News Archives - Page 7 of 138

2025 Higher Ed Law Conference Adds Major Keynotes

A collage featuring four professional headshots of higher education professionals — Clockwise, from top left: Jim Moore, Patricia Salkin, Professor Peter Lake, Jonathan Fansmith

Despite their pivotal role in American life, culture, and economic health, colleges and universities face increasing and shifting regulatory mandates, political scrutiny, and legal challenges. The field can expect significant changes in light of the incoming federal administration. With a new roster featuring some of higher-ed’s most prominent thought leaders, Stetson’s annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education will help industry professionals face those challenges.

Taking place March 5-9, 2025 at the stunning Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, the conference fosters compelling conversations known to influence law and policy in the higher ed space.

The keynote speakers are:

American Council on Education (ACE) Senior Vice President of Government Relations and National Engagement Jonathan Fansmith
Jim Moore, senior advisor for Clery Act compliance and campus safety operations with the U.S. Department of Education
and Law Professor Patricia E. Salkin, who is senior V.P. of academic affairs and provost of graduate and professional divisions at Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

A premier event

Throughout the year, staff and leadership of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy work tirelessly to identify emerging topics for discussion and secure influential figures in the higher education industry who can offer insights and updates throughout the conference, which is now in its 46^th year. Popular sessions include the Crystal Ball session, during which panelists make informed (and often humorous) predictions about higher ed in the coming year.

“Stetson’s leadership in analyzing developments in higher education law and policy has never been more critical than in this moment of transformation at the federal policy level,” said Professor Peter Lake, who directs the Center and chairs the conference.

The event’s 2025 theme is “The 2025 Compliance Reset: Navigating the New Landscape of Federal and State Regulatory Mandates.” It will explore the potentially profound federal law and policy changes – particularly the Supreme Court’s Chevron and Corner Post cases – that will alter higher education compliance requirements.

Lake, a leading higher ed law expert, wrote a piece, “Management by Judiciary,” for Inside Higher Ed following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Chevron decision that garnered the attention of college presidents, boards and administrators across the country.

“Do not be lured into thinking that this is the end of dynamic, challenging, at times inconsistent compliance mandates for higher education. Instead, higher education’s lived regulatory experiences likely will only become more complex and legalistic,” Lake wrote in the article.

Other topics to be explored include artificial intelligence’s impacts on higher education, academic freedom, athletics, and crisis management.

About the keynote speakers

Lake and his team are thrilled to host the high-caliber speakers who will headline the event. They represent a broad range of perspectives from within the federal government, university administration, and beyond.

Jonathan Fansmith, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and National Engagement, American Council on Education (ACE)

Leading ACE’s efforts to engage federal policymakers on issues affecting colleges and universities, Fansmith coordinates the government relations response of approximately 60 higher education associations in Washington, DC. His work involves representation before Congress, administrative agencies, and the federal courts. Fansmith’s writing has appeared in publications ranging from The Washington Post to The Journal of College and University Law, and he is a frequent speaker for association, academic, and corporate audiences.

See Fansmith’s full bio.

**Jim Moore, Senior Advisor for Clery Act Compliance and Campus Safety Operations, U.S. Department of Education**

Serving as the federal government’s top expert on the Clery Act, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, and other campus safety and crime prevention initiatives, Moore has led numerous high-profile investigations, including the Department’s examinations of the Jerry Sandusky and Larry Nassar scandals at Penn State and Michigan State, respectively. He has helped institutions develop sexual assault prevention programs and leads the Department of Education’s Clery Act training, technical assistance, and outreach initiatives. From 2014 to 2017, he served on the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and joined the ED-DOJ-HHS Task Force on Sexual Violence in Education and the Violence Against Women Act Interagency Working Group in 2022.

See Moore’s full bio.

Patricia E. Salkin, Senior VP of Academic Affairs, Provost, Graduate and Professional Divisions and Professor of Law, Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Dr. Salkin currently serves as Provost, Graduate and Professional Divisions and Professor of Law at Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. She is co-chair of the NYS Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar and she was a member of the City Bar’s Task Force on New Lawyers in a Changing Profession. She is a past chair of the American Association of Law School’s State & Local Government Law Section, and is the author of hundreds of articles, columns and books including MAY IT PLEASE THE CAMPUS: LAWYERS LEADING HIGHER EDUCATION (Touro University Press, 2022).

