A new approach to orienting 1L students offers a variety of immersive activities to help students acclimate to law school life.
Stetson University College of Law’s Stetson Inns program was recognized with the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools award, a new honor from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award honors the Stetson Inns program for its innovative approach to student orientation experience, which has been proven to help students to start building community and confidence during their first days at Stetson Law.
The nation’s longest-running publication dedicated to promoting advancement in higher education, Insight highlights initiatives that lead the way in shaping industry best practices. This new award celebrates law schools that demonstrate a bold, effective approach to rethinking legal education. Through transformative programs and initiatives that reflect how students learn as well as the day-to-day life of law firms, these schools are taking a fresh approach to curriculum, experiential learning, technology and AI integration, access to legal education, professional pathways, and more to better serve the evolving needs of students and meet the rapidly shifting demands and expectations of the legal profession.
Inspired by the British Inns of Court tradition as well as the broader culture of Stetson Law, Stetson Inns is a dynamic reimagining of traditional law school orientation programming.
“The Stetson Inns are where our students explore and begin to develop the competence, candor, diligence, and professional judgement that are essential to success in the legal profession,” said Stetson Law Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, an architect of the program. “We are grateful to Insight into America for recognizing the thought and planning that has gone into this signature program.”
In February 2024, the Podgor and Adams Inns heard from guest speakers, the Honorable Nelly Khouzam and the Honorable Morris Silberman, both judges on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.
Insight Into Academia magazine selected the Stetson Inns program because it meets students where they are, it is future-focused, and it has created a measurable impact on students since it launched in fall of 2023.
It invites first-year students to acclimate to law school life in smaller groups led by a faculty mentor (referred to as a “Bencher”) and supported by upper-level students.
Through candid discussions, guest speakers, and other events, students are encouraged to explore professional identity, long-term career goals, and strategies for dealing with the stresses of law school and life as a lawyer. In fall of 2025, the program added a session on ethical use of artificial intelligence in law school and the legal profession, which was led by Dr.Kirsten K. Davis, a Stetson Law professor who has led the national conversation about AI use in law schools and the legal profession.
Students have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the program.
According to an informal survey taken after the initial implementation of Stetson Inns, 97 percent of students said they “started building community during orientation” – up from 54 percent in prior years. Meanwhile, 94 percent of students said they had at least one upper-level student they could reach out to, and 96 percent said there was at least one faculty, staff, or administration member they felt comfortable reaching out to. In prior years, those percentages were 55 and 33 percent, respectively.
Stetson Law will be featured in the July/August 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.
“The Insight Into Academia Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools is a prestigious national honor recognizing law schools driving innovation in legal education,” said Holly Mendelson, co-owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “This selective recognition celebrates programs defined by forward-thinking design and measurable impact—initiatives that raise the standard and advance the field.”
The Stetson Law 2026 Commencement took place at BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida.
In the early evening on Saturday, May 16, Stetson University College of Law marked a major milestone for more than 300 students who successfully completed their law school journey.
The Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony took place at The BayCare Sound in Clearwater. The ceremony recognized the classes of December 2025 as well as May and August of 2026.
Stetson Law Vice Dean Jason Palmer led the event. He was joined onstage by Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp, Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander, Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner, Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox, and other distinguished members of the Stetson Law community.
Left to right: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox, Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, and 1996 alumnus Michael Loparco
To kick off the event, Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros praised the graduating students for showing character as they faced the rigors of law school and mastering the skills that lawyers need to be successful.
“Here at Stetson Law, you learned to lead with empathy, resourcefulness, and commitment,” he said. “That commitment is evident in the more than 27,000 hours of legal and non-legal pro bono service contributed by you and your classmates. That spirit of service will define your careers just as much as your legal skill.”
Stetson University President Christopher Roellke urged the graduates to remain steadfast in their commitment to justice – and said that their success at Stetson Law demonstrates that they can achieve great things even amid times of unprecedented change.
“You have not only met the rigorous demands of a Stetson legal education, you have done so during a time of profound complexity and change in our world,” he said. “In doing so, you have developed the critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and practical skills that will enable you to lead and serve with distinction.”
Alumni words of wisdom
Current Stetson Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner ’04, a successful lawyer in the music industry, encouraged the graduates to remain committed to ethics and professional responsibility for the duration of their careers.
“As lawyers, we are so deeply privileged to do what we do for a living,” he said. “It is a calling with a deeply important responsibility. People will come to you for help with their challenges. And most of all, they are going to trust that you never forget our greatest calling: to represent the client’s interest with the utmost integrity, respect and humility each step of the way. And never forget “who” the client actually is while doing your job – and that no client is ever worth losing your reputation or license.”
Reflecting on the adage, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today,” Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Howard Williams said the graduates’ Stetson roots will create lifelong connections that will serve them well.
Members of Stetson Law’s Class of 2026.
“Your destiny begins with the tree you are planting today,” Williams said. “Five, ten, 15, or 20 years from now, you will look back and realize this was one of the greatest decisions of your life.”
Student Bar Association President William Austin Dodson applauded his classmates for making it through law school – primarily their final year, which had unique challenges.
“Some say that character is not something law school can teach. I disagree,” Dodson said. “I believe this place has been shaping exactly that in all of us. In the way you supported each other. In the way you showed up when it mattered. In the way you handled setbacks, disagreements, and uncertainty. Those experiences matter. They will stay with you long after today.”
Engaging keynote from a distinguished alum
Distinguished tech leader and 1996 alumnus Michael Loparco delivered an engaging commencement keynote.
