2023 Elisabeth Haub School of Law Dean’s Award

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law Dean’s Award is presented to a graduating student in the full and/or part-time program who best demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and service to the law school and community.

Kaitlin Lauren Flores

Kaitlin Flores has been an exemplary student leader during her time at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, demonstrating outstanding commitment to academic excellence, public service, community spirit, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As a first-generation law student herself, Kaitlin founded the First-Generation Law Students Association (FGLSA) at Haub Law to create a space to help first-generation law students navigate law school successfully and have a community to grow and learn from. During her three years at Haub Law, she was also actively involved in LALSA, ELS, and Lambda. In addition to her campus involvement, Kaitlin is also involved with MetroLALSA, the Dominican Bar Association, and LatinoJustice.

Throughout the course of her studies at Haub Law, Kaitlin participated in the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic and the Access to Justice Lab. She was also a NYC Bar Corporate Law Diversity Fellowship recipient and is in the process of publishing her Law Review Note with the ABA Urban Lawyer.

A source of motivation for Kaitlin to attend law school was to break barriers and amplify the representation of Latinx lawyers in the profession, thereby increasing equity and contributing to diversity. Over the last three years, through her involvement and contributions to the Haub Law community, Kaitlin has broken many barriers. To her, the concept of “justice” is important and includes righting the wrongs of the past, ensuring those wrongs do not reoccur, and continuing to strive for a more equitable, more representative future.

For her demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and service to the law school and community, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law honors Kaitlin Flores with the 2023 Dean’s Award.

Chad J. Weiss

Chad Weiss has been an exemplary student leader during his time at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, demonstrating outstanding commitment to academic excellence, public service, relationship building, and community spirit.

Chad is a member of the first graduating class of students enrolled in the Law School’s Flex JD Scheduling Option. After running his own small business, Chad became aware of the added value that a law degree brings with it. With a passion for helping others, Chad plans to use his first-hand knowledge of running a business along with the newly gained asset of his law degree to assist individuals in their own entrepreneurial pursuits.

During his time at Haub Law, Chad continuously gave back to the community. He organized several donation drives for toys and food to benefit Feeding Westchester, The United Way, and many other local charities. Additionally, Chad represented the FLEX students as an active member of the Student Bar Association (SBA). For him, the most impactful academic experience was his participation in the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic.

Chad describes the best part of his journey at Haub Law as the relationships he has formed with his classmates in the 2023 FLEX class. Additionally, as a working student and entrepreneur, Chad has been able to apply the knowledge he learned in his classes to the work projects that he was engaged in at the time. He looks forward to using his law degree and is confident that it will allow him to advance his career with the bonus of gaining an invaluable education.

For his demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and service to the law school and community, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law honors Chad Weiss with the 2023 Dean’s Award.