E.I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law Robin Paul Malloy was recently a Senior Visiting Fellow and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Palermo, Sicily, during the spring term. While there conducting research, Malloy delivered several guest lectures at the University of Palermo Department of Economics and Law Department and at the University of Pisa Department of Law and Jurisprudence.
At Pisa, he lectured on “Accessible Communities: Disability and the Economics of Accessibility.” Malloy notes, “When it comes to the built environment, accessibility becomes a complex matter. On the one hand, disability law, based on federal civil rights law, prohibits discrimination as people move through the places and spaces of public life. On the other hand, regulation of property and the built environment is generally a matter of state law and the exercise of the state police power that is used to regulate land use and zoning. Making buildings, sidewalks, streetscapes, and other structures accessible involves building and land regulation. This means that disability, when it is understood as enhancing accessibility to our built environment, must be approached as a regulatory matter as well as a civil rights matter. This makes accessibility planning difficult because it must respond to two very different areas of the law. As a regulatory matter, disability is made even more complex because accessibility is a mixed market good. This means that it is both a public and private market good. Moreover, accessibility infrastructure is expensive, and many market factors contribute to its underproduction.
In the lecture, Malloy focused on some of the primary market factors that need to be considered in accessibility planning and argued that good decision-making must account for resource and market constraints.
At Palermo, he gave several lectures, including “Property in a Market Context.” Malloy discussed some of the ways that markets inform our conceptions of property, and at the same time property influences the market process of exchange. “It is all part of the co-evolution of law, economics, and politics,” said Malloy.
He also delivered a lecture on “Disability and the Economics of Accessibility” in the law department at Palermo.
“I want to thank all the faculty and students at Palermo and Pisa for their intellectual and cultural exchange. I enjoyed all our conversations and look to incorporate new ideas into my future scholarship,” said Malloy.
Students, alumni, and faculty at Syracuse University College of Law spent this year analyzing police use of handcuffs during investigatory stops. Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Lauryn Gouldin, and co-authors Jocelyn Anctil L’26, Nick Marasco L’25, Bess Murad L’26, and 2L Molly Smith will publish their article, “Handcuffing Children,” with the Georgetown Law Journal Online this fall.
What began as a response to a local incident evolved into a multi-stage effort involving public advocacy, policy reform, and scholarly contribution, showcasing the depth and impact of Syracuse Law’s experiential learning model.
The handcuffing project originated in early 2025 following a widely circulated video showing an 11-year-old girl in Syracuse being placed in handcuffs during an investigatory stop. The incident prompted immediate legal inquiry by faculty, alumni, and students in the College of Law’s Criminal Law and Policy Lab, a course offered with support from the Syracuse University Meredith Professorship program. Under Gouldin’s leadership, students began a sustained examination of the constitutional limits governing police conduct, particularly as applied to children. Rather than treating the event as an isolated occurrence, the team approached it as a case study revealing broader tensions between law enforcement practices and Fourth Amendment protections.
The initiative first took public form when Gouldin, alumnus Martin Feinman L’83, and Syracuse Law students Anctil, Megan Hartman L’26, and Marasco L’25drafted an opinion piece arguing that automatically handcuffing individuals (particularly children) during investigative stops violates the Fourth Amendment.
Building on that public-facing work, Anctil and Murad co-authored a comprehensive report with Gouldin that was presented to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in February. The report provided concrete policy recommendations to align local law enforcement practices with established legal standards, emphasizing that even well-intentioned officer safety measures must be justified by the facts of a particular situation. As the report explains, the project was designed to “contribute meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue about how to balance officer and community safety against the rights and well-being of individuals, specifically young people.”
The research and advocacy did not stop at the local level. Expanding their analysis to evaluate the national landscape, the team of faculty and Syracuse Law students (Gouldin, Anctil, Marasco, Murad, and Smith) worked together to produce a full-length law review article. Handcuffing Children situates the Syracuse incident within a broader national pattern of similar encounters and provides a comprehensive doctrinal analysis of the constitutional limits on handcuffing during investigatory stops. Drawing on case law from federal courts across the country, the authors conclude that automatically handcuffing suspects, particularly minors, during such stops violates the Fourth Amendment.
“This has been an especially rewarding partnership with engaged alumni experts and motivated student researchers who produced important policy recommendations and high-caliber scholarship that will reach a national audience,” says Gouldin. “This work exemplifies the College of Law’s commitment to experiential learning, where students do not simply study legal doctrine but actively apply it to real-world problems with tangible impact.”
