KU Law Magazine | 2023

lawyers in Washington, D.C.

Jayhawk

KU Law Magazine is published annually for alumni and friends of the University of Kansas School of Law.

Green Hall, 1535 W. 15th St. Lawrence, KS 66045-7608

Phone: 785-864-4550

Fax: 785-864-5054 law.ku.edu

DEAN

Stephen Mazza

EDITOR & DESIGNER

Julie Francisco juliefrancisco@ku.edu 785-864-9205

CONTRIBUTORS

Emma Herrman

Mike Krings

Susanne Stoupakis

PHOTOS

Kenneth Spencer Research Library

KU Marketing

Margaret Hair

Emma Herrman

Bill Petros

Earl Richardson, L’08

PRINTING

Mainline Printing Topeka, Kansas

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).

CONTENTS

Flocking to D.C.

Jayhawk lawyers thrving in the nation's capital

DEPARTMENTS

4 IN BRIEF

New initiatives, symposia and a continuing commitment to community service

22 FACULTY NEWS + RESEARCH

Research highlights, media coverage, kudos

28 ALUMNI NEWS

2023 Distinguished Alumni Award winners

32 VOLUNTEER HONOR ROLL

Recognition of alumni who have donated time, energy and expertise during the past year

40 CLASS NOTES

Alumni earn promotions, change jobs and win awards

44 IN MEMORIAM

Deaths in the KU Law family

FROM KANSAS

TO CAPITOL HILL

KU Law's D.C. connections run deep

With more than 8,000 KU Law alumni living and working in all 50 states and around the globe, the Jayhawk lawyer network is powerful. While many of our graduates choose to work in communities throughout Kansas or in the Kansas City metropolitan region, a high concentration of Jayhawk lawyers can be found in and around Washington, D.C. In fact, our deep connection to the Washington, D.C. region is more than 250 alumni strong by our most recent count.

In this issue of KU Law Magazine, we feature profiles of three notable alumni who have built their careers in the heart of D.C. Heather Wingate, L’93, manages federal and international government relations teams for Delta Air Lines. Nate Muyskens, L’95, co-chairs the white-collar and special investigations practice at Greenberg Traurig. Josh DeMoss, L’17, covers international trade issues for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

We also highlight some exciting programs available to our law students and alumni within the nation’s capital. Jennifer Schmidt, lecturer of law, was one of the minds behind our Sixth Semester in D.C. program where students in their final semester of law school are able to live, work and learn in Washington, D.C. By providing a pathway to leadership in public service, the program serves as a launching pad to post-graduate opportunities. Students gain connections and experience in government

and nonprofit law through a semester-long field placement, coursework and networking opportunities.

This past summer, more than 20 KU Law alumni gathered in Washington, D.C., to become members of the Bar of the Supreme Court in open court. Over the years, KU Law has hosted several alumni groups taking part in this unique opportunity first organized by Professor Stephen McAllister in 2003.

Through participation in these rich and rewarding experiences, our students and alumni have forged bonds, built community and strengthened their careers. As we prepare more Jayhawks to make their mark on the world, wherever that may be, the support of our alumni and friends is more appreciated than ever. Thank you for all you do for KU Law.

Stephen W. Mazza Dean and Professor of Law

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

KU LAW STUDENTS MAKE 2023 PRO BONO HONOR ROLL

Sixty-three students at the University of Kansas School of Law provided 1,927 hours of free legal services during the 20222023 academic year, earning a spot on KU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Students prepared tax returns for low-income residents, represented the interests of children as courtappointed special advocates, helped clients expunge past criminal convictions and prepared guardianship petitions for families seeking to secure their adult children’s futures.

In addition, 11 students were honored with Pro Bono Distinction for completing 50 hours or more of pro bono service throughout their law school career. Collectively, members of the Class of 2023 completed 1,317 hours of pro bono service.

New in 2023, the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) established a Pro Bono Honor Roll. Schools within the AALS may recognize one student annually for this honor. KU Law nominated Douglas Bartel, L’23. While at KU, Bartel performed more than 122 hours of service for various organizations, including the KU Court of Parking Appeals, non-profit legal organizations assisting immigrants, the Johnson County Guardianship Assistance Program and Jackson County, Kansas CASA.

UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES

Student interns and volunteers with KU Law’s Legal Aid Clinic hosted a Clean Slate Criminal Record Expungement Clinic in February 2023 and met with a record-setting 51 individuals. The clinic was offered in partnership with the Lawrence Public Library and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

An expungement seals an arrest record, diversion or conviction from public view, with certain exceptions. The Legal Aid Clinic provides free representation to eligible individuals seeking to expunge records in Douglas County District Court or Lawrence Municipal Court.

“Criminal records impose so many barriers for individuals – in employment, housing and education – long after they have served their sentence,” said Meredith Schnug, associate director of the Legal Aid Clinic. “Expungement is an important legal remedy for people to move beyond their past mistakes."

Additionally, the Legal Aid Clinic hosted a Driver’s License Restoration Clinic at the libary in October 2023. A total of 18 Douglas County residents were served who had a suspended Kansas driver’s license and were seeking to reinstate their legal driving privileges.

Legal Aid Clinic interns and student volunteers assisted with an expungement clinic intake day at the Lawrence Public Library. Douglas County District Attorney's Office

GIVING

Women in Law raised more than $15,000 for The Willow and Jana's Campaign during their spring Pub Night.

A total of 27 students prepared 118 federal and state tax returns through the pro bono Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program during the 2023 tax season.

SUPPORTING DIVERSITY IN LAW

At the 28th Annual Diversity in Law Banquet on March 3, supporters contributed more than $48,000 to the Diversity in Law Scholarship.

The Asian Law Students Association hosted the 2023 event, a celebration of diversity in the legal profession and fundraiser for student scholarships. Sudha Setty, dean and professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, was the keynote speaker. She is the first woman of South Asian descent to serve as dean of any ABA-accredited law school.

The 29th Annual Diversity in Law Banquet is planned for March 1, 2024. Visit law.ku.edu/diversity-banquet for updates.

Earl Richardson

Clockwise from top: Members of the Asian Law Students Association (ALSA) Helon On (2L), Namisha Ajit (1L) and Elizabeth Zhang (1L); Sudha Setty gives the keynote address; ALSA Vice President Helen On introduces the keynote speaker; Kevin Salazar, 3L, visits with Hon. Karen Arnold-Burger, L'82.

Overall employment was nearly 98% for the Class of 2022. This is the ninth consecutive year for employment + full-time grad school over 90%.

KU LAW EARNS TOP 40 RANKING FROM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

The entering Class of 2026 set a new record for the strongest academic credentials in KU Law’s history.

National Jurist Magazine recognized KU as the No. 4 Best Value Law School in the country.

When U.S. News & World Report released their annual law school rankings in May, KU Law made history. Securing a place among the Top 40 law schools in the nation and the Top 20 among public law schools, KU Law achieved its highest ever ranking in both categories. Compared to the previous year, KU Law rose 27 spots in the overall rankings and 14 spots among public law schools.

U.S. News & World Report considers a variety of factors including employment outcomes, entering student metrics and survey results from judges, attorneys and law school faculty. KU Law’s rise in rankings coincides with two changes made by U.S. News & World Report to its methodology. First, the methodology significantly increased the weight given to employment outcomes.

KU Law’s Class of 2021 had outstanding employment outcomes with 94.9% of the class finding full-time, long-term bar pass required or JD advantage positions, the 8th highest rate nationwide. Second, U.S. News & World Report no longer includes expenditure per student metrics, a category that historically undermined affordable law schools like KU Law.

“For the last decade, KU Law has focused its attention on outcomes that are important to students – employment opportunities and bar passage rates. At the same time, KU Law has maintained a faculty of outstanding teachers and nationally recognized scholars,” noted KU Law Dean Stephen Mazza. “Student outcomes are more important to us than the overall rankings. Having said that, this year’s rise is a testament to the work of KU Law’s students, staff and faculty. Our Career Services Office is unparalleled in helping our students prepare for their careers. And while alumni giving is not factored directly into the rankings, the generosity of our alumni base has allowed KU Law to provide an extraordinary level of support for students compared to most other schools.”

CONNECTING SCHOLARS

2023 LAW REVIEW SYMPOSIUM

75 YEARS OF SHELLEY V. KRAEMER

A panel of scholars from across the county revisited the landmark housing case, Shelley v. Kraemer, at the Kansas Law Review Symposium on Oct. 13, 2023 at Green Hall. "Home is Where the Law Says: 75 Years of Shelley v. Kraemer" explored modern legal theory and realities of property rights, housing access, race and segregation, contracts, and the implicit and explicit powers and effects of the law.

The program featured a keynote by Taja-Nia Henderson, professor of law and dean of Rutgers Graduate School-Newark (pictured below). Other presenters included Stephen Clowney, University of Arkansas School of Law; Randall Johnson, UMKC School of Law; Rosa Newman-Ruffin, Elon University School of Law; Brandon Weiss, American University Washington College of Law; and Lua Yuille, Northeastern University School of Law.

Scholarship associated with the symposium will be published in a spring 2024 edition of the Kansas Law Review.

RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY

The 2023 Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy Symposium, "Re-entry into Society: Examining the Barriers Formerly Incarcerated People Face for Successful Re-entry," focused on current issues surrounding housing access, employment, fines/ fees and financial marginalization. Academics, legal scholars and re-entry court graduates provided ideas on how to reform the current system.

The symposium was held in Green Hall on Feb. 10, 2023.

