Jerusa Ferreira L’24 recently brought together members of the Syracuse Law L.L.M. Class of 2024 for a reunion in São Paulo, Brazil. Even though they’ve graduated and returned to their home countries, our international alumni are staying connected and keeping the Syracuse spirit alive across continents.
Thank you, Jerusa, for reminding us that the bonds formed at Syracuse Law extend far beyond graduation—and far beyond borders.
Pictured below from the Class of 2024: Jerusa Gabriela Ferreira, Renata Maximiano, Renata Felipe Ferrari, Flavia Bornéo Func, Renato Henry Sant’Anna, and Claudio André Raposo Machado Costa.
Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes is a recipient of the 2025 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the organization’s highest honor.
As Assistant Dean, Hughes oversees strategy and operations for the Admissions and Financial Aid Office, the Marketing and Communications Office, the Office of Career Services, and SU Abroad. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud appointed Hughes to the University Leadership Team in the 2023-2024 academic year, and she continues to serve in that capacity.
Hughes is currently Chair and has served on the Board of Directors of DirectWomen, a non-profit focused on increasing opportunities in the corporate board room, since October 2021 and, in October 2025, was elected as an Independent Director of Allbirds, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIRD), where she chairs the Sustainability, Nomination & Governance Committee and also serves on their Management Compensation & Leadership Committee.
Before joining the law school in 2021, Hughes practiced law for several decades, including as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Fortune 500 Arrow Electronics and S&P 500 Public Storage.
“I want to congratulate Lily and the other outstanding recipients of this high honor,” said College of Law Dean Terence Lau. “Lily is an invaluable member of the College of Law and Syracuse University leadership who tirelessly works to ensure our students have an outstanding experience and can fulfill their career aspirations.”
The Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award celebrates the outstanding achievements of lawyers whose leadership and dedication have left a profound mark on both the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. This lifetime achievement award recognizes those whose vision, courage, and commitment have opened doors and paved the way for future generations of attorneys.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award in the name of Senator Inouye,” said Hughes. “As I look back at my career at the time of this award, what I’m proudest of isn’t a title or a deal — it’s the people. The young lawyers who walked into my office unsure are now leading with confidence, mentoring others, and lifting as they climb. That’s what trailblazing really means. It’s not about being first. It’s about making sure you’re not the last.”
Jill Nelsen L’27 grew up in California playing soccer and loving sports. She was recruited to California State-East Bay with a four-year athletic scholarship to play women’s varsity soccer, while also earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. When she later decided to pursue law school, she hoped to stay connected to the world of sports and entertainment—but she never imagined that Syracuse University College of Law would open doors to opportunities like Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.
During her 1L year, Nelsen joined the Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) often attending networking events with alumni thriving in this space. At one such event, she met Riley Christian L’16, now an entertainment and sports attorney with Artifex Athleta P.C., a firm he founded in 2022.
Nelsen and Christian had a lot in common, as she had been a collegiate soccer player and he a collegiate baseball player. At the time, Christian was rebranding his boutique law firm in New York City to focus more on the areas of sports and entertainment that dealt with navigating the NCAA’s new Name Image and Likeness (NIL) rules for college athletes and handling legal issues related to artificial intelligence in the entertainment and music business.
She reached out to Christian shortly thereafter, asking if he might need an intern, and he agreed to bring her onboard. At first, she helped navigate the logo development for the firm’s rebranding, later moving on to legal research for defamation cases, statute of limitations issues, trademark infringements, and intellectual property, while learning as much as she could about the ever-evolving NIL rules.
Jill Nelsen and Riley Christian L’16 on the runway at New York Fashion week.
Piecing Together Sports, Fashion, and the Law
While all of this experience at her internship was very exciting, two highlights were attending Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.
“Riley knew these big events would be good networking experiences for me, and he also knew I liked to talk to people and that would be a good way to spread the word about the rebranding of Artifex Athleta,” she explains.
The annual Miami Swim Week is the world’s largest swimwear and resort wear event that includes runway fashion shows, trade shows, and pop-up shops, as well as the chance to meet and network with all kinds of people connected to this area of fashion— from designers and buyers to athletes, agents, and the media.
“Yes, it was focused on swimwear, but there are so many aspects of the law attached to the fashion space, including trademarks, sponsorships, and negotiating and closing NIL and more,” she explains. “It was a fascinating experience to see it in action.”
She also attended New York Fashion Week, one of the “big four” fashion events in the world, showcasing what’s going to be “in” for the upcoming season. The biannual event includes exclusive runway shows by world-class designers that are attended by celebrities, influencers, fashion buyers, and the media. This, too, gave Nelsen an opportunity to network with a host of agents, attorneys, and other business leaders in the fashion space.
