School of Law Introduces Living-Learning Community

Freshmen get a glimpse of legal education through program

October 16, 2018 by

UM freshmen (front row, from left) Cassidy Grace Porter, Abigail Avery, Katharine Papp, Carley Sheppard and Nicholas DiConsiglio and (back row) Carson Whitney, Dorrian Reagan, Joseph Shelley, Faith Chatten and Virgil ‘Trey’ Ledbetter are participating in the inaugural School of Law Living Learning Community. Photo by Macey Edmondson

OXFORD, Miss. – Ten freshmen at the University of Mississippi will begin their legal education early through the School of Law Living-Learning Community.

This is the inaugural year of the program, which will take these young students interested in attending law school after graduation and introduce them to the law.

The program will provide opportunities for students to learn about the law and legal education; offer guidance on applying to law school; introduce undergraduates to law students who will serve as mentors throughout their freshman year; and educate students on professionalism and what it takes to be a successful lawyer.

“These students are already interested in law school as high school seniors, and they’re really go-getters,” said Macey Edmondson, assistant dean for student affairs at the law school. “Through the LLC, they will be part of a tight-knit community, and we’re excited to provide them with resources to enhance their future careers.”

This is a relatively new practice among law schools, she said.

Participating students are Abigail Avery, public policy and leadership and psychology major from Lake St. Louis, Missouri; Faith Chatten, business and art, Erie, Colorado; Nicholas DiConsiglio, political science, Clearwater, Florida; Trey Ledbetter, political science, Iuka; Katharine Papp, history, Austin, Texas; Cassidy Grace Porter, paralegal studies, Bakersfield, California; Dorrian Regan, economics, Tucker, Georgia; Joseph Shelley, political science, Flanders, New Jersey; Carley Sheppard, paralegal studies, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Carson Whitney, business, Edwardsville, Illinois.

Edmondson has coordinated programming for the students throughout the year, including a social event with law Dean Susan Duncan, guest speakers including judges and attorneys, and a field trip to Jackson to gain a better understanding of the legal system and how it works.

“We hope the experience of immersing yourself in the legal field will only strengthen the interest of a legal education for these students,” Duncan said. “Our faculty and students at the Ole Miss law school will work closely with these freshmen to introduce them to the law and foster their educational success.”

The School of Law LLC is one of four offered to Ole Miss students. Other LLCs include the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, School of Pharmacy and FASTrack.

The new program became a deciding factor for some students to attend UM.

Chatten researched colleges and universities for months to find one that offered something unique for undergraduate students who wanted to become attorneys.

“My search had been unsuccessful until one day, I was looking at Ole Miss housing and saw that there was a School of Law Living-Learning Community,” she said. “It was the exact thing that I had been searching for all along in the college process, and I felt extremely grateful to be accepted.”

Her interest in law began in high school through a U.S. government and politics course.

“I took the class looking to fulfill a required high school credit, not knowing that I would grow to love it so much that it would end up being my favorite class that I have ever taken,” she said. “I considered myself pretty studious in high school, but I had never read a textbook cover to cover until this class.”

Chatten’s interest in becoming an attorney was solidified when she participated in the Law and Advocacy National Student Leadership Conference at Yale University the following summer. She participated in mock trial at the conference, which prompted her to search for undergraduate programs related to law interests and become part of the LLC.

“I wanted to build a community of people around me with the same aspirations who will be going through the same things as me, like caring about good grades because law school is on the line and studying for the LSAT,” she said. “I was also so excited to see that the LLC pairs students up with law school mentors, which will be so impactful to have someone giving me advice since they were once in my position.”

Members of the LLC live among peers who are also interested in pursuing law school after graduation.

“We’re excited to offer the School of Law Living-Learning Community for the 2018-19 academic year,” said Jennifer McClure, student housing assistant director for marketing. “Living-learning communities enhance students’ residential experiences by connecting activities and events in their homes on campus to their academic lives.”

Faculty members and students from the law school will serve as community leaders and resources for these students.

“Through these partnerships with faculty, the Department of Student Housing supports student success by promoting engaged scholarship and responsible citizenship,” McClure said.