Presenters included Judge Stephen Bough, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri; Mike Fonkert, Kansas Appleseed; Lucius Couloute, Suffolk University; Emily Salisbury, University of Utah and Utah Criminal Justice Center; and Chidi Umez-Rowley, Counsel of State Governments Justice Center.

The next Law Journal Symposium will be on Feb. 23, 2024. Learn more at law.ku.edu/ law-journal

MORE SUCCESS FROM THE 2022-2023 SEASON

Karlie Bischoff and Hailey Reed progressed to the final round of the Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition.

Emily Depew and Jessica Kinnamon made the final four of the Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship. Both students received a scholarship award for their semifinal finish, and Depew placed third for best oral advocate. The competition is invitation only to the 16 highestperforming programs in the country.

MOOT COURT RANKED 10TH IN NATION

The University of Kansas School of Law’s moot court program is 10th in the nation, according to rankings published by the University of Houston Law Center.

This is the highest KU Law has ever been ranked and the first time the school has been featured in the top 10. KU Law has finished in the top 30 nationally for the past eight years.

The continued support of donors and faculty alike contributed toward the success of this past season where KU Law brought home two national championship titles. In fact, KU Law students performed at a high level in every competition they entered, making 2022-2023 the most successful moot court year ever.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

For the third year in a row, KU Law won the top prize at the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition in February 2023. It was also the third year in a row that Emily Depew was a member of the winning team. Her partner this past season was Chris Birzer.

Ally Monson and Amanda McElfresh argued against the defending national champions in the final round of the Federal Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition to clinch their national title in March. McElfresh also won best oralist in the final round.

Madeline Calcagno and Josh Sipp made the final four of the Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition.

Caleb Hanlon and Maddy Tannahill made the final four of the Prince Memorial Evidence National Moot Court Competition.

Kat Girod and Helen Phillips won the Regional Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, bringing home the Shapero Cup. Girod also won best

oral advocate. They continued on to the 31st annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, where they advanced to the elite eight.

Rachel Henderson, Haley Koontz and Caitlin McPartland reached the quarterfinals in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.

Jade Kearney and Alex Valin reached the elite eight at the NNALSA competition.

Top: Emily Depew, left, and Chris Birzer. Bottom: Ally Monson, left, and Amanda McElfresh.

Lauren Bretz delivers an argument during the final rounds of KU Law's In-House Moot Court Competition.

ONWARD, JAYHAWK LAWYERS

CELEBRATING THE KU LAW CLASS OF 2023

Clockwise from top left: Graduates gather for a group photo outside the Lied Center; Savannah Lucas receives her hood; Clinical Professor Meredith Schnug hoods Claudia Palacios Armstrong.

Far right, from top: Edwin Lopez; Laren Stahl and Lauren Page; Colin Murphy.

2022-2023 STUDENT AWARDS & PRIZES

ORDER OF THE COIF

Kristen Andrews

Katelyn Girod

Jessica Kinnamon

Erin Levy

Colin Murphy

Lauren Page

Toni Ruo

Caitlin Steimle

Aimee Wuthrich

WALTER HIERSTEINER OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Allyson Monson

JUSTICE LLOYD KAGEY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Jacob Barefield

SAMUEL MELLINGER SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP & SERVICE AWARD

Katelyn Girod

C.C. STEWART AWARD IN LAW

Lauren Page

ROBERT F. BENNETT STUDENT AWARD

Amanda McElfresh

WILLIAM L. BURDICK PRIZE

Emma Mays

MARY ANNE CHAMBERS SERVICE AWARD

Taylor Ross

GEORGE GARY DUNCAN SCHOLASTIC IMPROVEMENT PRIZE

Jamie Treto

ROBERT E. EDMONDS PRIZE IN CORPORATION & SECURITIES LAW

Lauren Page

FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Erin Levy

Lauren Page

Aimee Wuthrich

RAYMOND GOETZ LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT AWARD

Brittany Ussery

HERSHBERGER, PATTERSON, JONES & ROTH ENERGY LAW AWARD

Alexandra Valin

BRUCE R. HOPKINS AWARD FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE

Katelyn Girod

W. ROSS HUTTON LEGAL AID AWARD

Madeline Calcagno

LAW CLASS OF 1949 AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP

Jc Carter

Brandon Lock

Sarah Schmitz

JANEAN MEIGS MEMORIAL AWARD

Savannah Lucas

Toni Ruo

JAMES P. MIZE TRIAL ADVOCACY AWARD

Allyson Monson

Colin Murphy

CHIEF JUSTICE LAWTON

R. NUSS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ADVOCACY

Abbi Murphy

PAYNE & JONES AWARDS

Liam Bigbee

Lauren Bretz

Claire Burns

Samantha Crawford

Tanner Dillon

Erin Downey

Gabrielle Garrison

Kylie Hance

Brena Levy

Mary Mason

Emma Mays

Tara Phipps

Peyton Schow

Leah Stein

Jack Winslow

POLSINELLI ADVOCACY AWARD

Emily Depew

POLSINELLI MOOT COURT AWARDS

Best Oral Advocate: Jillian

Roy

Second Best Oral Advocate: Chris Birzer

Finalists: Jillian Roy, Karlie Bischoff, Maverick Edwards, Chris Birzer

Best Brief: Jamie Gallagher, Andrew Henderson

Second-Place Brief: Maverick Edwards, Kevin Birzer

THE DRU MORT SAMPSON CENTER FOR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Claudia Palacios Armstrong

SHAPIRO AWARD FOR BEST PAPER ON LAW & PUBLIC POLICY

Andrew McLandsborough

UMB BANK EXCELLENCE IN ESTATE PLANNING AWARD

Cassidy Bee

Toni Ruo

Earl Richardson

FLOCKING TO D.C.

Jayhawks abound in nation's capital

The fifth highest concentration of Jayhawk lawyers anywhere in the world can be found in the Washington, D.C. region. In this close-knit community, you don't have to look far to find connection with fellow KU Law alumni.

In the following pages, you'll meet three alumi who represent a small sampling of KU lawyers carving career paths that run through our nation's capital.

Featured programs offered in D.C. by the University of Kansas School of Law include the Sixth Semester in D.C. program for third year law students and the popular Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony offered to all alumni.

STORIES BY JULIE FRANCISCO AND EMMA HERRMAN

Clockwise from top right: ; KU Law alumni take part in the 2023 Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony; Professor Stephen McAllister serves as movant to advance the admissions of KU Law alumni to the Supreme Court Bar; Chief Justice John Roberts addresses a group of KU Law alumni before the Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony in 2023; Dean Stephen Mazza (right) with Justice Neil Gorsuch at a private reception for KU Law alumni in 2018; Sixth Semester in D.C. students and faculty in 2023 (contributed photo); Lecturer of Law Jennifer Schmidt (rear center) and students in the 2017 Sixth Semester in D.C. program meet with former Sen. Bob Dole (contributed photo). Bill Petros

A Journey in Public Service & Advocacy

ALUMNI PROFILE: HEATHER WINGATE, L'93

Heather Wingate's journey from growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, to becoming the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Delta Airlines is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and a strong foundation in law.

Wingate's connection to KU Law runs deep, rooted in her father's affiliation with the university's political science department. Having spent her childhood in various university towns due to her father's career, Lawrence became a permanent home. KU's allure, coupled with the comfort of familiarity, made it the natural choice for Wingate when she decided to pursue higher education.

Her interest in law emerged from her political science major and a particularly impactful internship through Professor Burdett Loomis's program. The experience of interning for Sen. Bob Dole in Washington D.C. fueled Wingate's desire to contribute to public policy.

“That's when I got the bug,” said Wingate. “It made sense for me to get a law degree just to hone the writing skills, the analytical strengths and competencies that you need to be in the public policy space.”

During law school, Wingate discovered her passion for administrative law, driven by an inspiring professor, Sid Shapiro, and a fascination with the intricacies of policymaking.

“Learning how to think about the different levers of power and how it is all balanced out in our government structure and how those policies, whether it's regulation or legislation, have very direct impact on not just

individuals that live in this country but also companies, business and the economy, just fascinated me,” said Wingate.

Her original goal wasn’t necessarily to practice law but to use the skills acquired in law school to influence public policy. This perspective laid the foundation for a career focused on the intersection of law, policy and advocacy.

Wingate's career path showcases her commitment to public service, including roles on Capitol Hill, serving as Chief of Staff to Sen. Sam Brownback, and eventually as the Special Assistant to President Bush for Legislative Affairs during the historic events following September 11, 2001.

enacted, the Trade Promotion Authority, the USA Patriot Act and creation of the Department of Homeland Security in response to September 11th and the No Child Left Behind education bill. It was fabulous experience and one I’ll always cherish.”

Wingate's journey led her to roles in highly regulated industries, including financial services and aviation, where there's a lot of opportunity and need to influence the policy space. Thinking back to her law

“I want to wake up every day and feel really great about what I'm working for.”

“It was a prolific time for legislating, said Wingate. “We had multiple Rose Garden signing ceremonies for two tax bills that were

school days, she’s been able to apply what she learned in that administrative law class to her various roles working for corporate America. Above all, Wingate remains focused

on being a passionate advocate for companies she believes in.

“I want to wake up every day and feel really great about what I'm working for, whether that's a company or an elected official,” said Wingate. “I just feel so grateful to have the chance to represent companies like MetLife, Citigroup and now Delta.”

Reflecting on her achievements, Wingate is most proud of serving on the leadership team that navigated MetLife through challenging regulatory changes with the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act. Ultimately, they succeeded in getting MetLife out of a non-bank SIFI designation which would have required them to hold bank-like capital even though they weren't a bank; they were a life insurance company.