See Salkin’s full bio.

To learn more about the conference, see the speaker list and register for the event, visit the main conference page.

Meet Stetson Law’s Newest Faculty

A collage featuring photos of six professional headshots — Clockwise from top left: Professors Jeffrey Brooks, Deidré Keller, Robyn Powell, Alfredo Garcia, Nino Monea, and Shailini George.

A big part of what makes Stetson Law so special is the faculty whose scholarship and passion for mentorship foster success for students. These new and visiting faculty are the latest to contribute to this community.

Visiting Assistant Professor Jeffrey Brooks

Joining Stetson Law from Louisiana State University, Brooks is a major force behind the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest competition of its kind. While at Stetson Law, he will teach international law.

See Professor Brooks’ full bio.

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law Alfredo Garcia

An eminent scholar and former dean of St. Thomas University College of Law, Garcia brings a wealth of experience as an administrator, faculty member, and legal practitioner. He joined Stetson Law as a visiting professor in fall of 2024 and teaches criminal law.

See Professor Garcia’s full bio.

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Legal Writing Shailini George

Suffolk University Professor Shailini George joined Stetson Law as Distinguishing Visiting Professor of Legal Writing for the 2024-2025 academic year. George’s years of teaching experience in legal writing will help to bolster Stetson Law’s reputation as a national leader in legal writing. George also brings an extensive body of work exploring the role that mindfulness in student success.

See Professor George’s full bio.

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law Deidré Keller

Deidré A. Keller is the immediate past dean of the Florida A&M University (FAMU Law) College of Law in Orlando. She writes and speaks at the intersections of pedagogy, intellectual property, personhood theory, the Constitution, and diversifying the legal profession. She teaches contracts and intellectual property.

See Professor Keller’s full bio.

Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Nino Monea

A 2016 Harvard Law alumni and former editor of the Harvard Journal of Legislation, Monea’s recent work includes serving as a Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army. Prior to that, he clerked for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary McCormick. He teaches professional responsibility.

See Professor Monea’s full bio.

Professor Robyn Powell

In fall of 2024, Stetson Law welcomed Professor Robyn Powell back to campus as tenure-track faculty. Powell teaches professional responsibility, disability law, public health law, and other courses and is a nationally recognized expert in disability law, particularly where it intersects parental rights.

See Professor Powell’s full bio.

Alumni Spotlight: Jim Shore ’77 ’80

Stetson Double Hatter Jim Shore B.A. ’77, J.D. ‘80

With dedication to serving his community and an unflappable work ethic, Jim Shore’s path to becoming general counsel for the Seminole Tribe of Florida is as uncommon as it is inspirational.

Even before the Double Hatter set foot on either Stetson campus, his story can best be described as one of spirited perseverance in the face of daunting challenges – all in the name of giving back to the Seminole Tribe.

In 2022, he established the Jim Shore Scholarship for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Endowment, which encourages and supports members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida to follow in Shore’s footsteps by pursuing a legal education at Stetson University College of Law.

Shore said he hopes to encourage others in his community to cultivate careers in which they can use their skills to help the tribe prosper.

“The continued success of the Seminole Tribe of Florida depends on the education of future generations of its members,” Shore said. “We hope Stetson University College of Law becomes an important partner in attracting, educating, and preparing Seminole students to become attorneys.”

Hard work in the face of the unexpected

Jim Shore was born in 1945 in an area just northwest of Lake Okeechobee, where his family raised cattle and lived in chickees with thatched roofs and no indoor plumbing. Despite the challenge of being born blind in one eye, he graduated from Okeechobee High School in 1963 and worked in construction, as a mechanic, and even as a cowboy.

In 1970, an auto accident sent shards of glass into his eyes, resulting in complete blindness. Without the ability to see, he needed to start over with a new career direction; Shore would joke that he couldn’t make a living riding a horse. He turned to education, first earning his B.A. in history from Stetson University’s
DeLand campus in 1976. After hearing his classmates talk about going on to study law at the University’s Gulfport law school campus, he applied and was accepted.