For more information, visit https://studenthousing.olemiss.edu/.

Filed Under: News Releases, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, School of Law, School of Pharmacy

Assistant Law Dean to Lead National Student Affairs Organization

Macey Edmondson named president-elect of NALSAP for the 2019-20 academic year

October 15, 2018 by

Macey Edmondson

OXFORD, Miss. – Macey Edmondson, assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Mississippi School of Law, has been named president-elect of the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals.

She will serve as president for the 2019-20 academic year.

NALSAP is an organization for professionals who provide support to law students. The organization was founded in 2016 to serve as a “meeting place” for student affairs professionals to learn best practices, develop ideas, engage in professional growth and discuss issues affecting law students.

Edmondson was a co-founder of the organization, along with Johnny Pryor, assistant dean for student affairs at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law; Rebekah Grodsky, director of academic and student affairs at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law; and Emily Scivoletto, associate dean for academic and student affairs at UCLA School of Law.

“There were plenty of professional organizations out there for other aspects of legal education, but nothing for student affairs,” she said. “We kept hearing that it was needed greatly.”

The UM School of Law was instrumental in helping Edmondson and her student affairs colleagues found the organization. The school’s Transactional Law Clinic assisted the board of directors in obtaining the organization’s business league status as a 501(c)6 entity, allowing NALSAP to provide professional development opportunities.

“Macey and her colleagues from other law schools throughout the country recognized the need for an organization to support student affairs professionals,” said Marie Cope, law professor and transactional clinic director. “NALSAP is an important resource and network of professionals, and Macey will be an amazing asset to the organization during her tenure as president.”

In just two years, the organization has grown, providing professional opportunities to more than 83 institutional members and 435 individual members representing 104 law schools across the country.

“NALSAP has benefited from Macey’s positivity, collaborative spirit and ability to work well with a broad range of constituents to fulfill our mission,” Pryor said. “Because of Macey’s efforts, in collaboration with the other three co-founders, law school student affair professionals have a professional home for resources, support and professional development.”

Each year, NALSAP hosts a conference that includes informational sessions and presentations that focus on resources for law students. Edmondson served as program chair for the organization’s second conference.

“I’m just so proud of NALSAP,” Edmondson said. “It’s amazing how fast our members have gravitated towards this organization.

“It’s a big resource for student affairs professionals in the law school community, and for our members to feel that I can help guide the organization is a huge honor.”

Edmondson’s goals as president includes developing online resources and programming, creating recurring communication updates among members and finding new ways for professionals to have their works published.

“I want to make sure this organization is solidified and maintains good grounding to serve as a foundation for future student affairs professionals,” she said.

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Law

Symposium on Opioid Crisis Brings Law and Pharmacy Together

UM students from both schools learn about interprofessional approach to challenge

October 12, 2018 by

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood speaks to law and pharmacy students during the interprofessional symposium regarding the opioid crisis in the state. Photo by Christina Steube/School of Law

OXFORD, Miss. – More than 115 people die each day in the United States from opioid overdoses, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

These statistics constitute a crisis, and the University of Mississippi schools of Law and Pharmacy are working together to combat that crisis in an interdisciplinary manner.

Last week, the schools collaborated for an education symposium on “An Interprofessional Approach to the Opioid Crisis in Mississippi.” More than 300 law and pharmacy students attended the event, which included a mock trial in front of Roy Percy, magistrate judge for the Northern District of Mississippi, and a keynote speech by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

“A multidisciplinary approach is great and our university here is the first I’ve seen do this, so y’all are on the front end of addressing the crisis,” Hood said. “These epidemics come and go, but we have yet to see an epidemic affect such a broad cross-section of people.”

Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter provided opening comments at the symposium and commended the schools for proactively addressing the opioid epidemic.

“By working together, we are more likely to understand the full breadth of this challenge and to find innovative solutions,” Vitter said.