“It was a win that nobody thought we would achieve, and it was a very dynamic strategy that we had to deploy to get it done,” said Wingate. “I hope to have another win like that before I'm done with my career.”

Having been the beneficiary of those who were willing to mentor her, she is now at a stage of her life where she has the opportunity to mentor younger people. In her current role at Delta Airlines, Wingate leads a team of 23. Working with so many talented people is what she finds most rewarding because it forces her to continue to grow as a leader and sharpen her own skills.

Wingate's journey, from Lawrence to the corridors of power in Washington, exemplifies the impact of a strong legal education. Her commitment to public service, resilience in the face of challenges and passion for advocacy make her a role model for aspiring lawyers. Wingate's story serves as an inspiration for the KU Law community and beyond.

— Julie Francisco

Bill Petros

From top: During a private reception, Chief Justice John Roberts addresses a group of KU alumni taking part in the 2018 Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony; Justice Clarence Thomas welcomes KU alumni taking part in the 2016 ceremony; Justice Sonia Sotomayor poses for a photo with KU alumni who particiapted in the 2014 ceremony.

Opposite page: KU alumni gather ahead of the 2023 Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony. Nolan McWilliams is pictured on the far left.

A Tradition of Honor and Community

ALUMNI CHERISH EXPERIENCE AT SUPREME COURT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

In a tradition dating back to 2003, the University of Kansas School of Law has been hosting group swearing-in ceremonies for its alumni to become members of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. Distinguished Professor and former Dean Stephen McAllister, a key figure in this tradition, and Nolan McWilliams, L’08, who recently participated in a ceremony, shed light on the significance and unique experiences tied to this prestigious event.

Since its inception, the group swearing-in ceremony has grown to become a cherished tradition for KU Law alumni. Typically held every other year during the month of June, the ceremony coincides with Supreme Court decisions, providing participants with the opportunity to witness Justices speak and announce real court decisions.

"I believe we first did this while I was dean. I knew folks in the Clerk’s office of the Court and realized we might do such an event after seeing them many times in the Court," said McAllister. "It was very popular with alumni and fun to do, so we kept doing them."

McAllister serves as a movant during the ceremony, escorting the group into the courtroom and addressing the entire Court as he reads the names one by one during the admissions ceremony. Reflecting on his role in representing KU Law and its alumni, he stated, "I was proud of our school and alums. And the Justices knew who I was from me arguing cases, so that made it fun for me."

The draw for many KU Law alumni to participate in the ceremony lies in its honor, the unique experience it provides and the prestige it adds to their resumes. McAllister emphasized that the ceremony is not just a legal formality but an opportunity for participants to witness the Supreme Court in action.

McWilliams, who traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the ceremony last June with 20 other alumni, described it as a "whirlwind" experience. Sharing details of the day, he highlighted the excitement of being close to the press and several unique moments during the Supreme Court decisions, including a memorable one involving Justice Kagan and a dog toy.

“It was my first visit when the Court was in session; I marveled at the complexity of the operation to get

everyone situated in the gallery in proper order,” said McWilliams. “We had front row seats immediately adjacent to the press gallery.”

While McWilliams missed previous opportunities to participate when he lived in the D.C. area, he seized the first opportunity offered by KU Law following a pandemic hiatus. He emphasized the value of the experience, not only for the swearing-in itself but also for the connections made with fellow KU Law graduates.

"My favorite part of the experience was the opportunity to meet and network with other KU Law alums. It was a meaningful all-around experience.” said McWilliams. “You also have privileges to attend oral arguments whenever you want.”

The experience extends well beyond the courtroom. KU Law organizes a reception for participants to get acquainted the evening before the ceremony as well as a breakfast at the Capitol on the morning of the ceremony. Thanks to McAllister’s connections, it’s customary to have a reception with some of the Justices. A Capitol tour and group photo are also on the agenda. To conclude the day, all are invited to celebrate at a reception with D.C. area alumni. Participants are often joined by family and guests who share in the experience, turning it into a memorable and meaningful occasion for all involved.

The Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony continues to be a hallmark event for KU Law, fostering connections, creating lasting memories and showcasing the pride and loyalty of its esteemed alumni. For those interested, KU Law plans to host its next group in 2025. McAllister promises, "It will be a once in a lifetime experience you will never forget. And for family members as well." — Julie Francisco

From KU Law to Global Leader

ALUMNI PROFILE: NATE MUYSKENS, L’95

Aprominent figure in the legal world, Nate Muyskens, L’95, has forged an impressive career trajectory that exemplifies the excellence and versatility instilled by his alma mater. Tracing his journey from Lawrence to the global stage of white-collar law, Muyskens shared insights on the pivotal moments that shaped his career.

Originally from New York City, Muyskens found his way to KU Law following his undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia. Familial ties to the university steered him towards Lawrence where he soon discovered the myriad of opportunities that awaited him at KU Law.

A transformative summer internship at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. ignited his passion for legal work, despite never harboring childhood ambitions of becoming a lawyer. No one in his family had ever gone to law school. Immersed in the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice, Muyskens found his niche,

eventually transitioning to become a federal prosecutor.

Muyskens credits his experiences at KU Law for shaping his career aspirations. Particularly influential was his time under the mentorship of esteemed professors such as Roscoe Howard, Sid Shapiro and David Gottlieb. He fondly remembers the profound lessons imparted by both Gottlieb and Howard on the importance of upholding justice and protecting individuals' rights within the judicial system.

“As a federal prosecutor, you have this incredible honor and duty to serve our country and your job isn't to put people in jail. Your job is to make sure justice is served,” said Muyskens. “That's something that was definitely instilled by David and Roscoe. I still have great memories of talking to them about issues of law enforcement and constitutional rights.”

Following his graduation, Muyskens embarked on a remarkable career path with notable roles as

counsel for Sen. Dole and serving in the Independent Counsel's Office. These experiences provided him with invaluable insights into the intricacies of high-profile prosecutions and the inner workings of government.

“One of the most interesting prosecutorial jobs I had for the government was working with former KU Professor Roscoe Howard. He brought me in to work for the Independent Counsel's Office where we were going after high-ranking government officials who were also household names,” said Muyskens. “Roscoe gave me the opportunity to be part of some of the highest profile public corruption cases over the past 50 years. He certainly believed that ‘if you want to be the best, you’ve got to take on the best,’ and that mindset has stuck with me over my career.”

Working alongside luminaries like Howard, Muyskens honed his skills in high-stakes litigation, prosecuting cases against influential figures with unwavering determination. His tenure under Sen. Dole further enriched his understanding of leadership and the importance of fostering respectful discourse amidst differing opinions.

“Working for the government and doing work on behalf of the United States of America is by far the greatest honor in the legal profession,” said Muyskens.

Currently serving as the global co-chair of Greenberg Traurig's white-collar and special investigations practice, Muyskens leads a team of legal professionals renowned for their excellence. His team includes seven former United States Attorneys. With so many people who are not only brilliant, but also incredibly competitive and at the top of their game, it could easily

take some effort to get everyone to buy in and play together well. However, with a focus on teamwork and a total commitment to being the best, Muyskens and the GT team thrive in the collaborative environment fostered by his firm and have become one of the leading global “go-to” white collar defense practices.

He still relishes the exhilaration of trial work noting that there is nothing better than being in the proverbial foxhole during a trial. Despite his illustrious career, Muyskens remains grounded, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and teamwork in the legal profession.

“When we are in trial, your title doesn't matter. I get just as much say as a paralegal or first year associate,” said Muyskens. “When you're trying a case in front 12 people, I might look at something very differently because of my background and my upbringing than somebody who had a very different background. Having divergent views and encouraging the sharing of these views is critical in creating a best-in-class trial practice and these concepts and this philosophy is what KU is all about as well.”

Muyskens credits KU Law for imparting invaluable lessons and fostering a sense of community that continues to resonate with him, emphasizing the enduring impact of the friendships forged at KU Law. Muyskens concluded by saying “Nobody has had a more profound impact on my career than professors like Roscoe Howard and without KU and the individual interest the faculty took even after leaving Green Hall, I certainly would not be where I am today.”

His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of a KU Law education and the unwavering spirit of Jayhawk alumni worldwide.

— Julie Francisco

Pioneering Pathways in International Law

ALUMNI PROFILE: JOSH DEMOSS, L'17

From the bustling classrooms of Green Hall to the corridors of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Josh DeMoss stands as a testament to the power of combining passion with purpose. His remarkable journey to the forefront of global diplomacy exemplifies KU Law’s commitment to nurturing global leaders and illuminates the boundless opportunities that await those with a fervent dedication to international law. DeMoss's interest in law was ignited by encounters with attorneys during his undergraduate studies abroad. Enrolling at KU Law, DeMoss charted a path focused on the dynamic landscape of international trade law inspired by his law courses with Professors Raj Bhala and John Head while pursuing a dual degree in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies.

“I had always been generally interested in the legal profession and

knew the skills would be beneficial to me and my career,” said DeMoss. “Once I learned I could combine my international interests with the legal field I knew it was the career I wanted to pursue.”

Currently serving as a Foreign Service Officer at the USDA, DeMoss is entrusted with safeguarding and advancing American agricultural interests on the global stage. His role encompasses a diverse array of responsibilities such as negotiating trade agreements, liaising with foreign governments and international entities, disseminating research and reports and managing crises related to agriculture such as climate change and food security.

For DeMoss, the most rewarding aspect of his vocation lies in the fusion of personal fulfillment and professional contribution. Assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, DeMoss will move to China later this year. Immersed in the

pursuit of mastering Mandarin—a language pivotal to his diplomatic endeavors— he finds profound gratification in advocating for America’s farmers and ranchers abroad.

