth Annual Judge Thomas Stringer Youth Day, originally scheduled for Friday, until February.

The day honors the achievements of the first black graduate of Stetson University College of Law and encourages minority students to pursue higher education and the legal profession.

More details on the rescheduled date will be sent out when they are available.

November 11- Stetson Law to present free program on identity theft

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will present a free seminar on prevention and protection against identity theft at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Mann Lounge at Stetson’s Gulfport campus. This program is part of a continuing series by Stetson to raise awareness about consumer protection issues for seniors.

The program will feature Bronwyn Stanford, an elder consumer protection fellow at Stetson Law. She will speak about identity theft, how it occurs and prevention tips.

“Identity theft has a devastating impact on its victims,” said Rebecca Morgan, elder law faculty chair and director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law. “Too often seniors are targeted as victims of identity theft. It is critical for everyone to learn more about identity theft and how to protect their identities.”

This free program is one of a number of outreach efforts by Stetson Law’s Consumer Law Protection Program. The program has partnered with the Attorney General’s Office, AARP and the legal community to increase public awareness of consumer fraud against senior citizens.

November 8- Three administrators promoted at Stetson University College of Law

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is pleased to announce the promotion of three administrators.

Scarlett Guy has been promoted to assistant dean for student life. This also reflects a change in the name of the Office of Student Services to the Office for Student Life. Guy had previously served as acting director of student services and assistant director of student services.

Rick Brewer has been promoted to executive director of business operations. In this role, Brewer will oversee many departments, including accounting, bookstore, Business Office, facilities, housing, insurance and purchasing.

Davina Gould has been promoted to associate director of communications; she will continue with her current duties centered on publication management and media relations. She was promoted from assistant director of communications.

November 2- Stetson Law team wins nation’s premiere trial competition

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – A team of Stetson University College of Law students went undefeated and won the 2004 Tournament of Champions in Los Angeles. The competition, sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, invites 16 teams from the nation’s elite trial advocacy programs to compete against each other. Since the competition’s creation in 1989, Stetson has won five titles, more than any other school.

The Stetson team consisted of third-year students Richard Barbara and Julia Metts with witnesses Cindy Demestre, also a third-year student, and Michael Kest, a second-year student. Stetson’s Trial Advocacy Fellow Pam Bell coached the team. Barbara was named the Best Oral Advocate for the final round.

“Winning was obviously a big thrill, but even more of a thrill was how we did it,” said Bell, trial team adviser. “Coach after coach came up to me and told me how glad they were that Stetson won because we are professional, polished and classy.”

In the final round, Stetson defeated a team from the University of Akron School of Law, last year’s champion. In earlier rounds, Stetson prevailed over Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, and the University of Maryland School of Law.

“It’s incredible for the school,” Metts said. “Wins like this let people know why we are ranked among the best in the country.”

The National Institute for Trial Advocacy is the nation’s best trial lawyer-training program. Pepperdine and Loyola Law School served as the program’s hosts in Los Angeles. With the victory, the competition will come to Stetson’s campus in two years.

November 1- Australian team wins international environmental competition at Stetson Law

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – A team from the University of Technology, Sydney, won Stetson University College of Law’s Ninth Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition Saturday, Oct. 30. Teams from around the world fought for the chance to participate in the two-day competition, Oct. 29-30. It is the only moot court competition that focuses exclusively on international environmental issues; this year’s problem focuses on legal liability related to alien invasive species affecting a wetland of international importance.

UTS defeated Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in the finals. The other semi-finalist teams were West Bengal National University of Juridical Science (India) and Queensland University of Technology School of Law (Australia).

Matthew Day from UTS was named the Best Oralist for the competition. Stetson Law student Jennifer Gonzalez was named Best Oralist – Preliminaries, and Stetson’s James McTyier received Third Place Oralist – Preliminaries. Patricia Bugg from Loyola was the runner-up in this category.

The Best Memorial was awarded to the University of Hawaii School of Law, and the runner-up was Rutgers School of Law – Camden. The Best Foreign Memorial went to Queensland’s team.

Peter Bridgewater, secretary general of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, was one of three judges for the final round. The Ramsar Convention, concluded in 1971, is one of the oldest international environmental treaties, and it promotes the sustainable use and management of wetlands and water resources worldwide. The other two judges were Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, U.S. District Court; and William Thomas, a Washington, D.C., environment and natural resource lawyer and former chair of the American Bar Association’s International Environmental Law Committee.