Symposium panelists discuss the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the opioid crisis. Photo by Christina Steube/School of Law

The afternoon panel featured Lauren Bloodworth, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice; Dr. Kenneth Cleveland, executive director of the Mississippi State Medical Board of Licensure; Amanda Criswell, nurse practitioner and instructor of nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and Julie Mitchell, an attorney at Mitchell Day Law Firm in Ridgeland.

Law professor Larry Pittman and pharmacy practice professor Kim Adcock worked over the last year to organize the event to ensure that both professional schools developed an understanding of how different professions are navigating the opioid crisis.

“This interprofessional mock trial and symposium exemplified the importance of interdisciplinary interactions and provided a springboard for our students to begin working together to learn from, about and with each other,” Adcock said.

The goal of the event was to provide students and future practitioners a foundation to make the best professional decisions related to pain management.

“Interprofessional education and collaboration are very important because such efforts are necessary for resolving many of the pressing issues that we as a nation will continue to encounter,” Pittman said.

UM law student Sammy Brown serves as an attorney during the mock trial portion of the interprofessional collaboration between the schools of Law and Pharmacy. Photo by Christina Steube/School of Law

The School of Pharmacy engages in regular interprofessional education with many of the health sciences schools on the UMMC campus, where upper-level pharmacy students receive training, and the School of Law engages in interdisciplinary endeavors with undergraduate programs and other legal entities. However, this is one of the first such events where the two schools collaborated to address a national crisis.

“Law is inextricable from the profession of pharmacy,” said David D. Allen, UM pharmacy dean. “This is an incredible way to demonstrate to our future pharmacy, nursing and law professionals that together they have the power to make real contributions that can lessen or end the opioid crisis.”

Allen and Susan Duncan, dean of the law school, both expressed hope that the seminar would show students that interprofessional collaboration has potential to create solutions for any number of professional issues.

“We are educating future leaders, and it’s so important that they understand the importance in collaborating with those of other disciplines,” Duncan said. “Students in professional schools work well with each other, but it is vital for them to learn from their peers in other schools who can provide a different perspective.”

Filed Under: Featured News, News Releases, Pharmacy, School of Law, School of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy Archives

McLean Institute Grant Award to Fund Community Engagement

Hearin Foundation provides support for research and service efforts

October 5, 2018 by

The University of Mississippi’s McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement welcomed a new group of outstanding students from around the globe this fall, representing majors from across the university. First row from left, Albert Nylander, Hannah Newbold, Navodit Paudel, Kristina Fields, J.R. Love, Laura Martin; second row from left, Michael Mott, Allison Borst, Zachary Pugh, Joshua Baker, Kendall Walker, Curtis Hill; third row from left, Bryce Williams, Elena Bauer, Adam Franco, Arielle Rogers, Virginia Parkinson, Anna Katherine Burress, Ashley Bowen.

OXFORD, Miss – A grant from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation for the University of Mississippi’s McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement will fund research and service aimed at increasing community and economic development in Mississippi communities.

The McLean Institute welcomes a new group of outstanding students from around the globe this fall, representing majors from across the university. This scholarship opportunity serves to build actionable partnerships across the state to promote entrepreneurship and economic development.

Albert Nylander, director of the McLean Institute, professor of sociology and principal investigator for the Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, or CEED, program, said he is thankful for the approximately $500,000 provided by the foundation.

“The wonderful people at the Hearin Foundation continue their remarkable record of supporting university students through fellowships to make a difference throughout Mississippi,” Nylander said.

Fifteen students were selected this year to continue a nearly $2 million McLean Institute investment from the Hearin Foundation to bolster community and economic development in Mississippi. This grant will support UM students through 2021.

The CEED Initiative works with Ole Miss students and faculty to implement projects and conduct research that directly affects Mississippi communities. These students join a network of more than 50 UM students and faculty, as well as a collaboration of more than 400 community and business leaders in the state, who embarked on the first CEED project in 2014-18.

The annual entrepreneurship forums, business webinars, youth leadership programs and other activities are focused on spurring economic growth in the state.

“We are thankful to the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation for providing the opportunity to continue working in Mississippi with business and community leaders in partnership with UM students to help move our state forward,” said J.R. Love, CEED project manager.

