At 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Luke Bierman left his mark on a curriculum unlike any other in legal education: a 2.5-year J.D. program built around a full-time Residency-in-Practice. Already proven 鈥渁 law school with a difference,鈥� that curriculum has become a nationally recognized model of experiential legal education, consistently ranked for the quality of its programs and the success of its graduates.

鈥淓verything that distinguishes Elon Law today traces back to Luke鈥檚 vision and the decisions he made to reimagine legal education,鈥� said Dean Zak Kramer. 鈥淥ur students learn the law by living it, and that distinctive model continues to shape every graduate who walks across our stage.鈥�

Faculty, staff, university leaders and friends gathered May 12 in the Elon Law Library to celebrate Bierman鈥檚 career and unveil an impressively detail portrait painted by Laurel Boeck, honoring a teacher, scholar and dean whose influence continues to impact every Elon Law student.

鈥淲ithout question, Luke was the right person to lead Elon Law when he arrived in 2014,鈥� said Vice Dean Alan Woodlief, who has served as an associate or vice dean since the law school鈥檚 inception, on May 12. 鈥淟uke is truly an innovator, and his innovations at Elon Law have been central to the school鈥檚 success and prosperity over the past 12 years.鈥�

When Bierman arrived, legal education faced a crisis of cost, time and relevance. Applications were plummeting nationwide, and critics 鈥� including then-President Barack Obama 鈥� argued that law school took too long, cost too much and left too many graduates unprepared for the realities of practice.

Bierman turned that critique into an opportunity.

Working with Elon Law鈥檚 faculty and staff, he led the curriculum redesign, shortened the path to a law degree and embedded every student in full-time legal residency before graduation. Elon Law students now complete their degrees in seven trimesters over 2.5 years and spend a full trimester in a course-connected Residency-in-Practice that pairs them with judges and lawyers in judicial chambers, law firms, businesses, government agencies and other organizations. Tying the residency program to academic requirements emphasizes professional development and mentorship from both faculty and site supervisors.

The redesign reduced average student loan debt by nearly 30 percent 鈥� a fact he鈥檚 most proud of 鈥� and propelled Elon Law to record enrollment, stronger academic credentials, improved bar passage and employment outcomes, and sustained national recognition for practical training. In 2021, the American Bar Association reaccredited the law school following a successful review under Bierman鈥檚 leadership.

鈥淟uke Bierman鈥檚 contributions to 福利亚洲国产精品 extend far beyond his tenure as dean of the School of Law,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淗e guided Elon Law through a period of transformative change and continued to invest in our students as a teacher and mentor. His legacy is reflected in the strength of the law school, its distinctive place in legal education, and the generations of lawyers who will continue to find their purpose at Elon Law.鈥�

鈥湼＠侵薰� has been fortunate to have the right dean at the right time in the evolution of its young law school,鈥� said Leo M. Lambert, 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 president emeritus and professor of education. 鈥淒ean Bierman brought a tremendous spirit of innovation and experimentation to Elon Law, building on Elon鈥檚 national reputation for experiential learning. It was a perfect DNA match.鈥�

鈥淟uke is first and foremost a teacher, and a lawyer second,鈥� said Steven D. House, who served as Elon鈥檚 provost from 2009 through 2019. 鈥淗is focus has been and always will be transformation. The program he built transforms students鈥� lives while strengthening and serving the broader legal and civic community.鈥�

An Educator First

Bierman always carries two items with him: A Bic pen and a pocket Constitution.

For him, they symbolize a commitment to teaching and to the institutions that sustain democracy. As dean, he began the tradition of giving every Elon Law student a pocket Constitution.

鈥淓ducation is important to us because we know how important it is to America,鈥� Bierman said May 12. 鈥淭homas Jefferson, James Madison and all those folks from 250 years ago thought that education was incredibly important to the American experiment in self-government. That鈥檚 the rule of law. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e here at this law school and across the country thinking about and are terribly worried about at this moment in our national history.鈥�

He is a third-generation lawyer but didn鈥檛 grow up anticipating a legal career. Perhaps because of that, his career rarely followed a straight line.

