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.
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!
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.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI), and generative AI in particular, is no longer a distant concept for lawyers and soon-to-be lawyers. This is a new technological revolution in the legal industry. James Kelly L’99, member of the Board of Advisors of Syracuse University College of Law, and partner and chair, New York Private Equity, at DLA Piper LLP (U.S.), who has a role in helping shape his firm’s AI transformation efforts, shared insights on how AI is changing the practice and advice on what law students can do now to build their AI skills.
“AI is transforming legal service delivery models and empowering legal professionals in ways not previously possible,” Kelly says.
At his firm, he helps lead a cross-functional team of lawyers and business professionals to integrate AI into its client service and its business functions. Responsible adoption of this technology by lawyers demands clear objectives, client transparency, and adherence to ethical and professional obligations. It should also leave some room for experimentation;
Kelly says, “This will allow lawyers to focus more on solving the complex problems of their clients.”
According to Kelly, the “true Nirvana state” is when “the technology, tools, and workflow design are able to seamlessly leverage subject matter expertise and proprietary practice data,” to deliver better solutions for clients.
He notes that “This is somewhat quixotic at least in the near term because the practice of law is a living thing, and so too is the market, and the technology will chase that human capital and lawyering aspect when it comes to nuance, judgment, and experience. But it’s a big leap forward and changing the way things can be done. Students should be ready.”
Efficiency and Speed but With Accuracy and Trust
“Maintaining trust in the delivery of your services is paramount. If you don’t have trust, you don’t have a client,” Kelly says, emphasizing that efficiencies gained through speed and automation do not diminish the lawyers’ responsibility to always deliver their highest-quality work.
“The sweet spot today is a task that is repetitive and time-consuming but easy to verify. You need to choose your spots carefully in terms of where, when and how you want to integrate AI into your client service delivery,” he adds. “A lot of thinking, planning, and training goes into making that choice. This is not so much about balancing something opposite of trust, as that the quality of the work can never be sacrificed. This is about leveraging AI as a tool to drive better outcomes for clients consistent with the duties we as lawyers owe to them.”
Lawyers are now able to rapidly review vast quantities of documents or instantly analyze contracts while flagging critical provisions, tasks that may have been prohibitively time-consuming and costly in years past, depending on the volume of the data set.
“This has the potential to enable lawyers to offer clients data-driven advice that is far more sophisticated than previous data sets,” says Kelly. “These capabilities free up attorneys to focus on higher-value work and creative problem-solving, making the overall delivery of legal services faster and more insightful without any compromise with regard to trustworthiness.”
A Big Mindshift
Only a handful of years ago, many clients prohibited their law firms from using AI. Today, some clients mandate that it be utilized in service delivery. And many clients remain neutral, leaving it to their lawyer to determine how and when to use AI ethically and responsibly.
“I believe that it is generally expected at this point that leading law firms will leverage the best generative AI technology to deliver faster, cost-effective, and data-driven solutions. It is not just a select few using this,” Kelly says. “At my firm, every lawyer has the ability to use AI but only after completion of mandated ethical training.”
This is in part driven by the big mind shift in the market and with clients. “The notion that service businesses must strive to always be ‘faster, better, and cheaper’ has been subtly shifting in this AI era to what I call ‘immediate, perfect, and free,’ in certain aspects of the delivery model. But again, this may just allow for more time spent on what truly matters to our clients in a technology-enhanced way,” he says.
AI can accelerate research, surface patterns in large data sets, and generate initial drafts—while attorneys remain responsible for strategy, judgment calls, client communication, and relationships. The result is technology-enabled subject matter expertise.
“AI should be used to elevate, not replace, the human element in legal service. As fiduciary advisors rooted in trust, we’re uniquely positioned to deploy AI to enhance the human elements of our value,” Kelly says.
AI in Legal Education at Syracuse Law
The rapid rise of AI is transforming not only legal practice but legal education as well—and Syracuse Law is positioning itself at the forefront of that shift. Through a combination of coursework, practical learning, and real-world application, the College integrates AI across the curriculum, ensuring students understand both the opportunities and ethical considerations that come with emerging technologies.
“Syracuse Law’s forward-looking approach reflects the firm belief that today’s law students must graduate as AI-proficient professionals to excel in the modern legal landscape,” says Dean Terence Lau L’98.
