Letter from the President and Dean

More than 50 years of fulfilling Justice Brennan’s dream. It’s not just a milestone and a celebration of our accomplishments, it is an opportunity to set the tone for our next 50 years. Your law school remains committed to preparing graduates who are lifelong learners and agents for positive change. In this issue of Benchmark Magazine, I invite you to read examples of that commitment reflected in the important work being done by some of our graduates.

Sumayya Saleh, a senior attorney with the Civil Rights Corps, tirelessly works to amplify the voices and experiences of those most harmed in the criminal justice system. Adriannette Williams, the founding board member of the George Floyd Foundation, marched alongside the Floyd family during the 2020 D.C. March. Paul Millenbach is passing down his legal expertise to new attorneys and serving as a leader in the legal community.

Read about how newly appointed graduate Judge Jeremy Darnell Bowie of Michigan’s 50th District Court is using his new role to strengthen the justice system and how graduate Alicia Prygoski uses her legal expertise in her role as Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager.

I also encourage you to find out more about how Cooley’s full-scale curriculum review will reshape the student learning experience and once again place Cooley on the leading edge of practical legal education in Associate Dean of Faculty Tonya Krause-Phelan’s article. Let me also take a moment to thank all those who participated in the May 1, 2023, Law Day event with keynote speaker Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement and those who made gifts in support of our social justice and community service clinics.

Finally, it was humbling to join so many alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of WMU-Cooley Law School at our culminating event of the law school’s 50th anniversary celebration in June. It was a joy to share and reminisce about the many wonderful memories and friendships made over the past 50 years. Proud leader of our great school,

James McGrath Professor, President and Dean

WMU-COOLEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HON. LOUISE ALDERSON

Chair, Board of Directors

Ret. Judge, 54-A District Court

Lansing, Michigan

MUSTAFA AMEEN

Law Office of Ameen & Shafii

Tampa, Florida

AARON V. BURRELL

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Detroit, Michigan

CHRISTINA L. CORL

Plunkett Cooney

Columbus, Ohio

THOMAS W. CRANMER

Miller Canfield

Troy, Michigan

JOHN M. DUNN

President Emeritus of Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

HON. MICHAEL P. HATTY

Chief Judge, 44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court

Livingston County

HON. JANE E. MARKEY Michigan Court of Appeals

Grand Rapids, Michigan

KENNETH V. MILLER

Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC

Kalamazoo, Michigan

LAWRENCE P. NOLAN

Nolan, Thomsen & Villas P.C.

Eaton Rapids, Michigan

HON. BART STUPAK

Venable, LLP

Washington, D.C.

JORDAN V. SUTTON

Sutton Advisors PLC

Lansing, Michigan

MITCHELL S. ZAJAC

Vice Chairman, Board of Directors

Butzel Long

Detroit, Michigan

Features Summer 2023 2 8

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SUMAYYA SALEH

Integrating culture and a passion for justice. Sumayya Saleh is committed to righting the wrongs in the criminal justice system. PAUL MILLENBACH

Shareholder of Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC and past president of the Detroit Bar Association, Paul Millenbach, shares the advice that has stuck with him since he graduated from Cooley over 30 years ago: Be prepared.

ADRIANNETTE WILLIAMS

Making history and guiding progress. Adriannette Williams pursues justice as a founding board member of the George Floyd Foundation.

ALICIA PRYGOSKI

Forging her own path. Alicia Prygoski adapts law school education to train for a career in protecting those who cannot speak for themselves.

JUDGE JEREMY DARNELL BOWIE

From advocate to the bench, Judge Jeremy Darnell Bowie finds that a previous career in criminal defense helps him see all sides of the cases before him in court.