Student Features Archives - Stetson Law News

Campus Bioswales to Raise Awareness, Cut Pollution

A split-screen image of students placing native plants into the soil at Stetson Law. — The first phase of the bioswale installation project began in fall of 2025.

Student Noah Peretz has always been passionate about preserving wild spaces – and rewilding tamed ones.

While a student law clerk with Stetson’s Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, the spring 2026 grad discovered that passion for protecting natural environments can translate to meaningful community impact.

When the chance arose to make their law school campus greener, Peretz jumped at the opportunity.

With encouragement from Jacobs Clinic Director Jaclyn Lopez and with the enthusiastic support of campus officials and landscaping contractors, Peretz spearheaded a successful Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund grant application to fund a multi-year effort to install native plants in four areas on campus. Peretz had never done anything like it before.

“It became clear that transforming our grass-lined stormwater retention swales into native, plant-based bioswales was a natural fit,” Peretz said. “From there, I began drafting the grant proposal. This was the first grant proposal I had ever written, and it would not have been possible without the support of my mentors.”

From green to greener

For natural environments and the wildlife that dwells within them, the grass isn’t always as green as it seems. St. Augustine and other lawn grasses require fertilizers, the excess of which get carried off by rainwaters into nearby waterways, where they feed harmful algae blooms. When it floods, they tend to retain less flood water than natural landscaping.

The bioswale project, which began fall of 2025, is replacing expansive patches of St. Augustine grass that line campus stormwater retention areas with vibrant and less water-intensive native plants. The Florida-friendly plants absorb more stormwater while reducing the amount of fertilizer that drains into our local waterways Bear Creek, Boca Ciega Bay, and Tampa Bay.

A person wearing a green polo shit and jeans is partially kneeling as they place a plant into soil — Replacing turf grass with water-loving native plants will help reduce flooding and pollution on campus.

They will enhance filtration, improve groundwater recharge and water quality, and help filter pollutants originating from vehicles, roofing materials, landscaping, pet waste, and other sources. Since they require significantly less care, they’ll also be cheaper to maintain.

The first phase of the project is located on the south side of campus, across the street from the basketball courts and directly to the east of the walkway leading to the campus pool. Here, tufts of blue iris, muhly grass, cocoplum, and beautyberry dot the soil.

The second phase will overhaul the stormwater retention area south of the Hand Law Library. The third and fourth phases will replace turf grass on the edge of campus east of Plaza Mayor.

When the project is complete, educational signs explaining the benefits of bioswales will be placed near them and continuous monitoring of area water quality will ensue.

The project reflects the College of Law’s commitment to sustainability as well as engaging the community in meaningful dialogue on important issues.

“The campus bioswale project is just one example of how education and community advocacy can work together for a better future,” Lopez said. “In bringing this project about, Noah demonstrated an awe-inspiring amount of attention to detail, work ethic, follow-through and, perhaps most importantly, passion. We’re thrilled to have Noah as part of our team.”

A public education opportunity

Environmental advocates see the project as a way to expose students, faculty, staff, friends, and neighbors to environmentally beneficial ways of maintaining urban green spaces and inspire them to think beyond the way we’ve always done things.

A campus map highlighting four areas throughout Stetson Law's grounds where eco-friendly swales are being installed. — The swales are being installed in four key areas on campus (highlighted above in red).

“We’re excited to support Stetson’s vision to excel beyond the status quo of turf grass on their College of Law campus,” said Jessica Lewis, community projects manager with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. “Once established, these bioswales will not only prevent nutrient pollution and water waste, they’ll also create a positive impact by restoring native urban habitat and showing students, faculty, and campus neighbors what’s possible in their own backyards.”

Peretz is now planting the seeds to ensure continued student involvement in administering the project after they graduate in May.

“My hope is that, as an alum, I will be able to return to campus and see the long-term fruits of this work, and that over time more of Stetson’s landscape design reflects a little more of that wild Florida beauty,” they said.

FL Supreme Court Chief Justice Speaks at Stetson

Two men wearing suits and ties sit and talk on a stage in front of a screen displaying the logos for the Stetson Federalist Society and the Florida Supreme Court. — Student Frank Giallourakis chats with Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz.

Members of the Stetson Law community packed the Mann Lounge on Thursday, October 23 to hear Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz’s thoughts on everything from judicial philosophy to how to succeed in the legal profession.

The fireside chat-style event was organized by the Stetson Law chapter of the Federalist Society and moderated by Frank Giallourakis, the organization’s president. “This afternoon was not just a tremendous honor for our Federalist Society chapter to host Chief Justice Muniz, but a historic day for our beloved Stetson law,” Giallourakis said following the event. “Chief Justice Muniz graciously took the time to speak to a crowd of over 100 students, faculty members, and administrators about judicial philosophy, the judiciary’s role under the Constitution, trends in Florida precedent concerning statutory interpretation, and how my Stetson law colleagues and I can best prepare ourselves to achieve great success.”

On building a meaningful career

A photo of a room full of people from the back of the Mann Lounge — Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz spoke to a room full of students, faculty, and staff.

