News Archives - Page 67 of 138

Stetson University officially Smoke/Tobacco-Free

The policy officially declaring Stetson University’s residential campuses in DeLand and Gulfport smoke- and tobacco-free will be in effect, as of Aug. 1, 2014. With this declaration, Stetson University joins a growing list of colleges and universities across the country enacting a policy to prohibit smoking and tobacco-related products.

All forms of tobacco use are prohibited, including e-cigarettes and a variety of smokeless products, in Stetson buildings, structures, grounds, parking lots and in university and personal vehicles while on Stetson grounds.

“This is an exciting time for Stetson University as we kick off a new academic year,” said President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D. “With Stetson’s institutional values commitments that focus on the development of the whole person, it is imperative that our campuses provide a safe and healthy environment for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors. I am proud of the work of so many who advocated for and led us to becoming smoke- and tobacco-free.”

“Putting values into action is an important component of the Stetson experience,” said Christopher Kandus-Fisher, Ed.D., vice president of student affairs. “The decision for Stetson University to become smoke- and tobacco-free is completely in line with our commitment to holistic wellness. The residence halls have been smoke-free for quite some time, and it is wonderful to see that the university community supports the overall health and wellness of our faculty, staff and students.”

Stetson began implementing smoking restrictions in 2007 by banning smoking near buildings and air vents. The new policy is the result of several years of research, focus groups and a university task force that determined that smoking was inconsistent with the values of the university. Stetson’s commitment to values like health and wellness includes protecting non-smokers and also supporting smokers in reconsidering a behavior that has been scientifically proven to have serious long-term health consequences.

Since that time, Stetson has offered a variety of resources to help members of the Stetson University community quit smoking. These resources have included a series of informational sessions, health fairs, human resource training sessions, free education programs about smoking and free resources for those who want to quit, including cessation products and classes. More information about Stetson University’s smoke/tobacco-free programs can be found at stetson.edu/breathe-free.

Compliance with this new policy rests with all members of the Stetson community. Community members are empowered to respectfully inform others about the policy and the ongoing effort to enhance awareness of and encourage compliance with this policy.

More information about compliance is covered in the policy section of the university’s Breathe-Free website.

Contact:

Mary Anne Rogers, University Marketing
Phone: (386) 822-7215; main line (386) 822-8920; cell (386) 717-5836
E-Mail: [email protected]

Stetson University offers Advocacy Training in Ireland

Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, offered an advocacy training program to a sell-out crowd in Dublin, Ireland, July 17-18. The two-day program for law students, law professors and legal practitioners taught the renowned Stetson method of trial advocacy at the University College of Dublin Sutherland School of Law.

Participants in Stetson's July 2014 advocacy program in Ireland. — Participants in Stetson’s July 2014 advocacy program in Ireland.

“This new program reinforces Stetson’s commitment to teaching advocacy in a global marketplace.” said Stetson Law Dean Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “Our trial advocacy program is ranked number one in the U.S. and we are delighted to offer Stetson advocacy training to our legal partners in Ireland for the first time.”

“We were honored to share the Stetson method with our colleagues across the Atlantic. Our program focused on psychology, storytelling, case analysis and fundamental advocacy skills,” said Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles H. Rose III. “Over two days, we built professional relationships and new friendships while sharing the Stetson method for creating persuasive, ethical and superior advocates. We look forward to future programs in Ireland and other locations within the United Kingdom.”

Michael Collins SC provided the keynote address. Collins is an expert in commercial, competition and EU law at the Irish Bar and appears regularly before the Supreme Court of Ireland and European Court of Justice.

Program sessions included the Psychology of Persuasive Storytelling, Increasing the Persuasive Power of Direct Examination, and Conducting Cross-Examination with a Purpose.

Stetson also regularly offers a successful Educating Advocates Teaching Advocacy Skills program annually in the spring to legal practitioners and law professors from across the U.S.

Stetson’s trial advocacy program has ranked #1 in the U.S. in U.S. News & World Report for more than a decade.

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

Pensacola native Charles Liberis named to Stetson University Board of Overseers

Prominent Pensacola attorney Charles S. Liberis of the Liberis Law Firm was recently named to the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers. The board of overseers advises and counsels the dean of the College of Law and the university president on academic programs and financial matters.

The board also includes Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bernie McCabe, and Florida Bar Association President Gregory Coleman.

