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Dear alumni and friends:

We had terrific weather for the Reunion we celebrated with Classes ending in 3 or 8 on Nov. 3 and 4. More than 480 Law alumni and friends attended the festivities. Activities included "Back to the Classroom" presentations with Professors Mike Vandenbergh and Rebecca Allensworth, tours of our building, the All-Classes reception, an update on our school, hearing current students talk about their VLS experience, and class parties. I want to especially congratulate members of the Class of 1973 and their reunion chairs John Arterberry and John Bryant, who were celebrating their 50th Reunion. I'd also like to thank all of our dedicated Reunion Committee volunteers, student ambassadors, and gracious class party hosts who worked tirelessly to make this Reunion special. Finally, I deeply appreciate members of our Board of Advisors who met with us all day Nov. 3 and provided valuable feedback on our admissions, employment, giving, and communications programs.

We have just inducted 20 members of the Class of 2023 into the Vanderbilt Chapter of the Order of the Coif, and I want to congratulate them on this signficant accomplishment and invite you to do the same.

Yesterday, I announced the establishment of the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy, a new criminal justice policy hub led by founding director Alissa Marque Heydari. This project's goal is to improve individual and collective outcomes in the criminal justice system, and I am exicted about its potential and the learning opportunities it will afford our students.

If you have visited the law school within the past year, you've noticed our building is under renovation. This spring, we will compete the first of two phases of construction, including updates and upgrades to our Admissions and Dean's suites, faculty offices, and the Vanderbilt Clinic, which has expanded its offerings significantly since its space was initially designed. Once the current plan is completed next summer, we will gain additional faculty offices and other essential upgrades. If you would like to help support these improvements and updates to our building, please contact Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Clay Cline.

In this season of thanksgiving, I am truly grateful for your engagement with the VLS community and interest in our Law School. Please make a point of visiting us whenever you are in Nashville.

Sincerely yours,

Chris Guthrie
Dean and John Wade-Kent Syverud Professor of Law

Thanks to Our Reunion Class Chairs!

1973: John Arterberry & John Bryant
1978: Jim Cuminale & Brooke Pendleton
1983: Mary Lou Fry & Kurt Gleeson
1988: Darby Dickerson, Joe Beachboard, Bennett Ross, & Bill Senhauser
1993: Jessie Hershinger Zeigler & Michael Shulman

1998: Liz & Owen Donley & Meredith Griffith (BA'94)

2003: Catherine Corless, Gerard Stranch, Nick Goodling, & Ashley Palermo

2008: David Byeff & Nesrin & Scott Tift

2013: Emilie Winckel Hamilton & Ana Valisa Berber Thayer

2018: Shundra Manning (BA'15) & Alana Seixas

Reunion Committee Members, Party Hosts & Student Ambassadors

Vanderbilt Launches New AI Lab

A new AI Lab co-directed by Cat Moon '98 (BA'92) and Mark Williams will explore how artificial intelligence intersects with the delivery of legal services and access to justice. The lab will train students to navigate an AI-driven landscape and explore ethical application of AI technology in legal practice. Read more.

SAG-AFTRA Counsel Sarah Fowler '08 Discusses Hollywood Actors Strike

Fowler explained why a stunning 97 percent of members of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists voted to authorize a strike in her Nov. 2 talk, sponsored by the Labor and Employment Law Society. Fowler is a Senior Deputy Counsel for the union and was the lead attorney handling the union's strike, which ended Nov. 9.

Emma Harrison '24 Named to AALS Section on Pro Bono and to the Access to Justice Honor Roll

Harrison led Pro Bono Spring Break teams in 2022 and 2023 and is currently spearheading a jail clinic in which students are assisting inmates with re-entry, employment, housing, and wills. She was nominated for the honors by Assistant Dean for Public Interest Beth Cruz '10. Read more.

Ganesh Sitaraman's New Book Addresses Why Flying Is Miserable

Airline deregulation has led to little competition in the industry, frustrations such as junk fees, delays, and cancellations, and the need for taxpayer bailouts. Sitaraman discussed his newly released book, Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It, with VLS colleague Morgan Ricks at VLS this month. Read more.

Donors Invited to Contribute to the David Williams II Scholarship Fund

The David Williams II Scholarship has been created at the Law School to recognize Vice Chancellor Williams' contributions as a member of the Law faculty and his legacy as Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director of Vanderbilt University.

Donors are invited to contribute to this new scholarship's endowment fund.

To learn more about the scholarship and David Williams' legacy, click here.

International Arbitrator Philippe Sands Discusses Hamas / Israel War and the Limits of Diplomacy

A practicing barrister in the United Kingdom who represents clients before the International Court of Justice, Sands' informal talk at VLS on Nov. 7 was organized by International Legal Studies Program Director Mike Newton. He is Vanderbilt University's 2023-24 Holocaust Memorial Lecturer and the author of a prize-winning book, East West Street: On the Origins of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide.