| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
April 20, 2022 | | |
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Greetings,
This week, we honor Toni Massaro, professor and Dean Emerita. The university commemorated Toni’s contributions as a visionary and effective leader, powerful scholar, and legendary (eight times teacher-of-the-year!) teacher.
Toni and three other outstanding professors from around the university were recognized in a recent ceremony unveiling custom tiled benches in the University’s Women’s Plaza of Honor. As the many alumni who were fortunate enough to have Toni as dean or professor know, she is well deserving of accolade.
We also celebrate the Student Bar Association Barrister’s Ball, the first held since before the pandemic. Our students have come together in many ways in the past two years, and we are excited to see them gathering for a celebration.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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Dean Emerita Toni Massaro Earns Place in University Women’s Plaza of Honor |  | |
Toni Massaro, Regents Professor, Milton O. Riepe Chair in Constitutional Law Emerita, and Dean Emerita of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law was honored during a special tribute this month for her influence and impact on the university.
The event, hosted by the Agnese Nelms Haury Program, celebrated four extraordinary women from around the university: Karletta Chief, PhD (Environmental Science); Diana Liverman, PhD (Geography, Development & Environment); Sallie Marston, PhD (Geography, Development & Environment) and Toni. The gathering culminated in the unveiling of custom tiled benches in the University’s Women’s Plaza of Honor dedicated to each woman’s professional passions and personal values.
During the event, Toni’s colleagues and confidants spoke about her legacy. Suzanne Dovi, associate professor with the School of Government and Public Policy, spoke on her friendship with Toni, recounting highlights from Toni’s career. Suzanne also shared personal anecdotes demonstrating Toni’s devotion to her students, including one exemplary story in which Toni translated an entire lecture using sign language Toni had learned years before as a camp counselor after the interpreter for a deaf student failed to show up.
“[Toni] is fueled by a sense of service…her fair mindedness supports her determination to pursue justice fiercely,” said Suzanne. “Whether it’s protecting first amendment rights, finding the rational basis for gay marriage, or trying to get clean water to the Navajo. Toni doesn't want us to wring our hands and discuss the worries of the world, Toni wants us to make the world more just.”
For the full story, click here.
If you'd like to congratulate Toni, consider supporting the student organization she advises – the Justice Advocates Coalition.
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Faculty Research on the ‘Lived Experience of Immigrant Workers in Long-Term Care’ Featured at National Conference on Aging | |
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According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, 99 percent of nursing homes across the country report staffing shortages. This is due to several factors including burnout, high staff to patient ratios, lack of training, and violations of employment and labor laws. One in four nursing home aides is an immigrant, yet this population is among the most vulnerable when it comes to workers’ rights.
A collaborative project between Professors Tara Sklar and Shefali Milczarek-Desai (’01) highlights the inextricable link between immigrant workers’ rights and care for older adults.
They presented their co-authored, qualitative research study, ‘Racial Justice in Long-Term Care: Amplifying Voices of Immigrant Workers,’ at the American Society on Aging 2022 Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 12, 2022. This is the largest multidisciplinary conference on aging in the United States.
The professors’ research addresses a critical issue as demand for long-term care continues to climb, yet available labor declines. Their work is supported by a grant from the UA Hispanic Serving Institution.
The professors also presented their research on April 14 at the UA Hispanic Serving Institution Webinar Series. On June 2, their work will be featured at the Annual Health Law Professors Conference of the American Society for Law, Medicine, & Ethics.
|  | Student Bar Association Hosts First Barrister’s Ball After Two-Year Hiatus |  | |
The Student Bar Association finally got to host the annual Barrister’s Ball Charity Gala after a two-year break due to COVID. Attendees gathered at an event venue near downtown Tucson in the Lost Barrio district for a night full of dancing, laughter, and community.
The 2019–2020 SBA Executive Board thoughtfully planned this event at the same venue back in 2020, and their work was instrumental to this year’s Ball. Thanks to SBA’s 2021–2022 Executive Programming Coordinator, Jonathan Becker, for handling all the details of the event, which raised $500 for University of Arizona Law Clinics.
“Thank you everyone for coming out to Barrister’s,” Jonathan said after the event. “I hope everyone had a great time and I thank everyone for supporting SBA and the clinics, and for making the first Barrister’s back a memorable one.”
“Barrister’s Ball is a law school staple,” said SBA President Rachel Romaniuk. “It’s a dedicated time to come together as a community and have fun outside of the campus setting. It’s been so cool to see how people have come together after the isolation of COVID.”
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Fundraising for the clinics wasn’t the only highlight of the Barrister’s Ball. This year’s ball also included a proposal, as 1L Dylan Clark proposed to Katey Jackson. Congratulations to the happy couple! | |
Students Attend Innocence Network Conference | |
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Four University of Arizona Law students along with Professor Jason Kreag attended the annual Innocence Network conference April 8 and 9 in Phoenix. Students Rachel Romaniuk, Jessica Wakefield, Meredith Carvell and Kevin Herndon, all of whom are involved with the University of Arizona Innocence Project, attended along with hundreds of others, including individuals impacted by wrongful conviction and their advocates.
“The Innocence Conference gave me new perspectives and reminded me why I’ve chosen to pursue a career in criminal defense, and hopefully one day innocence work,” Jessica noted. “While it was sad and even difficult to hear what exonerees have gone through and how the system and attorneys failed them, it was refreshing to hear how other attorneys changed their lives.” She said she has already used some of the advice she received at the conference in her work as a law clerk, to more effectively communicate with a client in prison.
“It was so inspirational to hear about all of the success stories various Innocence Projects have had the past couple of years and see and meet the exonerees in person,” said Kevin. “It was also a great professional development experience full of workshops led by experienced attorneys who gave helpful presentations with resources to take into my future career.”
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SBA Election Results Announced | |
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Finally, congratulations are also in order for next year’s Student Bar Association officers:
President: Sarah Gerstel
Vice President: Cameron Hamrick
Treasurer: Brittni Whitehead
Secretary: Olivia Rafferty
ABA Representative: Jay Lee
Marketing & Outreach Coordinator: Kyran Brown
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When prospective students, staff and faculty ask “what is a special reason I should come to Arizona Law,” a good answer is “Toni Massaro.” (Another answer is “saguaro cacti and javalina” – but that takes a lot more time to explain.)
My wife Chris and I came to Arizona for many reasons – Toni’s leadership, compelling vision, intellect, and personal outreach high on our list.
We have so much to celebrate; so much to be thankful for. The celebration of Toni Massaro. The celebration this Friday of our student scholarship recipients and the many alumni and other donors who make those scholarships and other support possible. The successes of our students in more settings that I can list. And we are reminded of all of this richness as we close out a more normal academic year and approach graduation.
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