“I am delighted that Charles will be joining our board at a time when we continue to modify our legal education program to meet the demands of the legal marketplace, prepare students for the profession, and help them understand their community involvement responsibilities,” said Stetson Law Dean Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “Because of his background, Charles will add a strong voice as we think about these important issues.”

Liberis, who received both his bachelor’s and law degrees from Stetson University, was instrumental in facilitating the 3+3 Program offered by the University of West Florida and Stetson University College of Law.

The program, scheduled to start in August of 2015, will allow high-performing students to reduce the time they spend earning a law degree, earning both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees in six years, rather than the traditional seven years.

Stetson University College of Law is nationally ranked #1 for trial advocacy and #6 for legal writing by U.S. News and World Report.

TheBestSchools.org recently ranked the University of West Florida among “The 25 Best Bachelor in Legal Studies Degree Programs.”

Ukraine rejoins Stetson University’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition

Ukraine will host a regional round of Stetson University’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition again this year after a hiatus from the competition.

The University of California-Hastings team with Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson's Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy. — The 2014 IEMCC winners: University of California-Hastings team with Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy.

Ukraine hosted the first Central and Eastern European rounds of the IEMCC in 2010.

“Ukraine has experienced many challenges in the past year, and it is especially important for us to stay connected with our colleagues in the Ukrainian legal community,” said Professor Royal C. Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy. Prior to joining the Stetson faculty, Gardner participated in negotiations in Kyiv to help facilitate the safe and secure dismantlement of the former Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons.

Law students from Ukraine, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkey, the Middle East, as well as West, Central, and South Europe are invited to compete in Kyiv, Ukraine, in January 2015 in the regional rounds of the IEMCC. The regional competition winners will travel to Stetson University College of Law’s Gulfport, Fla., campus for the final rounds of the IEMCC, April 16-18, 2015.

“I am more than excited and looking forward to the event,” said Ielyzaveta Badanova, who is helping coordinate the IEMCC regional rounds in Eastern Europe. Badanova works in the legal unit at the Energy Community Secretariat and as a senior tax and legal consultant at KPMG Ukraine. Professor Maryna Medvedieva, of the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University Institute of International Relations, is also actively involved in the round preparations. The Institute of International Relations is hosting the competition.

Stetson’s IEMCC, now in its 19th year, provides student advocates with an opportunity to litigate legal environmental issue that cross national borders. Students participating in this year’s competition will address the issue of shark finning and trade restrictions. A team from University of California, Hastings College of Law won the competition in April 2014.

Student teams will participate in regional rounds of Stetson University’s IEMCC around the world in East Asia and Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, India, Ireland, and Latin and North America.

For details of this year’s competition, visit https://www.stetson.edu/law/international/iemcc/.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/StetsonUkraine for details on Ukraine rounds of Stetson’s IEMCC.

Stetson University named best student chapter by Florida Bar

The Florida Bar recently honored Stetson University College of Law student leaders for their outstanding chapter. Stetson’s chapter of the Young Lawyers Division Law Student Division was named the best in the state during the Florida Bar’s Annual Meeting June 25-26 in Orlando.

Student Anisha Patel accepted Stetson's best chapter award. — Student Anisha Patel (left) accepted Stetson’s best chapter award from the Law Student Division president.

“Our fantastic student leaders Jennifer Tindell, Anisha Patel, Ciara Willis, and Jeffrey Berglund, do an incredible job of representing Stetson within the Florida Bar and on campus,” said Stetson University College of Law Assistant Director of Career Development Joann Grages Burnett. “It is wonderful that they were once again recognized for these contributions.”

Stetson’s chapter won an award last year for best event.

The Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division is governed by a president and board of governors. The Law Student Division’s board is comprised of six elected and/or appointed representatives from each of Florida’s 12 law schools who serve as the liaisons between the Florida Bar and Florida law students.

Stetson Law wins best brief at Florida Bar moot court competition

Stetson University College of Law students Jeremy Bailie, Anisha Patel and Nick Sellars won the best brief award at the Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition at the Florida Bar conference on June 25-26 in Orlando.