The program’s annual Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum, which helps strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, will take place March 8, 2019, at Millsaps College in partnership with other universities throughout the state.

The CEED program supports undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members to research poverty, education, asset building, and health care in Mississippi.

“As a McLean Institute innovation fellow, I am to think critically about the issues of poverty and development in Mississippi, in particular the Delta area,” said Ashley Bowen, a master’s student in computer science from Lambert. “Through sustained community engagement, and by applying strategies in community development, I have been able to positively impact the community and develop myself professionally.”

The McLean Institute also supports faculty research projects through the CEED Initiative. Cristiane Surbeck, associate professor of civil engineering; Kate Centellas, Croft associate professor of anthropology and international studies; David Holben, professor of nutrition and hospitality management; Tejas Pandya, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; and Annie Cafer, assistant professor of sociology, all have received funds to conduct projects in Mississippi.

The 2018-19 CEED program includes students from the College of Liberal Arts and the schools of Accountancy, Applied Science, Business Administration, Engineering, Journalism and New Media, Law and Pharmacy.

Other students in the program are: Josh Baker, a junior majoring in economics from Katy, Texas; Elena Bauer, second-year law student, Freiburg, Germany; Allison Borst, junior in biological sciences and sociology, Madison; Anna Katherine Burress, junior in pharmaceutical science, Water Valley; Kristina Fields, junior in psychology, Belden; Adam Franco, senior in public policy leadership, Birmingham, Alabama; Michael Mott, junior in integrated marketing communications and Spanish, Chicago; Hannah Newbold, junior in integrated marketing communications, Roswell, Georgia; Virginia Parkinson, sophomore in marketing and corporate relations, Oxford; Navodit Paudel, junior in general business, Dhading, Nepal; Zach Pugh, sophomore in public policy leadership, Oxford; Arielle Rogers, sophomore in accountancy, Guntown; Kendall Walker, junior in communication sciences and disorders, Tupelo; and Bryce Williams, master’s student in exercise science, Ridgeland.

For more information on the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, visit http://mclean.olemiss.edu/ or contact Albert Nylander at 662-915-2050, or nylander@olemiss.edu.

Filed Under: College of Liberal Arts, Featured News, News Releases, School of Accountancy, School of Applied Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Engineering, School of Journalism, School of Law, School of Pharmacy Archives

UM Law Graduates Pass Mississippi Bar Exam Well Above State Average

More than 73 percent of first-time takers passed the state test

October 3, 2018 by

Graduates of the UM School of Law taking the Mississippi Bar Examination for the first time scored 25 percent above the state’s average for people taking the exam for the first time. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

OXFORD, Miss. – Graduates of the University of Mississippi School of Law who were first-time takers of the Mississippi Bar Examination passed at a rate of 73.7 percent for the July 2018 cycle, substantially higher than the state’s average of 58.8 percent for graduates taking the bar exam for the first time.

The overall state average is composed of test takers from the UM law school, Mississippi College School of Law and out-of-state schools.

“Despite recent fluctuations in the number of students applying to law school nationally, the University of Mississippi School of Law has maintained the same high admissions requirements we have applied for decades,” said Susan Duncan, UM law dean.

“As a result of this decision and the implementation of new academic support programs, we continue to produce top-notch graduates who are prepared for the bar examination and the practice of law.”

Susan Duncan

Over the next several weeks, the school will receive bar passage reports from other states, which will be compiled into a comprehensive report to examine the continued improvement of bar passage for Ole Miss law graduates.

“Although we celebrate our alumni that passed, we will continue to consider how to improve our pass rate,” Duncan said. “Our focus has always been and will continue to be preparing our students for life after law school, which includes giving students the skills needed to succeed on the bar exam and in their practice or chosen career paths.”

Some 175 students took the bar exam in July. Thirty-eight of those were first-time takers from UM.

For more information, visit https://law.olemiss.edu/.

Filed Under: Featured News, News Releases, School of Law

Rocket Scientist, Entrepreneur to Speak Monday at UM Law School

Brian Stofiel to discuss new technologies and legal issues concerning space access

September 21, 2018 by

Brian Stofiel

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Law will host Brian Stofiel, a rocket scientist and founder of Stofiel Aerospace, for a talk Monday (Sept. 24) about his company’s balloon-based satellite launcher.