His dedication to his legal studies while at Stetson Law became the stuff of legend. The St. Petersburg Times even wrote about his unique method of studying law by taping class lectures on a small reel-to-reel, then listening to the tape for up to seven hours a day before recording his own notes on additional tapes.

His legal colleagues say that experience left him with an uncanny ability to hear what’s said in negotiations – as well as what’s not said.

A few days before graduating from Stetson Law, he slipped on wet pavement and broke his ankle – and attended the ceremony with help from a wheelchair. With his family by his side, he became the first Seminole to earn a law degree.

A career spent giving back

After passing the bar, he worked as deputy counsel for the then-3,000-member Seminole Tribe of Florida in 1981. A year later, he became general counsel for the tribe, now 4,200 strong, a role he has held ever since.

He helped form the Seminole Police Department and effectively negotiated a series of water use challenges between the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the state, and the federal government.

His work has greatly improved the health and welfare of the Seminole people by helping to diversify tribe enterprises, including negotiations between the tribe and the state to secure the 2007 gaming agreement that allowed for Las Vegas-style gaming at the tribe’s six Florida casinos. He also shepherded the tribe’s monumental acquisition of the Hard Rock hotel, restaurant, and casino chain.

Recognition for passionate advocacy

In 2020, Shore won the American Bar Association’s Energy, Environment and Resources Government Attorney of the Year award for his legal work and achievements in the areas of the environment, energy, and natural resources.

He continues to focus on Everglades restoration and Lake Okeechobee management within the Brighton Reservation, which now encompasses the area where he grew up, and the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. In a video introducing Shore, attorney Michelle Diffenderfer, president of Florida-based firm Lewis, Longman & Walker, who has worked with Shore for years, lauded him for his “incredible
listening skills and a penchant for knowing just what to do at the right time.”

Shore also received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Florida State University in 2005 and was inducted into Stetson Law’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 2023, the Stetson Lawyers’ Alumni Association honored Shore with its Ben Willard Award, which recognizes “alumni whose tireless efforts and humanitarian work have demonstrably benefited Floridians.”

Stetson Law Raises $60k for Storm Relief – But Need is Still Great

A collage of images depicting food on shelves, school supplies, and food being served buffet-style. — Donations of funds, food, and school essentials are helping our students recover from back-to-back hurricanes.

Back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the community surrounding Stetson University College of Law.

As Gulfport, the Pinellas beaches, and parts of St. Petersburg were particularly hard-hit, some Stetson Law students lost everything from laptops and textbooks to homes and vehicles.

One student reported losing virtually all of their belongings and remains displaced after the storms caused extensive damage to their home. Yet another said they lost all furniture, personal belongings, clothes, and shoes to flooding. Another said they lost two refrigerators’ worth of food due to two consecutive, prolonged power outages.

To support students affected by the storms, Stetson Law put out a call to action urging alumni and friends to contribute to its Student Emergency and Food Pantry funds – and the community responded generously. So far, Stetson Law has raised $30,000 for students in need of post-hurricane aid.

One such contributor is Susan B., whose son is a 2L and graduate of Stetson University in DeLand.

“Our son was not affected by hurricanes Helene or Milton, but he shared that many of his classmates were,” she said. “We just want to help his fellow students who were not as fortunate to recover from loss and damage so they can focus on their studies.”

The family’s contribution will greatly assist students as they work to rebuild their lives amid unprecedented circumstances.

While the amount of contributions so far is impressive, it pales in comparison to the needs of our impacted students.

Whether you have yet to give or would like to provide more than one gift, doing so is easy via the Stetson Law website. Simply visit our Giving Page and, under the drop-down menu titled “Designation,” select “College of Law Food Pantry” or “Student Emergency Fund Law School.”

The College of Law is incredibly grateful to all who have supported our students in the wake of two catastrophic weather events.

Click here to contribute.

How Stetson Law Champions Accessibility On & Off Campus

A graphic featuring icons representing various types of disabilities. In the middle, text reads "Stetson Law celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month."