The work will continue into the coming academic year, when participating students, alumni, and faculty will present a panel discussion in Fall 2026 examining the project’s development—from its origins in a local incident to its impact on public advocacy, policy reform, and national scholarship—offering insight into both the substance of the work and the role of experiential learning in shaping future legal leaders.
Syracuse University College of Law recently held Commencement exercises for the Class of 2026. The Class of 2026 includes 221 recipients of the J.D. degree, 15 LL.M. graduates, and two S.J.D. doctoral degrees.
Commencement Speaker Joanne “Joanie” Mahoney ’87, L’90, President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, concluded her address by encouraging the class to use what they learned to make a difference.
“Syracuse University College of Law has equipped you with remarkable skills, not just in the law, but in reasoning, judgment, and leadership. Use those skills wisely. Take the lessons you’ve learned here, the relationships you’ve built, and the confidence you’ve earned, and go make a difference. You are about to step into a world that will challenge you, surprise you, and at times, test you in ways you cannot anticipate. Always, always treat others—and yourselves—with kindness.”
Commencement Speaker Joanie Mahoney ’87, L’90 with her son, Luke Overdyk.
Dean Terence Lau L’98 reminded the Class of 2026 of the vital role lawyers play in defending our liberties.
“You are now a guardian of liberty. That means showing up for the person who has nowhere else to turn. It means challenging power when it overreaches. It means insisting, in every matter and every forum, that the law works for everyone — not just those at the top. And it means doing all of that not just as a professional obligation, but as a calling. That sense of purpose is something I’ve seen in this class, time and again — in classrooms and clinics, in advocacy competitions, in ways you’ve advocated for change in our own law school and legal profession, and in the many quiet ways you’ve shown up for each other.”
During Commencement, the J.D. Class of 2026 awarded Professor of Law Todd Berger the Res Ipsa Loquitor Award, voted upon by the graduating class in recognition of a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and service to the College of Law.
Professor Todd Berger, who received the Res Ipsa Loquitor Award, hoods graduating students.
Stephanie Rinko, Director of Online Programs, was awarded the Staff Award, voted upon by the graduating class in recognition of a College of Law staff member in acknowledgement for their support of students and faculty, and their accomplishments that make the College run day-to-day.
Stephanie Rinko, Director of Online Programs, is awarded the Staff Award.
The LL.M. Class of 2026 awarded Teaching Professor Antonio Gidi the Lucet Lex Mundum Award, voted upon by the graduating LL.M. class. It recognizes the professor who has made a significant impact on the success and experiences of LL.M. students during their studies.
Alumni members of the bench return to Syracuse Law for our 2026 Commencement ceremony.
Professor of Law Katherine Macfarlane spoke with the New York Times for the article, “Employees With Medical Conditions Challenge C.D.C. In-Office Requirement.”
A blanket revoking of existing accommodations potentially violates legal protections for disabled workers, experts in workplace law said.
Having to provide medical documents poses further barriers to getting requests approved in a timely manner, Macfarlane said, adding that no federal law requires such documentation to obtain a reasonable accommodation. She has written about the topic in the Fordham Law Review in the article Disability Without Documentation.
When William “Bill” Brodsky ’65, L’68, H’24, was a 1L at Syracuse University College of Law, he ran for class president, winning by just one vote over another student by the name of Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, H’09.
“My claim to fame is that the only election Joe ever lost was to me,” Brodsky says of his classmate who would go on to become the 46th president of the United States.
However, Brodsky’s “claim to fame” runs much deeper, as he not only has an impressive 50-year career in financial services but has also shown a true commitment to the College of Law and Syracuse University through his time, expertise, financial contributions, and the credit he gives to Syracuse Law as a root of his success.
“We ended up as a group of very successful lawyers,” he says of the 88 students in his law school class.
The Syracuse Law Class of 1968 meets for a reunion in 2026 to honor the Portrait Unveiling of their classmate and the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden L’68.
This spring, Brodsky was recognized with a 2026 Syracuse Law Honors award for his many contributions, including his most recent—helping to secure an official portrait of former President Joseph R. Biden, which will hang in the Dineen Hall Library, and assisting in coordinating the president’s visit for the unveiling.
Law Degree Helps Establish a Prestigious Financial Career
While Brodsky spent the first eight years of his career practicing law, he later chose to take the skills he learned in law school to the financial sector. He began in the legal and compliance department at investment firm Model, Roland & Co. The firm had purchased a charter seat on the newly established Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), where, for the first time, call options were being traded. Brodsky’s firm tasked him with studying the new rules and taking the first CBOE options exam to qualify the firm.
