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Stetson University College of Law receives INSIGHT Into Diversity 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

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Contact: Ashley McKnight-Taylor
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GULFPORT, Fla. — Stetson University College of Law received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

The magazine selected Stetson Law for its inclusive curriculum initiatives, including in Criminal Law and Research and Writing courses; Americans with Disabilities Act initiatives, such as the creation of the Disability Allied Law Student Association; and development efforts focused on diversity scholarship fundraising and alumni engagement.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for the second year in a row for our ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive community where everyone is expected to lead with respect, compassion and professionalism,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre. “We are committed to the university-wide work of meaningful inclusionary practices among students, faculty, and staff regardless of the national recognition, but the HEED Award offers encouragement for continuing to lead by example in this important area.”

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges, universities and professional schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — Stetson Law will be featured in the November 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

Last year, Stetson Law was recognized for concentrated efforts, among others, to recruit and retain historically underrepresented and first-generation students through a pre-law pipeline program that included mentorship throughout their academic career and specialized fundraising to ensure they had the financial wherewithal to complete law school.

Stetson Law continued to build on those efforts, this year adding greater focus on diversity scholarship fundraising and alumni engagement. Additionally, College of Law faculty leaders thoughtfully updated specific portions of their curriculum to integrate race and the law in course materials for Criminal Law and Legal Writing & Research courses – classes that all first-year law students are required to take.

“I am thrilled for this recognition and lift up of our faculty colleagues who collaborated to integrate race and the law in the research and writing and criminal law curriculum,” said Professor Lance Long, co-chair of the Stetson University College of Law Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Orientation for all new students, including transfer and visiting students, features two separate training and community standards sessions on cultural competence. Last, but not least, the Accessibility Resource Office expanded its work to provide reasonable and effective accommodations or testing modifications, as well as monitored campus compliance with disability rights laws.

“We are so proud of this recognition, which comes just as we are putting the finishing touches on a two-year plan of action to tackle even greater initiatives at both Stetson University and the College of Law,” said Carmen Johnson, Stetson University’s Executive Officer for Diversity, Collaboration, and Inclusion. “This is a galvanizing reminder that we are headed in the right direction and gives us additional motivation for the collaborative work ahead.”

For more information about the 2021 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.

For more information about Stetson University College of Law, visit stetson.edu/law.

About Stetson University College of Law

Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s first law school, has prepared lawyers and leaders since 1900. Today, Stetson leads the nation in blending legal doctrine with practical training, evidenced by its top-ranked programs in advocacy and legal writing. Through its academically rigorous curriculum and commitment to social responsibility, Stetson produces lawyers who are ethical advocates ready to succeed in the legal profession.

About INSIGHT Into Diversity

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is well-known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.

Stetson Law’s July 2021 Bar passage rate among top 5 in state

Stetson University College of Law campus

Stetson University College of Law’s first-time bar takers passed the July 2021 Florida Bar examination at the rate of 78.8 percent. The statewide average was 71.6 percent. This marked Stetson’s best pass rate for first-time takers since July 2016.

“We are thankful for the entire College of Law community who provided a myriad of support to our bar takers,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre.

Stetson Law placed fourth among Florida law schools for the percent of graduates passing the exam on their first try, according to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Bar takers were still riding the tumultuous waves of pandemic-induced changes with this summer’s test, which was held remotely instead of the traditional in-person event.

“We are committed to ensuring every Stetson Law student has a strong foundation upon which to prepare for and pass the bar,” Alexandre said.

Professor Lance Long helps group protect iconic landmark in Utah

Stetson Law Professor Lance Long helped create and now serves on the board of Conserve Utah Valley (CUV), a non-profit organization that works to protect unspoiled land and water in the region from development.

Bridal Veil Falls, Provo, Utah. (Image by Mike Scalora via Wikimedia Commons)

“CUV was formed in response to repeated attempts by developers in Utah Valley (which is the name people in Utah use to refer to the valley south of the Salt Lake Valley) to quietly have publicly owned, beautiful and pristine foothills, canyons, rivers, and water sold and developed for high-end users at the expense of existing residents and the citizens of Utah Valley,” Long explained.

The idea began when a group of concerned citizens learned a developer wanted to build a drug rehabilitation center and public tramway at Bridal Veil Falls, a scenic waterfall recreation area in Provo Canyon that is one of the most iconic and well-known landmarks in Utah Valley and attracts thousands of local visitors per year.