Vice Dean Gardner and Dean Darby Dickerson created this competition in 1996 to increase awareness about international environmental challenges. Since its inception, the event has grown to include Indian and Australasian rounds. Teams from six countries including Australia, Costa Rica, India, Ireland, and Spain participated in this year’s competition.

October 28- Stetson Law group seeking to help with holiday cheer for indigent adults

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Instead of making a list and checking it twice for gifts for family and friends, a group of Stetson University College of Law students is looking to play Santa for a typically neglected group – indigent, incapacitated seniors who are under guardianship in Pinellas County.

Stetson’s Elder Law Society is sponsoring Elves for Elders, a gift drive to provide basic items for this forgotten group. Beginning Monday, Nov. 1, holiday trees with elf tag ornaments will be located at Stetson’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S., and at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building lobby, 545 1st Ave. N. The back of each tag will include labels completed by guardians with the needs of their wards. Donors can pull the tags, purchase gifts, and place them under the tree to be delivered.

“By giving just a little bit extra this season, we hope to make the holidays bright for disadvantaged seniors,” said Lee Carr, Stetson Law student and vice president of the Elder Law Society. “Many people will be surprised at the basic needs of these seniors.”

Some desired items include necessities such as bed linens, toiletries, clothing, and reading and writing materials.

“There are others in our community with no family and without a donation would go without gifts this season,” Carr said. “To make certain they have gifts to open, people give to needy children during the holidays, but the elderly are often neglected. It is these people, many with no money and no family, who go without the basics many of us take for granted.”

October 25- Wills and estate planning to be covered in free Stetson Law program

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will present practical information on “Basic Wills and Estate Planning” at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18. The program will be the third session of the People’s Law School series at the new Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St. The program is free and open to the public.

The session will cover a brief survey of the various ways in which a person can pass property to others at or after death through the use of wills, trusts and joint ownership of property. Stetson Law Professor Thomas E. Allison will lead the program. Professor Allison is widely published on these topics, and he has taught at Stetson since 1981 in the areas of trusts and estates, estate and gift taxation, and property law.

“This topic has been one of our most popular sessions of The People’s Law school, and we’ve decided to offer it again after many requests,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “It is a subject that affects us all.”

The People’s Law School is a continuing series of free programs designed to provide information about legal issues of general interest. The series is not intended to offer legal advice to individuals or groups, or to substitute for legal counsel provided by a personal attorney.

For more information, call Stetson at (813) 228-6625.

October 1- Stetson Law part-time student awarded largest individual scholarship in school history

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law part-time student Darin Richter no longer has to worry about tuition, the cost of books or where how he will support his family after receiving the first Emmitt Wilkes Scholarship, the largest award given to an individual student in the school’s history. Established with a gift from James L. Wilkes II, for the next four years, the award will cover all tuition, fees and books, and will provide an additional $38,000 annually for living expenses.

The scholarship was established through a $175,000 contribution to Stetson from Wilkes, co-founder of the Tampa-based firm of Wilkes & McHugh and a 1983 graduate of the Stetson University College of Law. Wilkes’ gift was matched with 1:2 by the law school, bringing the total scholarship fund to $262,500.

The scholarship is given to a student in the part-time J.D. program at Stetson, with preference given to nontraditional students who are entering law school as a possible career change or who are raising a family. It is designed to support the student throughout the four years of the program.

“I wanted to help a deserving student with life experience to have the financial wherewithal to pursue a legal career,” Wilkes said.

Richter is a program manager for CAE, a flight simulator company in Tampa. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, concentrating in aerospace design. He is a former U.S. Army Captain and Blackhawk helicopter pilot. At CAE, Richter works primarily with the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin in CAE’s C-130 line of products.
“This is obviously a very, very generous gift,” Richter said. “It is indicative of Mr. Wilkes and his firm’s focus; they take care of families. That is exactly what was done in this case.”

Richter and his wife of 10 years, Emma, have four children: Veronica, age 9; Geoffrey, age 7; Isabelle, age 5; and Bernadette, age 2. They acknowledged that going to school part-time while working full-time and raising a family would be a challenge, and recognized the financial relief as a true easing of burden.

“I will not take this scholarship for granted,” Richter said. “I sincerely hope to be in a position at some point in the future to repay this scholarship in like form, thus propagating Mr. Wilkes’ generosity to future generations of law students.”