1996 alumnus and 2026 commencement speaker Joe Loparco
With more than 25 years’ experience building and growing highly technical and cross-border manufacturing businesses, he served as CEO of Symbotic, an AI and software-enabled warehouse robotics and automation company, and spent more than two decades at Jabil Inc., where he was responsible for driving growth, innovation, and digital transformation. Before joining Jabil, he practiced corporate and commercial litigation.
He said the capabilities and qualities Stetson Law instills in its students will empower them to speak confidently, but with humility, in places where they may not yet feel like they belong.
“You don’t need to have it all figured out,” Loparco said. “Because the best parts of your life will not come from the master plan. They will come from the moments you had the courage to step outside it.”
Evangelia Manias, the 2026 Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student honoree, accepted the award while surrounded by past honorees.
On the eve of Stetson Law’s Spring 2026 Commencement, the community honored the students who exceeded the rigorous expectations they faced as law students.
Graduating students were recognized for exceptional academic performance, passionate pro bono service, superior professionalism, and more. The event culminated in the presentation of the College’s three most prestigious student honors: the Walter Mann Award, the Dean’s Excellence Award, and the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.
“Today, we recognize your contributions to this community and to society at large,” said Vice Dean and Professor of Law Jason Palmer in his introductory remarks to those gathered in the Great Hall. “It is my hope that you will remain committed to improving your community, wherever you might be. Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer – it also teaches you to be a leader.”
Vice Dean and Professor of Law Jason Palmer.
A Literary Connection
Setting the tone for the ceremony, Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp, a professor of literature, read Ithaka, a 1911 poem written by Greek poet Constantine Cavafy. Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, it emphasizes the value of experiences gained during a journey over the destination — a message she said encapsulates what she hoped to impart to the students.
“I wish you all the best for graduation and your future academic, professional, and personal endeavors,” she said following the recitation. “As you go out into the world, please take care, be well, and pursue great things as a Stetson Lawyer.”
Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp addresses graduating students at the 2026 Graduate Honors ceremony.
Honoring Outstanding Achievements
Starting with the nominees for the National Order of Barristers, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox announced the awards and honorees.
More than 30 named awards bearing the names of individuals and organizations seeking to recognize achievement in specific areas followed. Among the awards were the Carol R. Samuels Unsung Hero Student Leadership Award, the American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Scholarship and Leadership Award, and the Pride Award. A complete list of the Awards and their recipients can be found in the Stetson Law 2026 Commencement Program.
The Day’s Most Prestigious Honors
Recognizing a graduating student who has shown the greatest promise of becoming an outstanding leader in the legal profession, the 2026 Walter Mann Award was given to Miracle Ann Amiot.
This year’s Dean’s Excellence Award was presented to Nicholas Colicci in recognition of his extraordinary service to Stetson Law.
Both students served on the Stetson Law Review Editorial Board.
Evangelia Manias, the 2026 Edward D. Foreman Award honoree.
The final award, the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, was given to Evangelia Manias, a pharmaceutical doctorate holder who was exceptionally active on campus, including serving as chief ambassador of the Stetson Ambassadors.
Her name was cast in bronze and secured to a plaque outside the Great Hall as she was presented with the crystal, flame-shaped award, as well as a check for $5,000.
Continuing a Storied Tradition
Manias is the 28th recipient of the Foreman Award. To showcase its legacy and the qualities it represents, the award was passed between prior recipients before making its way to her.
Past Foreman Award honoree Aleks Jagiella-Litts, JD/MBA ’04, told the gathered audience that the award represents the spirit of service, tireless advocacy, and steadfast integrity of its namesake, Edward D. Foreman. She noted how he was quick to embrace emerging technology and would have been fascinated with generative artificial intelligence and its evolving role within the legal profession.
Aleks Jagiella-Litts, JD/MBA ’04, a past recipient of the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.
She added that while AI might change the way much legal work is done, the values underpinning the profession will remain the same.
“AI may make us faster,” Jagiella-Litts said. “It may make us more efficient. But it cannot replace judgment, integrity, compassion, or courage.”
The very first recipient of the Foreman Award, Andrew Chiang ’05, presented the award to Manias, who expressed gratitude for the Foremans and thanked the Stetson Law community for providing a supportive environment in which she could thrive.
“Coming from a family of pharmacists, the world of law was completely unfamiliar to me, and I was learning everything from the ground up,” Manias said. “Looking back, I am grateful for how fully this community met me where I was and helped me grow into the student and person I’ve become today.”
Calling all aspiring advocates: Stetson Law is inviting future changemakers to apply for its groundbreaking youth summer program, the Pathways to Justice Academy.
This immersive, hybrid program takes local high school students on a deep dive into public policy and the legal system over the course of one week. With candid conversations, workshops led by legal professionals, and sessions designed to empower students to develop their leadership skills, the academy brings new dimensions to civics education.
“Pathways to Justice is designed to make a lasting impression on students and equip them with the knowledge and confidence they need to effectively advocate for themselves and their communities.” said Stetson Law Professor and Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia, who leads the program. “Instead of traditional classroom lessons that cover the three branches of government and how laws are passed, this program meets students where they are through engaging, impactful sessions.”
A pivotal experience
Now in its fifth year, Pathways to Justice has put dozens of students face-to-face with judges, activists, attorneys working within a range of specialties, students, and others who are passionate about creating positive social change.
Pathways to Justice, 2025.
Students learn about the critical role young people had in the Civil Rights Movement and other transformative moments throughout history while getting an immersive look at how legal professionals can help advance important social causes.
