I am deeply saddened to share that Professor Martin Fried has passed away.
Marty was a distinguished member of our community who dedicated his career to excellence in teaching and service. He earned his B.A. from Antioch College in 1955, his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1958 as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his LL.M. from New York University in 1968. After practicing in New York City and teaching at Washington University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Cincinnati, he joined our faculty and was named the Crandall Melvin Professor of Wills & Trusts in 1990.
Marty was a gifted and dedicated teacher who trained countless attorneys in federal income taxation, trusts and estates, and property law. He authored Taxation of Securities Transactions and numerous articles on tax and trusts and estates. His commitment to students extended well beyond the classroom—he was known for his encouragement and mentorship, helping students find their path even in difficult moments. One alumnus, now a partner at Baker & McKenzie, recalled: “When I was 20 years old and a 1L, and others were telling me to drop out, Marty told me: Let’s see how they would be doing at 20. Stick with it. Find your way. I became a tax lawyer because of him.”
Beyond teaching, Marty served the Law School and broader community in many ways. He served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, founded and directed our LL.M. in Taxation Program in the 1990s, coached intercollegiate tax teams, and helped reform the Moot Court Program. He was deeply involved in faculty governance at both the College and University level, and volunteered at Housing Court helping those facing eviction. He was a member of the American Law Institute and later served as of counsel at Hancock & Estabrook LLP.
Marty was also a devoted internationalist who traveled abroad with our Law in London program. Together with his late wife Daisy Fried, who worked in Syracuse University’s Study Abroad program, Marty and Daisy were fixtures on campus and beloved members of our broader University community. Marty was also an avid runner and tennis player, part of the College of Law “runners club” whose members could be seen jogging around campus.
On a personal note, Professor Fried was my 1L Property professor. He will be greatly missed.
Services:
Synagogue Service Thursday, February 5th at 11:00 AM Temple Beth Shalom 1050 S Tuttle Ave Sarasota, FL 34237 (941) 955-8121
Cemetery Service Sunday, February 8th at 10:00 or 11:00 AM Temple Adath Yeshurun Cemetery 924 Jamesville Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210
Syracuse Law faculty, staff, students, along with friends, families, and dignitaries from the Syracuse area helped welcome 34 new American citizens at a U.S. Citizenship Naturalization ceremony in Dineen Hall.
The new citizens, representing 18 nations, were sworn in by the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, Chief Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York. Several active-duty military service members wore their uniforms as they became citizens.
“These ceremonies are so important and so beautiful and so meaningful to me,” Dancks said. “I consider my service to the court as my personal love letter to my community and to my country, and I consider myself deeply patriotic.”
The ceremony featured remarks from College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98, Gladys McCormick, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Professor of History and the Jay and Debe Moskowitz Endowed Chair in Mexico-U.S. Relations at Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Patricia Cardona L’20, an Immigration Attorney at the Cardona Law Firm.
“This moment holds deep personal meaning for me. I stood where you stand today in 1999, one year after graduating from this law school, taking the Oath of Allegiance and becoming an American citizen. I know the mixture of pride, gratitude, and anticipation you feel. The journey that brought you here, from distant homelands, through challenges and perseverance, now culminates in this transformative moment,” said Dean Terence Lau L’98.
The Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82, Administrative Judge, Fifth Judicial District, Supreme Court of New York, received the Betty D. Friedland Award for Trial Excellence in recognition of her contributions to the legal profession across New York state, excellence in legal education, courtroom practice, and ethics.
The Hon. Mae A. D’Agostino L’80, The Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, and The Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82.
As the U.S. reflected on the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Syracuse University College of Law marked the moment by bringing students to the heart of the conversation. The new Voting Rights and Policy residency, designed for hybrid online JDinteractive students and open to on-campus J.D. students, was held in Washington, D.C. for four days in December and was taught by Ryan Suto G’13 M.S. (NEW), G’13 M.S. (MAX), L’13, senior government affairs manager at FairVote.
The residency addressed the urgency surrounding voting rights in today’s political climate while also examining the law’s origins, impact, and the ongoing challenges related to protecting Americans’ right to vote throughout history.
Ryan Suto G’13 M.S. (NEW), G’13 M.S. (MAX), L’13 speaks in class with a student and guest speaker, Sara Rohani.
