Greetings,

 

On Saturday, the Class of 2015 -- our Centennial class -- will walk across the floor of McKale, receive their diplomas, and become the newest Arizona Law alumni.

 

This year, we are thrilled to host former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, U.S. Navy (Retired) and former NASA astronaut, as our commencement speakers.   Click here for the full press release.

 

The details of the ceremony and all of this year's commencement festivities celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of the Class of 2015 are outlined in the footnotes. You are welcome to join us at the graduation ceremony to hear our speakers, to celebrate these terrific students, and to welcome them into your ranks as alumni.

 

This week we feature the accomplishments and exciting new role of alumna Shannon O'Loughlin and the work of Robert Williams, E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law. 

 

Until the Footnotes,

 

Marc 

Shannon O'Loughlin ('01)

Late last month, alumna Shannon O'Loughlin ('01) was named Chief of Staff at the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Shannon will lead the day-to-day management of the Commission's operations, including compliance, finance, public affairs, and the recently created technology division.

 

Shannon, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, came to law school to prepare for just this kind of role, choosing Arizona Law because of its Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program. While a student, Shannon was active in the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA), serving as its President from 1999-2000. 

 

After law school, Shannon clerked at the Arizona Court of Appeals with Judge Daniel Barker and then joined the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey (now Squire Patton Boggs). She moved to DC in 2004, where she most recently served as the Chair of the Indian Law Practice at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith.

 

In her new role at the National Indian Gaming Commission, Shannon will provide support in implementing the Commission's priorities, which include execution of the Agency's oversight duties, maintaining the NIGC's commitment to training, technical assistance - and meaningful tribal consultation, supporting a strong regulatory workforce both at the NIGC and among its regulatory partners, and continuing to strengthen dialogue and relationships with all relevant stakeholders.

 

"Shannon brings an extremely strong policy and law background, and she understands the importance of maintaining strong Indian country and stakeholder relationships. [. . .] She has direct experience working with Indian country, federal, and private sector management teams and has been instrumental in her work with Interior's Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee." -- NIGC Chairman Jonodev Chaudhuri

 

Over the past 16 years, Shannon has developed significant legal and policy expertise in Federal Indian law, Indian Nations law and policy, and indigenous peoples international and human rights law and policy. We are proud that her launching pad was Arizona Law and our Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program. She said: 

 

"I am thrilled to be joining the Commission and to be at the NIGC at such a vibrant and exciting time. I look forward to getting reacquainted with those in Indian Gaming, as well as the thousands of on-the-ground Indian gaming regulators the NIGC works with day-in and day-out, to ensure the integrity of Indian gaming."

 

Congratulations, Shannon! We look forward to your continued success.

 

Robert Williams, E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law

While we are busy highlighting the impressive achievements of Arizona Law alumni working in Indian Law, it is only fitting to also highlight the work of Professor Rob Williams. Rob co-chairs the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program (IPLP) and is a passionate advocate for his students.


Rob takes a personal interest in every student that enters the IPLP program. A staunch advocate for diversity and a true innovator in education, he works tirelessly to create programs and opportunities to raise the awareness of Native students regarding career opportunities in law and to create entry points that take into account the realities of Native students.    

 

Rob is also a prolific author and speaker on the topic of Native people and policy. Recently, Rob has been featured in:  

 

  • New York Magazine, guest opinion in a cover story on President Obama's political legacy, January 2015.
  • The Edmonton Journal for speaking on involving First Nations early in planning resource projects, March 12.
  • Native America Calling radio discussion "Tribal Enrollment and Blood Quantum," May 6.
  • The Native Times reporting on Williams' keynote address to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation District Court's conference Doing Business in Indian Country, April 30. 

 

Williams also recently participated in a panel on the revision of the casebook on Federal Indian Law on which he is a co-author.  

 

Rob's work is perhaps best illustrated by the allegiance of his former students and their continued success. I know Rob takes pride in the accomplishments of his former students such as Shannon O'Loughlin. Recently, alumnus Gabe Galanda [see Wildcat Wednesday -- Letter of the Law of February 4, 2015] published an article in the Arizona Law Review, "Curing the Tribal Disenrollment Epidemic: In Search of a Remedy" with co-author and co-alumnus Ryan D. Dreveskracht '09. 


 

When asked about his work, Gabe had this to say:

 

"During law school, my professors Rob Williams and Bob Hershey mentored me as I began to make my journey toward tribal law."

