IN THIS COMMENCEMENT ISSUE...- CSU C|M|LAW Class of 2021 Musical Tribute
- Commencement Weekend Photo Gallery
- 2021 Dean’s Learn Law. Live Justice. Award Recipient Renee Stromski
- 2021 Class Valedictorian Caitlin Steiner
- 2020-21 SBA President Hannah Kraus
- Youngest Ever CSU C|M|LAW Graduate Catelyn Cook
- Hon. Marcia Fudge '83 Delivered 2021 Commencement Address
- Professor Oh and Jamie Gay Selected for SBA Awards
- Professors Cherry and Kerber Named Dean's Teachers
- Robert Eckman Named Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year
- STARLaw Blog Featured in Feedspot Top 5 Space Law Blogs
- Hire C|M|LAW Graduate Profile: Lynn Kernya
- CMLAA News & Events
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CSU C|M|LAW Class of 2021 Musical Tribute
A special musical tribute for our 2021 graduates was produced featuring Professor Angelin Chang, a Grammy Award winner, and 3L student Ashley Nemeh, an accomplished singer/songwriter.
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Commencement Weekend Photo Gallery
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Dean’s Learn Law. Live Justice. Award Recipient Renee Stromski
Renee Stromski ’21 has a passion for serving others that she has demonstrated throughout her time in law school, both on campus and throughout the community. For her outstanding work using her legal education as a force for good that embodies the CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law mission of “Learn Law. Live Justice.”, Renee was selected by Dean Lee Fisher as the 2021 recipient of the Dean’s Learn Law. Live Justice. Award.
Each year, a graduating student receives the Dean’s Learn Law. Live Justice. Award by not only achieving academic success, but also by demonstrating what it means to live justice ─ being committed to making clients’ lives better and the community stronger. Renee was nominated for the award by members of the CSU C|M|LAW faculty and staff.
“I am so thrilled to be named the Learn Law. Live Justice. award recipient and am extremely honored to be joining a group of distinguished alumni that have also received this award,” said Stromski. “’Living Justice’ can mean a lot of different things, but I see it as being open. It means keeping your ears and eyes open for signs of injustice within the community. It means keeping your mind open to conflicting opinions and learning new ideas. It means keeping your research tabs and books open to learning more about the country’s history of systemic racism and oppression of minority communities. Most of all, I believe it means keeping your heart open to accepting others and practicing compassion and empathy.”
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2021 Class Valedictorian Caitlin Steiner
Caitlin Steiner’s only goal entering law school at CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law was to do the best she could academically in order to give herself the best possible start to her legal career. The best she could do resulted in Caitlin graduating from CSU C|M|LAW as valedictorian of the Class of 2021, an honor she considers a “happy surprise.”
“Going into law school I never would have thought (being class valedictorian) was a possibility, so it’s a really special way to end my law school career,” Steiner said.
This was not the first time Caitlin is leaving the downtown Cleveland campus with honors. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology in 2012, where she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta sociology honors society and was awarded the Department of Sociology and Criminology Distinguished Student Award.
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2020-21 SBA President Hannah Kraus
After representing her classmates the past year as Student Bar Association President, Hannah Kraus offers the following message to her fellow Class of 2021 classmates: “It truly feels like just yesterday that we began law school, but somehow it’s been three years. Our class has had such a unique and challenging law school experience, with a global pandemic transforming our lives about halfway through our law school careers. Despite the ordinary stress of law school combined with the unprecedented obstacles we faced, we persevered. I am honored and privileged to have graduated alongside each and every one of you, and am confident that we will stay true to our motto of Learn Law. Live Justice. throughout our legal careers. Congratulations class of 2021, we did it!
Hannah will begin her legal career as an Associate at Kohrman Jackson & Krantz in their Cleveland office following the Bar examination.
Note: This profile story on Hannah was originally published in Summer 2020.
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Youngest Ever CSU C|M|LAW Graduate Catelyn Cook
At 20 years old, Catelyn Cook became the youngest graduate in CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s history in December 2020. Following her graduation, she enrolled in CSU’s School Counseling Master’s Program, to help teenagers navigate their experiences while prioritizing mental health needs.
As an undergraduate student in CSU’s Mandel Honors College, Catelyn completed her bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Political Science in a year and a half through 18 credit hour semesters and summer classes. She enrolled in Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at the age of 18 in August 2018 and received her J.D. in two and a half years.
“I am happy to serve as an example of both what women and young students can accomplish when they believe in themselves and reach for the stars,” Cook explained. “The most important thing I’ve learned is that with enough motivation and confidence, you can do anything you set your mind to, even if others are in doubt.”
