Faculty Appreciation Week

I arrived on a recent Monday morning to find 4 members of our 1L class decorating the deans’ suite door with balloons and brightly colored paper. On Tuesday, there was a bunch of helium-filled balloons tied to the sign at my parking space. On Wednesday, my fall semester Christian Foundations students invited me to their writing class, where they presented me with a gift bag filled with cool Green Bay Packer items—including a picture poster of Brett Favre. Not Brett Favre in that ridiculous green and white of last season, mind you, but Brett Favre as he was meant to be—in beautiful Packer green and gold!

It was Faculty Appreciation Week. The brainchild of 3L COGS Senator Meghan Terry, Faculty Appreciation Week was a tremendous encouragement to me and all members of the faculty. We received gifts, cards, notes, and food. It was quite amazing to watch our students—who often are academically, physically, and financially stretched—reach out and selflessly show love to us.

For five years now Princeton Review has ranked our law school among the top 10 nationally for “Student Quality of Life.” I know we would rank at least that high if Princeton Review ever measured “Faculty Quality of Life.” And much of that is due to the love and care our students show us every day.

Thank you, students!

Donut Day

Thursday was one of my favorite days of the school year--Donut Day. I cancelled all meetings for the day and invited students to come by my office to talk--about whatever they wanted. No appointments, no agenda. Just donuts, juice, coffee, and relaxed conversation.

If the students enjoy the day half as much as I do Donut Day is a success. We talk about family, classes, the job search, what brought students to Regent--and dozens of other things.

Students give me great ideas. They also give me great encouragement. They remind me of just what a special community we have at Regent. It is a community filled with high achievers and healthy competition. But it is also a community of encouragement, prayer, support, and a shared mission. I have a great job!

Moot Court Board Serving Others

Regent enjoys the reputation now as one of the top moot court programs in the country. That reputation was hard-earned by winning championships in some of the nation’s most prestigious tournaments.

But our moot court board does more than just send out teams to compete. It also organizes and hosts competitions. Some are intramur al as students hone their skills and compete against one another. Each February, the board also hosts a major national constitutional law tournament.

Regent’s 8th Annual Constitutional Moot Court tournament was held last weekend. Teams came from all regions of the country to compete, with the College of William & Mary taking the title.

I mention the tournament because I was very proud of the students on our moot court board. Those students—led by Lindsey Powdrell and Keith Richardson— planned, organized, and carried off a superb tournament! They worked long hours while juggling many responsibilities. At all points, our students displayed excellence and graciousness. They did so selflessly. The competition provides little personal reward to our students. They do not compete. They simply serve others so that those students can compete. And they serve the judges who come from all over to evaluate the arguments (such as North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Edward Thomas Brady, pictured below).

So thank you board! I want you to know how proud I am of your efforts.