“Throughout the program, it really made me realize that there’s so much to being a lawyer; there’s more than what they show you on TV,” said Akira Greenwood, who experienced Pathways to Justice in 2024. For the students who participate, the program’s reach can extend well beyond the week. Thanks to a partnership with Community Tampa Bay’s ANYTOWN® Advocacy Academy Program, interested participants may continue to benefit from the mentorship and engagement with Stetson Law throughout the 2026-2027 academic year.
The details & how to apply
Students aged 15 to 17 who live in the Tampa Bay area are eligible and encouraged to apply.
The 2026 program dates are July 13-17 through both Zoom and in-person interactions on Stetson Law’s main campus in Gulfport, Florida. There will be an in-person, pre-program orientation on Saturday, July 11. Participation is free for all selected applicants.
A Pathways to Justice session takes place on the Stetson Law campus in 2025.
The deadline to apply is June 15, 2026.
The applicants selected for the program and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified directly via email. We will require a Consent Form signed by their parent/guardian to confirm their participation.
Left to right: Pye Young ’05, Stetson Law Sean D. Benjamin Barros, former Florida State Sen. Arthenia Joyner.
From bold acts of civil disobedience to innovative strategies for addressing the current justice gap, the 2026 William Reece Smith, Jr. Banquet was a moving exploration of how the law can transform lives.
Each year, the event honors two individuals who embody the values promoted by legendary lawyer Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. In his leadership of organizations from Florida Legal Services Inc. to the American Bar and International Bar Associations, Smith fought to expand legal services to those who cannot afford them. He was also a distinguished professorial lecturer at Stetson Law. This year’s banquet featured former Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner, who is best known for her pioneering legal career rooted in Civil Rights Era activism, as the keynote speaker. Pye Young, a 2005 alumna and managing attorney in Bay Area Legal Services’ St. Petersburg office, was honored with the 2026 Wm. Reece Smith Public Service Award.
Recognizing fearless leadership
Law Professor Kristen Adams
Introducing Joyner, Law Professor Kristen Adams referred to her as “a trailblazer, a lawyer, a legislator, and a lifelong advocate for justice” and noted the former Florida Senate Minority Leader has practiced law longer than any other Black woman in Florida history.
“Where others might have been silenced, Senator Joyner was strengthened,” Adams said. “Some call her an activist. Others call her a pragmatist. All know that she is firm in her resolve to reflect positive change in our society.”
A return to campus
At the podium, Joyner said this was not her first time speaking at Stetson Law. In 1990, she was the first Black person to serve as the College’s commencement speaker. Thirty-six years later, she returned to honor the legacy of Smith, whom she knew through their shared profession and passion for equal justice.
“So, I’m home now,” she joked.
She recalled growing up in Tampa at a time when the Ku Klux Klan was a constant threat and her activism against segregation and other injustices, which included acts of civil disobedience that led to three arrests.
“That’s not a criminal record for me. It’s a freedom record,” Joyner said. “When your government is wrong, you have not just the right but the obligation to say so.”
Civil rights activist and former Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner.
The Florida A&M University alumna became the first Black lawyer to practice in both Polk and Hillsborough Counties in Florida. Elected to serve in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, including as Senate Minority Leader, Joyner championed civil rights, equitable justice, and opportunities for marginalized communities. She said the fight for progress never ends.
“I have lived 83 years on this earth; more than 50 years at the Bar,” she said. “And if there’s one thing I know, it is this: progress is never permanent. Every generation must fight for it. Over and over and over again.”
As she closed her lecture, she urged the law students and young lawyers in attendance to persevere against efforts to subvert the justice system.
“If you remember nothing else from what I’ve said this evening, remember this: the law is a living thing,” Joyner said. “It breathes through the people who practice it. It grows when we feed it courage and compassion. And it dies when we allow it to be captured by those who seek power over justice.”
Bridging the justice gap in Tampa Bay
The second honoree of the evening, Young was honored for her leadership and innovative approach to expanding legal services in Tampa Bay.
Law Professor Judith Scully
In her introduction, Law Professor Judith Scully said that while those accused of a crime are legally entitled to representation, people with other legal issues face fees ranging from $250 to $1,000 an hour. With a growing wealth gap in the US, more individuals lack access the legal support that would truly create equal justice under the law – which results in further injustice.
“Unfortunately, when people’s lives are not protected, inequality becomes entrenched and trust in the legal system begins to erode rapidly,” Scully said. “Consequently, addressing this justice gap should be of deep concern to all of us in the legal profession.”
Young’s work establishing legal clinics and medical partnerships at Bay Area Legal Services, Scully said, embodies the spirit of public service.
Pye Young, a 2005 Stetson Law alumna, has championed legal services.
In her remarks, Young urged students in attendance to harness their legal expertise to help others, and to embrace pro bono opportunities the way they would billable hours.
“Some people feel that pro bono is free legal work,” she said. “But I submit to you that offering pro bono services and public service is much greater than a requirement of our profession. It is the very manifestation of why we seek to become attorneys in the first place.”
Invoking the namesake of the evening, Young said dedicating time and expertise to an important cause is one of the most fulfilling things a lawyer can do.
“I challenge each of you to find your inner William Reece Smith,” Young said. “Find your passion. Donate your time to a worthy cause and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those who may not be able to afford legal assistance and legal representation. This is the call of our great profession.”
Stetson Law has been U.S. News and World Report’s #1 law school for trial advocacy more than 20 time since 1995. In 2026, it ranked Stetson Law #1 in legal writing for the first time.
