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THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW | October 7, 2026 | | |
Greetings,
This week we recognize the fifth year of the Arizona Law Ambassadors program. These enthusiastic student LawCats represent the best of our school and serve as a public face of Arizona Law. Meeting one of our Ambassadors (which you will have a chance to do at Homecoming later this month) will spark great optimism for the future of our college and the profession.
Read on,
Jason
| | Arizona Law Ambassadors Program Enters Its Fifth Year | |
In the 2022–23 academic year, we introduced the inaugural cohort of Arizona Law Ambassadors, a select group of JD students chosen to represent the University of Arizona Law student body and serve as student leaders to prospective students and families, alumni and the legal community.
Now in its fifth year, the program welcomed 15 new Ambassadors this fall to help serve as the face of the College of Law with new students, on social media and throughout the community. To mark half a decade, current and former Ambassadors will gather for a special event over Homecoming Weekend.
As more Ambassador alumni establish themselves in the profession, former Ambassadors have remained connected to the program. Recently, Arizona Supreme Court Justice James Beene (’91) visited campus and met with students. Joining him were two former Ambassadors, Audrey Conant (’26) and Alex Nieminen (’26), who now clerk for the justice. Current Ambassadors had an extra opportunity to speak with Justice Beene and his clerks (pictured above) during the visit.
“These students continue to be one of the best parts of my job,” says Director of Admissions Ruben Fierros, who leads the Arizona Law Ambassadors program. “They are representative of some of the most involved students and still find time to give back and share insights about their law school experience. If you haven’t met these leaders, please do so! They are dynamic, fun and fierce advocates for our community.”
The newest Ambassadors join 14 other current Ambassadors, now in their second year with the program. The new cohort comes from seven states and one Canadian province, along with nine undergraduate institutions.
| | Homecoming is just around the corner and the Arizona Law Ambassadors will be there! If you see them on campus at Homecoming or another event, please say hello. Below, meet the latest students to join the group. | |
Kacey Andreacola ’28
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Undergrad: University of Arizona
What is one of your favorite experiences while at Arizona Law?
The Arizona Supreme Court held oral arguments at Arizona Law. I found it so engaging and loved the opportunity to attend without having to drive to Phoenix. It helped some of the nebulous class topics come to life for me and was very inspiring.
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Andre Bengtson ’28
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University
What has been one of your most memorable classes at Arizona Law?
Property with Professor Xiaoqian Hu was one of the most challenging and rewarding classes I have taken. She is probably the smartest person I have ever met, and she brought that knowledge to class every day.
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Stephanie Clinch ’28
Hometown: Douglas, AZ
Undergrad: University of Arizona
What is one thing every student should experience at Arizona Law?
One thing every student should experience at Arizona Law is Barrister’s Ball, which is an end-of-year celebration for all law school students. You get to relax for an evening and commemorate your first year of law school!
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Mitch Conroy ’28
Hometown: Washington Crossing, PA
Undergrad: University of Arizona
What is one thing every student should experience at Arizona Law?
Every student should go to the SBA picnic at the beginning of the year! I know it can seem a little intimidating because you are still getting to know your fellow students, but the SBA picnic was so much fun! It is a great opportunity to get to know your classmates and professors outside of class.
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Joey Deignan ’28
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
The people. This is not a dog-on-dog kind of school, and UA prioritizes the wellness and safety of our students. Prepare yourself—once you become a Wildcat, you’ll never go back!
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Caden Fankhauser ’28
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergrad: University of Arizona
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
I went to U of A for undergrad and fell in love with the college and the landscape of Arizona. I also love the culture at our law school. Everybody genuinely wants to see you succeed, and the smaller size allows you to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships with classmates and faculty.
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Cal Gozdzik ’27
Hometown: Pickering, ON, Canada
Undergrad: University of Toronto
What is one thing every student should experience at Arizona Law?
Trivia Night hands down. The Student Bar Association hosts one about each semester and it’s one of the greatest and most fun experiences at the law school. I highly recommend coming by!