He moved among roles in legal practice, public service, policy and higher education, pursuing work that interested him and challenged him. Before joining Elon Law in 2014, he served as associate dean for experiential education at Northeastern University School of Law, executive director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University, general counsel to the New York State Comptroller and leader of the American Bar Association Judicial Division. These responsibilities reflect academic and professional achievements that include election to Phi Beta Kappa and the American Law Institute.

鈥淭he attraction was to do something different where I could learn something,鈥� Bierman said recently. 鈥淐oming to Elon to think about curriculum and curricular programs and activities was natural for me.鈥�

That motivation 鈥� to learn, to experiment, to acquire new skills 鈥� stemmed from a core family value: Education.

鈥淚 think of myself as an educator, maybe even more than I think of myself as a lawyer,鈥� Bierman said.

He is the second of three generations of teachers. His mother taught in public schools. His sister leads a school in Vermont. Two of his daughters work in education, and all three have earned doctoral degrees.

Reflecting on his legacy at Elon Law, he returned to the same concerns that guided Elon Law鈥檚 transformation.

鈥淚 do hope the work that we did at Elon Law remains. The ideas about cost, length and relevance: I hope those remain top of mind. Higher education is critically important in the world. We need to be responsive to how the world functions and operates.鈥�

Elon Law students and faculty gathered for 鈥淛udicial Interpretation and Review Under the United States Constitution,鈥� hosted by We the People 鈥� Elon Law鈥檚 Constitutional Journal.

The program featured retired North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, Elon Law鈥檚 Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professor of Law; North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr., an adjunct professor at Elon Law; and Professor of Law Enrique Armijo, a constitutional law scholar. Professor of Law David Levine, who also serves as faculty adviser to We the People, moderated.

Their conversation centered on three themes: competing approaches to constitutional interpretation, the growing public and political pressure on courts, and how judges navigate decision-making in practice.

A central focus was the longstanding debate between originalism and the idea of a 鈥渓iving Constitution.鈥�

Berger said he follows a textualist approach grounded in original meaning, cautioning against judges imposing their own will on constitutional interpretation.

鈥淚f interpretation relies on will, then the Constitution can mean anything at any time,鈥� Berger said, pointing to the amendment process as the appropriate avenue for change.

Beasley characterized judicial review and interpretation as a pendulum that swings back and forth throughout American history, and said that the Constitution must function for the country as it exists today. She pointed out that the Founding Fathers wouldn鈥檛 have considered her, a Black woman, as deserving of rights 鈥� let alone able to serve on the court.

Armijo pointed to processes and landmark cases, like Brown v. Board of Education, as examples where historical meaning did not control modern outcomes. He framed constitutional interpretation as competing theories that provide the 鈥渞easons for the reasons鈥� behind judicial decisions.

Panelists also addressed the pressures shaping today鈥檚 judiciary.

Berger described a 鈥渃heerleading鈥� dynamic in which the public focuses more on outcomes than legal reasoning. Beasley pointed to the influence of money in judicial elections and the challenge of balancing transparency with safety, citing concerns about threats against judges. Armijo noted that decisions in high-profile cases have become increasingly predictable in a more politically polarized environment.

鈥淵ou can often predict how individual (U.S. Supreme Court) justices are going to vote,鈥� Armijo said, adding that partisan politics risks reducing the rule of law to a scoreboard of judicial appointments.

Berger emphasized the importance of consistent methodology, even when outcomes are difficult. Beasley said judges inevitably bring their life and professional experiences to the bench, but are bound to apply the law faithfully, balancing human perspective with legal obligation.

鈥淚s there some level of humanity in decision-making? I believe there is 鈥� and I don鈥檛 know that that鈥檚 a bad thing.鈥�

Promoted to Professor: Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Law Patricia Perkins

Promoted to Associate Professor: Assistant Professors Rosa Newman and Srikanth Reddy

Perkins currently serves as associate director of academic affairs, overseeing the academic programs, curricula, student enrollment and registration at the School of Law. Additionally, she teaches courses in constitutional law, civil procedure and others that address the rights of incarcerated people, civil rights litigation and the law of section 1983.

Newman joined the Elon Law faculty in 2022, and teaches courses in property, wills and trusts, and real estate transactions.