A Universal Right Not Stated in the Constitution
“There is actually no individual right to vote in the Constitution. Instead, it protects voting through a number of constitutional amendments. The history of voting rights is intertwined in our country’s history, and this residency was a good frame to understand the struggle for civil rights, disability rights, the rights of Black and Latino communities, and more,” says Suto. “Familiarity with voting rights helps our students understand the difference between equality and equity.”
In response to student interest, Syracuse Law reached out to Suto about creating this new residency. He designed the course to familiarize students with major federal and state court decisions and federal legislation, deepen their understanding of how federal and state governments interact with voting rights, and prepare them to critically assess and participate in future developments within the area of law.
JDi Students Found Topic Valuable in Wake of Current Events
Ryan Dudley L’26 enjoyed attending the residency. He currently works as the state policy manager for the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
“I chose this residency because I was very interested in this topic, especially given the current political climate around redistricting and the Supreme Court’s interest in taking a further look at the Voting Rights Act,” he says. “It gave me a clearer understanding of the Voting Rights Act, the history of the laws, and the threat to the law and voting rights in general.”
“One of the best parts, however, was the opportunity to have in-person interaction with others in my cohort,” he adds. “The JDi program is great because, although we are all participating from all over the country, there is a real sense of friendship and camaraderie within our group, and it’s great to connect with others at the residencies.”
Highlights of this residency included several prominent speakers: Sara Rohani, assistant counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Fred McBride, Ph.D. senior advisor, voting rights, for the Southern Poverty Law Center; and Robert Weiner, director of the Voting Rights Project, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.
Sara Rohani, assistant counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, speaks with students at the Voting Rights and Policy residency.
Residency Brought Together Students with Diverse Expertise
Even though many of these students may not pursue careers specifically in voting rights, they wanted to understand how the law shapes and impacts communities. And because JDi students tend to be working professionals attending law school to advance or change their careers, they also brought real-life experiences to the topic. For example, one student was an elected official in Pennsylvania, another worked in state government, and another was a teacher, adding depth and practical relevance to the conversations in the room.
Michael Roach L’26 is the county judge of Stephens County, Texas.
“In my role as a county judge, I see firsthand how voting rules affect both election administrators and voters on the local level,” he explains. “I was particularly interested in getting a deeper understanding of how federal voting rights policy has developed, been interpreted, and implemented beyond the courtroom.”
“One of the most valuable aspects of the residency was exposure to practitioners working directly in the voting rights space, including our guest speakers who shared real perspectives for advocacy and enforcement,” Roach says. “And Professor Suto brought a unique level of insight, drawing on his experience at the forefront of drafting and advising on legislation designed to promote fairness, access, and integrity in the electoral process. All of the information throughout the residency helped connect legal theory to real policy outcomes.”
Fred McBride, Ph.D. senior advisor, voting rights, for the Southern Poverty Law Center, teaches students about Redistricting Principles as a guest speaker.
Students Tasked With Final Assessment of Writing Bill
According to Suto, the residency emphasized familiarity with voting rights and statutory drafting, instead of analyzing what someone else had already written.
“I like the exercise of saying, ‘This is the jurisprudential frame. What would you do in the middle of that?’ and asking students to see the gap between law and politics,” Suto explains, adding that the final assessment of the residency was to draft a bill.
The inaugural Voting Rights and Policy residency was a success. According to Suto, he received very positive, informal feedback from those who participated. Given the headlines voting rights have been making in today’s political climate, he hopes to present a similar residency to students in the future.
See here for more information on upcoming JDi residencies.
Joanne “Joanie” Mahoney ’87, L’90, President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), will deliver the Commencement address at Syracuse University College of Law’s Class of 2026 Commencement on Friday, May 8, 2026, in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Mahoney was appointed SUNY ESF President in November 2020. She previously served as Onondaga County Executive for 11 years, during which she earned national recognition for her environmentally friendly stewardship. Before her elective office, she worked as an attorney both in private practice with the Harris Beach law firm and for five years as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Mahoney received her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1990 and her Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University Whitman School of Management in 1987. She currently serves on the College of Law’s Board of Advisors.