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Shonell King ’28
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Undergrad: University of Arizona
What is one of your favorite experiences while at Arizona Law?
Being a part of the First Circuit Program has been very rewarding because it has provided me with amazing support, resources and opportunities that have enriched my experiences, perspective and network building.
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Brooke Myers ’28
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Undergrad: Auburn University
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
I chose Arizona Law because I felt like it was a place where I could find my people and it is an incredible school.
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Abby Ryan ’28
Hometown: Provo, UT
Undergrad: Brigham Young University
What has been one of your most memorable classes at Arizona Law?
I loved Torts with Professor Chris Griffin and Immigration Law with Professor Eunice Lee. Really interesting material, and both professors are kind and engaging.
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Tanner Schmidt ’28
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Undergrad: University of Arizona
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
I choose Arizona Law because Tucson is, and always will be, my home. Plus, its small size makes for a tight-knit community where relationships matter.
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Matthew Schreier ’28
Hometown: Madison, NJ
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin
What is one thing every student should experience at Arizona Law?
Sand volleyball! It is super fun and a great way to destress from school.
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Joseph Sullivan ’28
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Undergrad: University of Oklahoma
Name a favorite place in Tucson visitors should go to.
Thrifting at Saver’s or walking on Tumamoc Hill are my favorite chill activities.
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Alex Summers ’28
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergrad: University of Arkansas
What has been one of your most memorable classes at Arizona Law?
Business Organizations with Professor William Sjostrom. As someone who majored in business during undergrad, I really enjoyed getting to expand my knowledge in this field. Also, I found it really interesting learning the law from a transactional approach as opposed to a litigation centered approach!
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Jordan Toledo ’28
Hometown: Amarillo, TX
Undergrad: George Washington University
What is one of your favorite experiences while at Arizona Law?
Trying out for the Mock Trial Team. I had never done mock trial, moot court or speech & debate as an undergraduate, so I felt like I was truly challenging myself. It ended with a spot on the Mock Trial team and an upcoming year of competitions that I am looking forward to so continuously push yourself and try out for things you may not feel as confident about but always had an interest in!
| | | Arizona Law Mourns the Loss of Two Notable Professors Emeriti | | We are sad to share that two emeritus members of our faculty, Boris Kozolchyk and John Strong, passed away on September 17. | | |
Boris taught at the College of Law for nearly fifty years. He also served as the founder, president and director of the nonprofit legal reform and research institute the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, which was later renamed the Kozolchyk National Law Center.
Boris earned law degrees in his native Cuba and in Luxembourg in the 1950s before moving to the United States and completing an LLB at the University of Miami and an LLM and SJD at the University of Michigan. Boris also served as a consultant for the RAND Corporation and directed a USAID legal reform project in Costa Rica while teaching at the University of Costa Rica law school prior to joining the Arizona Law faculty.
In 2021, Boris was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the University of Rio de la Plata and the Argentine Comparative Law Association for his work addressing issues of economic justice between countries as well as within each country and advancing societies through economic development.
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John was equally a giant in his field. Born in Iowa and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where his father was dean of the Ohio State University College of Law, John served in the U.S. Army in the late 1950s before earning his law degree at the University of Illinois.
John joined a small private practice briefly and then transitioned to academia, teaching on the law faculties of Duke University, the University of Oregon, the University of Nebraska and the University of Arizona. John taught and wrote widely on evidence and was the co-author of a casebook on the subject, in addition to a contributing author and general editor of McCormick on Evidence.
According to his obituary, it was at Arizona Law where students began calling him “the ‘Teddy Bear from Hell’ due to his amiable manner but less amiable grading practices.” An annual teaching award at the College of Law, voted upon by students, is now named the John W. Strong Teaching Award in his honor.
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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. | | | | | | |
As several of the Arizona Law Ambassadors highlighted, the College of Law is a tight-knit community.
That is one of the reasons the loss of two of our own—John Strong and Boris Kozolchyk—is so difficult. We remember their impact on the College of Law community and in their respective legal fields.
Onward,
Jason
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