In its newest graduate school rankings, U.S. News & World Report has elevated Stetson University College of Law’s legal writing program to the #1 spot in that category for the first time. The College had also retained its status as the #1 destination for trial advocacy.
This is the fourth year in a row Stetson has ranked #1 in trial advocacy, an honor the College has received 26 of the 31 years it has been given. Stetson Law earned its #1 law school ranking for legal writing after three consecutive years as the #3 school in this area. The College ranked 91st overall, an eight-point jump from 99th in 2025.
It is no coincidence that Stetson Law is the top school for advocacy and legal writing. Rather, it reflects a sharp focus on ensuring students are ready to practice when they graduate and pass the bar.
In other words, Stetson Law is the best at teaching what lawyers do every day.
“Our #1 rankings in both advocacy and legal writing reflect our values as an institution,” said Stetson Law Dean D.Benjamin Barros. “No matter their practice, all lawyers advocate and write. We are proud to be focused on training our students to be truly excellent lawyers.”
Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke (left); Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros.
Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, Stetson Law sits on a historic campus in Gulfport, Florida. It is Florida’s first law school and part of Stetson University, which has a main campus in DeLand, Florida. To university leadership, these latest honors are emblematic of Stetson’s university-wide culture of career preparedness, which includes Hatter Ready, an undergraduate initiative that emphasizes experiential and immersive learning.
“Yet again, our incredible College of Law community has earned its place as a top destination for students who seek the skills and knowledge to not only practice law, but to do so with heart,” said Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. “We are grateful to U.S. News & World Report for this recognition, which is the direct result of Stetson’s steadfast commitment to our students.”
Legal writing: well-rounded, forward-thinking
Through its Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, the College inspires passion for exploring legal writing’s many aspects, including the ways in which technological factors like generative artificial intelligence are shaping the teaching and practice of legal writing. For institute faculty and leadership, their work has implications that go well beyond legal academia and practice.
“Our work sets high standards for excellence within the legal profession,” said Elizabeth Berenguer, who directs The Institute. “We are honored that our colleagues and U.S. News & World Report have recognized Stetson as one of the top legal writing programs in the nation.”
Stetson Law Professor Elizabeth Berenguer
The institute provides robust support for its legal writing faculty while maintaining a strong institutional commitment to research and innovation.
Twelve full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members, all leading scholars in the field, teach in the College’s legal writing program. Each year, Stetson Law hosts a distinguished visitor to teach legal research and writing and lead special events related to their scholarship at the law school. Recent visitors include professors Brian Larson, Shailini George, and Mary Adkins.
In spring of 2025, the Institute launched The Hive, a scholarship incubator for legal writing scholars across the nation who are seeking mentorship as they develop their work. Multiple participants have already placed their articles for publication.
For 25 years, Stetson Law’s Center for Advocacy Education (formerly known as the Center for Excellence in Advocacy) has helped Stetson Law remain a passionate, deeply supportive community for anyone eager to strengthen their advocacy skills. This is evident in a campus culture that encourages students to speak up for themselves and others as well as the College’s hosting premier events like the Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) conference and the National Pretrial Competition.
Its nationally and internationally recognized trial, dispute resolution, and moot court teams have earned more than 110 national titles, a testament to the center’s enduring impact.
Stetson Law Professor Elizabeth Boals
“We take a forward-looking, holistic approach to advocacy education that integrates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ensure our students are prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal profession,” said Elizabeth Boals, Director of the Center for Advocacy Education. “We are committed to equipping students with the practical skills and adaptability they need to be practice-ready from day one. We are once again honored by U.S. News’ recognition and inspired to continue innovating and building an environment where our students will develop to their full potential.”
In fall 2023, the 16,000-square-foot Advocacy Institute opened its doors. With more practice spaces than any other law school, the impressive facility reflects Stetson’s deep advocacy roots while offering expansive opportunities for scholarship, collaboration, and hands-on training. As home to the Center for Advocacy Education, the Center for Elder Justice, and the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, it is a vibrant hub where advocacy can thrive in all its forms.
Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition turned 30 during the 2025-2026 academic year.
For three decades, the world’s top student advocates have come to Stetson Law to determine the outcome of fictional disputes between fictional nations – and the (also fictional) creatures that dwell within them.
As Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition turns 30, the event continues to build on its legacy of collaboration, cross-cultural celebration, and inspiring passion for the art of environmental advocacy.
The 26th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition, which took place Apr. 7-9, 2022
The final rounds of this year’s competition take place April 16 through April 18 on Stetson Law’s historic Gulfport campus. Once again, it will bring together student teams from around the globe for what will likely be a transformative experience.
“Over the last three decades, we have educated young advocates and leaders about environmental challenges. It’s been incredibly rewarding to meet alumni of the moot whose careers have been influenced by ‘The Stetson,’ as the event is referred to in many countries,” said Law Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy. “The competition has only endured because of the support of the Stetson community—faculty, staff, students, administration, alumni, and friends of Stetson.”
How it all began
Gardner and former Stetson Law Dean and Professor Darby Dickerson – both new professors at the time – realized that while there were moot court events covering numerous areas of law, none were dedicated solely to international environmental law. With the support of then-Dean Lizabeth Moody, the professors went to work organizing the event, which took place in November of 1996.
(L-R): Professor Royal Gardner in background, University of Maryland Law students William Tilburg, April Morton, Best Oralist Molly Knoll, and Stetson Law Dean Darby Dickerson. Click for high-resolution image.