Chief Justice Muniz kicked off the conversation with his thoughts on how law students can realize their full professional potential.

One’s path is a combination of luck, merit, and relationships, he told the audience. Many opportunities happen because of positive impressions one gives his or her mentors and peers, and most people who find success want to pay it forward.

“Don’t be shy about asking people for help,” he said. “All of us have benefited from other people taking interest in us and helping us and my experience is that people want to be able to give back and help others who are coming along after them.”

Service & judicial philosophies

Muniz offered his thoughts on varying judicial philosophies such as originalism and textualism – and how judges’ relationship to the law differs from that of legal scholars.

He stressed that it is not the role of the judge to determine the outcome of a case based on their personal morals and opinions, but instead to subordinate one’s own views and will try to get the case right based on existing laws.

“There are lots of things judges don’t have control over. We don’t have control over what the law is. We don’t have control over the cases that come before us,” he said. “We do have control over how we treat people; whether we make sure that people have due process; whether they feel like judges came to the cases prepared and thoughtful. We really do try to promote that culture of service… The law is not just for judges. It’s for everybody.”

Organizers praised Chief Justice Muniz for his emphasis on shared values over the divisive rhetoric that can often dominate in conversations about law and policy.

“Chief Justice Muniz emphasized the importance of civility, careful study of the law, and a commitment to excellence in everything that we do not only as law students but practicing attorneys,” Giallourakis said. “We extend our sincerest gratitude to the administration for their steadfast support and look forward to carrying this momentum into our upcoming events.”

Learn more about Chief Justice Muniz.

How 2025 Valedictorian Shelby Ponton, Mother of 2, Made It Work

A woman with dark hair and a black dress stands before a plaque highlighting the Edward Foreman Award. She holds the award in a black case lined with purple velvet. — Stetson Law’s 2025 valedictorian is Shelby Ponton.

Upon starting law school, 2025 alumna Shelby Ponton realized she had something not all 1Ls possess: a curiosity about law that made studying a labor of love.

“I genuinely find it interesting,” she said.

The sense of fulfillment, combined with her desire to create a better future for her family, motivated the mother of two to work hard no matter what.

It paid off: Ponton is Stetson Law’s spring 2025 valedictorian. An animal cruelty investigator and rescue coordinator prior to law school, she was also the 2025 winner of the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Award, a member of Stetson’s Moot Court Board, and editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review.

She said learning of her valedictorian status was “redeeming.”

“All the long hours, deep thoughts, and sacrifices my loved ones made to help me get to the position I am lucky enough to be in felt worth it,” Ponton said. “More than anything, I feel excited to one day, when my kids are older, tell them how, with discipline and an extraordinary work ethic, they can accomplish anything.”

Balancing law school and family

When she started law school, Ponton and her husband, Zachary Ponton, had an infant in tow. Shortly before she started her second year, she gave birth to their second son. Whether she faced a tough assignment or a sleepless child, she would always focus on what was most important.

Zachary Ponton and 2025 Valedictorian Shelby Ponton with their two sons in May of 2025.

“When you have competing priorities in life that you really care about, you find a way to make it happen,” Ponton said. “I love my husband and two boys more than life itself and every time I faced a difficult assignment or long night, just thinking of their laughs was enough to get me through it.”

The opposite was also true.

“When the kids wouldn’t sleep or there was a blowout diaper, I’d joyfully think about citations and briefs,” she said.

The family would take their dog, Luna, on walks throughout campus. She said both of her children took their first steps and spoke their first words on the grounds of Stetson Law.

The support of loved ones & colleagues

She said her family was a critical source of support, namely her husband, “who made more sacrifices than I could possibly list to make this dream come true,” she said. She adds that her parents, in-laws, siblings, grandparents, mentors and coaches over the years, colleagues, and friends all factor into her success.

Also, while many Stetson professors positively impacted Shelby’s trajectory, there are a few who served as constant sources of mentorship: Professor Tomer Stein, Professor James Hart, Professor Erin Okuno, and Professor Ellen Podgor.

Serving as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review was an unforgettable experience, she said, one that sparked lifelong friendships formed with members of the editorial board.

When she gave birth just before her 2L year, everyone on SLR united to support the family by providing meals to help offset the stress of sleepless nights. “That goes to show the kind heart of the people involved in this organization, and I am lucky they let me call them my friends,” she said.

On finding your passion

For students who aspire to achieve highly in law school and beyond, Ponton said everyone needs to create an approach to working hard that not only fits their personality and goals, but is sustainable over time – and to have a strong “why” for studying law upon which they can reflect when things get tough.

“Find, build, and lean on your support system,” Ponton said. “Don’t forget that you have control over your own life, your choices, and your future, so take ownership of it.”

Now a litigation associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis, Ponton currently works on complex commercial litigation cases as well as some active pro bono matters.

Students Attend Zimbabwe Wetlands Summit

Two students stand by a sign advertising COP 15 Zimbabwe. — Blair Carlyle and Erika Leeper served as Stetson Law’s delegation to COP15 in July of 2025.