Stetson's Moot Court team won best brief. (L-R): Gordon Glover (Moot Court Committee member), Katherine Hurst Miller (Stetson alumna and co-chair of the Moot Court Committee), Nick Sellars, Anisha Patel, Jeremy Bailie, Melaine Griffin (President of the Young Lawyers Division), and Andrew Pickett (Chair of the Moot Court Committee). — Stetson’s Moot Court team won best brief. (L-R): Gordon Glover (Moot Court Committee member), Katherine Hurst Miller (Stetson alumna and co-chair of the Moot Court Committee), Nick Sellars, Anisha Patel, Jeremy Bailie, Melaine Griffin (President of the Young Lawyers Division), and Andrew Pickett (Chair of the Moot Court Committee).

Stetson’s Moot Court team advanced to the final round of the annual competition, arguing in front of the justices of the Florida Supreme Court.

“Throughout the competition, our team had the opportunity to argue in front of state trial and appellate judges,” said Stetson Law professor Brooke Bowman, who co-coached the team with alumnus Larry Miccolis.

“Participating in this competition is a remarkable experience in real-life oral advocacy. The appellate judges said that our students were professional, poised, and extremely prepared,” said Bowman.

The competition was hosted by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and the Appellate Practice Section.

Stetson Lawyers Association honors eight law alumni and friends

The Stetson Lawyers Association presented awards to eight outstanding alumni and friends of Stetson University College of Law during the Florida Bar Annual Meeting in Orlando on June 26.

Nestor M. de Armas B.B.A. ’73 and Congressman David W. Jolly received the Distinguished Service Award for their significant, meritorious and continuing contributions to Stetson Law.

Former president of the Stetson University Alumni Association, de Armas has served as trustee emeritus, chair and member of Stetson’s Board of Trustees. He and his wife Donna created the Nestor M. and Donna Hunt de Armas Scholarship to assist Stetson University students with financial need.

Congressman David W. Jolly, who represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, serves on Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law Advisory Board. Jolly also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and was the former senior advisor and general counsel to the late Congressman Bill Young.

Judge David Demers B.A. ’68, JD ’72 and Judge Irene Sullivan JD ’77 received this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Demers, elected chief judge of the Pinellas County Circuit Court in 2001, implemented policies and procedures during his six-year tenure that guide the circuit court today. Judge Demers is a 2009 Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame inductee who has served as an adjunct professor at Stetson, a member of the prestigious Stetson College of Law Skills Training Committee, and a frequent presenter at Stetson University’s Professionalism seminars.

Sullivan is a 2011 Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame inductee and adjunct professor teaching juvenile law at Stetson. Shepracticed trial law in St. Petersburg for 22 years before she was elected circuit court judge in 1998. Judge Sullivan served on the juvenile and family law bench until 2011 and authored the popular book, Raised by the Courts: One Judge’s Insight into Juvenile Justice.

Lawrence P. Ingram JD ’90 received the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award for continuously supporting Stetson Law and its alumni association.

Ingram, managing partner of the Tampa office of the international law firm Phelps Dunbar, currently serves as vice chair of the executive committee of the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers.

Brian Tannebaum JD ’94 received the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award for dedication and service to the Stetson Lawyers Association.

Tannebaum is an American Bar Association National Trial Champion and a former member of Stetson’s Trial Team. Tannebaum is a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he is one of only two members of the association to have received all three presidential service awards.

Gregory Coleman B.B.A.’85,JD ’89, incoming president of the Florida Bar, received the Ben C. Willard Award for humanitarian achievements bringing distinction to himself and Stetson Law.

Coleman has served on and chaired nearly every significant standing and special committee in the Florida Bar and is an unprecedented three-time winner of the Florida Bar’s prestigious President’s Award of Merit. Coleman is also a member of the House of Delegates for the American Bar Association and a director of the Florida Bar Foundation.

Stetson Lawyers Association president Jenay Iurato JD/MBA ’00 received the President’s Award in recognition of her leadership.

Iurato works with the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association, the Junior League of Tampa, and advocates for ending human trafficking around the world.

Marc Levine JD ’06 was named incoming president of the Stetson Lawyers Association. Stetson University President Wendy Libby, Stetson University College of Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, and Stetson Law alumnus Luis Prats B.A.’78, JD ’81 spoke at the awards program.

Stetson Law hosts open house and part-time info sessions in July, August

Stetson University College of Law will host two open house and information sessions in July and August about the admissions process for part-time law school applicants. Students interested in the full-time program are also invited to attend.

“The part-time program granted me the flexibility to continue to work full-time while attending classes at night,” said part-time Stetson University law student Kevin Lonzo. “This allowed me to gain valuable work experience and build a network of contacts in the Tampa Bay area, while earning my degree.”