A total of 12 teams – 11 from the U.S. and one from the University of Málaga in Spain – argued on both sides of a problem loosely based on the turbot dispute between Canada and Spain. Over the years, students from nearly fifty countries, from Australia to Zimbabwe, have competed.
For the 30th edition, national and regional rounds were conducted in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, India, Ireland, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, and the United States. Thirty teams from five continents have been invited to campus for the finals, although new visa requirements and rising travel costs have created significant challenges.
Gardner reports that he regularly receives compliments on how smoothly the moot is organized, which he credits to his colleagues on the competition committee, Professor Erin Okuno, a 2013 alumna, and Foreman Biodiversity Professor Katherine Pratt, a 2019 alumna.
Fostering global connections
With its globe-spanning reach and global themes, the competition has also attracted legal professionals working on international issues to volunteer as judges, including:
Judge Christopher Weeramantry (International Court of Justice), Judges Kathy-Ann Brown and Anthony Lucky (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea), Secretary General Peter Bridgewater and Deputy Secretary General Nick Davidson (Ramsar Convention), Executive Director Bradnee Chambers and Executive Director Amy Fraenkel (Convention on Migratory Species), and Secretary Veronica Caceres (Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles).
A message from AstridSchomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
The cases, the critters
The competition always requires students to grapple with important legal questions such as: how should one balance the needs of the current generation with those of future generations? What does consensus mean in the context of multilateral environmental agreements? How does one resolve conflicts between different treaties?
Gardner said the case is the result of a brainstorming session that takes place over dinner immediately following the prior year’s IEMCC finals.
Although hypothetical, the facts used in the competition often reflect current events. The basis of the 1999 problem was the export of toxic waste from Taiwan to Cambodia, which sparked riots. Two years later, it was Japan’s whaling program. Coinciding with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 2022 problem – which was created more than six months before the invasion – dealt with the environmental fallout of conflict in the region.
In 2024, the problem examined whether the discovery of a shark species long thought extinct should halt rare-minerals mining in its habitat.
Since she has been involved, Okuno has endeavored to create or purchase a costume she dons to serve as the competition mascot at the event’s culmination – including the shark. She said the most challenging one to create (as well as her favorite) was the “blue-crowned crane.”
Another favorite: 2025’s “Royal markhor,” a goat-like species with long, spiraling horns protruding from its head and splashes of pink fur.
“I had to get creative with that one,” Okuno said.
SLIDESHOW: ERIN OKUNO’S COSTUMES
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IEMCC Turns 30 8
IEMCC 2024 Gorilla 2
The 2026 problem deals with legal questions about de-extinction efforts related to the (fictional) Royal panther.
“Everyone waits for the charismatic species to emerge when the judges are debating the final rounds,” Gardner said.
The impact of global events
Whether it’s the global Covid-19 pandemic or the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, major events have created uncertainty in some years. In 2022, Russia’s invasion in Ukraine kept a team from the latter country from participating in the finals. They did, however, produce a video that was shown during the event’s opening reception.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a team of Ukrainian students created a video message to IEMCC teams, coaches, judges, and support staff.
The IEMCC was one of the first moot court competitions to go online in 2020 and 2021 during the global pandemic. Gardner recalls a student competitor from South Korea presenting virtually from his campus (which officials opened just for him) at 3:00 A.M. local time.
Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Conference was one of the first College events to go virtual in 2020.
One year, the competition’s Central Asian rounds were held in Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan. The rounds went forward despite objections by Azerbaijani officials, with Gardner explaining it would proceed in the spirit of the right to education contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which promotes “the maintenance of peace.”
What sets IEMCC apart
Moot court competitions are often intense, high-pressure affairs. Even though the teams are there to compete, they help create a friendly, positive environment on campus.
“The best part is how enthusiastic and happy to be here everyone is,” said Pratt.
Okuno agrees. “Everyone exudes collegiality and joy,” she said.
T P Kennedy, Director of Education at the Law Society of Ireland, said his students often come away from the event with lifelong connections within the team as well as other competitors.
The opening reception of Stetson’s IEMCC final round includes an exchange of cultural traditions.
“What’s been notable for us is how civil and transparent the competition is,” Kennedy said. “Judges engage in conversation with the student advocate and there’s no sense of point scoring or entrapment.”
Such a cheerful environment has fostered the development of many traditions over the years, including a multicultural talent showcase during the welcome reception.
Members of Stetson Law faculty and staff sometimes even open their homes to visiting teams and judges. And the event now typically kicks off immediately on the heels of Stetson Law’s International Wildlife Conference, which often has a theme that dovetails with that of the IEMCC record.
Many national and regional rounds hold similar side events. Indeed, the organizers of the Bangladesh National Rounds use the Stetson moot as a mechanism to help build environmental civil society.
Gardner recently has had the opportunity to judge rounds in Brazil, Colombia, India, the Philippines, and Tanzania.
“It was an honor to participate, and it was inspirational to witness the energy, enthusiasm, and advocacy skills of the students,” Gardner said.
In partnership with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the global leader in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Stetson Law is introducing an innovative way for new attorneys to sharpen their knowledge of the arbitration process.
The Fundamentals of Arbitration Advocacy is a new online certificate program designed to equip new attorneys as well as those with limited arbitration experience with a practical understanding of the arbitration process.
Participants will gain sharp insights from Stetson Law advocacy faculty and experienced AAA arbitrators through virtual lectures, interactive exercises focusing on major steps of the arbitration process, and live Zoom office hours. They will sharpen their understanding of filing procedures, arbitrator selection, and preliminary hearings. The program is structured on flexible weekly modules students can work on at their convenience and submit assignments by the designated deadlines.
