Awards & Distinctions
2011-12
Professor Susan H. Bitensky has been named the Alan S. Zekelman Professor of International Human Rights Law and director of the Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children. The center and professorship are made possible by a generous gift from MSU Law alumnus Lori Talsky, ’96, and her husband, Alan Zekelman. The gift honors Professor Bitensky’s impact in the classroom and dedication to international human rights law, and supports the couple’s goals of improving life outcomes for women and children who suffer—or are at risk of suffering—human rights violations.
Professor Emeritus Harold Norris will receive the State Bar of Michigan’s inaugural John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award, which will be presented periodically to a law school professor whose influence on Michigan lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in the state. Professor Norris will accept the award at the State Bar’s Annual Meeting Awards Banquet on Wednesday, September 14, 2011.
Professor Emeritus Clark C. Johnson was unanimously chosen to receive the State Bar of Michigan’s Michael Franck award, which is presented annually to a lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of the profession. Professor Johnson will accept the award at the State Bar’s Representative Assembly Business Meeting on Thursday, September 15, 2011.
MSU Law Adjunct Professor Brian Kaser was named by Best Lawyers as Lansing’s Health Care Lawyer of the Year. He has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2010, and was named a 2011 Michigan Super Lawyer. His firm is rated in the first tier in health care law by U.S. News and World Report.
The Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) awarded 15,000 Euros to fund research by MSU Law Professor Adam Candeub and MSU Professor Steve Wildman on the economics and regulation of search engines. (August 2011)
2010-11
Cynthia Lee Starnes was named the John F. Schaefer Chair in Matrimonial Law. (July 1, 2011)
Hannah Brenner was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Center for Gender in Global Context at MSU. (January 2011)
Adam Candeub spent the spring semester 2011 studying cybercrime in Croatia after winning a Fulbright Award. While in Croatia, Professor Candeub researched computer-based financial crime enforcement and its effects in emerging and developed markets; he also presented guest lectures at the University of Rijeka. (December 2010)
David S. Favre was named the 2010 recipient of the ABA TIPS Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award.
Kristi L. Bowman won the Education Law Association’s Steven S. Goldberg Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Education Law for her article titled “Pursuing Educational Opportunities for Latino/a Students.” The award—announced in October 2010—recognizes outstanding scholarly writing that has an impact on the field of education law. Professor Bowman’s winning article, which appeared in the March 2010 issue of the North Carolina Law Review, presents a comprehensive analysis of major litigation and important policy initiatives aimed at advancing educational opportunities for Latino and Latina students.
Matthew L.M. Fletcher was elected to the membership of the influential American Law Institute in October 2010.
Michele L. Halloran received an award at the annual meeting of the Michigan’s Women’s Tax Association in October 2010 for having served as the organization’s inaugural president.
Renee Newman Knake was elected to the Executive Committee for the AALS Section on Professional Responsibility.
2009-10
Elliot A. Spoon was elected president of MSU Hillel. Professor Spoon also was appointed to the Board of Directors of Community Legal Resources.
Michael Anthony Lawrence was cited in a petitioner’s brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago, which was argued in February 2010.
Mae Kuykendall was elected president of the American Association of University Professors chapter at MSU.
Kristi Bowman was elected to the position of AALS Education Law Section chair-elect at the January 2009 AALS Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Professor Bowman also was awarded the MSU Lilly Teaching Fellowship for the 2009-10 academic year. She completed the MSU Lilly Teaching Fellowship and in presented preliminary findings in her study titled “Investigating Law Students’ Development of Lawyering Skills Through the Use of Problem Solving Activities.”
Renee Newman Knake received an Innovation Award from MSU’s Children’s Central research collaborative, supported by the Michigan Children’s Trust and Prevent Child Abuse America, for her abstract entitled, “From Research Conclusions to Real Change: The Law’s (Non)Response to the Negative Effects of Mass Media and Marketing on Children.” Professor Knake also was awarded a fellowship from the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism.
Matthew L.M. Fletcher was selected to serve as the Lead Chair of the Federal Bar Association’s annual Indian Law Conference for 2009, the largest annual American Indian law conference.
Glen Staszewski received the 2009-10 Distinguished Faculty Award by the MSU Law Student Bar Association.