In 1973, a turbulent time for the stock market, Brodsky’s wife urged him to set himself apart by writing an article on rules of the CBOE. He wrote an article for a prominent securities publication that was widely read, making Brodsky an options expert on what is today considered one of the most important stock market innovations of the 21st century. This expertise helped him obtain his next job at the American Stock Exchange where he worked as a securities lawyer, rising through the ranks until he reached executive vice president in 1979.
Three years later, he took a chance and moved his family from the East Coast to the Midwest to join the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as an executive vice president and chief operating officer. In 1985, he was appointed CEO and served in that position until 1987. He later moved to the CBOE as president and also chairman, a position he held for 20 years and during which he took the company public with great success. In 2008, while at the CBOE, he was named chairman of the World Federation of Exchanges, a role he held until 2010. In 2019, he was named chairman of Navy Pier, Inc., a Chicago landmark.
It was early 2022, when his law school friend and rival for class president, Biden, nominated him as a director for the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC); he was confirmed by the Senate later that year. Today, he is chairman of Cedar Street Asset Management, founded by his son, Jonathan; and Bantamac Capital, founded by his son, Michael.
Orange Through and Through
Despite his demanding career, Brodsky never forgot his start at Syracuse. Before law school, he graduated from the University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He met his wife, Joan Breier Brodsky ’67, G’68, H’24, at Syracuse, and together they raised three sons, all of whom “went Orange,” too: Michael B. Brodsky, ’90; Stephen A. Brodsky, ’93; and Jonathan P. Brodsky, ’96, G’96; as well as their grandson, Matthew Brodsky ’23, G’24.
In 1983, Brodsky received the George Arents Award, the highest alumni honor presented by the University for outstanding contributions in a chosen field.
He served as a member of Syracuse University’s board of trustees from 1987 to 2003, helping guide the financial strength and long-term goals of the institution on the Investment and Endowment Committee. Today, he continues to impart his wisdom and expertise through his emeritus status on the board.
In 2015, Brodsky was the commencement speaker at the Syracuse University College of Law. And in 2024, he and his wife were granted honorary degrees by Syracuse University—the first alumni couple to receive such an honor.
Brodsky speaks at the 2015 College of Law Commencement.
Supporting Initiatives at Syracuse Law and University-wide
Together, Brodsky and his wife have been generous supporters of many initiatives on campus, including creating the Brodsky Series for the Advancement of Library Conservation, which is now in its 21st year and very dear to Joan, an expert in book and paper conservation; the Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics Program at the Maxwell School, named in honor of a long-time constitutional law scholar and one of Brodsky’s most influential mentors; The Eleanore and Marcus I. Breier Digital Learning Center, the first “hot” classroom to fully integrate current technology, in honor of Joan’s parents, at the School of Information Studies (iSchool); and, the Helen and Irwin Brodsky Scholarship in honor of Brodsky’s parents, which is an endowed annual support scholarship for students at the law school.
In addition, Brodsky has spent many years contributing his professional expertise not only to University leadership but also to students, readily sharing his career journey at speaking engagements and events at the law school.
Reaching Out to a Law School Friend
Recently, Brodsky helped manage a truly outstanding feat of which any law school or university would be tremendously proud. When former Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud wanted to commission an official portrait of Biden to be exhibited at his alma mater, he asked Brodsky to ask the president.
“I never say no,” says Brodsky of his willingness to help. He and the president had kept in touch over the years, and, in 2024, Brodsky and his wife were invited to the White House for a presidential farewell gala.
“I just leaned over to Joe and asked him if he’d be willing to do it,” Brodsky explains. “His immediate response was, ‘Who would have thunk it?’, but he was very humbled by the gesture and agreed.”
A Presidential Visit to Syracuse Law
Fast forward to April 14 of this year, when the president and the Biden family joined 18 other members of the Syracuse Law Class of 1968, including Brodsky; University dignitaries, Dean Terence Lau L’98, and state and local officials, including New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul, in the Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom in Dineen Hall to unveil the presidential portrait. Biden thanked Syracuse Law for the honor and the foundation his law school education gave him.
According to Brodsky, the president “waxed poetic” about how Syracuse Law changed his life by giving him a scholarship and a resident advisership to pay his room and board, while also noting how he felt a “warmth and outpouring of love at the law school.”
The president also noted how proud he was that his late son, Beau Biden L’94, was also a graduate of Syracuse Law. The Beau Biden L’94 Memorial Scholarship was established after his death to provide financial assistance to students at the College of Law with a specific interest in children’s rights, protecting victims of abuse, and/or helping society’s most vulnerable. Once Brodsky and his classmates knew Biden was coming to the portrait unveiling, they generously gave to double the amount of the endowment as a gift to the president, extending the scholarship’s impact by providing sustained support that enables today’s students to focus more fully on their academic and professional goals.