“Through this partnership with Stetson University, we are expanding access to high-quality training that equips attorneys to address both current practice and emerging challenges in arbitration,” said Christine Newhall, senior vice president of AAA Education.
For Stetson Law leadership, this course reflects College’s commitment to expanding the opportunities it offers to the greater legal community.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the AAA on this project, which combines the AAA’s expertise in dispute resolution with Stetson Law’s nationally renowned expertise in advocacy education,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros.
The inaugural round of the course begins on May 4, 2026. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate and a digital badge.
The World Bank’s Christina Leb spoke about her institution’s role in the development of sustainable water policies across borders.
As she began her lecture in Stetson Law’s Great Hall, Christina Leb noted the opulence of the venue.
“This is probably the most fantabulous hall I’ve ever spoken in,” said Leb, who is senior counsel at the World Bank’s Environmental and International Law Department (LEGEN).
She was there to talk about the key role organizations like hers play in the development of sustainable water governance, especially in places where bodies of water cross international boundaries. Her talk, which drew a sizeable audience of students, was the February 2026 installment of Stetson’s Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series.
Demystifying a complex topic
Leb detailed her experience working at a multilateral development bank supporting the creation and implementation of international water laws and sustainable water resources management – and how the very nature of water presents a challenge to doing so.
“We need to remember that water is in constant flux,” she said. “The hydrological cycle determines the availability of water over land. Water evaporates over land, over the ocean, rains down through the mountains, across landscapes, and percolates into the soil.”
Comparing the principles of international water law to the principles of international environmental law and international law in general, Leb said there is a general duty among participating nations to cooperate, prevent significant harm, and settle disputes.
There are more than 300 transboundary river basins in the world, and even more transboundary aquifers that provide freshwater to multiple countries. There are delicate wetlands and watersheds connected to the water supply upon which millions depend. Pollution in one country can contaminate another’s drinking water.
Left to right: Associate Professor Klara Van der Ploeg, World Bank Senior Counsel Christina Leb, and Law Professor Royal Gardner. Van der Ploeg helped bring Leb to campus to deliver a Foreman Biodiversity Lecture.
Organizations like the World Bank, which seek to lift populations out of poverty around the globe, can help motivate nations to protect the water resources they share with other nations by requiring sustainability practices as a condition of funding. Yet shifting political, economic, and environmental circumstances can present a challenge when it comes to creating a lasting agreement.
An example she cited was the Indus Basin Treaty, which was developed in 1960 when India and Pakistan were divided into two separate countries. The World Bank brokered this water-sharing agreement. Following a 2025 attack in India’s Kashmir region, India suspended the treaty.
“International treaties are a product of their times, and when negotiating a treaty, it’s very important as a lawyer to make them flexible in the long term,” she said. “To build in clauses that allow negotiation, because in most cases, the relationships between countries and their water needs evolve over time – and the treaties will become outdated one way or another.”
Advice to aspiring international law practitioners
Asked how a law student can best position him or herself for work within such initiatives, Leb said it is best to seek out professional experience through internships as well as attending relevant conferences where they can meet and interact with leading professionals in the field.
“Ultimately what helped me was having a network of people,” Leb said.
As they prepare to join a competitive profession that places profound value on relationships, law students must cultivate the ability to hold meaningful conversations despite differences.
To support students in developing this skill, Stetson University College of Law has launched a bold new initiative designed to prepare future lawyers to lead difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
Championed by Dean D. Benjamin Barros, the Dean’s Fellows for Civil Discourse program empowers students to build a concrete, sustainable culture of respectful dialogue on campus and beyond.
The student-led program is part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that civil discourse remains a defining feature of the Stetson Law experience. For Barros, this initiative is a critical step toward a major goal he has had since he joined Stetson: creating an actionable policy that supports Stetson Law’s already robust culture of civility.
“One of my biggest priorities as dean of the College of Law has always been civil discourse,” he said. “We need to remain a place where people from very different backgrounds can come together and learn from each other.”
A three-part model
The initiative involves three key players: College leadership, student fellows, and an external expert partner.
Leadership sets the tone before classes begin. During orientation, students hear directly from Barros or Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins about the centrality of civil discourse in their professional development.
“That early signal matters,” Mullins said. “It establishes that this work is not extracurricular or optional; it is part of professional formation.”
Students begin to learn about civil discourse as an aspect of professional development as part of their 1L orientation.
The nine inaugural fellows, all 2Ls, represent a wide cross-section of student organizations, ideological perspectives, and lived experiences. They volunteer their time to advise the College on how to best support students when challenging conversations arise. Their work will continue into their 3L year, providing continuity and building a peer-led infrastructure that can grow over time.
The third pillar of the program is the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI), a national leader in helping students engage productively across differences. Founded by Jonathan Haidt and Caroline Mehl, CDI works with institutions across higher education. Stetson is the first law school to partner with the organization directly, which allows CDI to tailor its approach to the unique demands of professional education and development.
Key questions guide the process
The program kicked off in the fall 2025 semester with a full-day training led by CDI for the fellows and selected student organization leaders. The trainer, who herself is a JD, brought immediate credibility and grounded the work in the realities of legal education.
The fellows are now tasked with developing core principles based on key questions:
How should we treat one another when we disagree?
How should we handle controversial outside speakers?
How do we create a community that is engaged and civil rather than avoidant or conflict-free?