For two Stetson Law students, attending the Ramsar Convention’s 15^th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) in summer of 2025 was more than an immersive learning experience; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Representing the next generation of environmental leaders, Blair Carlyle and Erika Leeper, who are now 3Ls, traveled to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe with support from the Dick and Joan Jacobs’ Environmental Law Externship Fund to serve as Stetson Law’s delegation to COP15. The conference brought them face-to-face with environmental and political leaders from around the globe, including the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Witnessing the extraordinary work being done around the globe to protect and restore wetlands was both inspiring and motivating as I continue to pursue a career in environmental law,” Leeper said.

Stetson’s global leadership

Stetson Law is an observer to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international agreement on wetlands protection. Every three years, representatives from member nations meet to discuss the budget and develop priorities for the coming three years.

The COP15 agenda included review of an assessment on the environmental impacts of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and a proposal to delist Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance) in disputed territories.

A photo collage of two law students attending an environmental conference in Zimbabwe, including a session with Zimbabwe's president. — COP15: Scenes from the sessions, including a keynote from the president of Zimbabwe.

“Events like COP15 provide our students a unique opportunity to take part in substantive discussions on emerging challenges for wetlands stewardship on every continent,” said Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy and former Chair of Ramsar’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel. “We are thrilled that we can offer experiences to the next generation of environmental lawyers.”

For Carlyle, the presence of nearly hundreds of representatives made the conference feel like a microcosm of the world. “The conference itself was such an experience: 172 countries, all represented by delegates who were passionate and excited, not only about wetlands and conservation, but about the sharing of culture and the breaking down of barriers,” he said.

Surreal side trips

Within 15 minutes of arriving in Victoria Falls, Carlyle said he and his traveling companions were “awestruck” at the sight of baboons casually strolling by the hotel pool and a family of warthogs grazing in a patch of grass next to the road. A few nights later, he said, they walked out of a restaurant to see an enormous hippo sauntering down the sidewalk as people cautiously passed by it.

“Victoria Falls is one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been,” Carlyle said. “Dusty dirt roads that stretch for miles interconnect the towns that dotted the landscape. No fences, nothing to keep the lions out of town, but the people have learned to live side by side with the wildlife.”

A collage of photos from a wildlife-spotting trip in Zimbabwe in July of 2025. — The COP15 attendees had time to explore the surrounding natural wonders.

While the conference presented unique opportunities for global networking and learning, camping in Chobe National Park in Botswana proved to be the highlight of the trip. On safari, they encountered four of Africa’s “Big Five” (leopard, lions, elephants, and buffalo), as well as many other species. To the students, the surreal scenery was straight out of National Geographic.

“When I first saw a family of elephants heading to a watering hole, baby elephants leading the way, I sobbed,” Leeper said. “The safari experience was one that connected me so deeply with the environment, with gratitude and appreciation for the remarkable animals in Africa.”

A collage featuring a giraffe, an elephant, and an impala, all spotted during an adventure in Zimbabwe. — The Zimbabwe trip included unforgettable wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Other highlights: cruising on a river around Chobe’s Sedudu Island as crocodiles sunbathed on the dusty riverbanks, seeing giraffes towering against the African sky, and hearing the sounds of elephants and lions in the night.

“There were no fences, nothing between us and the animals, and each time I bolted awake in the night, I felt a connection to the previous generations of humans who had learned to live with being prey,” Carlyle said.

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.

Spring ’23 Alums Among top FL Bar Exam Scorers

Headshots of two young men who graduated from Stetson Law in 2023. Left: Sean Caulfield; Right: Samuel Ciulla — Spring ’23 alumni Sean Caulfield (left) and Samuel Ciulla (right) had two of the highest July 2023 Florida Bar Exam scores.

Like many of his classmates, Spring 2023 Stetson Law graduate Sean Caulfield was in the library nearly seven days a week following commencement.

Though grueling, studying for the July Florida Bar exam got a little easier as the summer went on – especially with support from Stetson Law’s extensive bar prep resources, Professor Ellen Podgor (his bar coach), and Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox (his mentor).

“It was a long and hard process, but as the summer goes on you get into a routine and it becomes a bit more bearable,” Caulfield said.

All that work paid off – and then some. Not only did he pass, but he and classmate Samuel Ciulla were among the top bar exam scorers in the state.

“We are incredibly proud of Samuel and Sean,” said Law Professor Alicia Jackson, Director of Academic Success and Bar Preparation at Stetson Law. “They are a testament to hard work and dedication to their law studies and preparing for the bar exam. Great things are destined for them as we welcome them to the legal profession.”

A rare honor for a job well done

That designation comes with the opportunity to speak at a Florida Bar Association swearing-in ceremony for new members. Caulfield spoke in front of the Florida Supreme Court on behalf of the newly admitted attorneys while Ciulla spoke at Florida’s 2^nd District Court of Appeals induction ceremony in Tampa.

