With the dream of a career as an “appellate litigator working in the public interest sphere,” rising third-year law student Divya Kishore felt her summer fellowship was a key step in her journey toward achieving that goal. The recipient of the School of Law’s largest summer public interest grant, the Bool Simkins Summer Fellowship, Kishore said the funding provided the perfect opportunity to pursue her passion without worrying about how she would support herself.
Director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center Sarah Quinn has been selected for the Council on Foreign Relations Higher Education Ambassador Program. As part of the program, she will engage with other educators across the country “who are dedicated to helping students make sense of the world around them.”
Congratulations to seven School of Law professors who recently received new titles and promotions. Desirée LeClercq was promoted to associate professor with tenure, while Washington, D.C., Semester in Practice Director Jessica L. Heywood was named a full clinical professor. Rob McNiff was appointed clinical associate professor, and Sherrie L. Hines and Caitlin May were named lecturers. Director of the Law Library Thomas “TJ” Striepe was elevated to the classification of senior academic professional, while Research Services Librarian Brandy Ellis earned the rank of librarian II.
The School of Law greatly appreciates the dedication and service of alumni who serve on its three alumni boards - the Board of Visitors, the Law School Alumni Council and the Young Alumni Committee. The current leaders of these groups are: 1986 graduate Marlan B. Wilbanks, 2004 graduate Francys Johnson and 2020 graduate Gretchen Edelman, respectively.
Congratulations to first-year student Hunter E. Ongaro who was selected for the 2026 Sumner Memorial Fund Fellowship which supports School of Law students entering their second or third year who intend to work in municipal law. The Sumner Fellowship was established in memory of School of Law graduate Walter Edwin “Ed” Sumner (J.D.’76) who dedicated his career to municipal law.