The curriculum is designed to evolve alongside the profession, incorporating practical exposure to tools such as generative AI, legal research platforms, and data-driven analysis, while also emphasizing responsible use, client confidentiality, and professional judgement.
Syracuse Law continually monitors which technology skills are most valuable in legal practice and adjusts its curriculum accordingly, often tapping into the expertise of experienced alumni like Kelly.
Lau adds, “This collaboration between academia and the legal industry is particularly critical in times of great technological change to ensure that our programs are at the leading-edge—and to prepare our student talent for the challenges that await them in their legal careers.”
Because AI tools evolve so quickly, what students learn as 1Ls may look very different by the time they enter practice. To stay ahead, Syracuse Law emphasizes early and consistent exposure to AI technology. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with common AI platforms by their second semester, as many will encounter these tools during 1L summer internships and externships. By the time they earn their J.D., Syracuse Law graduates will have a strong foundation in AI applications for law, giving them a competitive edge as they enter firms where junior associates are now expected to use AI tools as soon as they begin practice.
“If I were a law student or junior associate today, I would spend at least 90% of my free time figuring out generative AI and how it can be used in the practice of law,” advises Kelly, noting that advancing the skills to navigate this technology will be essential for career growth. “Overcoming fear of using this new AI machine will become a major differentiator of future talent.”
By contrast, those who avoid the technology will likely fall behind their AI-prone peers. “Best to start now, in law school, while you can freely experiment and collaborate with your fellow classmates. It’s a wonderful time to be a student when a digital revolution is underway,” says Kelly. “I was a law student when the internet was just getting out of the gate in a real way. The internet created massive opportunities for new lawyers, and AI will too.”
Alumni Combine Law With AI, Technology in Fascinating Careers
Syracuse University College of Law alumni are putting their legal training to work at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industries, combining law with other expertise to drive real impact.
Expert in Ethical AI Strategy and Governance; Business AI Ethics Leader, Harvard University Safra Center for Ethics; Senior Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Retired Partner, Emerging Technology Strategy and Governance Leader, EY Pete Su L’94
Vice President and General Counsel, Moley Robotics; Expert in AI Robotics and patent strategy; Former Partner at Silicon Valley office of Dentons U.S.; Practiced intellectual property law at Fenwick & West; Co-chair of San Francisco Regional Council of Syracuse University; IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, IAM Strategy 300, Design Engineer at AMD Melissa Vierling L’07
Assistant General Counsel, Technology Contracts, IP, and AI Attorney, Primerica, Inc.; Co-founder AI Governance Collective (AIGC); Speaker on Legal AI
Syracuse University College of Law celebrated a historic event with the unveiling of an official portrait of Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, H’09, the 46th President of the United States, now hanging permanently in the Bernard R. and Carol K. Kossar Reading Room in the College of Law library.
17 members of the Class of 1968 return to Syracuse Law for a reunion lunch before the Portrait Unveiling.
The Portrait Unveiling was preceded by a joyful Class of 1968 reunion lunch, which welcomed President Biden back among his classmates and introduced two students who embody the class’s enduring investment in the next generation: 3L Gabby Kehoe, recipient of the Class of 1968 Scholarship Fund, and 3L Lacey Caputo, the Beau Biden Memorial Scholar.
Devin McDuffie L’26, Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, L’27, Lacey Caputo L’26 (Beau Biden L’94 Memorial Scholar), and Gabby Kehoe L’26 (Class of 1968 Scholar) join Dean Terence Lau L’98 to welcome President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to Syracuse Law.
In meeting these students, the reunion achieved its most meaningful purpose — connecting a class that helped shape the law with the young men and women who will carry it forward.
Dean Terence Lau L’98 welcomed President Biden and his classmates in a speech that transported the room back to the spring of 1968 and the world they were preparing to enter as new lawyers. The Vietnam War raged on, and in the span of a single month, President Johnson announced he would not seek reelection, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Act was signed into law.
Dean Terence Lau L’98 offers remarks to the Class of 1968.
“You were young. You were about to become lawyers. You had your whole lives ahead of you,” Lau reflected. “But the world outside these walls was on fire.”
