|
 It’s an Exciting Time to be Dean
It is an honor to write my first column for the Valparaiso University Law Alumni Forum. I do so with great vigor and enthusiasm as I begin a new chapter at the law school and am excited at the opportunity to meet and greet our numerous and distinguished alumni.
The welcome I’ve received from faculty, staff, students and alumni has been nothing short of encouraging since it was announced that I was coming aboard as Dean. One of the more interesting questions asked of me was whether serving in this position during the current economic and legal climate was a prudent idea.
We are living in a time of great change in legal education and that change is taking place amidst an economic and legal environment that places demands on us all. As a law school, we are charged with teaching students to master the art of being a lawyer and the craft of thinking on a higher intellectual plane like a lawyer must do to succeed.
Fortunately, Valparaiso law is already operating in change mode. The law school has revamped its curriculum to integrate different skills into different kinds of courses – both doctrinal and clinical – and I am excited to move this initiative forward.
While I don’t know of any law school that doesn’t offer clinical opportunities, having them as a requirement and an integral part of our curriculum is different in a positive and beneficial way for our students.
Valparaiso is a school with a very unique, diverse, and nontraditional student body of which 47 percent is made up of students from groups underrepresented in the law. It’s a place attended by many who are working to finance their own legal education, and that working class attitude is a key element of our DNA.
As a law school we have an obligation and a responsibility to teach students how to conduct themselves ethically and be comfortable with the positions they take on issues throughout their careers. They need to master the art of the interview, learn how to relate to clients, and grasp those basic principles of practicing law that you cannot wait to learn on the job anymore.
Alumni are a part of this teaching process and your mentoring, guidance and gifts are of deep value. I look forward to meeting and working with you. It is indeed an exciting time to be Dean of Valparaiso University Law School.
Sincerely,
Dean Andrea D. Lyon
Dean, Valparaiso University Law School
Feature Story
Andrea D. Lyon, J.D., will join the Law School as Dean, in July, 2014. In her role, Dean Lyon will be responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination and guidance of the Law School. Dean Lyon brings an accomplished record of both teaching and practicing law, and is a national expert in criminal defense. Come, meet and greet the new Dean of Valparaiso University Law School at an alumni reception. Click here for information and to register.
We welcome your feedback! If you have suggestions of what you would like to see, what services you would like provided from your Office of Alumni Relations, please send a note to law.alumni@valpo.edu. In the meantime, be sure to keep your eyes open for this e-newsletter, join/like the Valparaiso Law Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages and please join us at an alumni event in the coming year.
CLASS NOTES
Mitch Gilfillan’09, has recently been named the director of basketball operations for the Illinois State Redbirds. After serving a year at Ball State as director of basketball operations in 2009-2010, Mr. Gilfillan was elevated to assistant coach at age 26, making him the youngest assistant coach in the Mid-American Conference at the time. read more
Robert J. Gorincen ’11, has built a social network for lawyers to use as an avenue for business development and marketing. This social network helps lawyers at law firms market their practice to lawyers practicing in-house at companies and non-profit organizations. It also provides a valuable resource for in-house counsel to obtain legal news, developments and CLE offerings on niche areas of law. read more
CLASS OF 1980
 Nicolas M. Bazan ’80, was named one of Texas’ top rated lawyers of 2014 by Legal Leaders... read more
CLASS OF 1983
 Mark Roscoe ’83, received three Emmy Awards at the Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences... read more
CLASS OF 1988
John A. Hallacy ’88, a Calhoun County judge, was named Grand Rapids Community College’s 2014 Distinguished Alumnus in Grand Rapids, Michigan... read more
CLASS OF 1989
Kathleen M. Allen ’89, was named the 39th chair-person of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly. read more
CLASS OF 1993
 Mark A. Kassel ’93, was ranked as a leading lawyer in his field in 2014 by America’s Leading Lawyers for Business... read more
CLASS OF 1994
 Nathaniel Turner ’94, has authored a book titled “Raising Supaman” which hopes to inspire and encourage parents... read more
CLASS OF 1997
 Deborah L. La Fleur ’97, was elected to serve on the Leadership Seminole Board of Directors which provides leadership... read more
CLASS OF 2001
Rebecca L. Buitendorp ’01, Aimee M. Gong ‘12, Brianna J. Schroeder ‘09, and Victoria R. Wolf ‘07... read more
CLASS OF 2002
 Wendy K. Walker-Dyes ‘02, launched her solo firm, LakeStone Law, PLLC in Cassopolis, Michigans... read more
CLASS OF 2003
Shannon Summers ’03, recently joined the litigation practice group at Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C. in St. Louis, MO. read more
CLASS OF 2003
 Wendy Shea ’03, received the award for Excellence in Teaching at the Southern University System Faculty and Staff Research and Academic Achievements Awards Program... read more
CLASS OF 2007
 Kim Ferraro '07, recently settled a federal class action suit filed in order to clean up an industrial toxic waste site... read more
CLASS OF 2008
 Ashley Kutz Kelley ’08, was named to Charleston Forty Under 20 Class... read more
Click here to read more Class Notes.
IN MEMORIAM
 Ashley Haws '12, passed away in a tragic boating accident in Lake Michigan near Chicago. The Post Tribune highlights, "Her mother, Sharon Rae Haws, told the Chicago Sun-Times her daughter grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, loved soccer and dreamed of practicing law. She realized that dream after graduating from Valparaiso University Law School in Indiana in 2012 and moving to Chicago, where she found a job practicing family law at the Davi Law Group. “She loved the big city,” Sharon Rae Haws said. Dion Davi, the founding attorney of the firm where Haws worked, described Haws as a “brilliant rising star in the legal community.” “She was loved by all that met her,” Davi said. “The law profession and the world have lost someone that was destined to do great things.” Our condolences go out to Ashley's family.
|
CONNECT
HOW TO GIVE
For additional information on how to make a donation, please click here for our online giving page.
EVENTS
Northwest Indiana- Porter Co.
July 10, 2014
Bowbar (Strongbow) – 2405 U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN 46383
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Northwest Indiana- Lake Co.
July 16, 2014
Innsbrook Country Club- 6701 Taft St. Merrillvile, IN 46410
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Chicago, IL
July 17, 2014
Madron Art Gallery - 1000 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60642
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Grand Rapids, MI
July 31, 2014
Meijer Gardens - 1000 East Beltline Ave NE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Indianapolis, IN
August 7, 2014
Columbia Club - 121 Monument Cir,
Indianapolis, IN 46204
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Valparaiso, IN
October 10, 2014
Homecoming 2014
Harre Union
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________
SAVE THE DATE: Classes of 2004, 2004, 2005 - Reunion 2014
Valparaiso, IN - October 3-5, 2014
Please continue to check back with the "Coming Up Next" page for event details to come!
BE A MENTOR
Please click here to sign up for the mentorship program.
CONTACT
For further information, please contact:
Vanessa Verner
Office of Law Alumni Relations
Valparaiso University Law School
656 S. Greenwich St.
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383-4945
USA
Tel: 219.465.7802
E-mail: Vanessa.Verner@valpo.edu
|
CLICK HERE TO: SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE | UPDATE MY INFORMATION