As Onondaga County Executive (2008-2018), the first woman elected to this position, Mahoney created the nationally acclaimed Save the Rain green infrastructure program, transforming stormwater management. Her leadership helped restore Onondaga Lake from one of America’s most polluted lakes to swimming-quality water. She helped the county maintain the highest bond ratings among all New York State counties while championing the Say Yes to Education partnership. Governing Magazine named her Public Official of the Year in 2011.
As SUNY ESF’s fifth president and first woman to lead the institution in its 110-year history (2020-present), Mahoney has elevated SUNY ESF nationally in Princeton Review’s “Most Environmentally Conscious” ranking. She serves as Co-Chair of SUNY’s system-wide Sustainability Advisory Council. Her concurrent service as Chair of the New York State Thruway Authority (2015-2025) included overseeing completion of the $4 billion Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, one of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects at the time.
Mahoney has sustained and strengthened the historic Syracuse University-SUNY ESF partnership, ensuring joint diplomas, shared opportunities for students, and collaborative academic programs. A Syracuse native from a family of nine children, she has championed regional development including helping to secure the $500 million CNY Rising award from the state.
“I am honored to give the commencement address to my alma mater’s 2026 graduating class,” said Mahoney. “I look forward to providing this next generation of leaders with insights into what awaits them as they start their careers.”
“I am pleased to welcome Mahoney back to the College of Law and am excited to stand with her as we welcome our most recent graduates into the powerful alumni network of Syracuse Law,” said College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98.
Anyone taking on the rigors of law school expects it to be demanding, but Emely Recinos L’26 has the added challenge of reading case law, breaking down briefs, and participating in late night study sessions—all without the ability to see. Now a 3L preparing to graduate, Recinos has proven that what some might consider a barrier has instead helped her find her own voice and ignite a passion for advocating for marginalized people facing the legal system.
Diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition at age 7 that led to blindness, Recinos remembers doctors and school administrators telling her family that getting an education would be difficult. School made her feel isolated and depressed, and other children didn’t understand her disability. “It was a dark time without a lot of positivity around it,” she says.
Thankfully, a devoted teacher who worked with the visually impaired made it her mission to be sure Recinos left sixth grade with the ability to read and write braille—an essential foundation for her future success. She also convinced Recinos to use her white cane, increasing the young girl’s independence and providing an outward sign to others that she was blind. It was a turning point, allowing her to grasp the many possibilities ahead of her. Recinos didn’t know it then, but one of those things was studying to become a lawyer.
Understanding the Legal Needs of Other Marginalized Groups
Recinos excelled in college, earning an undergraduate degree in international relations from New York University. Upon graduation, she worked as a case support associate for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights in New York City. It was there that she came to understand first-hand how other marginalized groups—specifically unaccompanied immigrant children—needed reputable legal representation. This struck a chord and inspired her to pursue a law degree as a way to create meaningful change.
Recinos understood that navigating Syracuse Law would require thoughtful preparation. Before beginning law school, she worked with an orientation specialist to familiarize herself with Dineen Hall and continues to map out the routes to her classes ahead of each semester.
The staff at Syracuse University’s Center of Disability Resources has also helped her access course material in an accessible format. Recinos uses screen reader software on her laptop that turns digital content into synthesized speech, as well as a device with a Perkins-style braille keyboard that allows her to take notes and can be connected to her laptop.
Getting Involved and Exploring Orange Flex
Recinos was eager to get involved in activities at the law school. As a 2L, she joined the Disabled Law Students Association, a student organization that provides support and information for those with disabilities, that is open to all Syracuse Law students. The association helps connect members with volunteer opportunities, brings in speakers on pertinent topics, and promotes individuality throughout the entire Syracuse University campus. This year, Recinos is serving as co-president of the organization.
Starting last summer, Recinos was placed at the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children, a nonprofit helping minors with immigration matters, including those with no legal guardians in the U.S. According to Recinos, the current political climate has resulted in continuous changes in fees and rules for obtaining special immigrant juvenile status, so the organization works to ensure minors have effective legal representation.
Emely Recinos ‘26, right, visited the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York during her 2025 fall internship with the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children. Pictured with her are, left to right, Abena Hutchful, policy and litigation attorney at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, and internship supervisor Katarina Martucci.