“A number of us got so shocked at the brazen commercialism,” said Craig Christensen, an entrepreneur and nature lover who was moved to speak up once the development plan was unveiled. He now serves as executive director of CUV.

A grassroots effort driven by local citizens such as Christensen and students from Brigham Young University emerged to protect the falls. They sought guidance from Long, who was already a director and executive board member of an existing land preservation organization, Rock Canyon Preservation Alliance (RCPA). That group had fought similar attempts to develop Rock Canyon in Utah Valley. It soon became clear an overarching organization was needed to help protect all of Utah Valley’s dwindling open spaces.

CUV was born, and one of its first victories was rallying citizens to oppose the sale of Bridal Veil Falls and convincing the Utah County Commission to unanimously approve a measure to block private development of the falls.

“We not only defeated the sale but have introduced legislation to have the falls become a state monument, preventing any attempted development of the area in perpetuity,” Long said. “Currently, we are working to ensure that the Bonneville Trail, a popular hiking trail that traverses the length of the Valley along the foothills of the Wasatch Range, formalizes and maintains its access easements and easements across private lands.”

Christensen said the early members of CUV had little knowledge of the conservation process and associated lingo, so having Long’s involvement was crucial to them understanding what could and should happen, as well as, frankly, to maintaining optimism.

“People like Lance give the rest of us hope,” Christensen said. “He has that calming influence of having been involved with these issues for so long.”

Long was asked to take a role as a director of CUV but declined because of his commitments to RCPA and the fact that he lives in Florida during the academic year, teaching environmental law courses at Stetson. However, he continues to meet monthly with the board as a board member and provide legal support to the group.

“It’s hard to calibrate the value of that kind of experience he brings to a small group like ours,” Christensen said.

While CUV won their first battle, the war is ongoing. Utah state legislators are now discussing turning Bridal Veil Falls into a state park, which CUV members fear could result in unintended consequences of entrance fees and overtourism. They are also working to identify other at-risk spaces, continuing outreach efforts to educate local citizens about important conservation initiatives, and fostering regular, transparent dialogue among city, county and Forestry Service officials.

Advocating ‘easier than it really looks’ after students complete new program

Many of the student participants in Stetson Law’s new Youth Civic Engagement Program for teenagers between the ages of 15-17 attended a wrap-up ceremony and campus tour at the end of the week-long course.

Stetson Law’s July 2021 Pipeline Program

“I think that one of the ‘a-ha’ moments that I witnessed really had to do with civil dialogue. Students really believe that when they’re ‘right,’ quote unquote, that they need to get their point across. But when they learned that the point of advocacy and the point of activism is to get other people to understand their position – not to be right, not to win – but to actually help others understand the issues, I think that was a big ‘a-ha’ moment for many of them,” said Professor Judith Scully.

She was one of three Stetson Law professors who led the school’s new Youth Civic Engagement Program last month. The weeklong summer experience was designed for Pinellas County teenagers, between the ages of 15-17, considered underrepresented because of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, or school performance. The goal was to train the teens how to advocate for themselves and others.

Christine Cerniglia

“I had no idea how engaged they would be, and they took off with it,” said Professor Christine Cerniglia. “It was awesome!”

“This young generation is fierce, so how to guide and lead them is a task for us to figure out and keep up with them just to be quite honest,” she added. “They’re inspiring.”

The courses included: Self and Society; Human Rights and Global Citizenship; Technology and Human Rights; Cyberlaw and Human Rights; Mindfulness, Listening and Civil Dialogue; Social Media and Human Rights; Advocacy, Community Building and Protest; 4^th Amendment Rights in Public Schools; and Self-Optimization and Individual Goal Setting.

Katie Parish, 15, was excited to learn about deductive reasoning and syllogism, saying that she often used those tools in discourse with others without realizing “that it was an actual thing.” She found the program to be engaging and encouraging.

“It’s just a very interesting, like, in-depth version of civil rights law and advocacy,” Parish said. “It makes advocating seem so much easier than it really looks, right? Because it seems so hard for kids our age, but Professor Scully and Professor Cerniglia and all the different people who were in the program just made it seem so easy.”

Eriam and Erin Shepherd were two of the participants.

William and Erica Shepherd, whose two daughters participated in the course, said the girls gained confidence and learned that communication is key to understanding themselves and others so they can work together to solve problems.

“First of all, this program was wonderful,” William Shepherd said. “It really taught them a lot about the concept of human rights and civics and learning how to implement themselves into that program.”