From on-campus events to learning opportunities for professionals, Stetson Law is a place where accommodating individuals of all ability levels is part of the campus culture.

Here are some top ways the College of Law is showing its commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensuring a sense of belonging among those it aims to protect.

Supporting success by accommodating students

Tour the Stetson Law campus and you will see that facilities have been outfitted to ensure those with physical limitations can move about with ease. This is the tip of the iceberg. The College of Law also employs an Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, alumna Kathryn Pelham ’06 to ensure students with temporary or permanent physical or mental disabilities receive reasonable academic adjustments to equip them for success. Through an interactive evaluation process, which students can initiate via the Accommodate Student Portal or by emailing [email protected], Pelham and her staff are committed to helping all students feel welcome and ready for success in law school.

Law Professor Robyn Powell

Elevating faculty who champion disability rights

By hiring law faculty like Professor Robyn Powell, a nationally recognized expert in disability law, the College of Law fosters a space for scholarship around disability law and the other areas with which it intersects, such as reproductive rights and family law. Powell returned to Stetson Law in fall of 2024 after previously serving as Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law.

Encouraging students to collaborate on disability law

Through the Stetson chapter of the Disability Allied Law Student Association, disabled students and their allies are invited to explore disability law and advocacy. The group aims to identify opportunities to promote equal rights for disabled people at Stetson Law and beyond, as well as spread awareness of challenges the disability community faces and ways to combat stigma toward individuals with disabilities.

In early October of 2024, in observation of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the group collaborated with the Student Bar Association to hold an informative lunch session offering tips and tricks for how to be more mindful when interacting with disabled individuals.

Hosting events such as an annual Sign Language Interpreter Training

A sign language interpreter practices signing in a courtroom setting — Interpreters were able to experience signing in a courtroom setting.

As a place of learning, Stetson Law strives to ensure that the knowledge, insights, and scholarship that emerge on campus can inform the legal profession on the whole. This is why the College hosts events such as the Sign Language Interpreter Training for interpreters who work or aspire to work in a legal setting. The multi-day event invites interpreters explore the challenges of conducting such work during a trial and other legal setting.

Inviting motivated students to become disability advocates

Stetson Law student Jessica King

Through Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy (SJA) Concentration as well as experiential opportunities within partner organizations, students are encouraged to pursue their passion and are often recognized for their work. One example is student Jessica King, who – with help from mentors like Professor Judith Scully – seized on numerous opportunities to promote accessibility on campus and beyond. While at Stetson Law, she served as a legal intern at Disability Rights Florida – and was honored for this and other efforts by Washington, DC-based nonprofit Equal Justice Works in 2023.

Learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Spring ’24 Alumna Among Highest July FL Bar Scorers

A young man and woman stand in a courtyard holding graduation garb. — Emily Van Den Langenberg ’24, right, and her husband, Mark Van Den Langenberg

For spring 2024 alumna Emily Van Den Langenberg, pursuing a J.D. – one from Stetson Law, in particular – was a no-brainer. Her father, Paul Cavonis, and brother, Michael Cavonis, are 1994 and 2022 alumni, respectively.

“Our family feels Stetson Law is an excellent program, and none of us applied to or even considered applying anywhere else,” she said.

Not as much of a no-brainer? Passing the Florida bar exam, despite her extensive bar preparation work, studying previously released exam questions, and booking a hotel room near the test venue to avoid morning-of traffic.

“I was scared,” she said. “I understood that no J.D. is owed a law license and that all my carefully laid life plans were contingent upon my performance over the next two days.”

The study and preparation, paired with a quality relaxation session just before the exam, paid off. Van Den Langenberg did not just pass the exam; she did so with one of the highest July Florida bar exam scores in the state. As part of this honor, she was invited to speak at the Second District Court of Appeals Induction Ceremony at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center and was recognized at the Florida Supreme Court during their October 16 induction ceremony.

Aquatic scenes to ease the tension

The day before Van Den Langenberg was to sit for the exam, her husband Mark – who had received his Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anesthesia from the University of South Florida days before she graduated from Stetson Law – came up with a great way to help her relax. After checking into the testing venue, the Tampa Convention Center, they spent the morning at the nearby Florida Aquarium observing its resident sea creatures in their mesmerizing habitats.