Over the course of her internship, Recinos assumed expanded responsibilities, including serving as a lead on a case under attorney supervision and drafting certification briefs. She liked the work so much that she requested to stay on for the fall 2025 semester.
“I enjoy immigration law and working with children who feel like their voices aren’t being heard,” she adds, noting that her fluency in Spanish was helpful in her role. “When I was a child, I often felt people were speaking for me or over me, and I want to do what I can to make sure these children have a voice.”
Realizing Her Education Came With Options
Through her experiences at Syracuse Law, Recinos realized that having a disability didn’t mean her only option was to practice disability law. She has discovered that there are many ways her personal and professional experiences intersect with education, employment, civil rights, and international human rights.
As she prepares to graduate, Recinos wants to continue to help those with immigration issues or disabilities access to quality legal representation. She is currently exploring post-graduate opportunities with various civil rights organizations. Recinos also recently wrote “The Overlooked Tourist: Enhancing the Market for Disabled Travel,” soon to be published by the College of Law’s Journal of International Law and Commerce.
Eventually, Recinos sees herself working on policy to ensure that those with disabilities or anyone who feels unheard due to their circumstances will be protected under the law.
“I feel like I’ve been able to accomplish so many things here at Syracuse Law, particularly how to use my own voice to advocate for myself and others,” she says. “I’ve found wonderful mentors, a community of peers, and professors who’ve taken that extra step for me. I know I have a lot of options moving forward, and I’ve been empowered by that.”
The College of Law’s long-running LondonEx externship program was featured in the National Jurist article “Summer programs at home and abroad add perspective, build practical skills.”
LondonEx is a summer externship program in London, U.K., hosted by Syracuse Law. During a seven-week international summer experience, students gain exposure to clients, partner with professionals for personalized mentoring, and enjoy boundless cultural opportunities – in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. LondonEx is open to any full-time or part-time student from an ABA-approved law school who is in good standing.
In the article, Andrew Horsfall ’05, L’10, LondonEx Program Specialist, said a willingness to situate oneself in a novel area of legal practice in a foreign locale shows future employers a certain level of resilience.
Horsfall said one of the things that comes out in the first two or three weeks is just how pleasantly surprised the students are at the level of accessibility that they have to their mentors and just how good their mentors are.
“I think the students are in awe watching their mentors work, whether it’s arguing in court or presiding from the bench. They come to respect the level of preparation required and the level of detail necessary to do this work and do it well,” he said. “It leaves a meaningful impression on the students because they’re working with people who are operating at a very high level in their respective practices.”
The application for LondonEx is open through February 1.
How are law firms currently applying AI in the workplace to maximize client services? What are the ethical implications of using AI in the legal field? How will AI impact the current role of lawyers, and what new jobs may emerge? Should AI be regulated, and, if so, how?
These were just some of the questions addressed during AI and the Virtue of Law, a one-week in-person residency held at Syracuse University College of Law in August designed for students in the JDinteractive (JDi) program, with participation also open to on-campus students. This deep-dive into AI was created and facilitated by Professor of Law Jack Graves, and students were eager to attend.
“I think AI will significantly transform law school education and the practice of law,” says Graves, noting that he sees AI as a means of more effective information sharing but also recognizes that many are “terrified” thinking that this technology could replace them. “We have to think about being nimble now because the essential human role today will likely be an AI role in just a few years, and we don’t want to be left behind. Through this residency, I wanted to help demystify generative AI because, used properly, it can be an extraordinary tool.”
Graves, who has taught in the JDi program for the past five years, has a unique blend of expertise in design, development and delivery of accessible and legal education in an online learning environment and 21st century technology-leveraged law practice. A graduate of the University of Colorado Law School, Graves taught technology-leveraged delivery of legal services at the Touri Law Center for 14 years, and prior to that worked in private practice with Chrisman, Bynum & Johnson PC in Colorado and as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals.
First Time AI Residency Was Popular Draw for JDi Students
Logan Gorg L’26 is a JDi student living in Pennsylvania, who made the trip to the Syracuse University campus to attend the AI residency. She has worked as a paralegal at the law firm of Ross & Ross LLC for the past 10 years and is looking to focus on real estate and probate law upon graduation.