“The experience of not only attending these fabulous events but also having the chance to work with Riley helped me begin to make a name for myself as more than just an athlete,” she explains. “The younger version of me would be emotional to see all the things I’ve accomplished both in my course work, as well as internship opportunities. My take away from this entire experience is that I can do it, and there are people who truly believe in me and see my potential.”
Uplifting Women Is the Ultimate Win
After completing her education at Syracuse Law, Nelsen’s dream is to one day work as general counsel for a National Basketball Association (NBA) or National Football League (NFL) team and negotiate from the team’s side with players and their agents. But her ultimate goal is to one day be a general manager or even owner of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team.
“Sports, and now working in sports—has always been the dream,” she explains, noting that her older sister has been a role model “moving mountains” as director of services and retention for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.
“And I’ve also learned a lot about creating space for people like me, particularly as a first-generation Latina woman. I’ve been told I’m too much, too blunt, too Californian, but I’ve also been told ‘don’t dim your light to fit into a box that’s been predefined for you.’ I am proud to be a Syracuse Law student with the opportunity to contribute to uplifting women in the sports and entertainment business and also within the legal field. That is a real win for me.”
This is a profound loss for our community. Gary was a cornerstone of Syracuse University College of Law for fifty years, joining our faculty in 1975 and retiring just this past year in 2025. His impact on generations of students, colleagues, and legal professionals cannot be overstated.
A gifted teacher with an extraordinary memory, Gary was known for his ability to recall, in astonishing detail, cases, citations, and the doctrinal nuances that shaped the fields he loved. He taught an exceptional range of courses over the decades, including Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Indian Law, Federal Courts, and Conflict of Laws. His students, many of whom went on to serve as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and leaders across New York State and the nation, regularly spoke of his rigor, high expectations, and deep commitment to their education.
Gary’s career reflected a rare blend of scholarly depth, teaching excellence, and meaningful engagement with the profession. His scholarship focused on the development of criminal procedure in New York State, and he shared his expertise widely through judicial trainings, attorney education programs, and service on statewide initiatives, including a gubernatorial appointment to the Grand Jury Project.
His professional service was equally remarkable. Over the years, he served as Chief Assistant District Attorney in Onondaga County, co-counsel in the Oneida land claim litigation, and counsel to several law firms. His work on behalf of victims targeted under J. Edgar Hoover earned him the Cleveland ACLU’s Civil Libertarian of the Year Award in 1978. Gary also co-directed our Law in London Externship Program and was a generous mentor whose door was always open, no matter how busy he was.
Beyond all of these accomplishments, Gary was a cherished colleague, thoughtful, witty, and unfailingly supportive. We know that many in our community will feel this loss deeply.
The Syracuse University College of Law is proud to announce three honorees featured on the 2025 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Pro Bono Honor Roll, which recognizes individuals advancing access to justice through exceptional pro bono contributions.
Andrew S. Greenberg, Teaching Professor
Andrew S. Greenberg, Teaching Professor
Professor Greenberg has represented individuals and families in applications for asylum, green card applications, gaining temporary protected status, obtaining work authorization, obtaining refugee travel approval, and getting approval of a follow to join spouse. The work has allowed him not only to help a population in need, but it has brought him into relationships with committed colleagues and students to use their law school learned skills for the public good.
Colleen Denick, Law Clinic Office Coordinator
As Clinic Coordinator in the Office of Clinical Legal Education at Syracuse University College of Law, Colleen Denick plays an essential role in supporting the delivery of pro bono legal services to clients across seven in-house clinics. She provides critical operational and administrative support to student attorneys and faculty supervisors, ensuring that clients—many of whom face urgent legal needs related to housing, veterans’ benefits, healthcare, and economic security—receive timely and professional assistance.
Colleen’s deep commitment to access to justice is reflected in her exceptional client service, meticulous case management, and unwavering support of pro bono initiatives, including outreach events, student attorney swearing-in ceremonies, and community legal clinics. Her work embodies the spirit of service that defines Syracuse Law’s clinical program.
Garrison Funk L’25
Garrison Funk is a 2025 graduate of Syracuse University College of Law who completed over 500 hours of pro bono work with the Cornell Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic, where he worked on immigration and employment matters on behalf of area farmworkers — representing individual clients, offering brief advice and referral services, and providing research support for farmworker rights organizations, and with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc. where he provided assistance to individuals on a variety of family law matters in their Family Court Clinic.
As a result of this work, Garrison received the top Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award for the Class of 2025 at Syracuse Law.