The event, set for 5:30 p.m. in Room 1078 of the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, is free and open to the public. Pizza and refreshments will be served.

Stofiel will discuss the availability of space to everyone in addition to technical, ethical and legal issues regarding human migration into space.

“We are thrilled to host Brian here at the University of Mississippi School of Law,” said Michelle Hanlon, associate director of the master’s program in air and space law. “As one of the only law schools in the world to offer an LL.M. in Air and Space Law, we are committed to the development and success of the aerospace industry and the ability of our students to contribute to the same.

“Stofiel Aerospace is a rising prodigy in our emerging space economy. Though the media fixates on billionaire space entrepreneurs, the truth is the opportunity to participate in the space economy is available to everyone.”

Stofiel Aerospace is known for combining classic and emerging technologies to launch satellites into low earth orbit.

“We mix very old and very new technologies together to create something never seen before,” said Ken Hoagland, Stofiel Aerospace communications director. “We use a balloon to first reach 100,000 feet before our engine ignites a solid fuel rocket that then lifts a payload of up to 550 pounds into orbit.”

Stofiel has developed and patented a method of 3D-printing a rocket engine in two days.

“That’s revolutionary because most rocket engines require at least six months or more to build,” Hoagland said.

In most cases, large rockets require a launch from a facility such as Cape Kennedy. Stofiel’s rocket engine can launch from almost anywhere, he said.

“We’ll change everything for small-payload orbital launches, like satellites, because we can take an order on Monday and have a payload into orbit in a matter of weeks, instead of months or even years,” Hoagland said.

Stofiel will discuss these new developments and the implications for orbital commerce. He is interested in basing all launches at sea out of Gulfport.

For more information, visit https://www.stofiel.space/.

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Law

Law School to Host Originalism Debate in Constitution Day Observance

Free event is part of the Boyce Holleman Debate Series

September 12, 2018 by

UM law professor Chris Green will debate Georgia State law professor Eric Segall on originalism Sept. 17 to commemorate Constitution Day. Photo by Christina Steube/UM School of Law

OXFORD, Miss. – On Sept. 17, 231 years ago, delegates who had been meeting in Philadelphia that summer made their work public, signing the U.S. Constitution and proposing it for ratification by “We the People.”

The University of Mississippi School of Law will celebrate that triumphant day by hosting a Constitution Day commemoration Sept. 17 in the Robert C. Khayat Law Center. The 12:30 event in Weems Auditorium is free and open to the public.

This year, the celebration will feature a debate between UM associate professor of law Christopher Green and Georgia State University law professor Eric Segall titled “What is Originalism, and Is It a Good Idea?” They will discuss how the Constitution should be interpreted today.

“We are proud to host the annual commemoration of this foundational moment in our history,” said Michele Alexandre, the school’s associate dean for faculty development and intellectual life. “Professor Green and Segall are two dynamic scholars in the field with divergent views on the constitution.

“Their conversation will provide valuable food for thought and useful information to the audience.”

The event is sponsored by the Boyce Holleman Debate Series.

“It’s not surprising that Congress has told all of the universities in the country to set aside some time thinking about the Constitution every Sept. 17,” Green said. “Developing views about the Constitution, however tentative or incomplete, is an important obligation of everyone in the country.

“Love it or hate it, no matter what you think the Constitution is, no one should just be apathetic about it.”

The Constitution should not be left solely to the experts, Green said, who invites everyone to hear the debate in person.

“Anyone who grows up in places governed by the Constitution really ought to start thinking about it shortly after they learn to read,” he said.

Green joined the Ole Miss faculty in 2006. He is a graduate of Princeton University, Yale Law School and earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame.

He clerked for UM law school alumnus Judge Rhesa H. Barksdale on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Green also is author “Equal Citizenship, Civil Rights, and the Constitution: The Original Sense of the Privileges or Immunities Clause” (Routledge, 2015).