“I learned so much about what AI is, and the information at the residency helped to dispel some of the fears and focus more on where the profession is going,” Gorg says. “Sitting in a room with a group with diverse backgrounds and experiences talking about whether AI was doom or salvation was so interesting. I think the residency showed us that AI is unavoidable, but, if we get out in front of it, we can reap some of the benefits in the legal profession.”
Graves had been contemplating developing a semester-long course in AI for the JDi program, but ultimately he decided that the lightning speed of the technology would be better suited for a short-form, concentrated residency where students with different levels of familiarity could join together to think about being nimble and adapting to technology that is already changing the way the legal field operates.
AI Voice-Driven Technology Used to Teach, Demonstrate Abilities
Coincidentally, the residency took place just as ChatGPT launched Advanced Voice Mode, a significant upgrade that allows for natural, real time conversations using AI. Graves used “Max,” as he named the voice-driven AI technology, to help co-teach the residency and answer students’ questions directly.
“We would have a discussion, and I would say, ‘Max, what do you think?’, explains Graves. “At first students were uncomfortable with it, but once Max started responding and asking them questions using the Socratic method, they started to see how fascinating a learning AI tool could be.”
Approach to AI in the Law Resonated Well with JDi Students
Jenny Cameron L’27, who co-owns VIP Marinas with her husband in Florida, decided to enroll in law school to bring a legal perspective to her family business. She, too, attended the AI residency and walked away amazed.
“Honestly, it was one of those residencies that was life changing,” she says. “Before I attended, I was on the fringes of AI, barely using ChatGPT, but since then I’ve been using AI extensively in some form. Part of law school is practicing and knowing how to use AI better and faster, and what I learned at the residency was eye opening. I commend Syracuse Law and Professor Graves for taking the lead on this and helping guide us on how we should be approaching this technology.”
Another participant was Bryan Beene ‘26 a high school government teacher from Texas, who is pursuing law school to prepare for a second career once he retires. He hopes to work as a lawyer in the education or church law space.
“I registered for this AI residency for two reasons: one because Professor Graves was teaching it, and he is one of the best professors I’ve ever had, and two, I had never used AI except for Google searches, and I knew a lack of knowledge around this technology would be a detriment in representing a client,” Beene explains. He noted that he enjoyed learning more about the use of the available tools, as well as discussing the legal and ethical issues, and how regulations and the law are often not keeping up with this fast moving technology.
The newly introduced AI and the Virtue of Law residency received “incredible feedback” from students, according to Graves, who believes this is a topic that should be revisited once a year.
Graves says, “This is not a static course, as the technology is changing continuously, but I think the approach resonated well with the students, not only by teaching them skills but by allaying some of their fears while also emphasizing to them that AI technology in the legal field is advancing fast and furiously. So they need to prepare now.”
Mary J. Goodwin-Oquendo L’09 learned what true advocacy looks like long before she ever stepped into a law school classroom. Growing up, she watched her mother tirelessly fight to secure appropriate educational services for her younger brother, who has autism and learning disabilities. Seeing firsthand how complex systems can fail families, she began to ask a powerful question: Who helps students who do not have anyone able to challenge the system for them?
Today, Goodwin-Oquendo is that advocate. As the founder of The Goodwin-Oquendo Law Firm in New York City, she champions disability civil rights, particularly related to education, standardized testing, professional licensing, and employment. Getting to this point took grit, talent, and determination. She credits Syracuse University College of Law for providing the foundation, flexibility, and mentorship she needed to earn her law degree and pursue the work that drives her— advocating for others through the legal system.
Goodwin-Oquendo will speak about her experiences and the process of advocating for bar exam accommodations in the spring of 2026 at a webinar hosted by the Disability Law and Policy Program (DLPP). The presentation was purposefully planned as a virtual event, as it accommodates Goodwin-Oquendo’s disability-related needs, as well as those of attendees with disabilities, and allows both on-campus and online JDinteractive students, in addition to other guests around the country, to participate.
Walking in the Steps of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Goodwin-Oquendo’s desire to be a lawyer started early. She studied at the James Madison High School Law Institute in Brooklyn, New York—the same school the late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended. The four-year program helps students understand the legal system through law classes, moot court, and mock trials. She came to see attorneys as “helpers,” and realized the law could be her pathway to advocate for those who needed a voice.