The portrait unveiling was a proud moment, and Brodsky was elated to watch his former classmate honored. The president’s portrait is permanently displayed in the Dineen Hall Law Library.
Integrity, Leadership, and Enduring Commitment to Service
Brodsky’s enthusiasm for all things Syracuse only continues to grow and being selected for the 2026 Syracuse Law Honors award is an outward sign of appreciation for the depth of devotion to his alma mater.
“Bill Brodsky represents the very best of what Syracuse University College of Law strives to instill in its graduates—integrity, leadership, and an enduring commitment to service,” says Richard Alexander L’82, chairman emeritus, Arnold & Porter; chair of the Syracuse College of Law Board of Advisors, and a member of the executive committee of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees.
“Over more than five decades, he has distinguished himself at the highest levels of the financial world, while never losing sight of the institution that shaped his path. His steadfast support of the College of Law, his generosity, and his role in strengthening meaningful connections that elevate the School’s national profile speak volumes about his character. Bill is not only deserving of the 2026 Law Honors Award—he exemplifies its purpose.”
From the moment he first stepped on to the Syracuse University College of Law campus as a 1L, Prashanth (“P.J.”) Jayachandran G’98, L’98, was impressed by the outstanding professors and far-reaching alumni network. Little did he know that one day, he would be both—a distinguished professor in the hybrid online JDinteractive (JDi) program and an accomplished alumnus sharing his expertise in corporate sustainability to help prepare students for this evolving area of the law.
In recognition for his many contributions, particularly helping Syracuse Law become an early adopter of addressing corporate sustainability and the law through the development and implementation of a JDi residency course, Jayachandran has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Law Honors award.
“When Dean Lau notified me that I had been chosen for this award, I was very grateful to be selected,” says Jayachandran, senior vice president, division general counsel, Colgate-Palmolive North America. “It’s humbling, as I’m among a group of very impressive past recipients of this award.”
Jayachandran enrolled in Syracuse Law because of its nationally recognized reputation and also because it allowed him to simultaneously earn a master’s degree in public administration from the University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Obtaining these joint degrees enable him to launch his career practicing labor and employment law at various firms, including a 10-year stint at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, in New Jersey.
After leaving Morgan Lewis, Jayachandran joined Colgate-Palmolive, where he has held a diverse set of roles: chief human resources & benefits counsel, interim division general counsel, Colgate-Palmolive Asia-Pacific; chief supply chain counsel, and now division general counsel, Colgate-Palmolive North America.
His 13-year career at Colgate-Palmolive led him to be a recognized thought leader and speaker on corporate sustainability, including net zero, water conservation, plastic reduction, and supplier engagement.
Contributing an Emerging Topic to the JDi Program
When Syracuse Law started exploring the establishment of the JDi program, which became one of the first hybrid online J.D. programs in the U.S., Jayachandran was eager to get involved. He cold-called then-Dean Craig Boise about teaching a course on corporate sustainability initiatives. Boise new this was something that few law schools were yet offering and suggested the idea might be a good fit for a JDi residency, an intensive, in-person weekend-long course, and asked Jayachandran to develop a curriculum.
He got to work, and his first residency was held in 2021 as the College of Law was just emerging from the COVID pandemic, so he brought in virtual panels of expert lawyers and business leaders from across the country to share their knowledge regarding corporate sustainability with the JDi students. In 2022 and 2024, he held fully in-person residencies on the topic in Washington, D.C., and also created a collaborative symposium on corporate sustainability with the College of Law and the Maxwell School in 2023 and 2025.
Over the past few years, the topic has grown increasingly popular, and Jayachandran is scheduled to hold another JDi residency in December 2026 covering ever-evolving topics like net-zero strategy, responsible sourcing, corporate governance, litigation, and inclusion initiatives in global enterprises.
“P.J.’s residency on corporate sustainability has been an extraordinary opportunity for our students,” says Associate Dean of Academic Programs Shannon Gardner. “He not only shares his knowledge and time with our law students but also the ability to pull in many practitioners for major law firms and corporations to meet with them. His approach to teaching is thoughtful and engaged. As an alumnus of the College of Law, he has stepped up time and time again to give back to our students and our community.”
Continuing to Contribute to Syracuse Law
Jayachandran has also continued to serve Syracuse Law as a speaker, donor, and member of the College of Law Board of Advisors (2022-2025) and the College of Law Alumni Association Board.