“It was truly an honor to address my peers at the induction ceremony, as these new attorneys are all incredibly bright individuals who passed one of the hardest exams in the country, so being able to celebrate this momentous occasion with them was certainly rewarding,” Ciulla said.

Caulfield said it was an honor to celebrate the milestone with his peers and his family, who made the trip to Tallahassee for the occasion.

“Everyone who was sworn in that day put in an enormous amount of work over their law school careers to get to that point, and it was an honor to represent Stetson, speak before the justices, and celebrate the accomplishments of his new class of attorneys,” Caulfield said.

Exam day nerves

The day they walked into the exam room in July, both were already accomplished Stetson Law alumni.

Caulfield participated in the Honors Program and Stetson Law Review, graduated with honors, and received Stetson Law’s 2023 Elizabeth M. Leeman Award. Ciulla participated in the Stetson Law Review, graduated with honors, and was Stetson Law’s Spring 2023 valedictorian.

Even so, neither saw passing the bar as a sure thing – let alone being a top scorer.

Caulfield said when he got a phone call regarding his score, he immediately thought there had been a mistake and that his passing score had been rescinded.

“I wanted to hang the phone up right then and there,” he said. “But thankfully I didn’t.”

For Ciulla, who began studying full-time three weeks early so he could take weekends off (thus avoiding burnout), it took a few moments to sink in.

“Getting the call from Chief Judge Daniel Sleet that I achieved one of the higher bar exam scores was unfathomable at the time, but after processing the news, I reflected on all the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice I put in over the summer – it was all worth it,” he said.

Investing in success

College of Law leadership places particular emphasis on equipping students with everything they need to pass the Florida Bar Exam on the first attempt.

A head shot of Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros in front of pillars in the Great Hall. — Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros

Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros, who started in his role in July of 2023, views improving first-time bar exam passage rates as a key priority.

“As an institution, we are committed to doing everything we can to help prepare our graduates for the bar,” Barros said. “At the end of the day, though, passing the bar takes a great deal of diligence from each graduate. We are incredibly proud of Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Ciulla, and all of their peers for doing the hard work necessary to pass the bar.”

Stetson Law had one of the top first-time bar passage rates for the July 2023 exam. This is also not the first time a recent College of Law graduate has achieved one of the highest scores on the exam.

In February 2022, alumnus Craig Zyburo received the highest Florida Bar exam score out of nearly 450 test-takers.

Inspired By Family: Spring ’23 Valedictorian Samuel Ciulla

Stetson Law Spring 2023 Valedictorian Samuel Ciulla

When Santo “Sandy” Ciulla brought his family to Florida in the 1970s, he had little more than ten dollars in his pocket and the van that brought them to the Sunshine State.

Through hard work and perseverance, he built a loving, supportive environment that encouraged his family to thrive. Though he passed away in 2015, his grandson, Samuel Ciulla, who graduated from Stetson Law in May of 2023, said his grandfather’s legacy inspires him toward great achievement – including becoming valedictorian of his law school class.

It’s an honor he doesn’t take lightly.

“Getting the news that I was class valedictorian brought perspective to all the hard work I have put in over the past three years,” said Ciulla between intensive sessions preparing for the Florida Bar examination. “Law school was an extraordinary time in so many different ways, and to have not only graduated, but to have graduated as valedictorian, is a feat that I am very proud of.”

Setting goals – and surpassing them

Ciulla said he had two big objectives as a 1L: getting good enough grades to help him secure employment prior to graduation and being part of the Stetson Law Review.

After doing better than he had expected on his first round of exams and being invited to join Stetson Law Review, he realized he had a shot at a third goal: becoming class valedictorian. To Ciulla, it was an aspiration worth pursuing even if he didn’t quite make it.

“I looked at this goal as an internal competition with myself to always work my hardest, and I knew if I did that, I would be rewarded in some way,” he said.

In the end, he believes it was “passion and perspective” that gave him an edge.

“Once I figured out how to take a law school exam, I tried to frame all my learning during the semester into the question, “How does this fit into an exam?” Through this lens, I was able to take each topic I learned in each class and fit it into the bigger puzzle piece of an exam, which fit into a bigger puzzle piece of getting good grades, which fit into a good job, good career, and so on,” Ciulla said. “This perspective helped motivate me on the tough days where I was tired – each little point learned in each class was a small piece leading me onto the rest of my life and my dream of becoming an attorney.”

He made the Dean’s List four times, received the highest grade in ten classes, was a runner-up in the Spring 2021 Freeborn & Peters First-Year Appellate Advocacy Competition, and won Outstanding Editor (Fall 2022) and the Leadership Award (Spring 2023) for his work on the Stetson Law Review, on which he ultimately served as Executive Editor. His work was also recently published in the Stetson Law Review.

His diligence, kindness, and contributions to the Stetson Law community stood out to those around him. “Samuel represented everything one could ask for in a law student,” said Law Professor Andrew Appleby, who was a mentor to Ciulla. “He consistently demonstrated intellectual curiosity and always contributed valuable insights to class discussions. He is also a genuinely nice person and is a pleasure to be around.”

