This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Rebecca Lee, 3L (2027), Department of Transportation Summer Internship at the Federal Aviation Administration, Employment and Labor Law Division in Washington, D.C.
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day looks like commuting via Metro to Independence Ave., greeting the Employment and Labor Law attorneys, and getting to work on cases. So far, I’ve worked Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Service Protection Board cases, drafting motions, assisting in prehearing submissions and case development, creating agency files, and performing research tasks from both Employment and Labor Law teams. One thing that surprised me about this work is how many claimants in both forums are pro se litigants.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
I chose this organization for my summer internship because I wanted to experience litigation within an Agency. I enjoyed taking Administrative Law and Regulatory Law during law school and wanted to see the practice in real life and in a field of the law that I was unfamiliar with. While I knew that it was going to be challenging working with doctrine that I was not accustomed to, the attorneys I interviewed with from the Division did not take my lack of knowledge and experience as a disadvantage. It was clear to me from the interview that they were interested in letting me observe and learn from them as much as possible.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
One case that I’ve worked on is an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim regarding discrimination and harassment/hostile work environment on the basis of race, color, and sex over non-promotion/selection in 2000. This case was unique in that it became complex due to a class action that led to the EEOC claim to be held in abeyance until the class’s dissolution nearly 20-years after filing. I was tasked with drafting the Motion for Summary Judgment with the help from their class actions attorney. I learned that seemingly simple claims may quickly turn complex due to various different factors, like in this case, having to search for relevant documents in a CD that was created in 1999.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
I do see myself practicing in this area of the law post-graduation. While my current path requires me to serve active-duty Army after graduation, I can see myself returning to D.C. to work in an Employment Law capacity. I am drawn to this field because it has a little bit of everything. I would be able to advise on matters directly related to employees’ work experiences and their fundamental rights but also litigate on behalf of the government.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Syracuse Law prepared me for this experience in numerous ways. Having an interest in working for the federal government, I was able to take courses that allowed me to explore and understand the interworking of administrative agencies generally, like Administrative Law and Regulatory Law. Through those courses, I was able to develop a relationship with professors who are highly knowledgeable about administrative agencies and were able to engage in open dialogue with me to further develop my understanding before going to work for my second administrative agency. Syracuse Law also helped to prepare me for this experience in connecting me to alumni who either worked for the FAA themselves or are currently employed by the FAA.
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Meghan Snelling, 2L (2028), Legal Intern at Disability Justice in Denver, CO (formerly Disability Law Colorado).
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day for me involves working on my research projects, attending team meetings, participating in intake calls, and occasionally observing cases in the courtroom. In the next few weeks, I will also be participating in monitoring visits at various sites around Colorado.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
I had been following Disability Justice’s work for a while because they are incredibly active in the disability rights field. Whether it be representing clients, teaching self-advocacy, or passing legislation to secure further protections for individuals with disabilities—they are always doing meaningful work. I hope to practice disability law in Colorado after graduation, so I knew there would be no better place to start my journey than with Disability Justice.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
I recently got to sit in on Disability Justice’s legislative planning meeting, where the whole team met to discuss its legislative initiatives for the upcoming cycle. It was incredible to watch because it introduced me to the entire realm of advocacy, not just the attorney-side of things. There was collaboration between DJ’s legal team, media team, policy specialists, intake and advocacy specialists, and the corresponding interns for each department; I was truly blown away by the scope of the initiatives. It reaffirmed my commitment to the work and opened my eyes to the many forms of advocacy.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
I absolutely see myself practicing in this field after graduation. I was born with a rare, incurable disability that has impacted the way I interact with the world; it is the whole reason I pursued law in the first place. I have spent my whole life learning how to best advocate for myself and I feel strongly that no one else should have to navigate that difficult process alone.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
While my coursework prepared me greatly for the research and writing side of my internship, I truly feel that the personal advice I received from my professors has been the most valuable part of my preparation. The professors all have such different experiences in the legal field and are so open to sharing how they got there, what their work experiences were like, and the advice they have for young professionals. I feel especially grateful to Professor Kim and Professor Wallach; they were so encouraging, and their approach to feedback significantly improved the skills I use every day at my internship.
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
First stop: Jawad Kasimi, 3L (2027) at Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, New York.