Segall has taught at Georgia State University since 1991. A graduate of Emory University and the Vanderbilt University Law School, he clerked for U.S. District Court and U.S. Circuit Court judges Charles Moye Jr. and Albert J. Henderson in Georgia.

He also wrote “Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court Is Not a Court and Its Justices are Not Judges” (Praeger, 2012).

Green and Segall also have both authored numerous articles and essays on constitutional theory.

“It’s exciting to be able to have a debate with someone like Eric Segall so soon after school begins,” Green said. “Eric and I have been Twitter ‘frenemies’ for several years, so it will be fun to translate our battles in that medium into a more formal debate, even though we disagree about nearly everything.”

For more information about the event, contact Alexandre at malexandre@olemiss.edu or operations assistant Carroll Moore at carrollm@olemiss.edu.

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Law

Flying Cars to Asteroid Mining: UM Prepares for Future Legal Issues

School of Law hires new directors for acclaimed air and space law program

September 10, 2018 by

New faculty members Michelle Hanlon (left) and Charles Stotler will serve as associate directors of the School of Law’s LL.M. program in air and space law. Photo by Christina Steube/UM School of Law

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Law has two new faculty members with a wealth of experience to lead its groundbreaking education and research program in air and space law.

Michelle Hanlon and Charles Stotler will serve as associate directors of the Master of Laws program in air and space law.

Hanlon, who has earned degrees from Yale University, Georgetown University and McGill University, comes to Ole Miss after spending more than 25 years as a practicing business attorney. She is co-founder and president of For All Moonkind Inc., the world’s only organization focused on preserving human cultural heritage in outer space, starting with lunar landing sites.

For All Moonkind was named a “Top 10 Innovator in Space” by Fast Company and has been granted observer status at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Stotler holds degrees from St. John’s College, Loyola University and McGill University. He brings deep experience in aviation, international and space law to Ole Miss. He has advised corporate clients, international airports, international intergovernmental organizations and trade associations; advocated for the growth of the space law discipline through the American Society of International Law; and focused on the intersection of science and technology with law and policy as a Mirzayan Fellow at the National Academies.

The core of the university’s air and space law program was built in 1965 by Stephen Gorove, one of the earliest jurists to focus on legal aspects of space exploration.

“The School of Law’s long tradition and institutional experience leaves us uniquely poised to help our global society assure the responsible and ethical utilization of opportunities in aviation and space,” Dean Susan Duncan said. “Expanding our air and space law program will open exciting new job opportunities for our students and foster truly cutting-edge legal scholarship.”

The appointment of Hanlon and Stotler emphasizes the school’s enduring commitment to the country’s first space law program and only LL.M. degree program in air and space law.

“The rich history of the air and space law program at the University of Mississippi is truly inspiring,” Stotler said. “In the tradition of Dr. Gorove, it’s important to make sure our air and space laws and regulations keep up with technology. Otherwise we are just crippling important – perhaps vital – innovation.”

Hanlon and Stotler aim to educate the next generation of industry professionals.

“This is an incredibly exciting time to be an air and space lawyer,” Hanlon said. “Every day, someone, some company or some nation is challenging the current legal regime.

“From flying cars to drones to private robots on the moon, we have a lot of gray areas to navigate as humanity moves into the future.”

Hanlon and Stotler both joined the faculty in July are teaching classes this fall.

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Law

Law Professor to Lead National Academic Organization

Ron Rychlak will serve as president of SEALS for the upcoming year

August 7, 2018 by

Ron Rychlak

OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi law professor will lead an organization representing more than 100 institutions as head of the Southeastern Association of Law Schools for the coming academic year.

Ron Rychlak, professor of law and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government, will serve as president of SEALS for 2018-19.

“It’s both an honor and a challenge,” Rychlak said. “I believe this type of professional development is important, and it reflects well on the university to have so many of our faculty involved in organizations like this.”

SEALS began in 1947 as a regional association of law schools that came together to host an annual meeting each summer. The meeting features panel discussions, debates and lectures from members of the legal community around the world, giving law faculty an opportunity to present their research, attend workshops and receive feedback from peers and mentors.