The start of a promising career

As he looks beyond the bar exam – and some time spent traveling – Ciulla will join Gunster in the firm’s real estate practice group. He’ll be based out of their office in Tampa, the city where he grew up and where he always dreamed of launching his legal career.

It’s why Stetson Law was the only law school he wanted to attend.

“Tampa has always been home and it will continue to be my home for the foreseeable future, and if I wanted to be a Tampa lawyer, I knew that went hand-in-hand with being a Stetson lawyer,” Ciulla said. “I did not want to go out of state for law school and wait until after graduation to start setting roots and making connections in my community. I wanted to start this journey during law school, and what better place to get started than at Florida’s first law school.”

The role of family

In addition to his grandfather, Ciulla believes his success so far would not have been possible without the support and inspiration of his father James, his mother Erin, and his brother Santo.

He also credits his cousin, Michael Caldarelli, who tragically passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cystic fibrosis, for inspiring him to persevere, even on the worst days, and to see the good in everything.

“I am so honored to become the first lawyer – and valedictorian – in our family, and I hope it makes them proud,” Ciulla said.

Double Hatter Selected for Prestigious SCOTUS Fellowship

Alumna Viviana Vasiu is dressed in a suit and standing in front of a large library shelf full of law books. — Viviana Vasiu B.A. ’15, J.D. ’18.

A Stetson “Double Hatter” – that is, a graduate of both Stetson University and Stetson Law – is one of four individuals chosen for a prestigious U.S. Supreme Court fellowship.

Viviana Vasiu B.A. ’15, J.D. ‘18, has been assigned to the United States Sentencing Commission, which sets sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. Her yearlong term begins in September of this year – and it’s a perfect fit.

“I have been passionate about the United States Sentencing Commission and the U.S. sentencing guidelines since my first semester in law school,” she said. “To me, the sentencing guidelines represent the most important math because it involves the math of life and liberty.”

Prior to starting her term, she served as a clerk for the Honorable Gregory H. Woods in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She has also clerked for another Double Hatter, the Honorable Anthony E. Porcelli B.A. ’93, J.D. ’98 of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and participated in the Attorney General’s Honors Program at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she was a Trial Attorney in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Criminal Division.

Vibrant student, promising career

As a child in Romania, Vasiu had been fascinated with the comparative law books her parents kept in their library. Her curiosity with legal history and the law’s relationship to other disciplines inspired her to study law in the U.S., where she emigrated to in 2011. She first majored in paralegal studies in San Diego, but was recruited by several universities, including Stetson, due to her being president of her school’s Phi Theta Kappa Society.

With its warm weather, tight-knit campus community, and curriculum offerings, Stetson won Vasiu over. During her time at Stetson, Vasiu was a dynamic student fascinated by case law and the written word. She became a star student on the DeLand campus, where she wrote and served as editor of the college’s Vision and Stetson magazines.

She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, before pursuing her law degree at Stetson Law in Gulfport, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, was a star moot court competitor, and had five scholarly articles published, some of them in highly regarded journals.

She has written on various aspects of criminal law such as white collar crime and juvenile law, as well as the intersection of law with other disciplines, such as poetry, which she was inspired to pursue after taking Professor Kristen Adams’ class, Law Through the Lens of Poetry. She even began analyzing and writing legal fiction inspired by her studies and experience as a woman in the legal profession. She earned the American Law Institute CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award and participated in the Honors Program.

As a 3L, she also coauthored a book review on white collar crime with Professor of Law Ellen S. Podgor, whom Vasiu considers a key mentor.

She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Stetson Law in 2018.

“I want to challenge myself and break down barriers for myself, for other women, and for anyone who needs inspiration,” Vasiu said at the time. “Stetson taught me what’s possible, and how to push for what you want when it gets hard. You have to show that you believe in yourself and show others why they should believe in you.”

Podgor said Vasiu’s upcoming role as a Supreme Court fellow are a great fit for someone with so much passion and drive.

“It is wonderful to see Viviana selected for this prestigious Supreme Court fellowship,” said Law Professor Ellen Podgor. “Her unique story of coming to the United States, excelling as a Double Hatter at Stetson, being editor-in-chief of the law review, successfully completing two federal clerkships, and being a part of the Department of Justice Honor’s Program, serves as an inspiration to us all.”

A year in the nation’s capital

The Supreme Court Fellows Program launched in 1973 with the aim of inviting recent law school graduates, doctoral degree holders, and mid-career professionals to grow their experience within the federal judiciary. Each of the four fellows was selected by the Supreme Court Fellows Commission, a panel comprising individuals appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The four fellow appointed to work in Washington, D.C. at the Supreme Court of the United States, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, or the U.S. Sentencing Commission. In addition to the practical experience they gain through taking part in policy development and judicial administration, they are also to research and write and present a publishable scholarly work relevant to their fellowship experience.