An animal lover (the couple has two rescue dogs, Boston and Pete) with a passion for exploring natural landscapes, Van Den Langenberg found it to be the perfect setting for destressing ahead of one of the biggest career challenges yet. “We got there when it opened and took our time relaxing in front of the big aquarium tanks,” she said. “It was cathartic, and I recommend anyone take the day before the test to do whatever they find serene.”

A shared triumph

Van Den Langenberg has been working in a support role at her father’s practice, DeLoach, Hofstra and Cavonis P.A., since she was a teenager. On the day the bar exam results were released on the Florida Supreme Court website, she sat in her office refreshing the page for an hour until she could see if she passed.

“When I saw ‘pass, pass, pass, yes,’ I ran into my dad’s office, and we both cried happy tears,” she said. “Later that day, I took the Oath of Attorney in front of the coworkers I have known since childhood. It was very special.”

She is now a civil litigation attorney at DeLoach, Hofstra and Cavonis P.A. Her areas of practice are construction litigation, will contests, and personal injury. She said she hopes to help the firm develop a new area in which she can help fellow residents of her native Pinellas County.

“My ultimate goal is to open the family law practice at DeLoach, Hofstra and Cavonis P.A. and to have a few kids along the way!” she said.

Hurricane Milton Update

The physical condition of campus continues to improve every day.

In the surrounding community, utilities that have not yet been restored are being restored quickly. Gulfport has lifted its boil water advisory. Duke Energy is anticipating full restoration of power by the end of the day Thursday, October 17.

Stetson Law will hold classes remotely Wednesday, October 16 through Friday, October 18. Classes scheduled for this weekend (Saturday, October 19-Sunday, October 20) will also be held remotely.

All business will operate in a hybrid or remote format for all employees on Wednesday, October 16 through Friday, October 18.

We plan to resume normal operations and return to in-person classes Monday, October 21.

We know that there are a lot of questions about academic issues. Please send these questions to Dean Palmer at [email protected].

Although campus restoration is not complete and power has not been restored to our entire community, we expect things to improve dramatically by the end of the week.

If you have not yet done so, please sign up for Hatter Alerts to get updates via text message and email at https://my.stetson.edu/.

Meet Visiting Clinics Director Michael Vastine

A man in a blue plaid jacket and a salmon shirt is smiling in front of a — Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Michael Vastine

As evidenced by the college’s national reputation for preparing students to be practice-ready the day they graduate, experiential education is a cultural cornerstone at Stetson Law.

In the fall, the presence of Distinguished Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Michael Vastine will bolster the college’s efforts to foster confidence and professional development among its student body.

A nationally recognized scholar and litigator in the field of immigrant defense, Vastine joins Stetson Law from St. Thomas University College of Law (Miami), 2004-2024, where he was a tenured Professor of Law, Director of the Immigration Clinic, and Director of Clinical Education.

Vastine will serve in the role for one year while Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia, through the college’s Highbaugh Chair program, takes time away from her teaching and administrative duties to write a course book for Professional Responsibility.

“We are fortunate to have Michael on our campus this year to learn and grow from his experience and energy,” Cerniglia said of Vastine.

A storied career in immigration law

Well-known in Florida’s immigration communities for his outreach, presentation on emerging topics, and significant litigation experience, Vastine has a long list of accomplishments.

He has litigated several widely cited cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court and authored amicus curiae briefs on matters concerning immigrants’ legal rights before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal Circuits, and state supreme courts, and has published widely on related issues and made hundreds of conference presentations.

He has also held leadership roles at the national level of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the AILA South Florida Chapter (including as Chair), as well as the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) and the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA).

A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Vastine also holds degrees from Temple University Graduate School of Music and Georgetown Law Center.

Plans for an impactful year

Vastine said he attributes much of his success to clinical education he received early in his career. Even before law school, he held a legal position in a clinic. He went on to spend years directing a litigation-based immigration clinic, where he witnessed students routinely rising to the occasion to meet “near-impossible” expectations.

He said this experience informs his approach to leading clinical and experiential learning while at Stetson Law.