Stetson Law officials recognized that, during the last 20 years, civics education and social action programming have decreased nationally. Students have little, if any, opportunity at the high school level to access the knowledge and tools they need to be advocates. Given Stetson Law’s longstanding expertise in teaching students to think critically and advocate for vulnerable groups, school officials believed creating a program like this would be a valuable contribution to the community.

“I taught a course called Advocacy, activism and social change, and it really introduced students to the fact that young people have always been at the forefront of changing public policy, and that they, too – our 2021 students – can also engage in advocacy that really makes a difference not just locally, not on the state level, not just on the national level, but internationally as well,” Scully said.

“I think our students were really excited about learning about how to harness their power and really participate in our democracy,” she added.

The students learned how to present themselves and do research, as well as the importance of voting and participating in government. One of the key lessons that surprised and delighted participants was the fact that in Florida, at age 16, they can pre-register to vote and get involved.

“The most useful thing I learned this week was Ten Ways to be an Advocate,” said Eriam Shepherd, 16. “I learned I can educate myself and others and that I can possibly in future run for office. And I learned about human rights and how my rights as a human are valid, and I need to know about those things.”

Stetson partnered with Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg to create and launch the new program. More than 40 students applied for the 30 openings, and ultimately 31 students completed the course, which was held virtually this year because of the pandemic. Next year’s class is expected to be held on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

Professor Lou Virelli named to federal academic consultative group

Prefer to watch the video? View it on YouTube.

Stetson Law Professor Louis J. Virelli III was tapped for membership in a group of leading administrative law scholars to provide a federal agency with academic research and expertise.

The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) created a new Council on Federal Agency Adjudication in September 2020 to provide a forum for the heads of agency adjudication programs to exchange information about procedural innovations, best management practices, and more.

Virelli is one of group of law scholars recently announced as the Council’s academic consultative group. He first became involved with the ACUS in 2018 when he was selected to draft a report on recusal of agency adjudicators. Virelli has since authored Administrative Recusal Rules: A Taxonomy and Study of Existing Recusal Standards for Agency Adjudicators in 2020 and Recusal Rules for Administrative Adjudicators in 2018. That report led to the adoption of ACUS Recommendation 2018-4 – Recusal Rules for Administrative Adjudicators.

“I am honored to be included among this group of outstanding administrative law scholars and am looking forward to continuing my work with ACUS,” he said.

ACUS is an independent agency within the Executive Branch of the United States government. Its volunteer members are drawn from other federal agencies as well as from those in the private sector with expertise and experience in law and government. Its mission is to study administrative procedures in federal programs and recommend improvements. In other words, “a public-private partnership designed to make government work better,” as President Obama said in 2010.

It accomplishes this mission by conducting research, formulating recommendations, spreading agency best practices, promoting information exchange, and sponsoring events and publications. Over the first 30 years of its existence, the Conference issued approximately 200 recommendations, most of which were implemented in whole or in part.

In addition to Virelli, the other legal scholars in the new academic consultative group are:

Michael Asimow (Santa Clara University School of Law)
Kent Barnett (University of Georgia School of Law)
Jack Beermann (Boston University School of Law)
Emily Bremer (University of Notre Dame Law School)
Jill Family (Widener University Commonwealth Law School)
William Funk (Lewis & Clark Law School)
Robert Glicksman (The George Washington University Law School)
Daniel Ho (Stanford Law School)
Linda Jellum (Mercer University School of Law)
Renée Landers (Suffolk University Law School)
Jeffrey Lubbers (American University Washington College of Law)
Michael Sant’Ambrogio (Michigan State University College of Law)
Bijal Shah (Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law)
Anna Shavers (Nebraska College of Law)
Urska Velikonja (Georgetown University Law Center)
Christopher Walker (The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law)
Melissa Wasserman (University of Texas School of Law)
Russell Wheeler (Brookings Institution)
Adam Zimmerman (Loyola Law School)

The Council’s list of projects is still developing, but recent initiatives include a webpage to help agency adjudication offices navigate operational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic; a recent virtual Symposium on Federal Agency Adjudication; and upcoming projects on agency appellate systems, alternative dispute resolution, and agency head enforcement and adjudication functions.

26th Annual Stetson IEMCC theme, record and rules released

The Record and Rules for the 26th Annual Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition (IEMCC) have been released and are now available on the IEMCC website.

