Congratulations on the end of the academic year 2021-22! By now most section members are on the other side of Commencement ceremonies and graduation activities. Take a moment to exhale and reflect on your successes, even if you’re already planning for next year! The summer months are nearly upon us, but we’ll continue to provide meaningful professional development and networking opportunities to our IA colleagues around the country.

Upcoming Events!

Virtual Section Social – Dean Transitions – Now What?
Wednesday, July 20th **New Date**
12:00 pm EST / 9:00 am PST

Moderators: Heather Foss Thomas and Liz Field

Click here to register! (FREE)

Virtual Section Social – Reunion, Alumni Weekend, and Engaging the “Lost Classes” of 2020 and 2021
Wednesday, September 21st
12:00 pm EST / 9:00 am PST

Moderators: Heather Foss Thomas and Liz Field

Click here to register! (FREE)

IA Section Webinar – Collaboration on Marquee Events
Wednesday, October 19th
12:00 PM EST / 9:00 AM PST

Click here to register! (FREE)

Way to Go!

Congratulations to IA Section member Kelly Rimmer, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at Penn State Dickinson Law, on receiving the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award from Penn State University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations. Kelly was recognized for her tireless work toward actualizing DE&I goals through record-setting fundraising, groundbreaking partnerships, and program development.

Stephanie Silvestri, Director of Annual & Leadership at Seton Hall University School of Law, recently sang in the choir for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall! Brava, Stephanie!

We don’t believe in thankless work, so please send us a note about a job well done, an accolade for a colleague, or a successful event or project you or your team has recently undertaken! You can submit kudos to celebrate yourself or a colleague on this quick and easy form.

Professional Development

Good Read

• ‘Breaking Ranks’ With ‘U.S. News’– Inside Higher Ed
  A new book by former UPenn Law Dean Colin Diver offers a harsh critique of the rankings industry and its impact on undergraduate colleges and law schools.

Good Listen

• Turnover, Burnout and Demoralization in Higher Ed The Key, Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Editor Doug Lederman

Good Watch

• Diversity Matters in Nonprofit Hiring: Interview with Kishshana Palmer – Amy Eisenstein, LLC. You know you should hire a diverse group of people, but you may not be sure how or why. In this interview with Kishshana Palmer, CEO of Kishshana and Co., you’ll learn how nonprofit policies and procedures impact your workplace.

Sharing is Caring

Summer Topic – COMMENCEMENT

What role did you play in your law school’s Commencement ceremony and related activities? Were you tasked with shepherding the stage party, stewarding board members at the event, or did you play a more passive role? Share your Commencement best practices on our Section Sharing Sheet on the Institutional Advancement Website!

You can post links to annual reports, alumni magazines, marketing collateral, or any other materials you’d like to share with your IA colleagues.

Welcome New Members!

We welcome colleagues who recently joined the IA discussion lists:

• Adeshola Akintobi, Director of Development, University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law
• Dana G. Jones, Assistant Professor, North Carolina Central University School of Law
• Stephanie Mabry, Development Director, Baylor University School of Law
• Katie Pfannenstiel, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Event Planning, University of Nebraska College of Law
• Henry Randolph, Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Utah, S. J. Quinney College of Law
• Dave Rapallo, Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
• Rachael Silva, Assistant Director for External Relations, Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law
• Kristi Turnbaugh, Director of Law School Communications, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• Delcianna Winders, Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Vermont Law School
• Rob Yasharian, Creative Director, Fordham University School of Law

Did You Know?

Did you know that AALS launched a series highlighting different member schools and their recent programs or accomplishments? Visit the AALS Member School Highlights page to check out the featured school or past highlights. If your school is interested in participating in the series, click here.

Questions? Comments?

Feel free to reach out to your 2022 IA Section Officers:

• Elizabeth Field, Co-Chair, The George Washington University Law School
• Mary Ann Soden, Co-Chair, University of California, Irvine School of Law
• Brian Costello, Co-Chair Elect, LMU Loyola Law School
• Heather Foss, University of Maryland King Carey School of Law
• Victoria Grantham, Fordham University School of Law
• Robin Fulton Langhans, Penn State Dickinson Law
• Stephanie Silvestri, Seton Hall University School of Law
• Colleen Taricani, University of California, Irvine School of Law

Access past newsletter issues and archived webinars on the Institutional Advancement website