“My goal is for our clinic and externship students to access transformative experiences as they learn invaluable lessons from their clients, realize their potential as self-directed new advocates, and find the right blend in pairing authentic personal goals with fulfilling professional lives,” Vastine said.

Stetson Law Hurricane Helene Update

It will take some time for our community to fully recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene. Some of us are dealing with tremendous loss and disruption. We have gotten word that many in our community have offered support in many ways. We thank you.

We wanted to let you know that campus will open sooner than expected. We have power and AC in all buildings. We will reopen the Gulfport campus Sunday, September 29 at 8 A.M. The library and student lounge will be open.

The Tampa Law Center will open on Sunday as well, with regular hours. Please be sure to bring your ID to gain entrance.

If you need to talk with someone in these anxious and uncertain moments, please remember that students also have free immediate access to a therapist and/or mindfulness techniques through our partnership with Uwill. Uwill is Private. Secure. Confidential. Create a profile in minutes using your school email.

We wish everyone the best.

Meet Spring 2024 Valedictorian Cameron Kubly

A photo of a man in a suit smiling and folding his arms. — Cameron Kubly ’24

When he started law school, Cameron Kubly was not exactly set on becoming class valedictorian. That changed when his grades came in.

“Once I got my first semester grades and saw that I was ranked first, I started to think that it was a real possibility and tried to keep working hard to maintain that position,” he said.

Along the way, he received the highest grade in 11 classes, served as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, worked as a federal judicial extern to the Honorable Charlene Honeywell, and acted in theatre productions such as freeFall’s God Bless You Mr. Rosewater.

For all his industriousness and spirit, he was honored with the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award on the eve of commencement.

Gratitude for supportive friends and family

In summer of 2024, a letter from the dean made it official: Kubly is the 2024 class valedictorian. He said he is grateful to those who supported and encouraged him to go above and beyond.

“I’m really grateful to my family—especially my wife, Emma—for supporting me through my law school journey,” Kubly said. “Also, all the friends I made at Stetson encouraged me and challenged me to accomplish this goal, and I’m thankful for them.”

He said he is also thankful for the mentorship of Professors Lance Long, Ellen Podgor, and Kristen Adams, who helped him balance his extracurricular activities and explore career options.

Adams said Kubly was a “joy to teach” and to work with on the Stetson Law Review symposium on the Virgin Islands.

“His kindness, wonderful sense of humor, and fantastic sense of perspective about both life and law school always impressed me just as much as his outstanding intellect and his hard work as both a student and an Editor in Chief,” she said. “It’s going to be really exciting to see where his journey as a lawyer takes him, because I know it’s going to be wonderful.”

Balancing it all

Amid the rigors of law school, Kubly participated in local theatrical productions like God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Although it kept him busy, he said, the excitement of non-law-school activities helped him stay balanced.

“I think having things to look forward to outside of law school, like spending time with family and performing in theatre productions, helped me manage my time better because I knew I only had specific pockets of the day with which I could focus on school,” he said. “It was tough at times but well worth it.”

Where he is off to next

As for his post-law-school plans, Kubly said he is going to work as a judicial law clerk for a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

“I’m looking forward to learning from the judge and improving my research and writing skills for when I do enter practice,” he said.

Alumni Association Names 2024 Award Winners

A collage of Stetson Law alumni photos — Clockwise from left: Carleton Weidemeyer ’61; Laura Gao ’16; David Persky ’88; Dr. Pradodh & Soneet Kapila

Spanning multiple generations and backgrounds, the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) were honored for their diverse contributions to Stetson Law and the legal profession itself.

The awards, typically given in June of each year during the Florida Bar Association’s annual convention in Orlando, recognize alumni for a broad range of achievements as well as for going above and beyond in giving back to their alma mater.

“Coming from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and achievements the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association awards are selected for going above and beyond with their contributions to Stetson Law School, its students, and the legal profession,” said Brittany Maxey-Fisher, president of SLAA.

A black-and-white photograph of a woman named Brittany Maxey-Fisher smiling in an office. — Alumna Brittany Maxey-Fisher became president of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association in June of 2023.