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Secretary Marcia Fudge '83 Delivered 2021 Commencement Address
CSU C|M|LAW alumna and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge ’83 spoke about the transformational experience she had at Cleveland-Marshall at the May 15 Commencement Ceremony. Full video of the ceremony is available on the CSU Facebook Page.
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Professor Oh and Jamie Gay Selected for SBA Awards
Professor of Law Reginald Oh and Assistant Director, Student and Career Services Jaime Gay were named the Student Bar Association Faculty & Staff Members of the Year respectively.
As one his students noted, “Professor Oh is by far the best educator I have had at Cleveland-Marshall. He moves through the material at a reasonable pace, facilitates and encourages open dialogue, is always cheerful and passionate about the subject matter, and makes the big picture of the lectures clear."
As a student wrote, “I wanted to thank Jamie for taking so much time helping me these past few months. Coming from a huge school like Ohio State, I am very used to taking on the job search alone without any real help from advisors. I’m so appreciative that you helped me every step of way.”
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Professors Cherry and Kerber Named Dean's Teachers
Professor of Law April Cherry and Legal Writing Professor of Law Sandra Kerber have been selected by Dean Lee Fisher as the Dean’s Teachers for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years.
Every two years the Dean selects 1-2 members of our outstanding faculty for this distinction who have demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching.
Both professors are beloved by their students and they serve as models for effective, innovative teaching.
As one of her students notes, Professor Cherry is “a phenomenal advocate for the law school's mission, Learn Law, Live Justice. Throughout the semester, she has integrated current issues of race and social justice into our property curriculum, showing how interconnected racial discrimination and property law is in our country's history.”
As one of her students notes about Professor Kerber, “She has taught us moral and ethical lessons, etiquette standards regarding job interviews and courtroom appearances, and has invited numerous guest speakers to our class from different areas of law to speak about their careers and inspire us.”
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Robert Eckman Named Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year
Adjunct Professor Robert Eckman was named CSU C|M|LAW's Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. Eckman teaches as part of the Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection and played a central role in creating our Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Certificate program.
"I’d like to thank Dean Lee Fisher, Director Brian Ray, the selection committee and CSU C|M|LAW for this amazing honor" said Eckman. "To be afforded the opportunity to share my knowledge of cyber security with future lawyers and those in the legal field is my privilege. To be recognized in this way speaks to the dedication and educational focus of all adjuncts at CSU Cleveland-Marshall and I humbly accept this award on their behalf."
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STARLaw Blog Featured in Feedspot Top 5 Space Law Blogs
STARLaw Blog, the blog of CSU C|M|LAW's Global Space Law Center, directed by Professor Mark Sundahl, was ranked second among space law blogs by Feedspot. Kristina Schiavone ’21 is the blog's Editor-in-Chief.
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Hire C|M|LAW Graduate Profile
Our class of 2021 graduates are actively engaged in their permanent job search, and you can help! To connect with any of our talented Class of 2021 graduates, please contact Assistant Dean for Student and Career Services Sarah Beznoska, at s.beznoska@csuohio.edu.
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Lynn Kernya
Lynn Kernya graduated this month with her J.D. and a concentration in Labor and Employment Law. She is a recipient of the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. Although Lynn recently accepted a role with Nesco Resource in the Human Resource and Compliance department, she is open to networking with Alumni and the legal community.
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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021 | 12:00 P.M. ANNUAL RECOGNITION LUNCHEON
The CMLAA will host its 2021 Annual Recognition Luncheon (ARL) on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Noon as a virtual celebration! The 2021 ARL will honor the CMLAA's 2020 and 2021 Alumni of the Year.
2021 Alumni of the Year: Honorable Michelle L. Paris '84, Judge, Bedford Municipal Court Chief Magistrate Gregory F. Clifford '80, Cleveland Municipal Court
2020 Alumni of the Year: Tim L. Collins '85, Principal, Thrasher Dinsmore Dolan Justice Michael P. Donnelly '92, Ohio Supreme Court Justice
Interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2021 Annual Recognition Luncheon? Visit give.classy.org/2021-arl for additional information and to purchase a sponsorship, viewing ticket or to make a donation.
Net proceeds benefit scholarship funds for Cleveland-Marshall law students.
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CMLAA CLE On-Demand Webinars On-demand webinars available virtually via Zoom recording.
Procedural Aspects of Landlord/Tenant Law 2.0 General Credit CLE Hours
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2020 Ethics Seminar with Kegler Brown 2.75 Professional Conduct CLE Hours Pending
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Personal Injury: PI in a Box 3.0 General Credit CLE Hours Pending
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Civil, Criminal and Traffic Rules Update: What You Need to Know in 2021 2.0 General Credit Hours and 1.0 Professional Conduct Credit Hour
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