The theme for this year’s problem is “Protected Areas and Armed Conflict.”

The global, multi-part contest gives students around the world an opportunity to learn more about and advocate for environmental issues impacting the planet. Teams compete in national and regional rounds throughout the world, and the top teams are invited to participate in the International Finals.

The International Finals are planned for April 7-9, 2022, at Stetson University College of Law’s campus in Gulfport, Florida. Last year’s competition was held virtually because of the pandemic. Law Society of Ireland was named winner in that contest, and Symbiosis Law School, Pune, India, was runner-up.

Additional information about national and regional rounds will be posted on the IEMCC website as it becomes available. For updates, visit https://stetson.edu/iemcc and follow the IEMCC Facebook page @StetsonIEMCC and Professor and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy Royal C. Gardner on Twitter @swamp_prof.

Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy releases annual report

Stetson Law’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy released its 2020-2021 Annual Report this month, and the contents highlight how, despite the global pandemic, the Institute continued to provide environmental education, research, and service locally, nationally, and internationally this past year.

Led by Professor of Law and Director, Royal C. Gardner, the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy is Stetson Law’s interdisciplinary focal point for environmental law programs and initiatives. Some of the highlights from the report include:

Nationwide legal support

In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, a critical Clean Water Act case. The majority opinion cited an amici curiae brief that Gardner, Erin Okuno (assistant director of the Biodiversity Institute) and a team of attorneys had filed on behalf of aquatic scientists and scientific societies. Gardner discussed the caseand how scientists can contribute to policymaking in a presentation for the Society for Freshwater Science’s Summer of Science, and the amici brief was featured in a PBS NOVA podcast on Science in the Courtroom.

The Institute has continued to file amici curiae briefs, including in California, Massachusetts and South Carolina, on behalf of aquatic scientific organizationsto explain the importance of considering science when making decisions under the Clean Water Act. The briefs are available on the Biodiversity Institute’s website.

International outreach

The Institute faculty and staff maintain ongoing relationships with the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, two international organizations. This year they also collaborated on projects with the University of Philippines Law Center’s Institute of International Legal Studies, Alberta Land Institute of the University of Alberta, and the University of Barcelona.

Student success

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) selected Stetson Law student Nicholas Lewis as the recipient of the 2020 Environmental Education Program Award for a project he worked on in Professor Lance Long’s Environmental Advocacy course. Nicholas developed K–12 lesson plans for KTBB’s Environmental Education Center.

Recent Stetson Law graduates also are putting their environmental law education into practice. Brian Remler started at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP’s Atlanta office working with their Environmental and Construction Practice Group, which specializes in brownfield redevelopment. Jess Beaulieu accepted a position as the program manager for Denver University Sturm College of Law’s Animal Law Program.

Read the full 2020-2021 Annual Report on the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy website.

Stetson University announces new Executive Officer for Diversity, Inclusion and Collaboration

Stetson University has selected Carmen Johnson, J.D., as its new executive officer for Diversity, Inclusion and Collaboration. In that position, Johnson will lead the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in collaboration with the university’s existing support systems and in support of the university’s strategic plan to create a learning and working environment where all have an opportunity to succeed.

The executive officer for Diversity, Inclusion and Collaboration champions the importance and value of a diverse and inclusive university environment and develops effective strategies to create opportunities for collaboration around equity, diversity and inclusion across Stetson’s campuses. The position actively engages faculty, staff and students to further diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I am thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to continue supporting our Stetson University community and to promote our collective diversity, equity and inclusion efforts — both in DeLand and at the College of Law,” said Johnson. “The past and ongoing advocacy and expertise of so many throughout the Stetson community continues to inspire and lay the foundation for progress. I look forward to serving as a centralized resource toward this work and to promoting avenues for collaboration in partnership with the university’s leadership.”

“With the upcoming release of months of work by our community in addressing issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion, we are at a critical point in moving Stetson University forward,” said Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, president. “Carmen has impressed me with her leadership and advocacy, and her kindness and empathy, two qualities I believe are so important during these difficult times. I am pleased she is in this new position to help lead and organize the efforts with our communities in DeLand and at the College of Law. This creative and joint appointment provides a terrific opportunity to foster even greater collaboration between the College of Law and the DeLand campuses as we continue to build One Stetson.”

Stetson is continuing its work on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion following a recent Campus Climate Report, and soon-to-be-released reports from campus and community working groups organized during the 2020 academic year.

