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Dear alumni and friends:

This August, we welcomed 173 students to the J.D. Class of 2028, 17 students to the LL.M Class of 2026, and 46 students to the Master of Legal Studies program. Incoming 1L students hail from 36 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and South Korea, while incoming LL.M. students represent 8 foreign nations. Orientation week featured the one-week course, The Life of the Law, led this year by Lisa Bressman and Yesha Yadav, and programming designed to help the students connect with resource centers around the school and each other. To foster stronger connections between students from different backgrounds, we also introduced a new aspect to the student experience: student houses. You can read more about them below.

We have also announced four new additions to our faculty:

Jeffrey Bellin, Professor of Law
Jeff Gordon, Assistant Professor of Law
Anne-Marie Moyes '02, Inaugural Director of the Gail Anderson Cañizares Innocence Clinic, Associate Clinical Professor of Law
David Stein, Assistant Professor of Law

I’m excited to see the unique and impactful contributions they will no doubt make to our Law School as teachers, scholars, and advocates. Keep reading to learn more about them.

There is a lot to be excited for in the year ahead and many opportunities to connect. Stay tuned to this monthly newsletter and our website to connect with the Law School community.

Thank you for all you do to support our Law School.

Sincerely,

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

Dean Chris Guthrie Appoints Four New Resident Faculty Members

Please help us welcome four new resident faculty members for the upcoming academic year:

Cristina Gapasin Tortal Named Dean of Admissions

Cristina Gapasin Tortal has been named the next Dean of Admissions for Vanderbilt Law School. Tortal assumes the role from Todd Morton, who is retiring this summer.

Michelle Parsons Named Assistant Dean for Career Services

Dean Chris Guthrie announced that Michelle Parsons has been named the next Assistant Dean for Career Services at Vanderbilt Law School. Parsons assumed the role from Elizabeth Workman, who retired this summer.

Vanderbilt Law Orientation Introduces Houses

Newly created Vanderbilt Houses will group students into partner houses that share the same class schedule. This program is designed to foster a stronger sense of community at VLS. Each incoming 1L and LLM student has been placed into a VLS House. The houses will host a variety of programs and events, as well as community-wide events that brings all houses together.

David Shin ’03 Joins VAILL as Visiting Scholar and Advisor

David is Vice President of Legal – Technology Transformation & Innovation at HCA Healthcare, where he supports HCA’s transformation of patient care and operations through AI.

Vanderbilt Law Students and Graduates Secured 43 Clerkships in the 2024-25 Academic Year

Michael Bressman (BA'89), Director of Vanderbilt Law School’s Clerkship Program, has announced that 40 Vanderbilt Law students and recent graduates secured 43 clerkships during the 2024-25 academic year, which extended from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

74 Vanderbilt Law Students Intern with Government and Non-Profit Legal Employers This Summer

This summer, 74 Vanderbilt Law students worked for legal employers in 20 states and Washington, D.C. The students receive stipend support to help defray their living expenses or earn course credit for their unpaid legal work with a variety of government and nonprofit legal employers.

Reunion Weekend

The fall is around the corner, and so is the Law School Reunion! It will be held on November 7-8 for all classes ending in 0 and 5. Our many alumni volunteers are working hard, and it’ll be a fun weekend in Nashville! For more information, the schedule of events, or to register, visit the Reunion website.

If you have any questions, email reunion.vuls@vanderbilt.edu or call the Alumni Office at 615.322.2606. See you in November!

Daring to Lead: Building Winning Teams | Chicago | September 29, 2025
- 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm CT| Museum of Contemporary Art
- Featuring Tim Corbin and Candice Storey Lee & Spotlighting Vandy United
- Space is limited, and registration is required

Daring to Grow: Leading through Dialogue | New York | October 30, 2025
- 6:00 om - 9:00 pm ET | Vanderbilt University - New York City
- Featuring Chancellor Diermeier and Willie Geist, BA’97 & Spotlighting the NYC campus and Dialogue Vanderbilt
- Space is limited, and registration is required