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day looks very different from one day to the next, which I really like. What I especially appreciate about Hodgson’s summer program is that, rather than having a rotation program, we are given the opportunity to pick projects we would like to work on from a portal. This allows me to select projects from different departments at the same time and focus on work that interests me. As a result, instead of working on just one project per day, I usually handle multiple projects spanning different practice areas. This has helped me develop strong time management skills, as I often have to balance competing deadlines, while also gaining exposure to a variety of practice areas.
One thing that surprised me was how available the partners are. I initially thought they would assign projects and be hands-off, but I was surprised to find that they consistently make themselves available for questions, guidance, and feedback.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
I am fortunate to know that I am very interested in corporate and securities practice. Hodgson has a very strong corporate and securities practice and also maintains offices throughout upstate New York. I knew I wanted to stay in upstate New York, so Hodgson was a great fit for my objectives.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
One project I am particularly proud of involved analyzing administrative appeals procedures and determining whether those procedures violated procedural due process. It was a very extensive project that required a significant amount of research. I was especially proud of this work because I was not familiar with administrative procedures and how they operate. As a result, I had to teach myself the subject from scratch in order to conduct the research and reach a well-supported conclusion.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
Currently, I am very interested in corporate practice. However, I have not definitively decided which practice area I will ultimately pursue. Working at a large firm like Hodgson allows me to be flexible, as I can transition into a different practice area if I find that corporate law is not the right fit. While it is unlikely that I will choose a different practice area, having that option is very reassuring and helps relieve a great deal of stress.
What drew me to the corporate practice area is my background in economics and business. I previously worked extensively on mergers and acquisitions from an economic perspective, and I really enjoyed that experience. As a result, I wanted to pursue this interest from a legal standpoint. While I understand that the legal side will be different, I am excited by the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from other disciplines to help close deals, which I believe is the ultimate goal of any M&A transaction.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Syracuse Law offers many courses that help provide background knowledge for the projects I work on. For example, taking Business Associations helped me better understand mergers and acquisitions. This summer, I worked on a deal involving an acquisition, and I was able to understand the structure of the deal because of that course. Without it, I would have been much more confused at the beginning and likely would have spent a significant amount of time teaching myself the foundational concepts.
Syracuse University College of Law has nominated Rebekah Gil L’26 and Maxwell Charest L’26 for the 2026 Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Awards, recognizing their exemplary work in the College’s nationally recognized experiential learning program.
Gil was nominated for the CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Award for her leadership and advocacy in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic. Charest was nominated for the CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award for his exceptional commitment to judicial externship work across local, state, and federal courts.
The Clinical Legal Education Association recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in clinical and externship education, including strong lawyering skills, professionalism, reflection, collaboration, and meaningful contributions to clients, courts, law school communities, and the broader legal profession. Syracuse Law’s 2026 nominees reflect the depth and strength of the College’s commitment to preparing practice-ready graduates through hands-on legal education.
“Syracuse Law’s clinics and externship programs give students the opportunity to step into real legal roles, serve real clients and communities, and develop the judgment, professionalism, and confidence they will need as lawyers,” said Professor Beth Kubala, Executive Director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education. “Rebekah and Max represent the very best of that mission. Their work reflects not only individual excellence, but also the power of experiential learning to advance justice.”
Rebekah Gil: Leadership and Client-Centered Advocacy in the Veterans Legal Clinic
Rebekah Gil was nominated for the CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership, initiative, and commitment to client-centered advocacy as a Veterans Legal Clinic II student.
During the Fall 2025 semester, Gil took on a pivotal leadership role in preparing a team of 10 new Veterans Legal Clinic I students for a complex Board of Veterans’ Appeals hearing on behalf of an Army veteran. The case involved five separate and highly technical physical conditions on appeal, requiring careful legal analysis, coordination, and strategic preparation.
Gil organized the student team into smaller working groups, assigning each pair of students responsibility for a specific medical condition. She guided them through relevant provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations, helped them analyze diagnostic codes, assess potential disability ratings, and identify the evidence needed to support increased ratings. She also worked closely with each team to develop thoughtful, targeted questions for the veteran to strengthen the evidentiary record.