Syracuse University College of Law’s Mohammad Amer L’26 is the co-MVP/Best Advocate of the 2025 National Trial League (NTL) competition. The MVP award is given to the student who received the highest number of best advocate votes during the regular season.
The NTL is a competition format that provides multiple chances for students to hone their trial skills in a competitive, fast-paced, online setting throughout the Fall academic semester, creating opportunities for schools to compete outside the traditional weekend tournament structure. NTL features 14 trial teams competing against each other in a season format that resembles a traditional sports league with two conferences made up of seven teams each.
“Through seven rounds of brutal competition from August to November, against some of the best advocacy programs in the country, Mohammad tied for the most best advocate votes,” said Professor Todd Berger, director of Syracuse University College of Law’s Advocacy Program. “Without a doubt, because of the number of rounds, pace, and quality of teams, this competition is one of the hardest in the country. Winning the MVP in that context is truly an impressive accomplishment. Congratulations to Mohammad once again on this important achievement.”
Jocelyn Anctil G’26, L’26 was named the recipient of the Rhoda S. and Albert M. Alexander Memorial Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Alexander Memorial Scholarship Committee selected Anctil after a competitive application process to receive this significant scholarship in recognition of her commitment and dedication to public service.
Anctil is a joint J.D./M.P.A. candidate at Syracuse University College of Law and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs who has dedicated her legal education to public interest work. She has gained diverse experience through internships at Community Legal Aid, Hiscock Legal Aid, and the Volunteer Lawyers’ Project, and previously served as a paralegal with the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition in Washington, D.C.
At Syracuse Law, Anctil serves as President of the Syracuse Public Interest Network and is an active member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society. Her background in social work, combined with her extensive legal advocacy experience spanning housing rights, criminal justice, consumer protection, and immigration law, reflects her deep dedication to serving vulnerable and underrepresented communities. After graduation, Anctil plans to work as a staff attorney at a legal aid organization or non-profit focusing on criminal defense.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as the Rhoda S. and Albert M. Alexander Memorial Scholarship recipient for the 2025–26 academic year. This support brings me one step closer to pursuing my commitment to a career in public service,” says Anctil.
The Rhoda S. and Albert M. Alexander Memorial Scholarship was established by College of Law Board of Advisors Chair and Syracuse University Trustee Richard M. Alexander L’82, Partner at Arnold & Porter, and his wife Emily Alexander.
Shaking hands with a Supreme Court justice is a dream come true for anyone in the legal profession, but that dream became a reality for three Syracuse University College of Law students who participated last summer in The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program.
Syracuse Law students Imari Roque L’27, Rebeca Chavar L’27, and Emma Bissell L’27 participated in The Sotomayor Program, which aims to “cultivate and develop future leaders from underserved communities” through judicial internships, educational experiences, and other resources to help achieve professional goals.
The full group of Judicial Interns participating in The Sotomayor Program in summer of 2025.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina and third woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Growing up in public housing in the Bronx, Sotomayor is known for her respect for the judicial process and passionate approach to the law, particularly in regard to civil liberties and the rights of those from marginalized communities. She is also committed to the judicial process, as well as supporting those impacted by systemic inequities.
For two months this past summer, Roque, Chavar, and Bissell participated in The Sotomayor Program, working full-time for judges, while also participating in professional development training and networking. Each worked in a different judicial environment, but all three gained invaluable insight and experience working in courtrooms under the direct supervision of a judge.
Roque has been interested in The Sotomayor Program since she was 14 years old, but it wasn’t until she was a 1L at Syracuse Law that she applied to the program’s law school division.
“I’ve always been drawn to being a lawyer, and Justice Sotomayor is the first person who comes to mind,” she explains. “No one in my family is a lawyer, so Sonia Sotomayor—a Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx like me—has been my role model.”
Roque was matched with the Hon. Bryant Tovar, a judge of the Housing Part of Civil Court of the City of New York, dealing with landlord-tenant matters, civil litigation and immigration law. The work focused on the Small Property Part of the court, which handles housing issues before trial, particularly cases where landlords are suing tenants.
“I became really familiar with what city court looks like, developed a rapport with the judge, clerk, and others, and learned a lot about negotiations and alternate dispute resolution, as well as what everyday law looks like,” says Roque. “It was interesting because Judge Tovar leads with understanding and empathy on the bench, which gave me a different perspective on the law.”
Chavar worked for the Hon. Javier Vargas in New York State Court of Claims in Manhattan, where she gained hands-on experience observing three major trials. Judge Vargas encouraged his interns to engage deeply in their work, often discussing with her issues brought against the state of New York, involving issues such as car accidents and claims of excessive force by law enforcement.
Rebeca Puente Chavar L’27 pictured with the Honorable Javier E. Vargas at the New York State Court of Claims in Manhattan, NY.