Facing Her Challenges and Finding a Mentor
While pursuing her undergraduate degree at St. Joseph’s University in New York, Goodwin-Oquendo was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and learned first-hand how difficult it was to navigate higher education with “an invisible, poorly understood disability.”
However, she learned how to self-accommodate her disabilities, graduated as valedictorian, and set her sights on law school. She ultimately chose Syracuse Law because of its various clinics, particularly The Family Law Clinic, because she knew the challenges from clients who felt vulnerable or unheard would make her a more respectful and transparent lawyer.
Her first year wasn’t easy, as Goodwin-Oquendo navigated the demands as a 1L while managing a physical condition that fluctuated day to day. This was compounded by her lack of health insurance (prior to the Affordable Care Act), which limited her ability to receive the care she needed.
“I went from graduating first in my class in college to struggling in my first semester of law school because I didn’t have the physical stamina to keep up the pace,” she explains. “Some of the strategies that had worked in high school and college just didn’t work anymore because the expectations of law school were much higher.”
Fortunately, she enrolled in a class led by Professor of Law Arlene Kanter, who took emeritus status in 2024, Kanter is an acclaimed expert in international and comparative disability law and helped Goodwin-Oquendo understand the accommodations she was entitled to. (Kanter founded the DLPP at Syracuse Law in 2005, one of the nation’s most extensive disability law programs in the U.S.) She is forever grateful to Kanter, who remains a role model, for helping her find ways to manage her disability and continue to succeed. For the past five years, Goodwin-Oquendo has been an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law, in part, she says, “to be for my students what Professor Kanter was for me.”
“Professor Kanter had many resources, including this ‘holy book’ of disability law firms in the New York area, which were few and far between,” explains Goodwin-Oquendo. “She encouraged me during my 2L year to reach out to Jo Anne Simon, a disability civil rights attorney in Brooklyn, who later became a state assembly member, to learn more about working in this part of the legal field.”
They connected, and soon Simon offered Goodwin-Oquendo a summer job at the firm. In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act was passed, reaffirming Congress’s commitment to disability rights. That law shaped a lot of the work Goodwin-Oquendo did at the firm.
“It was not light work,” she says, “but the job training I received was nothing short of phenomenal—so much so that I joined her firm after law school and stayed there for the next 14 years. Jo Anne remains a dear friend and mentor, and she has done so much to advance the rights of individuals with disabilities.”
Establishing Her Own Firm for Educational Advocacy
In 2024, she launched the Goodwin-Oquendo Law Firm in New York City, dedicated to representing individuals with cognitive, physical, and psychiatric disabilities who face discrimination or need accommodations in education for admissions tests, professional licensing exams, state bar exams, and medical boards.
“People come to me because they clearly need certain accommodations to fully access and complete an exam, for example, and they are being denied this for the highest stakes exam of their lives,” she explains, noting there is still a level of ignorance around the use of technology on examinations.
“Others come to me because they’ve received a diagnosis later in life or have been living with a disability that wasn’t as challenging for them until they reached college, law school, or medical school, and now they need someone to help them understand their options and advocate for their rights.”
Goodwin-Oquendo operates her firm virtually, which not only accommodates her disabilities but also allows her to assist clients around the country. “Business is booming, which sounds great, but it is actually a little sad because that means there is still a lot of discrimination for those with disabilities,” she says.
She recently hired Syracuse Law alumna Ptahra Jeppe L’19 as counsel to the firm. Jeppe started as a client and mentee but was so impressive that Goodwin-Oquendo asked her to join in 2025. Jeppe has dyslexia and practiced special education law for several years, which has added another area of mastery to the practice.
Goodwin-Oquendo’s advocacy continues at Syracuse University, where she now serves on the Center on Disability and Inclusion’s Advisory Committee. She’s also involved in the broader legal community as a member of the Disability Rights Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association, serving on its Committee on Disability Rights, where she enjoys creating Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses for attorneys and serves as one of the editors of its disability treatise.
She finds value in serving others. “I want to keep pushing myself, and what keeps me going are the former clients who reach out and say, for example, they passed the bar, or they are now a licensed physician or educator,” Goodwin-Oquendo explains.
“Their unique experiences will enrich these fields. I am grateful for the education, advocacy, and overall encouragement from Syracuse Law that helped me get to where I am today. And it will be a full circle moment to share my experiences with students at the College of Law this spring.”