Beyond managing the legal preparation, Gil ensured that both the student attorneys and the client were ready for the hearing. She conducted moot sessions, refined arguments, and ultimately helped lead the hearing with professionalism, confidence, and legal acumen well beyond what is expected of a law student.
The Administrative Law Judge remarked on the team’s exceptional preparation, and the veteran expressed deep gratitude for the thorough and compassionate representation. While a decision remains pending, the quality of advocacy delivered was exemplary, due in large part to Gil’s leadership and dedication.
Her nomination reflects the core values of clinical legal education: rigorous preparation, collaboration, professional judgment, and service to clients whose legal matters have profound personal significance.
Maxwell Charest: Advancing Justice Through Judicial Externships
Maxwell Charest was nominated for the CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award in recognition of his exceptional commitment to judicial externship work and his deliberate preparation for a career serving the administration of justice.
During his time at Syracuse Law, Charest completed three distinct judicial externships, each selected to deepen his understanding of the judicial process and prepare him for future work as a judicial law clerk.
He began in Fall 2024 with the Honorable Melinda H. McGunnigle, where he developed foundational judicial skills in criminal law at the county court level. In Spring 2025, he expanded his experience through an externship with the Honorable Richard Latin of the New York State Supreme Court, Queens County. Most recently, in Spring 2026, Charest completed a federal judicial externship with Magistrate Judge Mitchell Katz in the Northern District of New York.
Through these placements, Charest demonstrated extraordinary dedication to experiential learning, public service, and the careful work of courts. His progression from local to state to federal court reflects thoughtful career planning and a sustained commitment to judicial service.
Charest’s fieldwork supported the efficient administration of justice, contributed to the fair adjudication of cases, and served litigants who depend on the judicial system. His completion of three prestigious judicial externships exemplifies the professionalism, discipline, and reflective practice that the CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award is designed to recognize.
Syracuse Law’s Commitment to Experiential Learning
Syracuse Law’s nomination of Gil and Charest underscores the College’s longstanding strength in experiential legal education. Through its in-house clinics, externship placements, pro bono opportunities, and skills-based coursework, Syracuse Law students engage directly with clients, courts, agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community partners while developing the habits of professional judgment and ethical lawyering.
The College’s clinical program includes seven in-house clinics serving clients and communities across a wide range of practice areas. Its externship program connects students with meaningful field placements in judicial chambers, government offices, nonprofit organizations, and other legal settings where students can apply classroom learning in real-world environments under close supervision.
Together, these programs reflect Syracuse Law’s commitment to graduating lawyers who are prepared not only to enter the profession, but to lead with skill, integrity, and purpose.
Gil and Charest’s nominations for the 2026 CLEA Outstanding Student Awards recognize two students whose work exemplifies the highest ideals of experiential legal education: service, preparation, reflection, professionalism, and impact.
Five Students in Syracuse University College of Law’s Spring 2026 Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) have received the 2026 Student Service Award from the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium (NLSVCC) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Consortium and the field of Veterans Law.
The award was presented at the National Conference of the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium, held at Stetson University College of Law. Professor Beth Kubala, Director of the VLC, and Staff Attorneys Seth Owens L’24 and Andrew Patterson L’24 accepted the award on behalf of the Spring 2026 student attorneys.
The NLSVCC Student Service Award is presented each year to a student or students in a member law school veterans clinic who, over the course of the last year, have made outstanding contributions to the work of the Consortium. The award recognizes meaningful service to the organization and its mission, including work that advances veterans law, supports law school veterans clinics, and contributes to broader advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families.
In notifying the clinic of the award, the NLSVCC wrote: “On behalf of the NLSVCC board, I want to inform you that we will be awarding your students with the Student Service Award, which is awarded each year to a student in a member law school veterans clinic who, over the course of the last year, made outstanding contributions to the NLSVCC’s work. Your students have helped us get our blog back up and running, and we are grateful for it.”
This year, Syracuse Law’s Spring 2026 VLC students were honored for their contributions to the Veterans Law Prof Blog, a national platform for commentary and analysis on issues affecting veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Each student in the spring clinic authored a blog post addressing a timely and important issue in veterans law and policy.