Reddy teaches courses in the Legal Method & Communication Program, judicial writing, and the First Amendment. He joined Elon Law faculty in 2021.

鈥淧lease join me in congratulating our colleagues on these meaningful professional milestones,鈥� 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux book said in her message to the university community announcing the promotions.

Much of Dudley鈥檚 efforts are made on behalf of clients seeking crisis assistance at Family Justice Centers in Guilford County and Alamance County.

During a ceremony Feb. 11, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson praised Dudley鈥檚 leadership of a program that serves 鈥渁 tremendous number of people in very bad situations, often violent situations.鈥�

鈥淭heir lives are made better because Margaret and her team intervene in a way that is empathic and effective,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭hey have helped thousands of people in their worst moments.鈥�

Through the Guilford County and Alamance County Family Justice Centers, Dudley oversees legal services that bring attorneys, advocates and community partners together under one roof to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crises. By providing immediate legal guidance, safety planning and coordinated support, the centers help stabilize families, protect victims and create pathways toward long-term safety and independence.

鈥淚 am very grateful that this important work is being recognized by our Attorney General,鈥� Dudley said.

At Elon Law, Dudley is regarded as someone whose service to community is the model of what law students and future attorneys should aspire to.

鈥淢argaret鈥檚 leadership embodies what it means to be a lawyer in service to others,鈥� said Dean Zak Kramer. 鈥淪he brings together legal skill, empathy and a deep commitment to justice, ensuring that survivors receive compassionate, high-quality legal support when they need it most. We are extraordinarily proud of the difference she makes every day.鈥�

Dudley鈥檚 career and influence have been widely recognized. She was recently , was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Greensboro Bar Association, and . Colleagues and community partners alike regard her as a tireless advocate whose work has improved 鈥� and in many cases saved 鈥� thousands of lives.

Dudley excelled in school and eventually attended Howard University for both her undergraduate and law degrees. She would become the third Black woman to practice law in Guilford County and the first Black woman to hold the position of Deputy County Attorney in Guilford County.

Dudley later achieved success as a partner at a private firm in Guilford County before setting out as a solo practitioner in 1994. A longtime educator and mentor to young people, she taught Constitutional Law at N.C. A&T State University for more than two decades before joining the Emergency Legal Services Program as its founding director.

At Elon Law, she prepares students to practice law with skill and empathy.

Jsaela Barrow L鈥�26, Jennifer Carbajal L鈥�26, Tarrah Casey L鈥�26, Adriana Hernandez Ordonez L鈥�25, and Elyanna Smith L鈥�26 will meet biweekly with Lak茅 Laosebikan Buggs, 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional education, while participating in Student Bar Association meetings and acting as liaisons for their classmates. Student fellows elevate student perspectives, support inclusive programming and dialogue, and contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen belonging, equity, and engagement across the law school community.

鈥淥ur Inclusive Excellence Fellows play a vital role in helping Elon Law live our values every day,鈥� Laosebikan-Buggs said. 鈥淭hrough their leadership, scholarship, and service, they strengthen our community and help ensure that students feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.鈥�

These student fellows join Associate Professor of Law Chrystal Clodomir, who is continuing for a second year as the dean鈥檚 faculty fellow for inclusive excellence, in advancing inclusive teaching practices, in advancing inclusive teaching practices and supporting neurodivergent students.

During the 2024鈥�25 academic year, Clodomir led a comprehensive study examining neurodivergent law students鈥� academic experiences through listening sessions, student surveys, and extensive legal research. The project engaged students, faculty, and student organizations in conversations about classroom practices, accessibility, and belonging, and led to the development of faculty resources.

In 2026, Clodomir will build on this foundation by developing accessible resources for students and educators, expanding her scholarship, and strengthening institutional practices that promote inclusive teaching and learning.

Carbajal will assist Clodomir in the research process this year.