The organization has grown beyond the Southeast and includes more than 100 member schools.

Rychlak has been active in the organization for the last 20 years, serving on multiple committees. In 2012, the association honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. He will be installed as president Aug. 11 at the conclusion of this year’s annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Also UM’s faculty athletics representative, Rychlak will give presentations at the conference about NCAA legislation, as well as bar exam performance and what can be done to better prepare students.

“I’d like to have a successful academic conference where people feel they have been nourished intellectually, but also maintain the family-oriented feeling that SEALS is known for,” Rychlak said.

His goal as president is to continue to develop the organization, specifically helping young faculty members who are just beginning their careers.

“It’s a great chance for young people to develop their presentation and writing skills while getting feedback from those in legal academia,” Rychlak said. “That’s what really separates us from other groups.”

Ben Cooper, a professor and senior associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Law, also has been actively involved in SEALS, serving as chair of the program formatting committee, where he edits the full conference program and daily schedule. Cooper said he is proud that his colleague will lead the organization for the coming year.

“I think it’s a great honor for him and it’s an appropriate recognition of his contributions to the success of SEALS over the years,” Cooper said.

Throughout the history of SEALS, four other Ole Miss faculty members have served a term as president.

For more information about SEALS, visit http://sealslawschools.org/.

Filed Under: Featured News, News Releases, School of Law

Law Student Carries on Legacy of Admired Attorney

Nathaniel Snyder named first recipient of Edmonson scholarship

July 15, 2018 by

UM law student Nathaniel Snyder (back row, third from left) is greeted in Oxford by friends and family members of UM alumnus Richie Edmonson. Pictured are (front row, from left) Kevin Smith, Bob Coffin, Jep Pollard, Scott Hollingsworth and (back row, from left) Harry Park, Richie’s brother Will Edmonson, Snyder, Roger Aldridge, Bradley Shultz and Richie’s brother Stephen Edmonson. Submitted photo

OXFORD, Miss. – Richard Edmonson lost his life to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 2015, but his memory is forever linked to the University of Mississippi. Nathaniel Snyder of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the first recipient of a UM scholarship established to pay tribute to Edmonson.

Snyder, who graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 2017, recently completed his first year at the School of Law using the Richard “Richie” M. Edmonson Jr. Memorial Scholarship to supplement his tuition.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to be the first recipient of this scholarship and to know that I will be the first to carry on Mr. Edmonson’s legacy,” Snyder said. “His generosity has allowed me to pursue a career in law, a profession that Mr. Edmonson used to help others.”

Edmonson, of Madison, was a partner at Markow Walker law firm for 24 years and was an A-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell.

“Richie was always very goal-oriented,” said Lisa Bane, Edmonson’s wife. “He would see something he wanted to accomplish and he would never give up until he had achieved his goals. He had a great drive and determination to succeed at everything he attempted.

“I think he would be very honored to know that this scholarship is helping other people reach their own academic goals at the university he loved so much.”

Edmonson chose UM for his college home, earning both undergraduate and law degrees. He excelled in academics, particularly in his pursuit of his legal education, and was active in Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Order of Omega, Mortar Board, Phi Delta Phi and the Mississippi Law Journal staff.

UM law student Nathaniel Snyder (center) is greeted in Oxford by brothers of the late Richard Edmondson, Will (left) and Stephen Edmonson. Submitted photo

In addition, the well-rounded student was active in intramural sports, with flag football as his favored activity.

After college, he enjoyed spending time with Lisa and their three daughters, as well as going mountain and road biking, running, hunting and whitewater rafting.

Fraternity brothers and family members sponsor a golf tournament in Oxford each year to raise money for the scholarship.

The Edmonson Scholarship Fund is open to gifts from individuals and organizations. To contribute, send checks with the fund’s name noted in the memo line to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., University, MS 38655; or visit http://www.umfoundation.com/makeagift.

For more information, contact Suzette Matthews, development officer for the School of Law, at suzette@olemiss.edu or 662-915-1122.

Filed Under: Alumni News, Apps-Alumni & Friends, News Releases, School of Law
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