A Message from the Dean

Welcome to the summer edition of our College of Law newsletter. As we conclude another remarkable academic year and the 12th class of graduates, I'm proud to celebrate our achievements and especially honor our newest alumni: the Class of 2025.

To our most recent graduates: Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone. As you join the ranks of our accomplished alumni, remember that you carry forward our tradition of excellence. Our successes are evidenced by our continual growth and our continuing achievement in bar pass rates in the state of Tennessee and beyond year after year. 

Our recent successes extend beyond graduation. This spring, our Belmont Journal hosted a successful symposium exploring emerging health care legal challenges, furthering our tradition of engaging with complex issues at the intersection of law and society.

By developing innovative career development strategies, our Career Services team achieved an impressive 97% placement rate. This accomplishment confirms the effectiveness of the services provided to our students.

We're also pleased that Professor Lucian Dervan received a distinguished award from the American Bar Association for his pioneering work in plea bargaining reform. 

As you explore this newsletter, you'll discover how our community continues to make significant impacts in the legal profession and how our programs evolve to meet changing needs. 

We remain dedicated to preparing practice-ready attorneys who transform lives through their commitment to excellence and service.

All the best,

Alberto R. Gonzales
Dean, College of Law

We proudly celebrate our newest alumni who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership and commitment to service throughout their law school journey. 

The spring Belmont Journal Law Symposium brought together experts to explore emerging legal issues in health care, reflecting our commitment to addressing complex contemporary challenges.

Professor Lucian Dervan received a distinguished award from the American Bar Association for his pioneering work in plea bargaining reform.

Jeffrey Pash, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the National Football League, recently visited campus to speak with students about sports law and his career journey.

Alumna Samantha McCaleb (’24) has been named a 2025–26 Supreme Court Fellow, an honor highlighting her legal talent and reflecting the strength of Belmont Law’s mission to prepare practice-ready attorneys who lead with integrity and purpose.

Recent Belmont Law graduate Lee Myers received the TBA Student Volunteer of the Year Award after accumulating 350 pro bono hours and 300 internship hours focused on housing justice. 

Support Our Future Legal Leaders

Your gift to the College of Law helps prepare the next generation of transformative legal professionals. Join us in shaping the future of legal education and practice.

✍️ Historic Gift: Milton and Denice Johnson made a transformative $30M investment in Belmont's future

✍️ Law Alumna Victoria Gentry honored as Nashville Bar Journal Contributor of the Year

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