“I know that all I have accomplished would not have been possible without the start of my legal journey at Syracuse,” he says. “Our alumni are an impressive group of lawyers, ranging from managing partners for some of the country’s largest law firms, general counsel and senior lawyers at Fortune 500 companies, and, of course, a former U.S. president. I want to congratulate this year’s honorees, as well, for their notable achievements. To be part of such a group of alumni is rewarding, and I am so appreciative to be recognized with the 2026 Syracuse Law Honors award.”
The first woman elected president of the Law Student Senate at Syracuse University College of Law. The first woman first assistant district attorney, first woman judge, and first woman elected to the New York State Supreme Court in Oneida County, New York. There’s no disputing that Hon. Bernadette Romano Clark L’89 is a trailblazer, particularly for women in the legal field, and she credits much of her success to Syracuse Law.
This spring Clark receives a 2026 Law Honors award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to the law, her advocacy for women in the profession, and her generosity to Syracuse Law as an engaged speaker, mentor, and philanthropic supporter over the years.
State Supreme Court Judge Bernadette Romano at the Oneida County Court House
Immersing Herself in the Law School Experience
Although law school was always on her radar, Clark worked in pharmaceutical sales and marketing for 13 years. However, in 1985, she attended her brother, Bernard J. Turi’s L’85, commencement ceremony at Syracuse Law and was so moved by a speech at the event about justice and how important lawyers are to the system that she took the LSATs the next month and applied to Syracuse Law.
Clark’s academic record at St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame and her professional experience spoke for themselves— giving her a place at Syracuse Law despite an LSAT score she says was not as high as she had hoped.
“It was love at first sight. I loved the environment, the professors, and everything there motivated me. I was like a sponge, always in the front row asking questions. I never missed a class,” says Clark.
She quickly joined many organizations and clubs, including student government, the trial and appellate teams, and the Survey Edition of the “Syracuse Law Review,” for which she served as technical editor.
By her final year of law school, Clark became the first woman to serve as Student Senate president. She graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the Justinian Honorary Law Society.
The Syracuse Law Class of 1989 at their 30th reunion in 2019.
Finding Her Niche in Litigation: From ADA to NYS Supreme Court Judge
After graduating with numerous awards for her achievements, she went on to Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, where she discovered how much she enjoyed litigation.
“The litigation attorneys there were bright and articulate,” she says. She felt especially fortunate to be mentored by attorneys Catherine Richardson L’77 and Deborah Karalunas L’82, who, like Clark, went on to be a Supreme Court Justice.
In 1994, she was appointed first assistant district attorney in Oneida County, a position she held for seven years. At the time, she was expecting her second child and remembers being “flabbergasted” at those who questioned her abilities to do the job as a woman and mother.
“I didn’t fully realize the barriers for women in the legal field, as I had attended an all-women’s high school and college, and my father had always instilled in me that I could do and be whatever I wanted,” she explains. “I never experienced any obstacles due to my gender in law school, either.”
She persevered, earning the respect of her community through a strong conviction rate as first assistant district attorney, her work with law enforcement to establish a special victims unit, her improvements to the county’s child advocacy center, and her firm stance against domestic violence and elder abuse.
Seven years later, she ran for family court judge and again faced scrutiny as a female. “There had never been a woman judge in Oneida County, and people actually put out flyers claiming I wore too much make-up and my skirts were too short,” she explains. “People said, ‘We don’t need a Barbie doll judge.’” Despite these challenges, she won the election and served in family court for five years.
When she ran for New York Supreme Court in the Fifth District in 2005, she thought she had finally proven herself, but she says she was up against an opponent hand-picked by those with influence.
“People told me not to run, and that I would never win,” she explains. ”I kept hearing that the numbers were against me and that a woman would never get elected in Oneida County. But my LSAT numbers were against me, too, and that didn’t stop me from going to law school.”
Her determination paid off, as she won the Supreme Court seat by almost 20,000 votes. Today, three out of five Supreme Court justices in Oneida County are female.
Clark at her first swearing in in Nov 2005, along with her husband Tom Clark, daughters Francesca and Alexandra Romano, and Judge Rosemary Pooler, Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Clark and her daughter Francesca at a campaign parade in Lewis County.
Crediting Syracuse Law for the Foundation of Her Career
Clark has spent more than three decades blazing her own trail in the courtroom, including 25 years on the bench. Through it all, Clark has never forgotten the strong foundation provided at the College of Law that made it happen.
Clark returns often to give back to the place where she began her legal career and enjoys participating in classes, competitions, and other student events. She often takes on Syracuse students as summer law clerks, and she is proud to say that one of her daughters, Alexandra J.L. Romano ’16, L’21, also graduated from the College of Law.
Clark and her daughter Alexandra on her first day at Syracuse Law.
Support for Clark’s nomination for the Law Honors award was outstanding, with community leaders like Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick ’74, L’76; Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82; Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente; Peter Angelini L’92, certified mediator and special claims attorney; Laura Casamento, former president of Utica University; New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo; Hon. Julie Grow Denton, and Hon. Elizabeth Snyder Fortino, both Oneida County Supreme Court justices; and Michael Arcuri, partner, Ward Arcuri Law Firm, touting her outstanding accomplishments and impact on the legal profession.
Clark appreciates all who have supported her from law school to the bench.
“The Syracuse Law Honors award is the crowning achievement of my career because it highlights my devotion to the Law School,” she says. “It’s very special to be recognized, and I am really touched because I worked so hard to get into Syracuse Law, and they took a chance on me. And for that, I am truly grateful.”
Colleen Gibbons L’17 calls her education from Syracuse University College of Law “first class” and recalls an “immediate sense of warm and welcoming humans in the building” from the day she started her law degree. Today, as she thrives in her legal career, Gibbons continues to be an outstanding alumna of Syracuse Law as a mentor, speaker, competition judge, and more, bringing in fresh ideas and educational opportunities by tapping into her professional network to help today’s students have a law school experience as outstanding as she recalls her own.
This spring, Gibbons was honored by Syracuse Law with the inaugural Emerging Leader of the Year Award for being one of the law school’s most dedicated volunteers, contributing her time and expertise in ways that make a lasting difference for law students and the broader Syracuse Law community.
“There are so many reasons why Colleen is deserving of the Emerging Leaders Award, as she gives of herself genuinely for all the right reasons without any expectations that the favor she extends is to be returned,” says Teaching Professor Suzette M. Meléndez, a mentor to Gibbons as a student and an influential colleague today.
“Colleen is a role model for others in that she brings her intellect and experience to bear in positive ways. She proposes great ideas, as well as recognizes those coming from others, and she doesn’t just comment on the sidelines but will actually roll up her sleeves to help do the work in the field. Her collaborative spirit enables her to bring good people together in multiple settings, and her authenticity and dedication to justice transcends boundaries. Colleen’s commitment defines her both personally and professionally, and we are all the beneficiaries of what she brings to the profession,” adds Meléndez.
From Teacher to Lawyer: Combining the Law, Justice and Community Systems
Currently the principal law clerk to Hon. Danielle M. Fogel L’05, J.S.C., New York State Unified Court System, Gibbons started her career as a special education teacher before earning a master’s degree and Ph.D. in human and community development with a concentration on students with disabilities from the University of Illinois-Champaign. She then returned to her hometown of Syracuse, when she accepted a job at Burton Blatt Institute.
It was during this time that she discovered Syracuse Law had a program specifically for disability law in the Disability and Policy Program, and started thinking that a law degree might fit nicely with her interest in justice and community systems. She applied and was offered a full scholarship, enrolling in 2014.
Impactful Mentors, Experiences Instilled Importance of Giving Back
Gibbons immersed herself into law school, participating as a student attorney at the Disability Rights Clinic where she represented clients in state and federal courts with a focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal disability laws; as a student attorney at the College of Law’s Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic; and as a legal intern for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County representing families on issues related to eviction, divorce, and more. Not only did these experiences educate her, but she was able to interact with countless individuals from the law school, its clinics and the greater Syracuse legal community who mentored and inspired her as she learned ways to advocate for others through the law.
“Syracuse Law didn’t just teach me how to be a lawyer. It instilled in me the love of the law, the rule of the law, and the excitement for practicing the law,” says Gibbons. “The law school gives its students so many opportunities to engage with practitioners and build a solid network, as well as participate in community outreach opportunities aligned with students’ interests. These experiences instilled in me the importance of giving my time and energy back to the law school. After I graduated, it became my turn to be a mentor and guide to current students in whatever ways I can do the most good.”
Gibbons with her Office of National Initiatives colleagues, Center for Justice Innovation.
After receiving her law degree, Gibbons joined Bousquet Holstein, PLLC, as an associate. Two years later, she became the Upstate deputy director and then senior program manager for the Center for Justice Innovation, a national training and technical assistance team focusing on adult and juvenile drug courts, veterans treatment courts, and best practices to drive justice for marginalized individuals.
Through it all, Gibbons continues doing good for the College of Law and the larger community, including through the Central New York Women’s Bar Association, of which she is the current president; the College of Law’s Alumni Association, of which she is past president; and the law school’s Women’s Law Student Association, where she recently helped coordinate The Karen DeCrow 2026 Panel, an annual gathering that brings together a group of female lawyers and judges to discuss current topics, while honoring the work DeCrow L’72 did to advance women within the legal field.
Gibbons presenting at the All Rise conference with colleagues and treatment court providers.
Gibbons Encourages Others to Stay Involved, Lift Up Students and Alumni
“I am pleased to be a part of the interconnected legal network that continues to help strengthen the Syracuse University College of Law,” says Gibbons of her involvement over the past decade. “I enjoy building mentor relationships with students and young alums by saying, ‘Here’s the lessons I’ve learned. Take them or leave them, but I’m happy to assist.’”
Leading by example, Gibbons encourages others to give back, as well. “There are always ways to stay involved with the law school,” she says. “I’ll continue for as long as I can to show up, offer support, propose an interesting speaker or event, lift up other students and alumni, and encourage them indefinitely. I’m roped in now, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
Gibbons and fellow Syracuse Law alumni return to Syracuse for alumni weekend!
Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks spoke with the Wall Street Journal about the White House ballroom construction and national security issues surrounding the project. One issue is the amount of information being disclosed about the construction in ongoing litigation.
Banks said one open question was whether the administration was divulging actual operational plans or instead searching for a winning legal justification for the construction.
“If it’s accurate, I think it borders on irresponsible,” he said.
Banks was the Founding Director of the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), now the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL). Under Banks’ leadership, INSCT/SPL grew from its inception in 2003 to become a recognized leader in interdisciplinary research and education on national and international security and terrorism.
Not everyone interested in pursuing a law degree lives in a large metropolitan area or near a bustling college town. In fact, many students enrolled in Syracuse University College of Law’s hybrid online JDinteractive (JDi) program are located in faraway places, whether a small Alaskan city, an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, or rural areas throughout the U.S. For many of them, remaining in their communities is not just practical but purposeful due to personal obligations or a long-held desire to serve their communities. At the same time, they demand a law degree that offers a rigorous curriculum, opportunities to take part in law clinics, student organizations, and advocacy competitions coupled with the ability to develop bonds with classmates, faculty, and alumni.
Meet four recent graduates from out of the way places who have successfully joined the legal profession through the JDi program —proving that distance is no barrier to earning a Syracuse Law degree.
Dawnelle Forsythe L’26, Oahu, Hawaii
As a native of Hawaii, Dawnelle Forsythe L’26 lives in a small city of 44,000 on the Big Island of Hawaii. Back in the early 2000s, she wanted to become a lawyer, but the only law school in Hawaii was on Oahu, and the travel and expense was prohibitive. Instead, she went to work for the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and later the State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, which helps provide affordable housing to qualified native Hawaiians.
However, in 2019, two pivotal events made Forsythe reconsider law school. She says the first was “fate” when she saw an article about a newly established hybrid JDi program at Syracuse University that could enable her to earn a law degree without leaving home.
Around the same time, she accompanied her husband to observe a protest centering around the construction of a massive Thirty Meter Telescope at the top of Mauna Kea, the Big Island’s highest mountain and an area considered sacred by the native people.
When they arrived, over 100 protestors had formed a protective human wall in front of the kūpunas (revered elders). The kūpunas had sought to halt the construction of the 18-story telescope atop Mauna Kea and were blocking the road from construction vehicles, while the crowd chanted in support of preserving land put in trust for the Hawaiian people to ensure the continuation of their culture. As Forsythe watched, state troopers began removing those blocking the road.
“Some of the troopers were related to the aunties and uncles they were arresting, and many on both sides were crying together,” explains Forsythe. “It was such a somber event, and it made a lasting impact on me. I decided then that I had to go to law school to be an advocate for my ‘Ohana’ (family), the people of my community.”
She quit her current job at a hospital with only one thing in mind—the JDi program. “Not only would it allow me to stay at home, but I was drawn to its trial advocacy program that would help me become an attorney ready to go into court and advocate for people,” she says.
Forsythe was accepted into the JDi Class of ’26 and is now thrilled she found “her New York Ohana” made up of the “geniuses in her cohort,” as well as faculty she admires, including Distinguished Professor of Law Nina Kohn and Associate Dean for Academic Programs Shannon Gardner.
Forsythe graduates this May and must first return to work in local government to pay off her school loans. But she is committed to soon using her law degree pro bono to help Hawaiian residents, particularly those facing land rights cases who lack money for legal representation.
“It isn’t about making money; it’s about something that will totally fulfill my heart,” she says of helping her people. “I’m excited to finally reach my goal of becoming a lawyer, and I know that it would not have been possible without Syracuse Law’s JDi program.”