“I find it very rewarding to tell folks I grew up with that I am promoting their products overseas, whether it’s Kansas wheat, Texas beef, Florida oranges or Kentucky Bourbon,” said DeMoss.

He credits a series of transformative experiences that helped shape the evolution of his career. As a research assistant for Professor Bhala, a law clerk for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and an intern for the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, all before his third year of law school, each opportunity honed his skills and broadened his horizons. He then took that experience to Washington, D.C., participating in KU Law’s Sixth Semester in D.C. program where he worked on international trade law issues. Receiving the competitive and prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship in 2018 is a particular highlight for DeMoss.

“One of my favorite memories is representing the United States at a World Trade Organization panel in Geneva with colleagues from various branches of federal government,” said

Empowering Futures

THE SIXTH SEMESTER IN D.C. PROGRAM

With its award-winning Moot Court program and eye-opening field placement programs, KU Law is no stranger to transformative opportunities. Another such opportunity is the Sixth Semester in D.C. program. Spearheaded by Jennifer Schmidt, lecturer of law, this initiative is more than just a semester in the nation’s capital; it’s a gateway to shaping careers and amplifying diverse voices in the heart of policymaking.

Schmidt began developing the program in 2015 and welcomed its first group of students in spring 2017. Since its inauguration, KU Law has sent 32 students to Washington, D.C.

“I created the program that I

DeMoss. “I felt a great sense of pride to represent our nation’s interests in that venue after only learning about it at KU Law a few years prior.”

The fellowship opened doors to new opportunities including a position at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration conducting anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations.

“While in that position, I learned that the Foreign Agricultural Service existed, where I could combine my interests in diplomacy, trade and work that directly impacts my family and friends’ livelihoods,” said DeMoss.

As he prepares to embark on his next chapter in China, DeMoss serves as an inspiration to all who dare to dream beyond borders. His invaluable advice to aspiring legal minds eager to explore the realm of international law is to seize every opportunity for experiential learning and interdisciplinary exploration. Emphasizing creativity and adaptability, he underscores the importance of nurturing foreign language proficiency and embracing dual degree programs to unlock a world of possibilities.

— Julie Francisco

wanted when I was a law student, one that makes starting a legal career in Washington, D.C., as easy as starting a career in Kansas,” said Schmidt. “I want to make sure that Midwestern voices are part of the policy debate in D.C. This program is a launching pad to help our graduates get a seat at the national policy-making table.”

Originating from the vision of Dean Mazza, this program was brought to life by Schmidt, a seasoned professional who had traversed the corridors of Capitol Hill as senior counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley. Schmidt’s goals for this program were threefold: to begin creating an intricate network of support students can use in their careers, an internship that prepares them for the quick pace

of D.C. politics and classwork from trusted KU Law professors like Schmidt herself.

Building the program from scratch involved meticulous planning and execution. At many law schools in the D.C. area, internships span three years and networks flourish. Schmidt aimed to offer a similar edge to KU Law students, especially those from the Midwest and public-school backgrounds.

“This is how I’m using my connections,” said Schmidt. “It’s important to me to help our students. We set up meetings to be very personal so that those connections can be made. I don’t think we’ve met with anyone who hasn’t been willing to meet up with one of our students for

Top: Emory Saucedo from the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2019.

Bottom: Sen. Jerry Moran addresses the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2022. Bill Petros

coffee afterwards.”

What sets KU’s Sixth Semester in D.C. program apart is its personalized approach. While other institutions might offer standard field placement programs, students in KU Law’s innovative program are immersed in real-world scenarios, meeting professionals in their workplaces, learning about career trajectories and grasping the intricacies of legal careers in D.C.

“The Sixth Semester program heavily influenced my decision to attend KU Law,” said recent graduate Brett Hallagan, L’23. “I chose to participate for a number of reasons, but the deciding factors were the ability to learn about and see in action the many different legal opportunities that only exist in our nation’s capital and the success previous participants have experienced finding their ideal D.C. jobs.”

Even in a politically charged landscape like Washington D.C., Schmidt is adamant about fostering a nonpartisan mentality.

“It is important to me that this program remains nonpartisan,” said Schmidt. “My background is in partisan policy, but I believe very strongly that each student who comes to me in one of my classes or in the

Sixth Semester Program is the culmination of their life experiences. Their voice is their own; my job is only to teach them how to impact the process.”

As the Sixth Semester in D.C. program is such a big undertaking, Schmidt and the other professors involved– Director of the Field Placement Program Glenn Jewell and Adjunct Professor Becky Weber – start recruiting early.

“We try to catch students during their first year so we can help them line up any other internships that may help before they come to Washington,” said Schmidt. “D.C. for a lot of people can be scary. This can be true especially for students who have gone straight through from undergrad to law school. I don’t want to drop people in and tell them to swim.”

From initial internships to learning how to live in D.C., Schmidt and her team’s main concern is preparing KU Law students for a semester in the capital.

“Usually, we’ll have a few sessions beforehand to talk about how Washington works, how political appointees work, how civil service works, etc.,” said Schmidt. “There’s a lot of teaching that goes on because

we’re building a web of how to practice law and how everything works.”

Alongside mentorship opportunities, Schmidt organizes young alumni or recent graduate receptions so that current 3L students can meet alumni in similar situations as them. The students and recent grads can learn from one another and continue to create that important networking web so integral to a career in D.C.

Some of Schmidt’s favorite moments are the connections formed with students over the course of the program. Becca Bromley, L’19, and Wesley Williams, L’19, are alums of the Sixth Semester in D.C. program and travelled to the nation’s capital in the same semester.

“They both showed up on separate occasions in my office their first semester and said they wanted to do the program,” said Schmidt, with a smile. “They took all of my classes and started dating. They went to D.C. at the same time and got married a year ago in Texas. They reached out to me to officiate it.”

Another notable connection Schmidt made was Josh DeMoss, L’17, who is a foreign service officer with the USDA Foreign Agricultural

Service. DeMoss was an early participant and credits the time he spent in the program to his success today.

“A semester in D.C. exposes you to federal legal processes, policymaking and opportunities to engage with political legal professionals,” said DeMoss. “Even if D.C. is not where you end up, these experiences and connections will provide invaluable opportunities further down the road. Additionally, if you have any interest in international law or public service, time in D.C. is essential.”

Despite the success of the program, financial constraints hinder accessibility. On average, students participating in the program pay $5,000 more than a student who chooses not to participate.

“Living in D.C. is expensive,” said Schmidt, “It is incumbent on the law school and the law alums to continue to support the program. Otherwise, there is never going to be a world where every student who wants to go and deserves to go is going to have the resources to do so.”

— Emma Herrman

(contributed photos)

From top left: Roman Panickar (left), Professor Becky Weber, Lindsay McQuinn, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Brett Hallagan and Lecturer of Law Jennifer Schmidt from the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2023; Josh Demoss (left), Karina Kiewel, Adrienn Clark and Nathan Mannebach from the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2017; Oliva Black from the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2022.

Bottom: Roman Panickar (left), Brett Hallagan and Lindsay McQuinn from the Sixth Semester in D.C. Class of 2023; General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget, Krisann Pierce, L’95; and Professors Jennifer Schmidt and Becky Weber outside the hearing room for the Committee on the Budget.

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

KU Law welcomed the newest member our of faculty and announced promotions for two more professors for the fall 2023 semester.

Patrick Perkins has joined the University of Kansas School of Law faculty this fall. As an associate professor of law, he teaches Business Organizations, Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurial Law.

Perkins comes to KU Law from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he was the Jeff and Cynthia Harris Clinical Fellow in the Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. He previously worked as a transactional attorney representing technology startup companies in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City.

Perkins earned his J.D. at the

University of Michigan Law School. He received his B.A. in Public Relations at Brigham Young University. He also studied at Nanjing University as a Chinese Flagship Scholar. His scholarship focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and small businesses.

Kyle Velte, associate dean for faculty and professor of law, has been named the Karelitz Chair in Evidence Law. This chair position was made possible by the Leon Karelitz Charitable Trust to enhance the teaching of evidence at the University of Kansas School of Law.

Velte joined the KU Law faculty as an associate professor in 2018 and was promoted to professor in 2022. She assumed the role of associate

dean for faculty in August 2022 and recently became the Karelitz Chair in Evidence Law.

She teaches Evidence, Torts, Employment Discrimination Law and Gender Identity Law. Her scholarship, which examines the intersection of sexuality, gender and the law, has appeared in law journals, including the Yale Law & Policy Review, Minnesota Law Review and Connecticut Law Review. Velte holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and a J.D., summa cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law.

She received a 2022 Dukeminier Award for her article “Recovering the Race Analogy in LGBTQ Religious Exemption Cases.” This award is the

highest honor one can receive in the field of LGBTQ legal scholarship.

For the spring 2023 and fall 2023 semesters, Velte was also a Visiting Professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she taught Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Law.

Jamila Jefferson-Jones, professor of law and associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, has been named the Pillsbury Winthrop Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, thanks to a gift from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Jefferson-Jones joined the KU Law faculty as a professor in 2022. She teaches Property Law and a Fair Housing Seminar. Her legal scholarship examines the ways members of favored racialized groups exclude minoritized populations from public and private spaces, thus

enforcing the racial segregation of space and racist notions of supremacy. Her work harnesses critical race methodologies, focusing in part on the use or threat of violence against members of disfavored groups.

She is a co-author of "Culturally Proficient Lawyering: A Coursebook" (forthcoming in 2024), an instructional text that can be used by law schools offering courses to satisfy the American Bar Association’s new accreditation Standard 303(c) which mandates instruction on racism, bias and cross cultural competence.