The student contributors were:
Hannah Boyer L’27
Josephine Estrada-Jones L’27
Amelia Khbais L’27
Afan Mustafic L’26
Mia Sill L’27
Their articles addressed topics including Veterans Treatment Courts, homeless veteran support, the myth of “easy” discharge upgrades, and media claims of fraudulent disability claims. Together, the posts reflected the students’ careful legal analysis, commitment to public education, and dedication to elevating issues that affect veterans navigating complex legal and administrative systems.
“This award recognizes the important role law students can play in shaping public understanding of veterans law,” said Kubala. “Our Spring 2026 student attorneys brought thoughtfulness, professionalism, and purpose to their work. Their articles helped explain complex issues in a way that is accessible and meaningful, while also contributing to the national conversation about how we serve veterans and their families.”
The recognition also reflects the broader mission of the VLC, where students represent veterans and their families in matters involving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, discharge upgrades, and related legal issues. Under faculty and attorney supervision, student attorneys develop practical lawyering skills while providing client-centered representation to those who have served.
In addition to direct client advocacy, the clinic emphasizes legal scholarship, policy awareness, and service to the broader veterans law community. The Spring 2026 students’ work on the Veterans Law Prof Blog offered an opportunity to connect their clinical experience with public-facing analysis, helping readers better understand the legal challenges and policy debates that shape veterans’ access to justice.
The award is a significant national recognition of Syracuse Law students’ contributions to the NLSVCC and to the field of veterans law. It also underscores Syracuse Law’s strength in experiential legal education, where students learn by doing, serve real clients and communities, and contribute to important legal conversations beyond the classroom.
“Their work demonstrates what clinical legal education is designed to do,” said Kubala. “It prepares students to become skilled, ethical, and reflective lawyers while also making a meaningful difference for clients, communities, and the profession.”
Professor Elizabeth Kubala, Director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education and Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at Syracuse University College of Law, was recently honored with the 2026 Chancellor’s Citation Award for Excellence in the category of Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives. The award recognizes Syracuse University faculty whose work has significantly enhanced the student experience and advanced the University’s mission and goals.
In announcing the honor, Chancellor Kent Syverud recognized Kubala as a “transformative leader” who has built the College of Law’s Veterans Legal Clinic into a nationally recognized model of clinical legal education. The award also recognized the clinic’s substantial impact on both the veterans it serves and the students who participate in its mission, as well as Kubala’s mentorship of aspiring attorneys and success in securing grant funding to support the clinic’s growth.
Kubala’s accomplishments directly advance the Chancellor’s pillar of excellence to position Syracuse as the best university in the world for veterans. Through her leadership, the College of Law has strengthened its role in that mission by expanding high-impact legal services for veterans, military-connected individuals, and their families, while preparing students to serve those communities with skill, professionalism, and purpose.
Kubala joined the College of Law in 2020 as a Teaching Professor and Director of the Veterans Legal Clinic. She now serves as Director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education and Director of Veteran and Military Affairs at the College of Law, providing strategic leadership for the College of Law’s experiential learning programs.
Her work has expanded opportunities for students to engage in hands-on legal advocacy while serving veterans, military-connected individuals, and underserved populations throughout Central New York. Through the Veterans Legal Clinic, students provide legal assistance in areas including VA benefits, military administrative matters, housing instability, and outreach to homeless veterans in partnership with the Syracuse VA Medical Center Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program.
Kubala’s leadership and advocacy have earned statewide and national recognition. In 2024, she was named the New York State Bar Association Veterans Advocate of the Year, and in 2025 she was selected as one of Syracuse University’s representatives to the ACC Academic Leaders Network.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Kubala earned a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering before serving as an Army Judge Advocate. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School.
“Beth exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose. Through her vision and dedication, the Veterans Legal Clinic has become a nationally recognized model of clinical legal education, one that serves our students and our veterans in equal measure. I’m deeply proud of everything she has built here, and I’m grateful that the University has recognized her with this honor,” said Dean Terence Lau L’98.
The Chancellor’s Citation Award was presented during Syracuse University’s One University Awards Ceremony at Hendricks Chapel. The annual ceremony recognizes faculty and staff whose scholarship, leadership, service, and dedication have made a meaningful impact across the University community.
Teaching Professor Executive Director of Clinical Education Director of Veteran and Military Affairs, College of Law Executive Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic
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.”