Stetson also supported CDI in the development of a skills-based training program tailored to issues of professional identity, power, and responsibility. The program will roll out to the Fellows and three of the Stetson Inns, supplemented by interpersonal dialogues the Fellows will facilitate.
Planning for real-life situations
When the guiding principles are in place, the fellows will turn to one of the biggest challenges campuses nationwide face: how to handle controversial speakers who come to campus.
Their task is to translate the principles they developed into universally applicable guidelines that reflect Stetson’s values, educational mission, and responsibility to students. The goal is neither censorship nor uncritical openness, but a thoughtful framework that supports learning and engagement.
“This is not about avoiding disagreement,” Mullins said. “It’s about ensuring our students graduate ready to lead difficult, high-stakes conversations in courtrooms, boardrooms, communities, and civic life.”
Leading the way on civil discourse
The fellowship reflects Stetson Law’s shared values and commitment to preparing students not just to think critically, but to lead responsibly in challenging moments.
“Our approach to this program is student-driven, skill-based, nonpartisan, and consistent with academic freedom,” Barros said. “We are training leaders, so we want our students to themselves set our community’s expectation for civil discourse.”
As the fellows continue their work, Stetson Law is positioning itself as a national leader in cultivating the next generation of lawyers who can navigate and elevate the conversations that shape communities and democracy itself.
Meet the inaugural fellows
The 2025-2026 fellows bring a remarkable range of experiences to the table.
Mark Boyle is an active member of the Federalist Society. Last summer, he served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Geoffrey H. Gentile, where he gained exposure to federal court practice and judicial decision-making, experience that informs his commitment to principled, respectful dialogue in the legal profession.
Caitlyn Green is a member of the Student Leadership Development Committee and a 2L Representative for Stetson Law Republicans, in addition to her membership in the Federalist Society. She externed last summer at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, gaining experience with federal litigation and judicial process that reinforces the importance of civility and professionalism in legal advocacy.
Spencer Greenwood is a member of Stetson’s Trial Team with a strong interest in litigation and advocacy. Last summer, he worked at Banker Lopez Gassler in St. Petersburg, where he deepened his appreciation for clarity and respectful engagement in adversarial settings.
Sassy Hill is a member of the Dispute Resolution Board and serves as Lambda Legal Society’s 2L representative and the Anti-Trafficking Coalition’s vice president. A Stetson Law Ambassador, Hill is also an entrepreneur and two-time business founder who brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to civil discourse informed by leadership, advocacy, and real-world problem solving.
Sean Patterson is an active member of the Black Law Students Association, the Student Bar Association, and the Student Veterans Association at Stetson Law. He works full time as the Senior Signals Intelligence Chief for Special Operations at U.S. Central Command on MacDill Air Force Base and mentors local youth through the RISE Program. His experiences underscore the value of trust, perspective, and disciplined communication in civil dialogue.
Patterson said he chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because he believes meaningful dialogue begins with perspective.
“As a Black and disabled combat veteran (of a certain age), my lived experience has shaped how I see justice, disagreement, and community,” Patterson said. “Too often, I think we intend to engage in discourse to change minds (we are aspiring to be attorneys); I hope to instead help open hearts so we can foster a campus culture where students feel safe sharing their thoughts without judgment or fear.”
Sierra Shellabarger currently serves as secretary of both the American Constitution Society and the Legal Advocates for Reproductive Autonomy at Stetson. She also volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem for the Sixth Circuit, where she advocates children within the state welfare system. Last summer, as a law clerk at Coats Schmidt, P.A. in St. Petersburg, Florida, she gained experience in civil litigation and real estate law. This summer, she will join Moyer Law Group as summer associate, where she will focus on defense-side construction litigation.
Tika Singh is a member of the Stetson Law Review and is active in the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, Stetson Law Republicans, and the Federalist Society. She is currently externing with the Honorable Amy Williams of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit and previously worked as a corporate paralegal at Rio Tinto in Washington, D.C. Her experiences shape her commitment to thoughtful dialogue and fairness across institutional and ideological differences.
“I chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because I believe the legal profession demands not just strong advocacy, but the ability to engage thoughtfully with perspectives different from our own,” Singh said. “I hope to help foster a campus culture where disagreement is productive, respectful, and grounded in a shared commitment to understanding and growth.”
Joey Taylor serves as Secretary of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and is pursuing a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy. His work with the NHL, IRONMAN, USF Men’s Hockey, and his community service reflect a commitment to teamwork, empathy, and constructive communication.
Taylor said he has been pleasantly surprised with how his fellow students come from such diverse backgrounds, from younger students fresh from undergraduate life to those who have already chosen to re-enter the classroom after years of professional experience.
“There’s no other environment where you’re surrounded by bright students learning from an expert on a subject, so I’m hoping we can lead the student body towards taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other by promoting constructive discourse both inside and outside of the classroom,” Taylor said.
Janet Worthman serves as vice president of the Stetson Law Democrats and is active in the Criminal Law Society and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Last summer, she worked at the State Attorney’s Office in Sarasota, where she gained practical experience in criminal prosecution and public service that informed her dedication to respectful engagement on complex and contested issues.
“I chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because I want to become more intentional and effective in how I engage across differing perspectives,” Worthman said. “My hope is to build on that growth by continuing to develop spaces at Stetson Law where civil discourse thrives among peers and across the broader campus community.”
Law Professor Royal Gardner gave a keynote address at the 2026 Everglades Coalition conference.