As the inaugural associate dean for DEIB, Jefferson-Jones coordinates with the law school’s DEIB advisory committee of faculty and staff to set the strategic vision for KU Law’s efforts in this area. By engaging with the law school community, she aims to promote a diverse, equitable and

inclusive environment for all members of the KU Law community.

Jefferson-Jones holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. In 2021, she received the Jefferson B. Fordham Advocacy Award from the American Bar Association Section of State and Local Government Law, recognizing her outstanding legal advocacy in the field.

IN MEMORIAM

ROBERT C. CASAD Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus Robert C. Casad passed away April 21. Casad joined the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law in 1959 and devoted the next 38 years of his professional career to scholarship and teaching. He was named the John H. and John M. Kane Professor of Law in 1981 in recognition of his internationally known scholarship in civil procedure, jurisdiction and conflict of laws. In 1997, he retired from teaching but continued publishing books and articles including “Jurisdiction in Civil Actions,” a common feature on the shelves of federal judges that has been quoted numerous times by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2008, the Casad Comparative Law Lecture Series was established in his honor.

Opposite page: Patrick Perkins, left; Kyle Velte, center; and Jamila Jefferson-Jones, right.

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

FAILING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ust over half a century ago, world leaders gathered for the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, one of the first international efforts to protect the Earth and develop policies for sustainability and to reduce environmental degradation. The 1972 conference established both the Stockholm Declaration and the United Nations Environment Program. Distinguished Professor John Head argues that while the goals were noble, the international community has fallen short of meeting the aims of the conference.

Head’s article, published in the London-based LEAD Journal, highlights three main structural deficiencies in reaching the goals. First, the proffered solutions and goals only focused on preserving the Earth and environment for the benefit of humans.

The second primary problem concerns conceptual shallowness. The Stockholm Conference and resulting international environmental law has not thought deeply enough about solutions to environmental degradation.

“The idea of sustainable development is no longer viable for conceptualizing our own species’ relationship to the natural world. We need to restore ecosystems we’ve so badly degraded or destroyed,” said Head.

Finally, global timidity has prevented the goals from being realized. There were high hopes for effective environmental treaties and cooperative institutional arrangements between nations, as legal responses to environmental crises and the need for ecological restoration. But far too little has emerged from those cooperative international efforts.

To address those shortcomings, a radical reimagining of international environmental governance regimes is necessary, Head writes. That could include establishment of ecostates, international organizations dedicated to overseeing and preserving ecosystems that stretch across national borders. Head has written extensively on approaches to establishing such bodies and the challenges necessary to overcome for the organizations to exist and thrive.

NEW BOOK GUIDES STUDENTS, LAWYERS THROUGH PRINCIPLES OF ARBITRATION LAW

Arbitration is an area of law with both a long history and a trend of rapid evolution in recent decades. Distinguished Professor Stephen Ware is lead author of a new book designed to guide law students, practicing lawyers and researchers through arbitration law and to provide a concise summary of new developments on everything from Supreme Court rulings to arbitration agreements formed by clicking on apps and websites to Donald Trump’s legal battles with Stormy Daniels.

“Principles of Arbitration Law” (second edition) includes detailed information on labor and collective bargaining agreements, which often include arbitration agreements for resolving disputes. The book also covers international commercial arbitration. It heavily cites the Restatement of U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration, a recent effort by the American Law Institute to clarify, modernize and improve law and to guide judges and lawyers. There is also exploration of arbitration agreements that preclude class action suits against businesses and the countering of that by mass-individual arbitration.

"If you want to spend 10 minutes and get a big picture on a question, you can do that. And its footnotes with cases give you the leads to learn more if you want to do more research on your own,” Ware said. — Mike Krings

Wikimedia Commons

Stephen Ware gave his inaugural lecture as the Frank Edwards Tyler Distinguished Professor of Law.

Najarian R. Peters was selected as an Honors Faculty Fellow with the University of Kansas Honors Program. Stephen McAllister was selected by the graduating Class of 2023 to receive the Dean Frederick J. Moreau Award.

LEGAL HEROES SOLVING DEPRESSION'S FINANCIAL CRISIS WAS A MYTH

Following the stock market crash of 1929, Franklin D. Roosevelt brought a team of Ivy League lawyers down to D.C. to help rein in Wall Street. The mandatory corporate disclosure system they invented has provided the foundation of government regulation of business ever since. Just one problem: That’s not what happened.

Associate Professor Alex Platt's paper, forthcoming in the Journal of Corporation Law, calls on readers to reconsider history. By looking past the law on the books to the details of how the system was implemented, he found that the real administration of mandatory disclosure in the 1930s departed from and even contradicted the law.

“Early on, I realized there was something essential that was missing from the standard version of the origin story,” Platt said. “Brandeis, Frankfurter, Landis and other elite lawyer intellectuals tend to get all the credit. Baldwin Bane was a humble civil servant, but he had a tremendous effect.”

Kyle Velte received a 2022 Dukeminier Award, the highest honor one can receive in the field of LGBTQ legal scholarship, for her article “Recovering the Race Analogy in LGBTQ Religious Exemption Cases."

Bane was in charge of administering the new securities law set to take effect. Companies had to file a disclosure with the government 20 days before selling stock to the public. If the disclosure had “material” deficiencies, the government could block the stock sale by filing an administrative enforcement action before the window closed.

Bane recevied roughly 100 filings, all deficient. Pursuing enforcement actions was infeasible, given his small staff. As a workable alternative, they wrote to the companies, advising them of the problems identified, inviting amendments and threatening formal action in the event of noncompliance. Virtually all companies filing disclosures received one or more letters – and virtually none received the formal enforcement actions. The vast majority of stock offerings were delayed far beyond the 20 days. The effect, Platt said, was nothing less than transformative.

Instead of the government conducting only a “preliminary review” of disclosures for obvious problems as Congress had envisioned, the agency conducted a “careful and critical” analysis of every statement. To this day, companies looking to go public must go through the same “deficiency letter" process. — Mike Krings

WikiCommons

Louis Brandeis, center, is often credited with shaping the philosophy at the center of legislation that solved the problems leading to the crash of 1929 and Great Depression.

FACULTY MEDIA COVERAGE

Kyle Velte NPR

“If you have a long-haired person in a dress with jewelry and long nails walking into the men’s restroom, that opens them up to harassment and violence. There’s a real risk of sexual assault or other kinds of assaults.” On a new Kansas law that restricts trans access to restrooms.

“I don’t think the speech or debate clause would be a basis for quashing the subpoena altogether. It would be a basis for objecting to particular questions." On Mike Pence being subpoenaed by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“I would be surprised if they are not looking at this, if they haven’t already been asked by various interests to look at it, and I would think they would take it seriously.”On the the Marion County Record raid opening up possible lawsuits for alleged civil rights violations.

“When I’m criticizing and asking questions, it’s not because I think the program is fundamentally flawed, I think it’s the opposite; it’s such an important program that we should make it work as efficiently as it can. And this revolving door question is an area where more transparency and accountability could improve the program." On the SEC's Whistleblower program and fairness of award distribution.

Dinstinguished Professor Raj Bhala testified to the U.K. House of Commons on human rights. His testimony to the International Trade Committee focused on the use of free trade agreements to advance the rights of women and LGBTQ+ individuals as the House of Commons considered whether to pursue an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The Parliamentary Committee invited Bhala to speak after reading his previous work in this area.

Stephen McAllister Huffington Post

Richard Levy Associated Press

Alex Platt Wall Street Journal

Sen. Jerry Moran, L'82

Moran has served Kansans in the U.S. Senate since 2011. He is currently a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transporation; and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence as well as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He represented Kansas's 1st Congressional District for seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Moran also served eight years in the Kansas State Senate. In addition to his 14 years practicing law, he served as an adjunct professor of political science at Fort Hays State University. He earned a bachelor's degree from KU in 1976 and a law degree in 1982.

Janet M. Justus, L’81

Justus has more than 35 years of experience in sports law and higher education as an NCAA national office senior administrator, law firm counsel, consultant and university athletics administrator. She directed the development and growth of several NCAA program areas including Title IX education and advocacy, the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and Student-Athlete Eligibility appeals. Her leadership influenced policies and legislation that made the association more gender-equitable and student-athlete centered. She earned her bachelor's degree from KU in 1978 and her law degree in 1981.

HIGHEST HONOR

THREE RECEIVE 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

David S. Elkouri, L’78

Elkouri spent the last 12 years of his career serving as executive vice president and general counsel of two different Houston, Texas-based publicly traded corporations, Petrohawk Energy Corporation and Battalion Oil Company (formerly Halcon Resources Corporation). A frequent speaker on corporate law and complex transactions, Elkouri has been active in numerous charitable and public boards over the years on local, national and international levels. He served several terms on KU Law's Board of Governors and taught a course on business transactions. Elkouri earned a business degree in 1975 and a law degree in 1978, both from KU.

Earl Richardson

KU LAW ALUMNI RETURN TO LAWRENCE FOR HOMECOMING &

REUNION WEEKEND

Graduates in the KU Law classes of 1978, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2013 reunited during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 27-28. Alumni gathered for a reception and dinner at The Oread, then cheered on the Jayhawks during the Homecoming football game.