Yet the class graduated, went out into that world, and many built careers dedicated to service, leadership, and justice. Lau drew a direct line from that turbulent moment to today, noting that current students are asking the same questions the Class of 1968 once asked: What kind of lawyers does this moment need us to be?
His answer, he said, was already written in their lives. “You show up. You do the work. You use your training not just to argue cases, but to build something.”
Lau also offered special thanks to Syracuse University Trustee William Brodsky ’65, L’68, whose dedication to honoring his classmate and their shared alma mater brought the project to life.
Syracuse University Trustee William Brodsky ’65, L’68’s dedication to honoring his classmate and their shared alma mater brought the Portrait to life.
Speaking to his classmates, Biden said, “Since the time I left Syracuse, life has handed me significant highlights and very low blows. The Syracuse community has been with me through it all.”
The 17 members of the Class of 1968 who returned to Syracuse Law made this occasion more than a ceremony. Graduating at one of the most consequential moments in modern American history, the class has maintained deep ties to Syracuse Law across six decades — returning not only to celebrate and support one of their own, but to mentor students and invest in the institution’s future.
Debby Goldman L’68, the only female in her graduating class, joined by the all-female presidents of Syracuse Law: Kayzjah Charles, 3L Class President, Class of 2026, Ariel Box, 1L Class President, Class of 2028, Emery Bielecki, Executive President of SBA, and Devin McDuffie, 2L Class President, Class of 2027.
Among those in attendance was Deborah Goldman L’68, who graduated as the only woman in her class. Today, 52% of Syracuse Law’s incoming Class of 2025 is female, and all four of the College of Law’s current student body presidents are women — a measure of how much, and how deliberately, the institution has changed.
For the Class of 1968, the reunion was a reminder that the bonds formed at Syracuse Law have proven as durable as the law itself.
President Biden welcomes his classmates and family members at the Class of 1928 reunion lunch.
In 2025, Samsung Electronics had 7,054 patent grants in the U.S. alone. Apple Inc. had 2,277, and Google/Alphabet, Inc., received 1,782. And, it is estimated that more than 152,000 patent applications specifically related to artificial intelligence (AI) were recorded in the U.S. last year with Google, Microsoft, and IBM leading the charge. Add to that the thousands of innovators and researchers across the country filing individual patents every day, and it’s apparent why patent agents and patent attorneys are in high demand.
First the Patent Bar, Then the State Bar: Alumni Donation to Help Defer Costs for ILC Students
Syracuse University College of Law’s Innovation Law Center (ILC) received a gift from Rodney Ryan L’97 that will be used to officially establish a patent law program in summer 2026 to academically and financially assist students in preparing for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) registration examination, commonly known as the patent bar. Passing the patent bar is a significant achievement as doing so gives students credentials to become a patent agent who can draft, file, and prosecute patent applications and is a necessary step to becoming a patent attorney.
To be eligible for the new program, students must have an undergraduate degree in science, engineering, or tech-related fields; complete required coursework and be actively engaged in the ILC.
For prospective students, the program represents a rare opportunity to enter the legal profession already credentialed as a patent agent and positioned for immediate career impact at law firms, corporations, and startups.
“We are very grateful for this gift, which will allow the ILC to formally establish a patent law program and reimburse students for the patent bar preparation and exam— removing a financial barrier that will open this opportunity to even more qualified students,” says Professor of Practice Brian Gerling L’99, executive director of the ILC.
“The program is designed so students will complete the patent bar exam well before having to study for state bar exams after graduation, while also giving them the opportunity to hone those skills as a patent agent during law school.”
The patent agent law program at the ILC will also assist early stage entrepreneurs through filing of provisional patent applications, thereby avoiding public disclosure bars or risking their ideas to commercial theft.
Senior Research Assistants Carl Graziadei L’26 and Madison McCarthy L’26
3Ls Work as Patent Agents at Local Law Firm
Carl Graziadei L’26 and Madison McCarthy L’26 are Syracuse Law students who helped pilot the idea for the formalized program. Both have already passed the patent bar and are currently working as senior research assistants at the ILC and part-time law clerks at local law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.
Graziadei earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in electrical engineering at Clarkson University and passed the patent bar right out of college. When researching law schools that allowed him to mesh his engineering background with the legal field, he discovered Syracuse Law’s ILC.