“I was thrilled when Judge Vargas asked me to help draft a memo recommending how to decide on a motion, and that set the tone for the kind of work he expected,” she says. “I also helped draft a decision for one of the trials, did research on pending trials, and my final project was a case where I wrote a decision by myself for review by the clerk and the judge.”
Bissell discovered The Sotomayor Program through an email Mary Kate Tramontano L’26 sent to the Women’s Law Student Association listserv, an opportunity that ultimately led her to work with district civil and criminal court judges in the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn.
“It was awesome because I was able to observe a lot of different types of trials,” Bissell says. “I was assigned to a judicial clerk who helped me with whatever I needed. Getting to the end of my internship and seeing that I could write a full legal opinion was the best feeling ever.”
Meeting a Legal Legend
After a summer of learning the ins-and-outs of the courtroom, students were invited to an event highlighted by a visit from Sotomayor herself. Not only did the interns get to hear the Supreme Court justice speak, but they also had the chance to talk with Sotomayor and take photos with her.
“It was a full circle moment for 14-year-old Imari,” says Roque. “I shook hands and said hello to someone I’ve admired most of my life. It’s funny because she looked like someone who could be in my family. The experience really helped me understand that that could be me.”
Chavar was also awe struck by Sotomayor. “We took a group photo, and I was lucky enough to be placed right next to her! She asked me where I went to law school,” Chavar says. “The reason I’m in law school is largely inspired by Justice Sotomayor. When she went to the bench, I was in middle school, and I have a distinct memory that inspired me to go to law school. So it was a big deal to hear her wisdom. A majority of the students there were from underrepresented backgrounds in the legal field, and Justice Sotomayor was a beacon of hope and encouraged us to trust in the legal system despite all that’s going on in the world.”
“You read her opinions, and you know that she is incredible, but then you see her in action, and she is so eloquent,” says Bissell. “When I started law school, I was questioning my decision, and I think The Sotomayor Program helped reinforce that those in the legal field are making decisions that are impacting people’s lives. I know I want to be a part of that type of work.”
The College of Law hosted its 8th annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Celebration, highlighted by four Syracuse Law student-veteran speakers who discussed their service experiences.
The student speakers were Ava Dussmann L’27, Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force; Nicholas Hardy L’27, U.S. Army veteran; Rebecca Lee L’27, a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and Frederick Wilkes L’27, a U.S. Army veteran.
Anthony Ruscitto L’26, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, provided the welcome remarks. Col. Klint Kuhlman, the U.S. Army Fellow at the Institute for Security Policy and Law, delivered the closing address.
“We must honor those who serve in the military – past, present, and future – and as we recognize the common bonds between those who support and defend the Constitution in uniform and those who do so as lawyers,” says the Hon. James E. Baker, director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law.
The event was sponsored by the Institute for Security Policy and Law, the National Security Student Association, the Military and Veterans Law Society, and the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic.
Tiffany Johnson L’26 was named the 2025 recipient of the Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association (NDNY FCBA) the Hon. Norman A. Mordue ’66, L’71 Law Scholarship. Johnson, a recently retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, is pursuing her J. D. through Syracuse University College of Law’s Hybrid Online J.D. Program, JDinteractive.
She serves as a Legal Extern with the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Grievance Board in Arlington, Virginia, and as a Student Attorney with the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, where she represents veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. She will serve as a Student Attorney with the Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic in the spring semester.
Johnson is also a Staff News Writer for Impunity Watch News, the media arm of the Syracuse Journal of Global Rights & Organizations, which focuses on global human rights and impunity reporting. She is a member of the Military & Veterans Law Society and the American Bar Association Representative for Syracuse Law.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the NDNY FCBA Hon. Norman A. Mordue Law Scholarship,” says Johnson. “Judge Mordue’s legacy of military service, judicial excellence, and commitment to mentoring future advocates resonates strongly with me. This recognition not only supports my legal education but also strengthens my resolve to serve veterans and advance justice with the same integrity and dedication that defined Judge Mordue’s career.”
The NDNY-FCBA’s the Hon. Norman A. Mordue ’66, L’71 Law Scholarship provides a Syracuse University College of Law student with the means to pursue a legal education and follow in the footsteps of Judge Mordue, a decorated war hero who served as chief judge for the NDNY and taught trial practice at Syracuse Law as an adjunct professor. The FCBA established the scholarship after Judge Mordue’s passing in December 2022.
Judge Mordue served as the senior U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of New York, where he was a judge from 1998 until his passing in December 2022. A 2022 recipient of the college’s Law Honors Award, Judge Mordue was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions during the Vietnam War as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