鈥淧rofessor Clodomir鈥檚 selection for a second year as Faculty Inclusive Excellence Fellow reflects both the impact of her work and the promise of what she continues to build at Elon Law,鈥� said Laosebikan-Buggs. 鈥淭hrough her leadership in advancing inclusive excellence, neurodiversity, and student support, she has strengthened our academic community. Her work transforms moments that can feel vulnerable for students into pathways for empowerment, academic success, and professional confidence, and continues to move our community toward a truly inclusive culture.鈥�

The 2025-2026 Elon Law Inclusive Excellence Fellows

Jsaela Barrow L鈥�26

Hometown: Morehead City, North Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: Master of Public Health, Eastern Virginia Medical School; B.S. in Biology, Campbell University
Intended Practice Area: Health Law and Policy
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Elon Law Advocacy Fellow, Black Law Students Association, and Society for Health Law & Bioethics

鈥淎s a Black woman entering a profession in which we represent only 4% of attorneys nationwide, I am deeply grateful to attend a law school that values not only my academic ability, but also my perspective. Being in this space, I know the importance of advocating not just for myself, but for others as well. As an Elon Law inclusive excellence fellow, I am committed to strengthening every law student鈥檚 sense of belonging, while actively advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within our law school community. Through leadership and advocacy, I strive to lead with purpose and help cultivate an environment where every student feels seen, heard, and genuinely supported.鈥�

Jennifer Carbajal L鈥�26

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. in Political Science, Catawba College
Intended Practice Area: Immigration and Civil Rights Law
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Vice President of Hispanic and Latinx Law Students Association; 2L representative in Honor Council; Professionalism and Social Chair of Immigration Law Society; Co-Chair of Community and Development for Student Mentors; Member of First Gen. Society

鈥淚 came into law school knowing that I wanted to advocate for others, and knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of the inclusive excellence fellows. I want to use my voice and my position to advocate for individuals who have concerns that may sometimes be overlooked. I hope that throughout my time in my position, I can leave behind a safe place for students to feel comfortable to advocate for themselves and have difficult conversations that need to be addressed in such tumultuous times.鈥�

Tarrah Casey L鈥�26

Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. Philosophy, Coastal Carolina University
Intended Practice Area: Disability Law, Criminal Law, Special Education Law
Involvement: Honor Council Election Council Committee Co-Chair; student mentor; Elon Reaches Out committee member; Parents Attending Law School; Andrew G. Bennett Student Wellness Innovation Grant Recipient; Phi Alpha Delta;
Criminal Law Teaching Assistant

鈥淢y goal is to become the kind of lawyer who doesn鈥檛 just navigate the law, but helps transform it 鈥� creating pathways, expanding access, and making sure every person has the chance to be seen, heard, and valued. Law gives me the tools to transform lived experiences into policy solutions, to challenge structures that perpetuate inequity, and to ensure that dignity and opportunity are not privileges but rights. I鈥檓 pursuing this profession because I believe lawyers have a responsibility to stand in the gap: to speak when others cannot, to navigate complexity on behalf of those who shouldn鈥檛 have to, and to push institutions toward justice, compassion, and accountability.鈥�

Adriana Hernandez Ordonez L鈥�25

Hometown: Snow Hill, North Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. in Criminology & B.A. in Sociology, Eastern Connecticut State University
Intended Practice Area: Business Law & Real Estate
Involvement and Leadership Roles: President of Hispanic & Latinx Law Student Association; Academic Fellow; Elon Law Mentor; Moot Court Board

鈥淎s a first-generation Hispanic student, pursuing a legal education is both deeply personal and purpose-driven. Entering law school meant learning to navigate an unfamiliar environment while carrying the expectations and sacrifices of my family with me. At Elon Law, I found a community that affirmed my identity and encouraged me to lead with authenticity. As an inclusive excellence fellow, I hope to support students who may feel uncertain or marginalized by reminding them that their experiences are valuable and their voices matter. I am committed to advocating for equity within the legal profession and uplifting those whose perspectives are too often overlooked or misunderstood.鈥�

Elyanna Smith L’26

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. in Political Science, University of North Carolina, at Charlotte
Intended Practice Area: Civil and Criminal Litigation
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Professionalism Chair of the Hispanic/Latinx Law Student Association; member of the Criminal Law Society; Participant in Lawyers for Literacy program through the Pro Bono Board

鈥淎s an inclusive excellence fellow, I hope to make Elon Law a safe space for all. I have seen how access, representation, and inclusion can shape someone鈥檚 sense of belonging, and how the absence of those things can limit opportunities. I chose this role because I want to be part of the ongoing effort to ensure that the legal field evolves into one that welcomes and values everyone.”