They will also have the opportunity to observe the Supreme Court’s oral argument and non-argument sessions from the gallery, attend events, and network with others in their field.

To passionate, dedicated professionals like Vasiu, the program has the potential to lead to lifelong bonds over the shared desire to serve the U.S. justice system.

Recent Grads Win FL Bar Criminal Law Award

Two pictures of graduating law students. — Stetson Law graduates Haley Kinart (left) and Skyler Jackle (right), who both won 2023 Florida Bar Association Criminal Law Section awards for their work in the field.

In 2022, the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar Association began offering a prestigious annual award to a select few third-year students from accredited Florida law schools. The goal of the scholarships, according to 2021–22 Section Chair Jason B. Blank, was “to have a long-lasting impact on the criminal court system.”

This year, two of the three award recipients are from Stetson Law.

Skyler Jackle and Haley Kinart, both recent Stetson Law graduates who were 3Ls at the time they were nominated, have been named recipients of the $2,500 awards for their demonstrated dedication to the criminal justice system at either the trial or appellate level.

To Jackle, the award will help offset a major challenge that follows law school for many recent grads: having enough time to prepare for the Florida Bar Examination.

“I am so grateful to be a recipient of this award as it will allow me to focus on my bar studies,” Jackle said. “Upon passing the Florida bar, I will be starting as an Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County.”

Section leadership members say the opportunity will also motivate current law students focusing on criminal law to excel in their academic performance, pro bono service, clinical work, and other endeavors related to this critical area of law.

“Criminal Law Section members are united by the shared goal of providing a fair, just, and efficient criminal justice system for everyone, and the section’s purpose is to assist all criminal law practitioners in this shared goal,” said 13th Judicial Circuit Judge Samantha L. Ward, the 2022-23 Section Chair. “The awards program is an excellent way to encourage academic achievement, community service, and high standards of ethics and professionalism among law students who are pursuing careers in criminal law.”

A thorough vetting process

The two-step selection process for this award begins with the recommendation of a professor who teaches in the area. At Stetson, all members of the Criminal Law faculty work together to identify the very best candidates for this award: students who truly stand out as leaders in the criminal law arena.

According to the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar, winners are chosen based on factors including but not limited to academic achievement, community service, litigation skills or advocacy accomplishments, clinical internships, high standards of ethics and professionalism, letters of recommendation from a law school professor or administrator, as well as one from a judge or practitioner, and one from someone outside the school or legal profession, and the submission of a personal essay.

Law Professor Susan Rozelle said she immediately thought of Kinart, who served as her research assistant, when asked to recommend a student.

“When she spoke in class, she illuminated not only the doctrinal law, but the human impacts of those doctrines,” Rozelle said of Kinart. “She’s wanted to be a prosecutor her entire life; it is her passion to ensure justice for victims and perpetrators alike.”

Law Professor Ellen Podgor nominated Jackle – who had served as her teaching assistant in her criminal law course – for her award.

Active in the classroom and beyond

Kinart held numerous leadership positions on campus: She was a member of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board. As the Clinic Fellow for the Office of Clinical and Experiential Learning, she connected students with experiential opportunities that best aligned with their specific interests. Her primary focus was on the State Attorney and Public Defender Clinics, and she participated in many discussions with students and clinic professors about these opportunities.

Kinart graduated with a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy-Criminal Track, writing multiple papers on the subject of survivors of sexual assault and how the criminal legal system should do better to achieve justice for them. As a certified legal intern for the Office of the State Attorney 6^th Judicial Circuit, she has tried criminal cases in circuit court under the supervision of an attorney, a role that has built on previous experience as a certified legal intern in the 13^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

“I am immensely honored to receive the award. In public service work, sometimes, you are not recognized for the time and effort you put into achieving necessary reform,” said Kinart. “And this work is not about the personal recognition, but the result from that effort.”

She added that the award helps her continue her forward momentum despite the rigors of law school.

Jackle, meanwhile, said she has “a passion for criminal law and advocacy.” A former member of Stetson Law Review, she was a Senior Stetson Ambassador, a member of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board, and a competitor and national semi-finalist in the ABA Arbitration Competition for 2021-2022 and Regional Semi-finalist in the ABA Arbitration Competition for 2022-2023.

She has worked as a legal intern at the Public Defender’s Office in Pinellas County, where she returned to complete all of her pro bono hours the following year and participated in the federal judicial externship in the fall of her 2L year. This past spring, she was a certified legal intern at the State Attorney’s Office for Hillsborough County.

“Her academic credentials and success speak for themselves but also reveal her commitment to hard work and her natural intelligence,” said Irene M.G. Maslanik, Deputy Chief, Juvenile, 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, who is among those who nominated Jackle. “She is passionate about criminal justice and has the skills to go far in our field.”

To the faculty members with whom they worked closely, both were an obvious choice for the award.

“I was not surprised at all to see them both win,” Rozelle said. “Haley and Skyler embody the kind of dedication to the criminal justice system this award was designed for.”

The third recipient of the award, Victoria Thacker, graduated from Florida International University College of Law.