“I will be graduating soon and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the part-time program provided me,” said Stetson Law student Amanda Ortega. “The evening class schedule allowed me to keep working to support my family while still getting a valuable Stetson education.”

Prospective law students interested in attending should RSVP for one of the sessions:

Thursday, July 31, at the Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St.
Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

All programs will start at 6:30 p.m. Registration begins at 6 p.m.

Stetson enrolls new law students every fall.

To RSVP and for more information and directions to Stetson’s Tampa Law Center or Gulfport campuses, visit http://www.law.stetson.edu/parttime or e-mail [email protected].

Student Todd Hoover: Advocating for literary equality

When he is not busy commuting from his home in Palm Harbor, Florida, to Stetson Law school or working full-time at his job of 16 years at Nebraska Printing Company, Todd Hoover is a literacy advocate for at-risk youth.

The 45-year-old third-year student at Stetson University College of Law balances raising a family with a full-time job, part-time law school, and his work with a nonprofit literacy program. Hoover recently created the nonprofit, First 25, Inc., to help boost literacy among underprivileged youth in Pinellas County, Florida.

“The time for ineffective measures and impotent bureaucracies is over,” Hoover said. “We will teach these kids to read child by child, until we have fixed the problem.”

First 25 promotes what Hoover calls racial literary equality. Through First 25, Hoover helped grow a community literacy program in an at-risk area of Largo, Florida, which lead to a pilot program at John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Hoover is also the author of several children’s and young adult fiction books.

Taking center stage: Stetson alumna, staffer co-author play about adapting to change

“It started with three writers talking out a concept around the dining room table,” Stetson University College of Law staffer Julie Saffan shared.

Saffan is the co-author of a new play, “Baggage,” with Stetson Law alumna Jaye Ann Terry, and University of Central Florida cinema studies student Amanda Dodge.

The play portrays two women who help their friend to let go of obstacles and adapt to change.

Terry, an attorney who recently moved to Tallahassee, was a longtime resident of St. Petersburg. She coordinated the Journeys in Journalism Program for elementary, middle and high school students in Pinellas County and worked at the Tampa Bay Times.

Saffan, a native New Yorker, has lived in St. Petersburg for two decades and works in Stetson University’s business office on the Gulfport campus.

“Baggage” will be presented on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Studio@620 in St. Petersburg. An audience discussion with the playwrights will follow the performance.

103 alumni voted among Florida Trend’s Legal Elite

A total of 103 Stetson University College of Law alumni have been selected for Florida’s Legal Elite in the July 2014 Florida Trend magazine.

Stetson Law graduates walk at a recent commencement.

The Legal Elite Hall of Fame includes two Stetson Law alumni, Mark A. Hanley JD ’80 and Rhea F. Law JD ’79. The Hall of Fame honors attorneys who have consistently ranked in the top tier in Legal Elite voting for several years.

This year, 20 Stetson Law alumni listed among Florida’s Legal Elite were also selected by their peers as “up and coming” attorneys and three Stetson Law alumni were voted outstanding attorneys working in the government and non-profit sectors.

Florida’s Legal Elite, now in its 11th edition, showcases attorneys chosen by their peers who exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession. All in-state members of the Florida Bar are asked to vote. The resulting list of Florida’s Legal Elite represents fewer than 2% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in the state.

Stetson University tops Florida Super Lawyers list again

Stetson University College of Law alumni again top the list of Florida Super Lawyers. Stetson Law is among the top 10 law schools in the state producing the highest number of Florida Super Lawyers this year.

Graduates walk at Stetson Law commencement.

This year, 298 Stetson Law alumni are among the Florida Super Lawyers and 181 Stetson Law alumni are honored among the Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Stetson Law alumnus Christian D. Searcy is listed among the Top 10 2014 Florida Super Lawyers. Five Stetson Law alumnae are listed among the Top 50 Women Florida Super Lawyers : Tae Kelley Bronner, Tracy Raffles Gunn, Lorena Hart Ludovici, Marian P. McCulloch, and Lynn Welter Sherman. Five Stetson Law alumni are included in the Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers: Stephen A. Barnes, Stephen D. Busey, Mac Richard McCoy, Luis Prats and Searcy.

Super Lawyers magazine rates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement through independent research, peer nominations and evaluations.

No more than 5 percent of attorneys in the state are included in the Florida Super Lawyers list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to Rising Stars.