Members of the Stetson Law faculty shared key legal insights – and a message of hope – on protecting the vast, beloved landscapes that constitute the Florida Everglades at the 41st Annual 2026 Everglades Coalition Conference in Naples, Florida.
The event is the largest gathering of environmental advocates, government officials, students, educators, and others that focuses on the future of Everglades restoration efforts. This year’s theme was “Everglades Strong: All in for Restoration.” At the heart of many conversations were state and federal cuts to regulations and funding, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision redefining protected waterways, and other emerging factors that threaten biodiversity in the Everglades, including the construction and operation of “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention facility.
In his keynote address to attendees, Stetson Law Professor and Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy Director Royal Gardner offered a perspective on a key moment for environmental advocates – and how it can illuminate a way forward in uncertain times.
“One of the lessons of history that gives us hope is that coalitions working together using a science-based approach communicated in language the public understands can be successful,” Gardner said.
When the proposed “Everglades Jetport” – which supposedly would have been the world’s largest – threatened to destroy a portion of the Everglades in the 1960s, public outcry led to the nation’s first Environmental Impact Statement, Congress passing the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and ultimately the project’s halting.
“The coalition was successful,” Gardner said. “It stopped the jetport and it led to the establishment of Big Cypress National Preserve.”
That landmark legislation went on to influence dozens of other nations’ environmental policies, he added.
Left to right: Student Noah Peretz, Student Kylee Schaefer, Law Professor Royal Gardner, and Alumna Elise Bennett
“It’s appropriate that the Everglades serve as a model for the international community because the Everglades is internationally important in its own right,” Gardner said.
Not only is the vast, iconic wetland an international destination, but it is also designated under the Ramsar Convention and other international environmental regimes.
Facing the challenges ahead
Recent political shifts have led to uncertainty among environmental advocates on the future of wetlands protections. Among the most concerning to many is the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sacket v. Environmental Protection Agency, the landmark case that recently led to a much narrower definition of wetlands subject to protection.
That same jetport parcel is in the spotlight again as the site of Alligator Alcatraz.
“Once more our nation’s commitment to conservation is being tested and at the exact same site, no less,” said Stetson Law Professor and Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment Jaclyn Lopez, who spoke on the migrant detention center and represents amici-conservation groups in a lawsuit over Alligator Alcatraz.
Lopez moderated a panel of representatives from numerous groups who oppose the facility on environmental and cultural grounds, including indigenous tribes and environmental organizations.
“It is our hope with this panel we can learn from history and benefit from the struggles of those who came before us to do better, sooner,” Lopez said.
In his keynote address, Gardner encouraged his audience not to lose hope as policymakers threaten detrimental rollbacks of environmental protections, but to use the existing political system to challenge them.
“They’re people,” he said. “They’re people who run for office or put themselves up to be appointed to public office. So, what I want you to consider is running for office or encouraging good people to run for office. We need good people running the government.”
Dean D. Benjamin Barros (left) looks on as Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer speaks at Stetson Law on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, the Stetson Law community gave a warm welcome to Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who visited campus to share insights about the legal profession with College of Law students.
The Sunday evening event, which filled the Great Hall with hundreds of students, faculty and staff members, was one of several events commemorating Stetson Law’s 125th anniversary. It comprised an hour of insight, reflection, advice, and, often, humor as the retired justice conversed with Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. The two also discussed Breyer’s recent book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism.
Offering students an inside look at how the U.S. Supreme Court works day to day, the types of cases the Court hears, and how justices conduct conversations on divisive issues, Breyer stressed civility, respect, and listening to those with whom one disagrees.
“The thing that I found works the best: Listen to what the people say and where they’re coming from,” Breyer said. “Listen. And then you build on what they say.”
The Stetson Connections
Breyer was introduced by 1986 Stetson Law Alumnus David Bronstein, who met Breyer due to his friendship with Breyer’s son Michael.
Bronstein joked that he met the elder Breyer because he “was a C student.” He had meant to ask his friend how people get to the Supreme Court but worded his question in a way that made it seem like he was asking to visit – so the younger Breyer called his father and arranged one.
“Because I didn’t know how to properly ask a question, I got invited to the Supreme Court,” joked Bronstein, who is a founding partner with Bronstein & Carmon, a prominent insurance defense firm in South Florida.
Left: Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. Right: Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
Bronstein also pointed out that former Dean Bruce Jacob, a 1959 alumnus and a transformative figure in Stetson Law history, was a special guest that evening. Jacob is known for arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark 1963 case Gideon v. Wainwright.
“It’s such a delight for me to see him here today,” he said of Jacob, who was dean when Bronstein attended Stetson Law.
Thoughts on the Legal Profession & Civic Engagement
Breyer, who retired from the Court in 2022, is a graduate of Stanford, Oxford, and Harvard Law School. He has taught law at Harvard Law School and at the Kennedy School of Government for years. He worked as a Supreme Court law clerk for Justice Arthur Goldberg, served as a Justice Department lawyer in the Antitrust Division, was an Assistant Special Prosecutor during Watergate, and served as Chief Counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit by President Carter in 1980 and became Chief Judge a decade later. President Bill Clinton appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1994. He has authored books and articles on a broad range of legal topics.
As the conversation drew to a close, Breyer urged the students in attendance to remain active participants in democracy – and reflected on the unique and fundamental role the law and legal professionals play in promoting a just society in the U.S.
“Law is an institution that in general should help people live together peacefully,” Breyer said. “A rule of law is what we depend upon to keep those 340 million people together.”
WATCH: Full full video of Justice Breyer’s visit to Stetson Law