The awardees will be honored during a June 22 reception at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton.

Stetson Law Student Wins National Public Service Award

Stetson Law student Jessica King

A major national nonprofit has chosen a Stetson Law student as one of just eight recipients of an award honoring law students who excel in their public service endeavors.

A Washington, DC-based nonprofit, Equal Justice Works aims to foster the next generation of legal professionals committed to public service through fellowships and other opportunities. The organization named Stetson Law student Jessica King among the 2023 winners of its Regional Public Interest Award.

“These exceptional law students have demonstrated their commitment to increasing access to justice on their campuses and in their communities,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, vice president of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works, in an announcement.

Advocating for social justice

King’s work on an array of public interest initiatives, which she performs on top of the rigorous demands of law school, is truly extensive.

She is a student within Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy (SJA) concentration, which inspires students to see themselves as effective leaders on campus, in the surrounding community, for the state and nation, and in the world at large. The program connects students with important opportunities to advocate for social justice in concrete ways that give them real-world experience.

The program has helped King harness her passion, drive, and growing legal prowess, which has manifested in her tireless efforts promoting racial justice, disability rights, mental health awareness, and LGBTQIA+ rights on campus and beyond.

Those familiar with King and her work are not surprised she was selected.

“Jessica is a great example of how a student can channel their passion in ways that can be transformative both within the campus community as well as in the world at large,” said Law Professor Judith Scully, King’s faculty mentor and a coordinator of the Social Justice Advocacy concentration. “She is just one of many exceptional SJA students who are poised to make a difference in this world.”

An exceptional level of service

The SJA program has helped connect King with numerous opportunities.

In the last academic year alone, she has been a community associate with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, served as a Racial Justice Fellow with the St. Petersburg/Pinellas Higher Education for Racial Equity (SPHERE), was named chair of the legal redress committee at her local NAACP chapter, and mentored minority undergraduate students at the University of South Florida. The nascent NAMI chapter has tabled bi-weekly and held events like a pottery-painting group and a discussion called “Identity and Law School,” a Diversity Week event that invited students from marginalized backgrounds to speak on their law school experiences.

“I came to law school with a focus on public interest law and my commitment to public interest law has only grown since,” said King.

Promoting accessibility on campus and beyond

A key area of importance for King is promoting accessibility for all.

Her passion for disability rights has inspired her to advocate for more accessible features on campus and serve as a legal intern at Disability Rights Florida, the only statewide designated protection and advocacy system for those with disabilities. She also founded Stetson Law’s first National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

“While at Stetson Law, Jessica has been at the forefront of advocacy for underrepresented groups on campus, including students with disabilities and mental health initiatives,” said Kathryn Pelham, ’06, Associate Director of Accessibility Resources and ADA Coordinator at Stetson Law. “She has brought students, staff, and faculty together for important discussions surrounding the social justice needs of our community. It is fitting that Equal Justice Works chose to honor her tireless work with this award, which I know will only motivate her further.”

For King, the work has only just begun.

“Public interest law is and will be my focus for the rest of my life,” King said. “Serving others is my duty and my passion, and I look forward to a long life of fighting for exactly what I believe in: equal and equitable treatment for all regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation, or gender.”

Campus Vegetable Garden a Labor of Love for Students

A professor and several students pose for a selfie in front of a garden. — Law Professor Lance Long and members of the Food Law Society enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Obscured by trees along the north side of 15^th Avenue South is a garden oasis where good things are growing.

A banyan-shaded green space yielding massive heads of organically grown cabbage and broccoli sprouts, it’s the result of a recently revived Stetson Food Law Society project.

“This year we have a beautiful garden, and I am probably one of the biggest consumers of the crops,” said Law Professor Lance Long, the Food Law Society’s faculty advisor.

Reviving an old tradition

Long said the garden is the latest – and most successful – iteration of a student-run gardening initiative dating back about a decade. Then, a series of container gardens in Crummer Courtyard was productive, but it didn’t create a verdant, sanctuary-like space like the current garden initiative does. More recently, the current site of the project – just west of the Banyan Courtyard – had fallen into disrepair.

Students kneel in front of two garden beds. — Volunteers tend to Stetson Law’s organic garden,

Fresh membership and a renewed sense of purpose inspired the Food Law Society to revive the project in the fall of 2021.

With help from the facilities department – which installed a hose and let the students use store their tools in a nearby shed – the students began making true progress on the garden in Spring 2022 as part of an environmental law class. Through planning, meticulous work, and a bit of trial-and-error, the space was thriving within six months.

Much of the labor is divided among Food Law Society President Iman Mamdouh, Vice President Jon Burton, and Treasurer Saad Chowdhury.

“The garden became our shared ‘toddler’ on campus,” joked Mamdouh. “Between the three of us, we rotate watering, covering the garden in tarps to prevent weeds, and shop for new seeds, seedlings, soil, manure, and labeling stakes.”

Two photographs show a garden space in disrepair. — Before students set out to revive the garden in 2021, the space had fallen into disrepair.