“Professor Gerling is really the reason I decided on Syracuse, as he showed me how my engineering background would be a great fit for the ILC,” Graziadei explains. “He confirmed my belief that going into patent law was the right move and explained the demand was high, and the opportunities were endless in law firms, corporations, and startups.”
McCarthy studied biological sciences and neuroscience as an undergraduate at the University of Buffalo and also came to Syracuse Law with the goal of becoming a patent attorney. While working in the ILC, she passed the patent bar as a 2L.
Both excelled through the ILC, honing their research and writing skills, and building confidence communicating with actual clients, while also gaining experience through internships. Graziadei interned at Lallemand, a French company optimizing natural fermentation processes. McCarthy was an extern in patent litigation at Kiklis Law Firm, PLLC, in Virginia, which focuses on trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trials and Appeals Board, and a general counsel extern at Upstate Medical University.
“I fell in love with the faculty and the ILC because I had so much freedom and the chance to interact with entrepreneurs and innovators about their inventions through the law,” says McCarthy, who is currently editor-in-chief of the Syracuse Journal of Science and Technology Law.
As 3Ls, McCarthy and Graziadei are senior research assistants at the ILC helping 2Ls assist clients. Both are also working part-time at Bond, Schoeneck & King, using their skills as patent agents. They each have been offered positions as full-time associates at the firm upon graduating this spring.
“Because I am already a patent agent, I will be a licensed patent attorney once I pass the New York State bar, and the experience I have had through Syracuse Law has been incredible preparation,” says McCarthy. “I’m grateful to have found a program where I could combine my interests in science, innovation, and the law, and I look forward to what’s ahead.”
Syracuse University College of Law now offers the nation’s first joint J.D. and M.S. in Sport Analytics program in conjunction with the Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport. The joint program, to be offered starting the Fall 2026 semester, allows College of Law students to earn their J.D. and M.S. concurrently, typically graduating in three years and at no cost beyond that of the J.D.
College of Law on campus students entering their second year can apply for the J.D./M.S., the College of Law’s 13th joint program.
The master’s degree requires 36 credits. A total of 15 credits from the sport analytics program can be counted toward the J.D. Further, six designated law credits will count toward both the J.D. and the M.S. electives. Law students enrolled in the joint JD/M.S. must take 72 unique law credits and 30 unique M.S. credits. Therefore, obtaining the joint J.D./M.S. requires completing 102 total credit hours.
“This is a program that only Syracuse can offer. Our College of Law and the Falk College of Sport are literally next door to each other, and that proximity translates into a truly integrated curriculum. No other law school in the country can pair a J.D. with a world-class sport analytics program under one roof,” said College of Law Dean Terence J. Lau L’98.
The joint J.D./M.S. is designed for law students interested in working in the front office of sports teams, the legal departments of sports leagues, sports agents, sports gambling companies, and others involved in sports.
“Being able to combine a law degree with a master’s degree in sport analytics provides our law students with an advanced credential that will set them apart when entering the workforce,” said College of Law Professor Todd Berger.
The M.S. follows Falk College’s established graduate Sport Analytics curriculum that emphasizes Applied Statistics, Econometrics, Databases and Machine Learning, R/Python Programming, Sport Gambling Analytics, and Visualization, among other disciplines.
“There is increasing demand for professionals who can navigate the complex intersection of law, analytics, and sport business. The combined J.D./M.S. degree prepares graduates to meet this demand by equipping them with both legal acumen and advanced quantitative skills these roles increasingly require,” said Rodney J. Paul, Ph.D., Professor and Chair in the Department of Sport Analytics at the Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport.
“Analytics has been largely popularized in the sport industry, but it has the ability to impact many other industries. Based on my personal background as a sport lawyer, bringing analytics into the study of law is a natural extension for Falk College of Sport. But it is also an incredibly valuable tool for practicing attorneys and even judges to better understand trends and precedents in the law and to predict probable outcomes of cases,” said David B. Falk ’72, Syracuse University Life Trustee and Founder & CEO, Falk Associates Management Enterprises.
Graduates will be uniquely positioned for roles in compliance, regulation, governance, player representation, sport betting and gaming law, collective bargaining, and analytical decision-making across professional teams, leagues, sportsbooks, and regulatory agencies.