“Carmen’s numerous strengths, including her law degree, Title IX and diversity training, and her deep sense of collaboration, to name a few, make her the perfect choice to lead the university into the next stage of our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” said Michèle Alexandre, dean of Stetson University College of Law. “I am confident Carmen will bring energy, excitement and collaboration across the campuses to move our inclusion work forward.”

Johnson joined Stetson’s College of Law in 2013 to fulfill her passion for higher education and the law, and most recently served as the director of Diversity Initiatives and Recruitment there. Prior to that, she was associate director for Admissions and Diversity Initiatives. In addition to being a Certified Diversity Professional, Johnson is the co-chair of the College of Law’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the university’s Stetson Culture Working Group, serves as a Title IX Investigator, and on the diversity and equity and inclusion leadership teams for Stetson University. During her tenure at Stetson, Johnson has been awarded Employee of the Year (2019), Morale Builder of the Year (2017), the Dean’s Award (2016, 2021), and as a National Diversity Champion (2016).

Following her graduation from Stetson University College of Law, Johnson worked in complex civil litigation and later served as a staff attorney with the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, where she focused on criminal and postconviction matters. Prior to that, she was a contract attorney with Rutledge, Ecenia & Purnell, PA, a clinical intern in the Office of the Pinellas County Attorney and a judicial intern for The Honorable Amy Williams in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Johnson is admitted to practice law in the state of Florida and has been appointed to the Florida Bar Association’s Education Law Committee as well as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In addition to previously serving as secretary of the Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association, she is a past president of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers after serving terms as president-elect and secretary, and a two-year term as director of Continuing Legal Education.

Professor Peter Lake wins ‘Everyday Hero in Education’ award

Peter Lake, professor of law and director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education, was honored as a winner in the “Everyday Hero in Education” contest from Margaritaville.

Throughout the past year, the hospitality company called for nominations nationally for favorite teachers, counselors, administrators and coaches. Officials announced July 9 they had received thousands of stories of remarkable educators who were changing communities in impactful ways. Of those, they toasted 18 winners with getaways to a Margaritaville property. Lake won a trip to Margaritaville Beach Resort Costa Rica.

“I was touched by the overwhelming support I received in the process following nomination,” Lake said. “The pool of nominees [was] from all walks of teaching, and I was thrilled that Margaritaville recognized graduate level instructors as teachers. I proudly represent law school instructors (and truly all graduate level instructors) in the select group of award winners—especially those who answered the call during the pandemic.”

Lake also thanked Stetson and its leaders “for creating a 30-plus year platform of instruction that made this recognition possible. I am especially grateful to Dean Jacob, who so many years ago gave me the chance to have my dream job and space to learn to teach in my own unique way.”

Sofia McDaniel, a 2021 graduate of Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law, nominated Lake for the award. He helped her find a program of instruction related to education that suited her. Lake said he was just doing his job; the Center for Excellence in Higher Education regularly provides such guidance to students and professionals. But it made a big impact on McDaniel, who is now chief executive officer at Equitable Education Advocates in St. Petersburg.

“Professor Peter brought serenity to my life and single handedly shaped my law school experience,” she wrote in her nomination. “He is the reason why I am a first-generation lawyer and now the founder of a special education advocacy center.”

The award was based in part on voting but also on other factors; at one point Lake was No. 3 in overall voting with more than 2,600 votes from people around the country whose lives he impacted directly or indirectly.

Blaze Bowers, J.D. ’21, served as Lake’s teaching assistant for nearly three years and shared news of the award on LinkedIn. He praised his teacher and mentor, saying, “You have touched more lives than you will ever know.”

“Professor Lake, as anyone who has had him for class knows, is more than an ordinary professor,” Bowers wrote. “He is a true teacher in every respect—caring, wise, knowledge, and accessible. Professor Lake has taught at Stetson University College of Law for 30 years, training jurists and bettering the lives of countless students. He exemplifies everything this award hopes to recognize.”

McDaniel agreed in a comment on the post.

“Professor Lake is a remarkable individual and getting him to Margaritaville was the least I could do to thank him for his mentorship,” she wrote.

Professor Kirsten K. Davis receives award for innovation

Professor Kirsten K. Davis was selected as a recipient of the 2021 COVID-19 Innovation Award from the Stetson University Board of Trustees.