福利亚洲国产精品 the Dean鈥檚 Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence

Chrystal Clodomir is an associate professor of law at Elon Law鈥檚 Greensboro campus. Since 2021-22, she has taught courses in Legal Method & Communication, Education Law, Family Law and Secured Transactions. Prior to joining Elon, Clodomir graduated from Rutgers University and Cornell Law School and practiced law for over 15 years in a variety of practice areas including family law, education law and criminal prosecution.

A graduate of Rutgers University and Cornell University School of Law, Clodomir practiced criminal law in New York and education law in Delaware prior to moving to North Carolina in 2018 and originally joining the legal staff of the Children鈥檚 Law Center of Central North Carolina.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to continue this work as the dean鈥檚 faculty fellow for inclusive excellence,鈥� Clodomir said. 鈥淥ver the past year, listening to students and learning from their experiences has reinforced how important it is to build learning environments that recognize and support different ways of thinking and learning. This next phase of my work will focus on creating accessible resources, strengthening inclusive teaching practices, and helping ensure that every student has the tools and confidence to succeed in law school and in the legal profession.鈥�

The talk focused on De La Soul鈥檚 landmark 1989 album, 鈥淭hree Feet High and Rising,鈥� a creative achievement built on dozens of samples that later became trapped in decades of legal limbo. Because the album鈥檚 sample clearances were negotiated for physical formats (and sometimes not at all), the transition to digital streaming brought new licensing hurdles, effectively keeping one of hip-hop鈥檚 most influential works unavailable to new audiences for years.

Armijo delivered the presentation for the , which brings guest artists and scholars to campus to explore creativity and its broader cultural impact. Graduate research assistant Kaytlyn Mullins L鈥�25 played a key role in the presentation, curating the music clips, visuals and examples that illustrated Armijo鈥檚 lecture.

Using De La Soul鈥檚 experience as a throughline, Armijo examined how sampling fits uneasily within a copyright system designed around ownership by artists, record labels and publishers, and lengthy terms of protection. He illustrated those tensions with clips and references to artists including Lou Reed, A Tribe Called Quest, The Turtles, George Harrison, Madonna, N.W.A., Funkadelic, Taylor Swift, Biz Markie and Gilbert O鈥橲ullivan.

At Elon Law, Armijo鈥檚 scholarship and teaching cover broad areas of the law, including the First Amendment, constitutional law, torts, administrative law, media and internet law, online disinformation, and international freedom of expression. He is also a Fellow at聽the Yale Law School Information Society Project and the UNC-Chapel Hill Center for Information, Technology and Public Life, and a Faculty Fellow with the George Washington University Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics.

鈥淚 make people uncomfortable when I talk about homelessness. We don鈥檛 like to see things that challenge what we believe about ourselves, but we can鈥檛 fix what we refuse to face,鈥� said Shere谩 Burnett L鈥�13, executive director of . 鈥淪eeing people means hearing their stories, not deciding for them what they need.鈥�

For more than an hour, Greensboro鈥檚 civic, faith and legal leaders fielded questions around housing insecurity, affordable housing and people experiencing homelessness at the second annual Law & the Prophets Symposium, 鈥淣eighboring in a Time of Need.鈥� The symposium was co-hosted by 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law and Greensboro鈥檚 .

Burnett was joined in the panel discussion by:

• The Rev. Matt Bussell, associate pastor for outreach and mission at ;
• Andrea Harrell L鈥�09, assistant city manager for the ;
• Zack Matheny, president of and outgoing member of the Greensboro City Council;
• Rosa Newman, assistant professor of law at Elon Law; and
• Vachel Pollard, a Greensboro resident who has experienced housing insecurity.