PHOTOS BY EARL RICHARDSON

1 KU Law Class of 1978

2 Madi Vannaman and Cindy Basaure, L'83

3 Jessie Pringle, L'19, and R. Kent Pringle, L'80

4 John Peck, L'74, and Randy Erickson, L'92

5 Katie Pedersen, Haley Bowman and Clarissa Mills, L'13

6 Jere Sellers, Lucinda Burlingame Powell and Veronica Sellers, L'93

7 KU Law Class of 1983

8 KU Law Class of 1993

9 KU Law Class of 2003

10 KU Law Class of 2013

SAVE THE DATE FOR FUTURE REUNIONS

50/50+ Reunion Dinner

The Class of 1974 and all previous classes are invited to a dinner in Lawrence on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

Reunion

Weekend 2024

The KU Law classes of 1979, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014 will gather to celebrate reunions during Homecoming Weekend, fall 2024. Stay tuned for updates. law.ku.edu/reunions

7

8

9

10

Alyse Zadalis, L'15, left, and Laura Clark Fey, L'92, participate in a panel presentation at the 2L/3L Orientation.

KU Marketing

2022-2023

VOLUNTEER HONOR ROLL

The Volunteer Honor Roll recognizes the many KU Law graduates who donate time, energy and expertise to enhancing the law school student experience. They mentor and stage mock interviews with students, guest lecture in law classes and at student organization events, judge moot court rounds, host alumni receptions and serve on boards. We value your contributions volunteering for the benefit of future generations of KU lawyers. Get involved at law.ku.edu/volunteer

WE VALUE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

Names that follow represent volunteer efforts from May 2022 to May 2023. If you are aware of omissions or errors, please contact Julie Francisco at juliefrancisco@ku.edu

Mitchell Chaney, L’81, talks with students during the Deposition Skills Workshop led by the Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

Emma Herrman

THANK YOU

CAREER FAIRS & PROGRAMS

Frank Altomare, L’18

Harrison Baker, L’21

Kasey Barton, L’09

Zach Beach, L’21

Nick Bertron, L’16

Blair Bohm, L’20

Cliff Brazen, L’14

Katie Calderon, L’07

Mike Cappo, L’13

Ryan Carpenter, L’00

Meryl Carver-Allmond, L’06

Mack Curry, L’21

Betsy Donahue, L’22

Stephen Duerst, L’16

Max Ellenbecker, L’14

Alan Fogleman, L’11

Bob Gallimore, L’05

Ty Gardner, L’22

Greg Gietzen, L’20

William Griffin, L’04

Travis Hanson, L’17

Rebecca Henderson, L’21

Jared Hiatt, L’07

Aleks Holiman, L’17

Saber Hossinei, L’21

Carly Humes, L’21

Peter Johnston, L’97

Chris Kaufman, L’10

Claire Kebodeaux, L’18

Kyle Klucas, L’19

Will Larchar, L’19

Maddie Level, L’20

Hunter Lindquist, L’21

Max McGraw, L’17

Adam Merello, L’19

Bryan Meyer, L’07

Vicki Miller, L’93

Nikki Multer, L’18

Stephen Nichols, L’18

Emily Otte, L’21

Jessie Pringle, L’19

Nicole Proulx Aiken, L’08

Alex Reed, L’22

Adam Seitz, L’02

Ronald Shaver, L’05

Pierce Shimp, L’18

Amanda Stanley, L’14

Scott Strohm, L’95

Patrick Sullivan, L’17

Darin Van Thournout, L’13

Mary Kate Throckmorton, L’21

Abby Warnke, L’20

Patrick Waters, L’04

Edward Wilson, L’00

Tom Witherspoon, L’14

Samantha Woods, L’13

GUEST LECTURERS, SPEAKERS & PANELISTS

Steven Aker, L’20

Griffin Albaugh, L’22

Kasey Barton, L’09

Kalie Belt, L’22

Gerry Brenneman, L’85

Ethan Brown, L’17

Preston Bukaty, L’14

Nate Crosser, L’19

Josh DeMoss, L’17

Trey Duran, L’22

Kip Elliot, L’95

Laura Fey, L’92

Marisol Garcia, L’21

Alissa Greenwald, L’21

Cayce Good, L’22

Lindsey Heinz, L’09

Saber Hossinei, L’21

DC Hiegert, L’21

Lauren Hughes, L’16

Hon. Teresa James, L’84

Hon. Paul Klepper, L’09

Rico Kolster, L’00

Jessica Leavitt, L’14

Shayla Marshall, L’11

Carly Masenthin, L’18

Arike Mercer, L’11

Bria Nelson, L’21

Jaqueline Ratkey, L’15

Suzanne Hale Robinson, L’15

Anna Schall, L’10

Lisa Schultes, L’85

Ambereen Shaffie, L’08

Sangeeta Shastry, L’18

Pierce Shimp, L’18

Devin Sikes, L’08

Hon. David Stras, L’99

Sarah Swain, L’01

Hon. Holly Teeter, L’06

John Truong, L’18

Alyse Zadalis, L’15

COMPETITION JUDGES & COACHES

Joe Bant, L’08

Eric Barton, L’93

Jenny Bartos, L’21

Zach Beach, L’21

Parker Bednasek, L’22

Ashley Billam, L’18

Brynn Blair, L’18

Laura Brooks, L’04

Chris Carey, L’19

Jeff Carmody, L’19

Nathan Dayani, L’11

Maria Drouhard, L’19

Will Easley, L’17

Rich Federico, L’02

Colin Finnegan, L’20

Karen Fritts, L’21

David Halliwell, L’22

John Hickey, L’79

Ty Hudson, L’01

Mike Jilka, L’88

Minha Jutt, L’22

Jordan Kane, L’18

Chloe Ketchmark, L’22

Lydia Krebs, L’06

Daniel Luppino, L’11

Hannah Lustman-Rodriquez, L’20

David Magariel, L’04

Konnor Manley, L’22

Alison McCourt, L’15

Nolan McWilliams, L’08

Nancy Musick, L’19

Jake Nowak, L’16

Sarah Otto, L’18

Amanda Payton, L’11

Emilly Pennington, L’22

Jackie Ratkey, L’15

Kirk Redmond, L’98

Olivia Ruschill, L’22

Emily Reed, L’21

Grace Seger, L’22

Rachael Simon, L’21

Blaine Smith, L’21

Adam Sokoloff, L’16

Diana Stanley, L’20

Ben Stueve, L’18

Darin J. Van Thournout, L’13

Grace Tran, L’22

Tom Witherspoon, L’14

Chris Wolcott, L’17

Dave Wooding, L’80

Hon. Rob Wonnell, L’02

Greg Wright, L’97

From top: Jeb Bayer, L’80, lectures during the Due Diligence in Business Transactions Workshop led by the Polsinelli Transactional Law Center; Sarah Swain, L'01, visits with students during a career exploration event hosted by the Career Services Office; Rico Kolster, L’00, participates in a panel presentation at the 2L/3L Orientation.

Emma Herrman (top), Margaret Hair (center) and KU Marketing (bottom)

CAREER MENTORS

Quentin Aker, L’20

Rhavean Anderson, L’22

Erik Blume, L’19

Maggie Brakeville, L’20

Amber Cabrera, L’15

Laura Clark Fey, L’92

Denise Dantzler, L’20

Danielle Davey, L’09

Bryan Didier, L’04

Cortez Downey, L’22

Elizabeth Evers Guerra, L’06

Mike Fischer, L’07

Amy Fowler, L’00

Karen Gleason, L’95

Suzanne Hale Robinson, L’15

David Hammack, L’18

James Hampton, L’19

Taylor Hines, L’18

Martha Hodgesmith, L’78

Omar Husain, L’20

Jared Jevons, L’21

Eliza Kassebaum, L’20

Chris Kaufman, L’10

Claire Kebodeaux, L’18

Dan Kopp, L’19

Geoffrey Kump, L’18

Andi Leuszler, L’20

Krista Logan, L’18

Shayla Marshall, L’11

Carly Masenthin, L’18

Joseph McGreevy, L’12

Jack McInnes, L’04

Nolan McWilliams, L’08

Ben Miller-Coleman, L’10

Jehan Moore, L’05

Matthew Moriarty, L’15

Pablo Mose, L’15

Joni Moyers, L’15

Sarah Otto, L’18

Jackie Ratkey, L’15

Robert Reynolds, L’17

Ron Runberg, L’91

Emory Saucedo, L’19

Michael Scott, L’21

Jaden Scott, L’20

Alyssa Sediqzad, L’16

Bryan Sediqzad, L’18

Dani Sediqzad, L’16

Monica Sosa-Scherer, L’19

Katie Studt, L’07

Hon. Andrew Stein, L’13

Luke Sunderland, L’22

Kelci Weber, L’19

Shelley Woodard, L’17

Eric Witmer, L’17

Issaku Yamaashi, L’00

Maggie Young, L’18

Daniel Yoza, L’08

Alyse Zadalis, L’15

Gabe Zorogastua, L’07

Andrew Geren, L'13, speaks with a student at Legal Career Options Day.

DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

Mayra Aguirre, L’07

Cynthia Bryant, L’95

Laura Clark Fey, L’92

Amy Fowler, L’00

Rico Kolster, L’00

Pat Konopka, L’94

Jehan Kamil Moore, L’05

Demetrius Peterson, L’09

Melissa Plunkett, L’11

Dru Sampson, L’96

Kelley Sears, L’74

Henry Thomas, L’13

Jabari Wamble, L’06

Issaku Yamaashi, L’00

Alyse Zadalis, L’15

Holly Zane, L’86

Gabe Zorogastua, L’07

6TH SEMESTER IN D.C.