When Ginny Capicchioni L’27 decided to pursue a law degree to complement her extensive financial credentials and better serve her clients, she wasn’t sure how to fit it into her demanding schedule. Between running two companies, coaching lacrosse at the national level, and traveling often, the former pro goalie—known for blocking barriers as deftly as shots—didn’t think a full-time, in-person law school program was realistic. But true to her competitive mindset, she found the Syracuse University College of Law’s hybrid online JDinteractive (JDi) program to be the perfect fit, allowing her to stay in the game while advancing her education.
“Law school is difficult. They push us hard because most of us in the JDi program tend to have plenty of life experience, and we’re all making sacrifices to be here,” says Capicchioni, who is founder and president of Cap Financial Management (CFM) and founder of Gladiator Lacrosse. “If I hadn’t found Syracuse Law’s JDi program, I would imagine my experience would have been very different, so I’m grateful for that.”
A Full-Circle Syracuse Moment
Capicchioni’s connection to Syracuse began long before law school. As a women’s lacrosse player at Sacred Heart University in the late ‘90s, she admired Syracuse University’s lacrosse legacy so much that she bought a Syracuse jersey, wearing it to practice before every game. Years later, during tryouts for the 2011 U.S. Men’s National Box Lacrosse Team, she played exceptionally well, and the first person to congratulate her was Syracuse men’s lacrosse star Casey Powell ’98 (A&S), a four-time all-American. In hindsight, those moments now seem like a sign that she, too, would one day make her own connection to Syracuse University.
While most of the JDi program is held virtually, Capicchioni looks forward to getting together with others in her cohort during the required in-person residencies the JDi program holds each year.
“It’s great to meet the faculty and other students in the program face-to-face during the residencies,” she says. “There are some really accomplished people in my JDi cohort, which inspires me.”
A New Challenge for a Lifelong Competitor
Capicchioni is herself one of those “accomplished people” in the program, applying many of the lessons learned through sports to the rigors of the JDi program. She has spent decades breaking records and overcoming barriers in the sport of lacrosse. Initially recruited by Sacred Heart University as a field hockey goalie, she was encouraged to try women’s lacrosse. Despite being new to the sport, it was not long before she became a three-time Northeast Conference Goalie of the Year.
With no professional women’s lacrosse league to join after college, she discovered box lacrosse and made history as the first female in the country to sign with a men’s professional box lacrosse team. She played with the New Jersey Storm of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), spent nine years in the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLL), and later led the European Lacrosse League (ELL) in save percentages—all while playing alongside men. In 2011, she competed in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, helping Team U.S.A. win a bronze medal and marking the first time an American woman played for a men’s national team in any sport in an international tournament.
Coach, Entrepreneur, and Mentor
Capicchioni coached at several universities before launching Cap Financial Management in 2019. CFM offers financial advising and services to NCAA coaches, athletes, and other sports affiliates. Capicchioni holds a number of licenses in investments, accounting, insurance, and securities, and is a chartered trust and estate planner.
In 2023, she received a call that the U.S. was finally starting a women’s box lacrosse team and was asked to coach the U.S.A. National Team, a position she still holds today. The team trained for two years, and since the sport of box lacrosse was only just starting for women in the U.S., Capicchioni’s team decided to train against all men’s teams leading up to the 2024 World Box Lacrosse Championship. Ultimately, they took home the first gold medal in USA history, men’s or women’s.
“When we started, these women had played lacrosse but never box lacrosse or any kind of contact game,” explains Capicchioni. “My parents always told me, ‘If you can’t find a way, make your own.’ And that’s what we did. The women I coached essentially achieved the impossible!”
Pursuing the Challenge, Taking the Win
Today, Capicchioni is again making her own way, as she juggles many responsibilities including the demands of the Syracuse Law’s JDi program. She intends to keep her businesses running, continue to stay with the U.S.A. National Team, and also complete her law degree in order to offer her financial clients an even wider range of expertise.
“Attending law school through the JDi program will make me a lawyer, but it has already made me a better coach and is helping me in my financial management career, too,” she says. “None of it’s easy, but I’ve never walked away from a challenge, and the Syracuse Law’s JDi program is no different.”