Board members realized that despite the disruption of the past several semesters, the university community worked to prioritize safety, emphasize student outcomes, invest in technology, and encourage faculty’s freedom to innovate for the benefit of continued learning. They created the COVID-19 Innovation Awards to recognize faculty who:

demonstrated particular efforts as educational innovators for online teaching;
created a new normal for students’ experiences moving forward;
took on additional responsibilities for planning, training, and teaching;
were bold teachers willing to teach face-to-face with creativity and excellence to meet students’ interests or disciplinary needs; and
were engaged, positive leaders who were perpetually optimistic in the face of incredible change.

“Kirsten led and stewarded the faculty in all matters involving innovation of online education and helped train them on new platforms with continuing education on novel methodologies for online delivery,” wrote those who nominated Davis for the award.

Professor Kirsten Davis works with a student attending Stetson's Pre-Law Institute

Embracing technology for better teaching has been a career hallmark for Davis, but it became more urgent once the pandemic struck. She said she knew she needed to know more about how to engage law students in an online classroom.

“So, I did what I encourage my students to do—be self-directed and learn all that you can about whatever it is you are doing,” she said.

That commitment turned into an opportunity to create learning experiences for her faculty colleagues and help them adjust to the increased demands of online education. Davis developed online education training materials and workshops for her colleagues. What started out as volunteer service work led to Davis being appointed Faculty Director of Distance Education by Dean Michèle Alexandre.

Davis said she was honored by the recognition of her efforts.

“My work in the past year and a half with online education was about is ensuring that Stetson Law Students have engaging, effective, and transformative educational experiences no matter how that education is delivered. The award demonstrates that the Stetson Board of Trustees cares deeply about the educational experiences of Stetson students.”

Professor Roberta K. Flowers named vice president of 2021-2022 NAELA Board of Directors

Professor Roberta Flowerss co-directs Stetson's elder law center. — Roberta K. Flowers

Stetson Law Professor Roberta K. Flowers has been appointed vice president of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), an association of attorneys dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to older adults and people with disabilities.

Her term began on June 1, 2021, and as vice president, she will play a critical role in leading the Academy towards achieving its goals.

“I am so excited to be on the leadership team of this inspiring organization,” Flowers said. “We will continue to work with the elder and disability law attorneys to effectively, efficiently, and empathetically represent some of the most vulnerable of our citizens.”

Flowers is the director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law and teaches Ethics in an Elder Law Practice. She, along with Professor Rebecca Morgan, created a video series used to train and educate attorneys nationwide on the ethical dilemmas faced by elder law attorneys. The Florida Supreme Court awarded them the Florida Supreme Court Professionalism Award for their video productions. Additionally, the pair designed the nation’s first “elder friendly courtroom,” which serves as model for courtrooms of the future.

Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. Its mission is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member attorney in your area, visit NAELA.org/FindLawyer.

Professor Kirsten K. Davis appointed to special committee on professionalism

Professor Kirsten K. Davis has been appointed by the new president of The Florida Bar, Mike Tanner, to serve on a newly created statewide Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida.

The Florida Bar, through its Board of Governors, approved and created this Committee to develop specific recommendations to the Board and to The Florida Supreme Court for: 1) any necessary changes to the definition of professionalism or to the current professionalism standards; 2) improvements in how and when professionalism is taught during the course of a lawyer’s career; and 3) improvements to how professionalism standards are enforced, including greater emphasis on the use of the local professionalism panels.

When Tanner was sworn in earlier this month, he said the committee will be, “a complete top to bottom review of the professionalism” in Florida, according to The Florida Bar News.

“We’re going to look at how we teach it, how we define it, when we teach it, how we enforce it, how we promote it, what its relationship is to mental health and wellness,” he said, with the goal of creating “suggestions to the court for improvements in these areas.”

Davis has devoted much of her career to the topics of attorney ethics and professionalism. In addition to being the director of Stetson Law’s Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, she teaches courses on professional responsibility. She also served on The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism for six years, including as chair from 2019-2020.

“Questions about what professionalism means – what the standards should be and how those standards should be enforced – is a question that is being explored by state bar organizations and state supreme courts all around the country,” Davis said. “The work to revisit and refine the meaning of professionalism is important work. The practice community’s sense of professionalism is meaningful not only to licensed lawyers but also to law students in forming their professional identities.”

The Florida Bar is the governing organization of the more than 100,000 lawyers licensed to practice law in the state. It works to ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism and protects the public by prosecuting unethical attorneys and preventing the unlicensed practice of law.