Their discussion was moderated by the Rev. Jeremy Benton, of West Market Street UMC, and Scott Leighty, Elon Law鈥檚 associate dean for development and alumni relations. The Rev. Otto Harris, senior pastor of West Market Street UMC, welcomed the audience, encouraging them to listen and think deeply around calls to be a better neighbor.

Newman, who teaches property and real estate law, framed housing as 鈥渁 moral and legal obligation鈥� intertwined with community well-being.

鈥淲hen someone is paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing and utilities, that housing is no longer affordable,鈥� Newman said, urging broader definitions that reflect real-world costs. 鈥淲e have to think about who can afford to live here and what happens when they can鈥檛.鈥�

The theme of the evening was around what it means to be a neighbor, and where our rights, legal responsibilities and religious traditions intersect around that idea. Panelists described 鈥渘eighbor鈥� not as a matter of geography but as a moral relationship rooted in compassion and shared responsibility.

Bussell reflected on the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, noting that it began with a law student asking Jesus, 鈥淲ho is my neighbor?鈥�

鈥淭he person who is in need is our neighbor, but so is the person who offers help. Being a neighbor isn鈥檛 a legal term 鈥� it鈥檚 a moral one,鈥� Bussell said. He added that genuine neighborliness takes effort and proximity. 鈥淲e live in communities that are often divided by income, by race, by opportunity. It takes intentionality to break down those walls, to get to know the people we鈥檝e been taught to see as the 鈥榦ther.鈥� When we do that, we begin to see one another as neighbors again.鈥�

Harrell emphasized that lasting solutions require collaboration among city departments, nonprofits and faith partners. Matheny agreed, adding that 鈥渋t takes creativity and partnership to get projects across the finish line鈥� and highlighted recent collaborations between the city and local churches to create new affordable housing developments.

Pollard reflected on the everyday ways people can practice compassion. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 just a smile or a wave 鈥� that doesn鈥檛 cost you anything,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing neighborly means showing gratitude for being here together and walking beside someone when they need it.鈥�

Audience members also heard testimony from a Greensboro resident experiencing homelessness for nearly nine years, whose story illuminated how bureaucratic definitions and funding restrictions can exclude people who need help most. Panelists responded to her story with offers to connect her directly with case workers and organizations to remove those barriers.

In closing, Dean Zak Kramer of Elon Law reminded attendees that the evening鈥檚 lessons only have meaning if they lead to tangible acts of empathy and neighborliness.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to come to an event like this,鈥� Kramer said, 鈥渂ut it only truly matters if you leave changed; if you do something differently tonight, tomorrow, and the next day.鈥�

These are just a few of the reasons the 鈥淗igh Rhymes & Misdemeanors鈥� Poetry Slam has become a highlight of the academic year at Elon Law in Greensboro and now Charlotte.

Across the two campuses, 11 students and five members of faculty and staff brought their perspectives on law and life to the microphone Oct. 23, 2025. The annual poetry slam is in its seventh year in downtown Greensboro and its first in Charlotte鈥檚 Flex Program (though the Queen City campus held its first contest in March for the inaugural cohort of Flex students).

Hosted by Elon Law鈥檚 Legal Method & Communication Program with support from 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Center for Writing Excellence, the annual poetry slam commemorates the established by the National Council of Teachers of English.

Sounding off in Greensboro

In Greensboro, seven students performed original works for a three-judge panel that included , Professor of Law Sue Liemer and former Chief Justice of the N.C. Supreme Court Cheri Beasley, also Elon Law鈥檚 Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professor of Law. It was the third time Thompson, who also hosts a syndicated podcast, has judged and participated in Elon Law鈥檚 competition, this year reciting 鈥淒ear You.鈥�

Millennium Russell L鈥�25 took the first place for 鈥淏est Interest,鈥� about a friend鈥檚 ongoing, six-year child custody battle. A first-time participant, she entered to build confidence in her public speaking skills.

鈥淚 was torn between two poems, but everyone said this one was powerful, so I went with it,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淎ll of the poems were wonderful, and everyone deserved recognition. It was also poetic that there were seven participants for the seventh year of the slam. I liked that symmetry.鈥�

Lyrical voices in Charlotte

In Charlotte, four Flex students performed for judges Caroleen Dineen, associate professor of law and director of the Legal Method & Communication Program; and Dena King, partner with of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein. Ward returned for a second time to judge the Flex Program competition, performing his piece 鈥淐ritical Blues Theory.鈥�

Flex 2 student Nadia Mazza won for 鈥淲hen the Honeymoon Ends,鈥� a sequel to her March-winning poem.