Scott Bergstrom, L’94

Brett Brenner, L’94

Christian DeShazo, L’22

Jeff Morrison, L’95

Janet Murgia, L’85

Mary Murguía, L’85

Whitney Novak, L’14

Mark Parkinson, L’84

Stacy Parkinson, L’84

Krisann Pierce, L’95

Heidi Wolff-Stanton, L’22

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SUPERVISORS

Carly Boothe, L’06

Jessica Leavitt, L’14

NEW MEMBERS

KU LAW BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Tom Cartmell, L’94

Molly Daniels, L’85

Michael DiPasquale, L’06

Sarah Duckers, L’86

Andrew Geren, L’13

Justin Hendrix, L’09

Christopher Joseph, L’00

Donald Maxwell, L’98

Ayesha Mehdi, L’10

Hon. Cynthia Norton, L’84

Col. J. Mathew Oleen, L’93

Erin Syring, L’94

Cliff Wiley, L’83

Laurie Williams, L’86

Above: President and CEO of UnidosUS Janet Murgía, L'85, (center) meets with students in the 6th Semster in D.C. program Roman Panickar, L’23, (far left) and Lindsay McQuinn, L'23, (far right). Also pictured is Adjunct Professor Becky Weber (second from left) and Lecturer of Law Jennifer Schmidt (second from right). Submitted by Becky Weber

Right: New members of the School of Law's Board of Governors attend the fall Board of Governors meeting in Green Hall. Emma Herrman

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS

Edward Bain, L’14

Ross Boden, L’10

Kimberly Bonifas, L’02

Grant Brazill, L’15

Aaron Breitenbach, L’01

Skyler Davenport, L’17

Andrew Geren, L’13

Jared Jevons, L’21

Neal Johnson, L’09

Andrew Kovar, L’07

Will Larchar, L’19

Andrew Marino, L’04

Carly Masenthin, L’18

Adam Merello, L’19

Megan Monsour, L’08

Jeff Nichols, L’99

Tara Shepherd, L’20

Pierce Shimp, L’18

Diana Stanley, L’20

Robert Teutsch, L’19

Patrick Waters, L’04

Britton Wilson, L’08

THANK YOU

GET INVOLVED

Want to give back to KU Law with your time and talent? There are many opportunities to mentor, serve, speak and supervise. To learn more and sign up to volunteer, visit:

law.ku.edu/volunteer

CLASS NOTES

Items were received or collected between September 2022 and December 2023. Submit your news at law.ku.edu/keep-touch KU Law Magazine relies on alumni for the accuracy of information reported.

1974 Steven Wilhelm was featured in the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP)’s Top 50 Fearless Leaders publication and inducted into the IAOTP Hall of Fame.

1977 Jan Sheldon is a 2023 inductee into the Women in Behavior Analysis Hall of Fame.

1978 Wint Winter Jr., a partner at Stevens & Brand law firm, is a 2023 inductee to the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame.

1979 Martha J. Coffman received a Pro Bono Award from the Legal Services Corporation honoring her efforts urging the Kansas Supreme Court to change the Rule of Professional Conduct that increases pro bono opportunities.

Marilyn Harp received the Robert K. Weary Award from the Kansas Bar Foundation.

1981 Chris McNeil retired as an administrative law judge with the Office of Financial Institution Adjudication for the FDIC.

Rosemary O’Leary retired from KU as the Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration.

1982 Hon. Lawton R. Nuss, former chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, was named to an advisory committee to the national Veterans Justice Commission chaired by former U.S. Defense Secretary and U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel.

1983 Wyatt Hoch is the first Kansan to be elected as a fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers. Hoch is a partner in the Wichita office of Foulston Siefkin LLP. He has focused his nearly 40 years in practice on construction law.

Jeffrey A. Mason opened Mason Law Office in Goodland, Kansas. Mason’s focus is transactional law, real estate, commercial law, estate planning, business entities and probate.

1984 Matthew Keenan is the new executive director of Kansas Legal Services. He was previously a partner with Shook, Hardy & Bacon and has been on the board of the national Legal Services Corporation.

Richard Macias became a district court judge in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Marvin Stottlemire showcased his book “I Think I Hear Him Coming, and Other Stories” at the 2023 Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago. The book is a collection of his life experiences through a lens of wit and nostalgia.

1987 David Rogers became Foulston Siefkin LLP’s managing partner. He is the 12th managing partner since the firm’s founding in 1919 and has been with Foulston Siefkin since 1998.

Patrick Stueve was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is also a member of the International

Academy of Trial Lawyers, one of only a few to be inducted into both.

1988 Dyanna Ballou has joined McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan P.C. as an attorney.

Elizabeth Schartz is an inaugural member of the Big 12 Conference Business Advisory Board. Schartz, a partner in the Dallas office of Holland & Knight, LLP, is the only attorney to join the board.

Michelle Worrall Tilton received the Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award from the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Tilton is an assistant vice president and cyber product specialist for Zurich NA.

1989 James Scott Kreamer was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Kreamer currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lawyers for Civil Justice. Wynetta Massey was elected vice president of the Colorado Municipal League board. She currently serves as a city attorney.

Greg Trimarche was appointed to the board of directors of Bitech Technologies, a technology solution provider dedicated to green energy solutions.

1991 David C. Cooper has been named Chief of Trust & Investment Administration for Idaho Trust Bank and will lead the bank’s team of Trust Officers and Administrators.

Debbie Moeller has joined McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan. She previously served as an attorney at Mauer Law Firm.

1992 Braxton Copley is public works director for the City of Topeka. Copley previously served as utilities director and interim public works director.

Paul Torline was unanimously selected to chair Lewis Rice’s real estate department. Torline has been with the department for more than three decades.

1993 Kayden Howard was promoted to senior vice president of Health, Safety and Environmental Programs at OmniTRAX.

1994 James Crowl retired as the Shawnee County counselor and was appointed by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly to be the county’s newest district court judge.

Ashley Sherard became CEO of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce.

John F. Wilcox Jr. was elected president of Dysart Taylor McMongle Brumitt & Wilcox. He previously served as director and managing director of the firm.

1995 Cynthia Bryant became the first graduate of The Seeing Eye to serve as the chair of the Board of Trustees. She is also the first person of color to serve as chair and the first woman to serve as chair since co-founder Dorothy Harrison Eustis.

1996 Jonathan Brzon was selected to serve as the interim Shawnee County counselor until a permanent director has been appointed.

Laura Miser was appointed as a judge in the 5th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Lyon County. She is the first woman to serve as a judge in the county.

1997 Hon. Jenifer Naaf Ashford received the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge of 2022 from the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association. Ashford serves in the 10th Judicial District, Johnson County.

Hon. T. Todd Myers was appointed as a circuit court judge in Missouri’s 31st Judicial District, serving Greene County. He has been an associate circuit court judge since 2020.

David Reintjes has joined Polsinelli as a shareholder in the Private Equity Practice Group.

Catherine Theisen was appointed as a judge in the 7th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Douglas County. She is an attorney with Barber Emerson.

1998 Sally Obermueller Berry was appointed as director of the University of Dayton MBA Program.

Brian Jackson has joined Arnold & Porter’s Liability Litigation practice group as a partner.

Clinton Lee was appointed as a judge in the 1st Judicial District of Kansas, serving Leavenworth and Atchison counties.

Mauricio Uribe is co-leading the establishment of the Washington State Intellectual Property Alliance, a chapter of the U.S. Intellectual Property Alliance, and serving as the organization's first president.

1999 Jean Block was named CEO of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority. She has served as the utility's chief legal officer since 2016 and is the first woman to lead the organization.

Patrick McAvan was appointed district associate judge in Judicial Election District 8A in Iowa. He previously served as an assistant Jefferson County attorney.

Matthew Merrill joined the Kansas City office of Sandberg Phoenix as a shareholder. He is a member of the firm’s health law practice group.

Kyle Roehler joined Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC as a member, following a merger with Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer & Crawford, P.C.

Andrea Snowdon was named vice president, associate council of Ameritas. She has been with Ameritas since 2018.

2000 Jason Billam was appointed as a judge in the 10th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Johnson County.

Stephanie Goodenow was appointed as a judge in the 10th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Johnson County.

Jason Lacey joined IMA Financial as associate general counsel.

Jackie Longfellow joined Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC as a member, following a merger with Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer & Crawford, P.C.

2001 Michael Cain was appointed chief executive officer of USA Karate.

Darron C. Farha was elected to a three-year term as a board member and treasurer of the National Association of College University Attorneys in Washington, D.C. Farha currently serves as vice president and general counsel for Valparaiso University.

Jill Kenney was sworn in as a full-time municipal judge for the city of Olathe, where she has served as a pro tem judge for seven years.

Michael Llamas was appointed as a judge in the 9th Judicial District of Kansas. Llamas is a municipal court judge in the cities of Walton, Burrton and Florence, Kansas.

Hon. Ryan Loewer has been appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to the 1st Judicial District Court bench which covers Jefferson and Gilpin counties in Colorado.

Elizabeth Srp joined the Citizens First Bank Board of Directors.

2002 Capt. Richard E. N. Federico was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by President Joe Biden.

David E. Waters was selected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers Fellows Class of 2023. He currently serves as an attorney at Spencer Fane.

2003 Alison Anway joined Ballard Partners to chair the firm’s newly created Health Policy Advisory Group.

Jamie Jones was named president-elect of the Arkansas Bar Association for a one-year term.

2004 Bryan Didier joined Monarch Private Capital as partner and managing director for their expanding renewable energy division.

Owen Newman was appointed partner at the Chicago branch of Duane Morris LLP. He will serve as co-chair of the International Arbitration Division within its global trial practice group.

Hon. Meaghan E. Shultz started a four-year term as municipal court administrative judge for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

Matthew Tomc was promoted to vice president of Regulatory Policy and Energy Supply at Ameren Illinois.

2005 Carl Folsom was appointed as a judge in the 7th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Douglas County. He is an assistant federal public defender.

