Top Stories:

• President Christopher Roellke, PhD, was quoted in an article Dec. 11, “Stetson plans COVID-safe commencement this weekend for 1,034 students,” in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The article also quoted Director of University Events Julie Hunter and graduate Tara Tovkach ’20, one of the student speakers for December Commencement.

• Law Professor Royal Gardner was quoted in a Bloomberg article called, “The Real Trees Delivering Fake Corporate Climate Progress.” The article also appeared in The Washington Post and Yahoo Finance. 

• College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre participated in The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s (FHSP) Pinellas Race Leadership Council’s inaugural meeting on Dec. 1, according to a Dec. 10 article in The Weekly Challenger. The goal is to encourage multi-sector leaders to advance Pinellas to the most anti-racist county in the United States. 

• The Hometown News Volusia wrote a short article, “Stetson holds commencement exercises Dec. 12-13 on DeLand campus,” which also mentioned Commencement for the College of Law.

• The Hometown News Volusia wrote an article Dec. 11 entitled, “Stetson professor receives engineering educator award,” about Professor of Computer Science Hala ElAarag, PhD, receiving the Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from the Florida Council Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

• Law Professor Robyn Powell was featured on Good Day Orlando for another segment discussing whether schools and employers can require a COVID-19 vaccine.  

• Jeff Ulmer, vice president for Development and Alumni Engagement, who is retiring next month, was mentioned in the Chronicle of Philanthropy on Dec. 11 in the article, “Mark Malloch-Brown Tapped as President of Open Society Foundations.” The article also said Amy Gipson, associate vice president for Development Strategy and Communications, will replace him on an interim basis.

• Law Professor Louis J. Virelli III was interviewed on Bay News 9 for a segment about the lawsuit filed by the Texas attorney general aimed at overturning the election.   

Other News:

• Law Professor Peter F. Lake was quoted in a Real Clear Investigations article called, “Biden’s Pushing Ahead to the Obama Past on Campus Rape. He’ll Need Good Luck With That.” 

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was featured with a panel of experts on The Source for a segment called, “What Is Presidential Pardon Power And Are There Limits To Its Use?” 

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times in an article called, “Florida to U.S. Supreme Court: Hear Texas lawsuit to overturn Biden win.” The article was also featured in many other news outlets, including the Miami Herald, Bradenton Herald, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Yahoo News and more. 

• Law Professor Ellen Podgor’s American University Law Review article, “The Dichotomy Between Overcriminalization and Underregulation,” was mentioned on the CrimProf Blog.  

• Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote the following blogs for the Elder Law Prof Blog: Dec. 7, “Is It Bad Money Management or is it Dementia?;” Dec. 14, “Register Now for This Webinar;” and Dec. 14, “COVID and Financial Harm.”

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote an analysis for the Brennan Center for Justice called, “20 Things We Learned About Money in Politics in 2020.” It was also mentioned on the Election Law Blog.  

• Law Professor Andrew Appleby’s article with Walter Hellerstein called, “State Estate Taxes and the Due Process Clause,” published in Tax Notes State was mentioned on the TaxProf Blog. 

Alumni News:

• GrayRobinson, P.A., welcomed five new associates to its Florida offices, including Stetson Law alumnae Kelly Jackson and Maria White, according to a Dec. 10 announcement from the firm.  

• Law alumna Lori Baggett was named to the Tampa Bay Chamber’s 2021 Executive Committee at the organization’s annual meeting on Dec. 10, according to an announcement from her law firm, Carlton Fields. 

• Law alumnus Dr. Ernesto ‘Nené’ Löffler is a new judge of the Tierra del Fuego Superior Court of Justice, according to Radio Fueguina.  

• Law alumnus Christopher E. Dougherty, is transitioning to Chairman Emeritus at Marshall Dennehey, after nearly 30 Years with the firm, according to an announcement.