Here are the 2024 SLAA award winners:

Ben Willard Award: Carleton Weidemeyer JD ’61

An early advocate for Stetson Law’s now-robust Clinics and Externships program, Carleton “Woody” Weidemeyer ‘61 was honored with this year’s Ben Willard Award, which aims to recognize an individual whose work has benefited society at large.

Weidemeyer helped establish and run the first law school clinic in Florida through the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, which gave students the opportunity to argue cases before a judge on behalf of those who could not afford private legal counsel. One of the top students during his time at Stetson Law, Weidemeyer has remained close to his law school colleagues and has given generously to help establish a scholarship to aid students focusing on legal writing.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Ying “Laura” Gao JD ’16 (posthumously)

Honoring an alum who has had an enduring impact on the legal profession and humanity at large , the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award was posthumously given to 2016 alumna Ying “Laura” Gao.

Gao, who passed away February 28, 2024, was a beloved member of the Stetson Law community. She was a practicing attorney whose focus was elder law. A licensed pilot, she was passionate about aviation as well as sailing, SCUBA diving, and other activities.

“Laura Gao is being honored posthumously with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for her impact on the legal profession and Stetson Law School, particularly for her work with Asian-American Law Student Association,” Maxey-Fisher said. “Laura was also steadfast in her commitment to bar passage. As the inaugural donor to Stetson’s Bar Preparation Fund, Laura gave both her time and treasures to ensure Stetson Law Students have the necessary resources to study for and pass the bar exam.”

Paul May Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Adam Levine JD ’09

Its namesake a tribute to an alumnus who helped grow SLAA into the substantial network it is today, the Paul May Meritorious Service Award honors an individual who has been generous and consistent with their time and resources in support of the Stetson Law community. This year’s honoree, Dr. Adam Levine ’09, enrolled at Stetson Law after years working as a medical doctor. Not long after earning his J.D. a semester early and launching his private practice, Levine returned to Stetson Law to teach. Stetson Law courses include Medical Jurisprudence, Introduction to the Physical Examination and Critical Interpretation of Medical Records, Deposing Medical Experts, and Florida Medical Malpractice. He also teaches Advanced Expert Witnesses for Stetson Law’s Online LL.M. in Advocacy.

Outstanding Alumni Representative Award: David Persky JD ’88

An award recognizing alumni who excelled in their efforts to help the Stetson Law alumni community remain active and robust, this year’s Outstanding Alumni Representative honor went to an alumnus who has dedicated his career to higher education.

Persky earned his PhD in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 1979, and earned his J.D. from Stetson Law a decade later. While at Stetson Law, he served as president of the Student Bar Association and worked as a student admissions counselor. After serving as Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County, he spent two decades in leadership roles at Saint Leo University. Persky now teaches at University of Tampa and Saint Leo University as an adjunct professor.

Persky says he had a great experience at Stetson Law and that lifelong friendships grew out of his time in law school. He adds that he hopes giving back to the College of Law will help future students continue the tradition of excellence at Stetson.

Distinguished Service Award: Soneet Kapila and Dr. Prabodh Kapila.

Each year, this award goes to a non-alum who has gone above and beyond in enriching the Stetson Law community, the legal profession, and society overall. With an extensive history of philanthropy that has greatly benefited education, medical research and the arts, the Kapila’s have demonstrated a deep passion for community involvement.

Soneet Kapila is a founding member of KapilaMukamal, LLP, one of the nation’s foremost forensic and insolvency/creditors’ rights and litigation consulting practices. He is currently Acting Chairperson and immediate past-president of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a Distinguished Fellow of the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors as well as a sitting trustee on the panel of U.S. Bankruptcy Trustees in the Southern District of Florida.

His wife, Dr. Prabodh Kapila, is a retired physician who specialized in rheumatology practicing for about thirty years in Plantation, Florida.

As a director of The Kapila Family Foundation, and inspired by his wife’s spirit, Soneet Kapila helped establish The Kapila Family Foundation Scholarship Fund at Stetson, an award intended to support law education in the insolvency area and to provide scholarship assistance to students specializing in bankruptcy law. “I am committed to the enhancement of legal education and skills in the insolvency and creditors’ rights space and creating opportunities for aspiring law student who wish to pursue a career in business reorganizations and the insolvency field,” Soneet Kapila said.

