| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
MARCH 6, 2024 | | |
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Greetings,
It’s quieter than usual here on campus this week as students are enjoying a well-deserved Spring Break.
But not so many weeks ago, campus was buzzing with the activity of a record-breaking year of the well-known January in Tucson (“JIT”) program. Over the course of three weeks, JIT participants heard from an impressive lineup of experts in Indigenous governance and Indigenous rights. And plans are already underway for the 14th JIT session in 2025.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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January in Tucson Breaks Records for Second Year Running | |
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2024 was another record breaking year for January in Tucson.
In 2023, a record 116 students in total registered for the accelerated, master-level courses offered every January by University of Arizona’s Indigenous Governance Program (“IGP”), topping triple digits for the first time ever.
That record is history. 2024 saw yet another surge in demand and an accompanying boost in engagement and enthusiasm from those in attendance. This year JIT welcomed 159 students – 37 percent more than the record set the previous year.
The JIT program, which is managed as a partnership between the Native Nations Institute and the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, offers University of Arizona students the chance to earn up to 12 graduate credits over the course of just three weeks. Non-students can earn a Continuing Education Certificate in Indigenous Governance during the program and CLE credits are available to legal professionals who attend.
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JIT by the Numbers
Students earned a total of 307 credits in 16 courses over the course of the three-week program in 2024.
This year’s student cohort included:
- 159 registrants
- 96 enrolled Tribal members
- 80 individual Tribes and Native Nations represented
- 19 Tribal professionals
- 58 graduate and doctoral students
- 18 University of Arizona students
The 2024 JIT faculty saw a handful of new additions and was equally diverse, featuring:
- 25 individual expert instructors
- 15 enrolled Tribal members
- 16 Tribes and Native Nations represented
- 9 University of Arizona faculty members, staff members and researchers
- 5 international guest instructors
Taken as a whole, 2024 JIT faculty and students included representatives of at least 25 non-governmental organizations, 28 colleges and universities and 29 government agencies.
“January in Tucson is intense, but I love it,” said JIT participant Crystal Cavalier-Keck (Saponi Nation). “Networking and meeting people from different nations gives me perspective on what others are doing ... in their communities so I can bring that back to my community.”
See here for the full story.
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Arizona Law Black Law Students Association Hosts Black History Month Events in February | |
Throughout the month of February, the University of Arizona Law Black Law Students Association (“BLSA”) hosted a variety of events. We are pleased to share photo highlights from the memorable, informative and entertaining happenings, along with reflections from BLSA leadership. | |
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Breaking Barriers Fireside Chat: Paving the Way for Black Women in Law Firm Ownership with Tamara Mulembo and Lauren McAlpin Miller
BLSA kicked off the month’s events on February 7 with Tamara Mulembo (’05) and Lauren McAlpin Miller, who both founded their own law firms. Tamara and Lauren shared their experiences and provided valuable advice for aspiring Black women in the legal field.
“I was deeply moved by the insightful and heartfelt sharing of Tamara Mulembo and Lauren McAlpin Miller’s personal journeys to law firm ownership. Having guest speakers like Tamara and Lauren is vital for our community; they represent real-life examples of success and inspire us to aim higher, break barriers and own our narratives.” – BLSA Communications Chair Davina Wizzard (2L)
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Turning Pages Together: BLSA and the Short Story Club
On February 14, BLSA partnered with the Arizona Law Short Story Club to feature and discuss works of Black authors: Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” and ZZ Packer’s “Brownies.”
“I believe that highlighting the work of Black authors should be a regular practice, and this event provided an excellent opportunity for students and professors to delve deeper into the meaning behind each author’s work. I thoroughly enjoyed this event and am looking forward to continuing the conversation of Black authors’ literature.” – BLSA Vice President Mattie King (2L, BA/BS ’20, MLS ’21)
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African American Youth Heritage Day at Pima Community College
University of Arizona Law BLSA secretary Tianna Williams (2L) gave her presentation “So, you want to be a lawyer” at the 14th annual African American Youth Heritage Day at Pima Community College.
“This opportunity was a fulfilling moment to not only speak with students interested in law but to also give them tips on how to get there and what to expect.” – Tianna Williams
If/When/How Trivia Night featuring BLSA
On February 28, BLSA collaborated with the University of Arizona Law’s If/When/How club to host a trivia night featuring questions about Black history.
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Art After Dark at BLAC
BLSA made the most of Leap Day at the Blue Lotus Art Collective (“BLAC”), a nonprofit gallery space dedicated to supporting and uplifting Black artists. The event, “Art After Dark,” provided an opportunity for law students, their families, friends and community members to spend an evening appreciating the unique artwork on display at the BLAC Gallery and forging connections with each other.
“I believe UArizona BLSA has found a space where, as law students, we can truly celebrate the richness of diversity within Black culture. The Blue Lotus Art Collective Gallery serves as an incredible platform to showcase the beauty of Black Art and our collective history, bridging the past to the present.” – BLSA President Troi Madison Newman (2L)
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One Month Away: Law Alumni Weekend in Tucson | |
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The first-ever Law Alumni Weekend coming up on April 5-6, 2024 will feature many opportunities for all alumni to connect with classmates and friends. Learn more about all of the events at our Law Alumni Weekend page.
Highlighted event: All alumni in class years ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 are invited to the Arizona Law All-Class Reunion Celebration on Friday April 5, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Culinary Dropout. We hope you will come and connect with alumni in your class and others.
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See You Next Week in Las Vegas?
Men’s Pac12 Basketball Tournament, March 13-16, 2024
We will be in Las Vegas next week cheering on the Wildcats at the final Pac12 Tournament. Will you be there? Let us know and we’ll be sure to invite you to a special event we’re planning.
Best of luck to the women’s basketball team as they open the tournament today in Las Vegas against the Washington Huskies.
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Congratulations to Double Wildcat Nazune Menka!
Seattle University School of Law recently announced that Nazune Menka (MS ’14, JD ’18) has been hired as the faculty director of its Center for Indian Law & Policy. When she takes the position July 1, she will be the first Alaska Native faculty member at Seattle U Law.
A 2018 University of Arizona Law JD graduate with a certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy, Nazune is currently the executive director of the Center for Indigenous Law & Justice at the University of California Berkeley School of Law.
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Do You Have News?
Your success is the college’s success and we want to celebrate with you! If you have landed a new job, received an award or recognition, stepped into a leadership role or have good news in general, let us know.
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We see the impact of our exceptional Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program every day, at our College, around campus and far beyond.
The vibrant thirteenth January in Tucson program, in partnership with the Native Nations Institute, is illustrative of that fact. As is the success of our NNALSA Moot Court Team. And Rob Williams’ incisive public commentary. Indeed, it is hard to fully fathom the impact of our IPLP alumni in academia, government, practice and the non-profit world, embodied in news of the appointment of Nazune Menka at Seattle University School of Law.
We also celebrate the contributions of BLSA to the LawCat community, not only during Black History Month but throughout the year.
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