Sarah Frank Roberts L’22, Kenai, Alaska
There are no law schools in Alaska, so when Sarah Frank Roberts L’22 decided to pursue a law degree, she knew her options were limited. A mother of six, Roberts lives with her husband and family in Kenai, Alaska, a town of about 5,000 people, most of whom work in the fishing or oil and gas industries.
When Roberts discovered the JDi program, it seemed to be a solution. She could take classes and get her work done after her children went to sleep, and the four-hour time difference between Alaska and New York was manageable. She was accepted into the program’s second cohort since its founding in 2019.
“The experience was rigorous,” Roberts says. “There was no hiding in the back of the room when professors like Nina Kohn could see your face up close on the screen. I certainly got the same high level of education that those in an on-campus program received.”
According to Roberts, there is a huge need for lawyers, particularly public defenders and district attorneys, in Alaska, but with no law schools, people tend to leave to go to school and never return. Roberts was able to stay because of the JDi program, and today she is an assistant public advocate and conflict counselor for the state of Alaska, focusing on family issues like custody and guardianship.
“I get to help people, many of whom have made a lot of mistakes but still deserve representation,” she explains. “My role isn’t designed to ‘win’ but instead help families get the best outcomes for their situations, as well as allow them to see what opportunities there are to work toward their goals.”
Megan Poole L’23, Cortland, New York
Megan Poole L’23 grew up on a dairy farm in Cortland County, New York, but, knowing the challenges of farming, her parents encouraged her to pursue a different career. Still, she felt most at home in her rural community.
After earning an undergraduate degree in criminology, Poole wanted to be a probation officer but didn’t get the position she originally intended. Instead, she says, “Rejection is divine redirection,” and decided to take the LSAT and pursue law school.
In the meantime, she was offered a job in the Cortland County Department of Social Services (DSS) as a case worker handling foster care, child protective services, and adoption cases. She still wanted to go to law school, but she was “too heartbroken to leave” the difficult job of helping families in need. However, when she found the JDi program, she realized she could pursue a law degree while continuing her job with DSS and helping on the family farm.
“The JDi program was certainly just as difficult as an on-campus program,” she says, adding she found great camaraderie within her online cohort. Poole especially enjoyed the required in-person residencies, where she was able to interact with fellow students and faculty both on-campus and in various other cities.
After completing the JDi program, she continued to work at the DSS in Cortland. About a year later, the Hon. A.L. Beth O’Connor, a family court judge in the 6th Judicial District of New York, which includes Cortland County, reached out to Poole about being her court attorney.
“I see both the terrible and the good, but that’s part of the job,” she says. “I think I’m making a big difference in my community, particularly for people who don’t have the resources for good legal counsel, and the JDi program was a big part of making that possible.”
An added bonus of becoming a lawyer was the opportunity for Poole, her mother, and sister to turn the family farm into Spring Valley Views, a woman-owned LLC, with plans to for it to expand it into a venue and campground.
Tania Rivera Bullard L’25, Houston County, Georgia
Tania Rivera Bullard L’25 earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, figuring she would be a social worker, like her mother. But, soon after, she decided she wanted a career where she felt she could see things through from beginning to the end. Rivera Bullard decided to pursue a path offered to military spouses to become a paralegal. As she studied for her paralegal certification, she started to think, “Why can’t I be a lawyer?”
Interested in being a public defender or a civil rights attorney, she was accepted into a J.D. at an on-campus law school that required a four-hour round-trip commute from her home in rural Georgia. However, a complicated pregnancy made it impossible, and she was forced to defer her start. Rivera Bullard began looking for alternatives and found the Syracuse Law JDi program, which would allow her to remain with her family while pursuing a law degree.
Not long after, the mother of a 2 year old and an 8 month old, began the Syracuse Law JDi program and found it manageable. “I became a night owl,” she explains. “After the kids went to sleep, I would concentrate on asynchronous work and getting my reading done, and I spent long hours on the phone with my dear friend Nathan McKay L’26, my study partner, who made such a difference for me. It certainly was a careful balancing act, but if you’re willing to find the time, you can make it happen.”
After finishing her law degree and passing the Alabama bar exam, she went to work as an assistant public defender for the Houston County (GA) Public Defenders Office. She was allowed to practice in Georgia under military spouse reciprocity.
“As a public defender, you handle felony cases that nobody else wants, and, arguably, you’re experiencing the toughest, scariest times of people’s lives. I get to help them through a system that, to many, feels like it is set up to fail them,” Rivera Bullard says. “At the end of the day, I go home and feel good about the work I’ve done in my community. The Syracuse JDi program really made it possible for me to achieve my goals.”