It became a community effort among Stetson Law’s eco-conscious students. Other Food Law Society members assisted in de-weeding and replanting each month. One even brought used coffee grounds from the café where she works to use in the fertilizer.

“With the effort we all put in, we share in the literal fruits of our labor but also in the failed attempts that educate us in the dos and do-nots of gardening,” Mamdouh said.

The January harvest yielded produce for all members of the Stetson Law Community to enjoy at no cost. As a shaded green space open to all, the garden is also a great place to de-stress from the rigors of law school.

“Someone can enjoy fresh produce from the garden, or destress with a garden cleanup event, or even sit among the plants under the banyan tree,” Chowdhury said. “Moreover, the garden demonstrates gratitude. Seeing where food comes from and the work needed is a humbling experience.”

Digging deeper: Cultivating conversations around food

There are, of course, much bigger-picture aspects to the undertaking.

For one, economic conditions and broader food policy in the U.S. can result in limited access to nutritionally dense foods in many communities – including, potentially, at Stetson Law.

A refrigerator featuring cabbage and other vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden — Vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden.

“We realized while many schools offer food, there is a deficiency of nutrients – especially for any students who were food insecure because of finances or otherwise,” Burton said.

The group also hopes the project will help individuals think more critically about what it means to “eat local,” given how the current federal-government definition of “local” may cause consumers to buy produce that’s not as sustainably farmed as they think.

“We also realized that in 2022 the transportation and display system of in-store foods when the [United States Department of Agriculture] considered ‘local’ to be within 400 miles or less of product origin introduced spoilage and some nutrient degradation compared to truly local foods,” Burton said. “We hope the garden does draw community education about the localization of foods and the importance of nutrition.”

Keeping it growing

As 3Ls, law school is drawing near its close for Mamdouh and Burton – but the garden will live on. As incoming president of the Food Law Society, Chowdhury will take the reins – and he’s got big plans.

He said he hopes to foster more food justice initiatives, from encouraging students to volunteer at local food banks to creating “an educational space where students can learn about Food Justice issues, such as food deserts, legislative hurdles, and the socio-economic determinants for nutrition in our community,” he said.

That will likely include informative signage in the garden itself as well as walking paths to help invite others to explore the connection between local food and global sustainability. “I’m relieved to graduate knowing we have set solid building blocks for the Stetson Community Garden to further flourish in the upcoming years, and I hope it becomes a Stetson landmark,” Mamdouh said.

Stetson Law Emerges as Top U.S. Team at Vis Moot

A group of students and a professor stand in front of a Vienna cityscape. — Left to right: Jaclyn Foster, Phil Faires, Mary Roseth,, Professor Stephanie Vaughan, Matt Ceriale, Taylor Simonds, and Sam MacDougal.

Over days of intense competition, Stetson Law emerged as the only U.S. team to make it to one of the final rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.

The five-member team representing Stetson Law at the prestigious tournament – consisting of Phillip Faires, Jaclyn Foster, Sam McDougall, Mary Roseth, and Team Captain Taylor Simonds – competed against 378 teams from 89 countries. They were one of 49 teams from the U.S. to compete – and the only U.S. team to make it into the event’s top 16 teams before advancing to become one of the competition’s top eight teams. This was the first in-person Vis competition since 2019, when Stetson’s team also advanced to the top eight.

As a top-eight team, Stetson lost in a split decision to a team from Singapore. The incredible run – which put the Stetson team in the top two percent in the world – serves as a milestone for the five competitors and their coaches, alumni Jason Stearns and Matt Ceriale, as well as Professor Stephanie Vaughan.

“Hearing Stetson’s name called not only for one of the Top 64 teams out of 378 that would be advancing, but also as the (by unanimous vote!) winner of three head-to-head elimination rounds in a row is undoubtedly the highlight of my law school career,” said Simonds.

Prestigious event, extensive preparation

The team spent months preparing for the event, which featured a fictional case involving drone manufacturers in the politically unstable “nation” of Equitoriana. The experience helped them develop their advocacy skills and explore new areas of the law.

“The entire team worked so hard in devoting ourselves to this problem for upward of five months – improving our advocacy skills, researching international standards for niche areas of law, and trying to convince ourselves and others that a helicopter-sized drone might not legally be an aircraft – and seeing all that work pay off was incredibly validating,” Simonds said.

An advocacy milestone

As both a professor and a coach, Vaughan said it was incredible to watch the team members develop their skills through diligent practice – then to advance farther than any other school in the United States.

“To say that I am proud of this team would truly be an understatement,” Vaughan said. “Being a part of this team’s success at Vis has been incredibly rewarding. It was a true feat for Stetson Advocacy.”

To the team, it was an incredible honor to emerge as the top U.S. team after competing with the likes of Harvard Law and Columbia Law School.

“Overall, this was an experience none of us will ever forget, and it allowed us an unparalleled opportunity to grow our skills in communication, research, creative argument, teamwork, and international perspectives in a way I know we will all carry into our careers,” Simonds said.