Sherry Hamilton was elevated to partner at Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine, California.

2006 Sean J. O'Hara was named partner at the recently renamed Scottsdale litigation boutique Kercsmar & O'Hara.

2007 Lauren Akitake was selected to join the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents for a five-year term.

Bryan Meyer made partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP.

Julie Pine was hired as Carson Group’s chief legal officer.

Christi Pribula joined Lathrop GPM as counsel in the firm’s Kansas City office. She is in the trusts, estates and legacy planning practice group.

2008 Abigail Howard joined Army West Point as senior associate athletics director and general counsel. She previously spent four years with USA Swimming.

Luke Sinclair is now an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Catherine Decena Triplett was appointed as a judge in the 10th Judicial District of Kansas, serving Johnson County. She is the owner of Triplett Law Firm in Shawnee.

Cody Wamsley joined Sterlington as a partner in its Cybersecurity, Data Privacy and Intellectual Property practices.

Sara Zafar received the Wichita Bar Association Chester I. Lewis Diversity Achievement Award, and the Wichita Business Journal Diversity and Inclusion Award.

2009 Sam Wilkerson has joined the employee benefits and executive compensation practice at McAfee & Taft.

2010 Jennifer Ananda was named executive director of Lawrence's Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center. She is a former city commissioner and mayor.

Anna Landis started work as an attorney advisor in the chemical branch of the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, in Lenexa.

2011 Patrick Dodds was named the executive director of Bread of the Mighty, a food bank serving four North Central Florida counties.

Shayla Marshall became a judge with the Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Court. She previously served the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office as a district defender, managing counsel and director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

2012 Christian Corrigan was named solicitor general of Montana by Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

James McParland was elevated to partner status of Foley & Lardner LLP. He serves as an intellectual property lawyer.

2013 Dayton Botts has been named CFO of AdventHealth South Overland Park.

Mike Cappo was selected for Ingram’s Class of 40 under Forty for 2023. Cappo is a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

Tom Colonna was appointed assistant U.S attorney with the District of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Ebonie Davis joined Lathrop GPM’s real estate and tax credit practice group as counsel in the firm’s Kansas City office.

Matt Keane was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard.

Eric Sader was awarded the 2023 Inclusive Excellence Award by Indiana University. The award recognizes faculty members who display exceptional leadership in fostering diversity and inclusion on campus and in the surrounding Bloomington community.

Joe Schremmer joined the University of Oklahoma College of Law as an associate professor where he will teach and direct the College's Oil & Gas, Natural Resources and Energy Center.

Lindsay Smith became a prosecutor with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Mark Sprecker was elected as a shareholder for Polsinelli.

Ross Stewart joined the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas as assistant counsel.

2014 Matt Huntsman is labor relations counsel for the Air Line Pilots Association, International, working in the organization’s DFW office.

Kenny Titus became corporate counsel for Foley Equipment Company. He was also elected to the Kansas House of Representatives for District 51, which includes parts of Manhattan, Wamego and Wabaunsee County.

Kevin Wempe was named a director in the Kansas City office of Gilmore & Bell, P.C. Wempe serves as bond counsel to cities, counties, school districts and other municipal borrowers.

2015 Mary Olson made partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP.

Jaime Whitt was elected shareholder at Simpson, Logback, Lynch, Norris, PA, in Overland Park, Kansas.

2016 Kathleen Watson has been appointed to fill a district magistrate judgeship position in the 18th Judicial District of Kansas by Gov. Laura Kelly.

2017 Miranda Norfleet has joined the American Cancer Society of Colorado’s Associate Board of Ambassadors. She currently serves as an associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Robert Reynolds joined Lewis Brisbois as an associate attorney in their Kansas City, Missouri office.

2018 Brynn Blair was promoted to managing attorney for the Topeka Office of Kansas Legal Services.

Tayler Vena Harrell joined UTEP Athletics at The University of Texas at El Paso as senior associate athletic director for compliance.

2019 Brodie W. Herrman joined the Class Action practice group of Ogletree Deakins as an associate in the Kansas City, Missouri office.

Evan Rodriguez was selected as general counsel for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.

Emily Otte joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon as an associate in the environmental and toxic tort litigation area.

2022 Ty Gardner joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon as an associate in the business litigation area.

Linden Hoffman joined Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC as an associate, following a merger with Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer & Crawford, P.C.

Sim Johal joined Spencer Fane as an associate in the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice group in the Kansas City office.

Minha Jutt joined Shook Hardy & Bacon’s Business Litigation group as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office.

Mary McMullen received a Rural Law Practice Grant from the Kansas Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.

Madison Moore joined the transactional and business law practice group at Foulston Siefkin LLP in Wichita.

Paul Renyer joined the business law practice group at Foulston Siefkin LLP in Wichita.

James Schmidt joined Baird Holm LLP in the firm’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights section.

Luke Sunderland received a Rural Law Practice Grant from the Kansas Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.

2020 Mary Colleen Fowler joined Gust Rosenfeld, a law firm in Arizona, where she will continue to focus her practice on education and employment law.

2021 Ryan Gordon has joined Greensfelder as an associate in the firm’s St. Louis office.

2023 Colin Murphy joined Shook Hardy & Bacon’s Product Liability Litigation group as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office.

Will Sachs joined Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. He plans to focus on personal injury and workers’ compensation law.

1950

Lawrence Robert

Pennington Lake Bluff, Illinois September 12, 2023

1951

Marvin J. Martin Wichita, Kansas September 1, 2022

Charles R. Svoboda Kansas City, Missouri September 25, 2022

1953

Jack Atherton Wichita, Kansas February 22, 2023

John G. Atherton Emporia, Kansas February 19, 2023

1955

Dale A. Dodge Palm Desert, California October 5, 2022

Hon. Paul M. Buchanan Wichita, Kansas April 5, 2023

Hal Cleavinger Sanford, North Carolina September 16, 2022

1956

C. Frederick Krey Woodland Hills, California July 15, 2023

Carl E. Stallard Orlando, Florida February 19, 2023

1958

Ralph E. Pratt Independence, Missouri April 28, 2023

1959

David A. Brace Moline, Kansas February 10, 2023

Harold E. Henson

Minneapolis, Kansas January 21, 2023

1961

Robert M. Collins Wichita, Kansas October 16, 2022

1963

Thomas D. Herlocker Winfield, Kansas February 4, 2023

1964

June Lorraine Hyatt Des Moines, Iowa

September 27, 2022

1965

Tom Bennet Independence, Missouri August 4, 2023

1966

James M. Whittier Mission Hills, Kansas April 19, 2023

1967

Charles O. Thomas Bonner Springs, Kansas September 14, 2023

Charles E. Whitman Mission Hills, Kansas October 9, 2022

1968

Bill D. Robinson Jr. Basehor, Kansas August 24, 2022

Darrel G. Steinshouer Wichita, Kansas February 6, 2023

William K. Waugh III Overland Park, Kansas August 27, 2022

1969

Robert E. Barker Chanute, Kansas November 6, 2022

1970

Robert L. Looney Austin, Texas December 1, 2022

Philip Ridenour Cimarron, Kansas June 13, 2023

1971

James M. Concannon III Topeka, Kansas June 17, 2023

W. Jack Engelke Naperville, Illinois November 28, 2022

1972

Edward L. Winthrop Leawood, Kansas February 11, 2023

1973

Thomas E. Gleason Jr. Lawrence, Kansas June 15, 2023

Barbara Blee Maille Gallup, New Mexico August 6, 2023

IN MEMORIAM

Michael S. Richmond Monmouth Junction, New Jersey

April 5, 2022

Hon. John O. Sanderson Emporia, Kansas October 12, 2023

1974

Thomas L. Bright Tulsa, Oklahoma April 1, 2023

Hall Triplett San Angelo, Texas

January 1, 2023

1975

Hon. James F. Davis Olathe, Kansas November 13, 2022

Kiehl Rathbun Wichita, Kansas March 31, 2023

1977

Ronald R. Adee New York, New York April 7, 2023

Jacqueline K. Donahue Wichita, Kansas February 24, 2023

1979

Douglas A. Price Snyder, Texas September 6, 2022

1980

Orval F. Baldwin II Highlands Ranch, Colorado August 15, 2023

Stuart R. Collier Wichita, Kansas January 10, 2023

Thomas W. Gray Kansas City, Missouri July 11, 2023

Judith Alphson Nelson Los Angeles, California November 11, 2022

1981

Audrey Coon Bishop Lawrence, Kansas June 1, 2023

Stephen M. Kerwick Eastborough, Kansas November 24, 2022

1982

Patricia Hughes Liberty, Missouri February 12, 2023

Ricardo L. Jordan Cibolo, Texas August 13, 2023

George G. Long Monument, Colorado October 16, 2022

1983

Keith C. Sevedge Lenexa, Kansas January 7, 2023

1985

William F. Schantz Wichita, Kansas November 7, 2023

1986

Michael Y. McCormick Otisville, New York July 24, 2023

1989

Charles E. Ditzler IV Madison, Wisconsin January 31, 2023

Troy Von Huser Manhattan, Kansas June 20. 2023

1993

Stacey Schumacher Badger Salem, Oregon

January 16, 2023

1997

Camille R. Allen Omaha, Nebraska

April 23, 2023

2002

Janet L. McKillip Creve Couer, Missouri

November 25, 2022

2012

Evan G. Ridenour Portland, Oregon

October 26, 2022

2019

Matthew H. Beal Lawrence, Kansas

January 4, 2023

Faculty Professor Emeritus

Robert C. Casad

Lawrence, Kansas

April 21, 2023