In New Children’s Book, Professor Adams Seeks to Inspire Hope

A photo collage featuring Professor Kristen Adams jogging with her dog Allie, a Vizsla, and Allie's brother Olie. Allie is pictured eating a burger and reclinging on Olie while wearing a cone to prevent her from licking her wound. — Law Professor Kristen Adams hopes her dog Allie’s perseverance will inspire others.

Every night, Allie, one of Law Professor Kristen Adams and her husband Jeff’s beloved Vizslas, jumps on the sofa for a belly rub. One night, when she wasn’t quite seven years old, Adams noticed a spot on the dog’s leg that hadn’t been there before.

“It didn’t look like anything, but it was covered in fur,” Adams said. “We took her to the vet right away.”

The vet said it was serious – and sent her to have the growth removed right away.

Perseverance against the odds

What ensued was an at-times harrowing experience with a rare cancer that twice returned and is still not technically in remission.

“We have had at least three moments as a family of absolute desperation and feeling there is no hope,” Adams said.

Shortly after the mass was removed and she underwent chemo and radiation therapy, the cancer came back. The only option was to amputate the affected leg. It was a devastating prospect for Adams, knowing Allie’s love of running.

Law Professor Kristen Adams speaks at a podium during Stetson Law's annual Honors & Awards ceremony in May 2023. — Law Professor Kristen Adams.

“I said Well, Allie Loves to run. Allie loves to zoom,” she said, sobbing, to the surgeon. “And she looked at me and she said, Oh, Allie will zoom again.”

Not long after the surgery, Adams and her husband got more bad news about Allie. The cancer had returned. But this time, the oncologist wrote a chemotherapy protocol that has since helped Allie fend off another bout with cancer.

With her original diagnosis, Allie was expected to live for six months. It has been more than three years. Adams said the experience has led the veterinary professionals who treated her to update their protocol. Their confidence that Allie would beat the odds gave Adams’s household confidence – and may give other dogs more years with their families.

Now 10 years old, Allie remains her attentive self. She “supervises” her brother Olie, also a Viszla. She savors drive-thru hamburgers after her treatments. And she zooms. “Allie is a miracle on three legs,” Adams said. “She still runs with me every morning. She’s still faster than I am.”

A story to inspire hope

Adams was inspired to write the book by her dear friend, Stetson Law Professor Emerita Candace Zierdt, whose niece is a children’s librarian. She mentioned the project to her student assistant, Taylor Simonds.

Before attending Stetson Law, Simonds had worked in the publishing industry as both an author and editor. Using those skills to help Adams, whom she sees as an important mentor to her both professionally and personally, share a story that means so much to her was “a dream.”

“This story is obviously very personal and emotional, so we worked together to conceptualize and storyboard something that could cathartically reflect her real-life love for Allie, connect with kids, and also deal with the theme of optimism and perseverance in the face of illness,” Simonds, who is now a litigation associate at the Orlando office of Akerman LLP, said. “I think the result is truly special.”

With Simonds’ editorial expertise, Adams was able to work through the challenges of being a first-time children’s book author.

“The first version I wrote was way too sad and way too much in the weeds on the medical stuff,” Adams said. “Taylor very kindly read that and said to me Professor, I think that’s the story you need to write for yourself. Let’s talk about what the children’s version might be.”

The story was visually brought to life with help from illustrator Alexandra Franzese.

Adams said her biggest hope in writing this book is that it would give others hope and encouragement despite daunting challenges.

“There is still joy ahead,” she said. “Our Allie is still Allie. She is still a goofball. She still bosses us around. She still runs the household – and we didn’t know that was going to be true on the front end when we were going into all of this.”

The law school connection

While a children’s book might not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a law professor, Adams said the book’s underlying theme reflects an important part of her daily work: showing her students that they can persevere amid the most daunting challenges.

“Some of the classes I teach are really hard, and students come into the class thinking I can’t do this. I won’t be able to understand,” she said. “I always hope to inspire confidence in my students, and these doctors sure did that for us. We were able to take comfort in their confidence.”

Allie in Charge is available on Amazon.com.