 

As I meet with alumni from around the country, I can tell you, Gabe's words reflect the feelings of generations of IPLP alumni, and all of our alumni who benefit from having the best indigenous peoples and Indian law and policy program in the world and the extraordinary scholars who lead it.  

 

To learn more about Gabe's work and tribal disenrollment click here.     

 

Centennial Snapshot - Professor Art Andrews

This week, with tax time well behind us, we take a moment to look back at the arrival of one of the College's longtime tax law faculty members, Professor Art Andrews, and continue our unofficial sports theme.  

 

Art arrived in the fall of 1968 and quickly made an impact on the College through his teaching, institutional service, and humor. The Arizona Advocate student newspaper described the new professor's professional activities and also noted that he was a Big Ten tennis champ while a student at The University of Iowa.  

  

The new professor.

Source: Arizona Advocate,  

May 1968

A 1972 student article on a law school tennis tournament illustrates Art's particular brand of humor, describing how he and his doubles partner, third year student Marv Borodkin, blew away the competition. Art claimed several pre-existing injuries would hamper his performance:   

 

"On the day of the tournament Andrews was insisting that his opponents spot him two games per set. [Student Gerald] Anderson retorted in a moment of what turned out to be misplaced confidence that he was afraid he would have to spot Andrews four games per set. However the rules committee quickly squelched all chances for handicaps and the match began.

  

What followed can only be described as one of the great all-time tennis hustles. Arthritic shoulders, tennis elbows, etc., which only minutes before were unbearable disappeared for two sets and Dean Andrews reasserted (was there ever any real doubt) his dominance over the title of number one tennis hot dog in the law school." (Arizona Advocate, staff, November 1972, p.3)

  

Off the court, Art Andrews taught tax law for over 35 years and, among many other honors, was named Outstanding Professor twice by the Student Bar Association. He continues to serve the College as Rosenstiel Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law.

  

Former students and current law school benefactors recognized Professor Andrews at his retirement reception in December 2004.

Pictured here: Larry Wilson ('72), Art Andrews, Gerald Hawley ('72), and Steve Phillips ('71).

Source: "From the Dean" Spring 2005

  

Do you have photos or memories of favorite faculty members back in the day? We would love to hear from you. Please contact Emily McGovern, Centennial Coordinator, to share your stories.  

 

FOOTNOTES

Graduation Awards Ceremony

When: Friday, May 15

Time: 4:00-5:30 pm

Where: Cracchiolo Law Library - Ground Floor

 

Please join us as we recognize the 2015 Graduation Award recipients and those who have earned a certificate at the 2015 Awards Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony is open to all. To register, please email Marissa White.

 

Graduation Celebration

When: Friday, May 15

Time 6:00 PM-8:30 pm

Where: Lewis Roca Rothgerber Lobby

 

Following the awards ceremony, we will congratulate all of our 2015 graduates by hosting an evening of celebration featuring live music, light appetizers, and beverages. Please come to celebrate with us! To register please email Bernadette Wilkinson.

 

Graduation Ceremony

When: Saturday, May 16

Time: 2:00 pm (doors open at 1:00 pm)

Where: McKale Memorial Center

 

This year, for the first time in recent memory, we will hold our commencement at McKale Memorial Center. In addition to the student speakers, our commencement speakers will be The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords, House of Representatives (Retired), and Captain Mark Kelly, U.S. Navy (Retired). We invite all alumni and friends to join us for this momentous occasion.

 

Please click here to register for the graduation ceremony!

 

Graduation Reception

When: Saturday, May 16

Time: 4:00 pm (following ceremony)

Where: Richard Jefferson Lawn (north of McKale)

 

Immediately following commencement, we will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2015 with family, friends, faculty, and staff. Again, all alumni and friends are invited to join us for this special occasion.

 

Please click here to register for the graduation reception!

 

 

 

 

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to visit with Arizona Law alumni in Reno, Nevada.   

 

L to R.  Peter Neumann, Renate Neumann, Graham Galloway, Terry Ranking,  Peter Ghishan, and me.
 

 

Peter Neumann showing me the beautiful Reno Courthouse

 


 

It is always a huge pleasure to hit the road and see alumni. The Reno group was warm, enthusiastic, and filled with great storytellers -- in other words, superb.  

 

To all of our Reno alumni who were able to join us, thank you. To those of you we missed, we look forward to seeing you on another occasion in the near future. And for those of you who haven't been to Reno lately, we found a scenic, charming, and business-savvy town enriched by thirty terrific Arizona Law alumni.

 

Warmly,

 

Marc

 

 

 

  

Marc L. Miller  

Dean & Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law
 
Shaping the next century of legal education 
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