鈥淚 was truly inspired by the way our community came together 鈥� students, faculty and esteemed guests alike 鈥� to honor individuality, creativity, and growth,鈥� Mazza said. 鈥淚t was a privilege to experience such a uniquely vulnerable moment of connection.鈥�

Student Awards 鈥� Greensboro

1st Place
鈥淏est Interest鈥�
Millennium Russell L鈥�25

2nd Place
鈥淭he Oppression Olympics鈥�
Savannah Stinson L鈥�25

3rd Place (tie)
鈥淏egin with Belief鈥�
Julian Sizemore L鈥�27

鈥淒ied Twice鈥�
Marlaisha Vereen L鈥�27

People鈥檚 Choice Award (Selected by Audience Vote)
鈥淒ied Twice鈥�
Marlaisha Vereen L鈥�27

Student Awards 鈥� Charlotte

1st Place
“When the Honeymoon Ends”
Nadia Mazza, Flex 2 student

2nd Place (tie)
“Your Honor, est. 2025”
Somer Dice, Flex 1 student

鈥淚mposter Thoughts鈥�
Kayla Price, Flex 2 student

3rd Place
鈥淟ittle Bird鈥�
Jack Randolph, Flex 2 student

Staff Performances

鈥凌别蝉辫辞苍蝉颈产颈濒颈迟测鈥�
Cheri Beasley, Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professor at Elon Law

鈥淎 New Beginning鈥�
Emma Butterworth, Staff Director of the Flex Program

“1:37”
Kris Caudle, Assistant Professor of Law

“Flex 2”
Aimee Durant, Assistant Professor of Law

Janet Keefer, Adjunct Professor of Law

From fellow judges to retired congressional leaders, the theme that ran through every tribute: In courtrooms, classrooms and for communities across North Carolina, Beasley has turned principle into practice and invited others with her.

鈥淲hen the world says no 鈥� to fairness, to opportunity, to progress 鈥� she says yes,鈥� said Zak Kramer, dean of Elon Law, in introducing Beasley. 鈥淪he didn鈥檛 wait for a path to appear; she carved one with excellence and perseverance. That鈥檚 what the N.C. Supreme Court Historical Society honors tonight. Not only the titles and the milestones, but the 鈥榶es鈥� that made them possible.鈥�

Speakers at the N.C. Supreme Court Historical Society鈥檚 annual meeting Oct. 20 in Raleigh traced Beasley鈥檚 journey from public defender in Fayetteville to N.C. District Court judge, to the N.C. Court of Appeals, and then the N.C. Supreme Court. In 2019, she became the first African American woman to serve as the state鈥檚 chief justice. They highlighted her leadership through natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a period of heightened racial tension 鈥� moments she met with decisiveness, empathy and a vision for modernizing the courts for access and efficiency. Today, virtual hearings and electronic access are hallmarks of the system she helped shape.

鈥淲e have the privilege of calling her Professor Beasley, and our students have the even greater privilege of calling her mentor. They see in her what we all see: someone who opens doors. Opening doors is an act of kindness, and our students are its beneficiaries.鈥澛�
鈥� Zak Kramer, dean of Elon Law

Justice Sam J. Ervin IV of the N.C. Supreme Court called Beasley 鈥渙ne of the best people I have ever known,鈥� describing her stabilizing presence on and off the bench, and her extraordinary gifts as a jurist and writer whose legal opinions 鈥渟ing.鈥�

鈥淎s Chief Justice, she kept the system functioning when that was extraordinarily hard, and she had the courage to address racial disparities when many would look away. 鈥� She will be remembered as a consequential figure in our state鈥檚 legal history.鈥�

Patricia Timmons-Goodson, retired justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, reflected on Beasley鈥檚 decades of mentorship and barrier-breaking.

鈥淭o whom much is given, much is required,鈥� she said. 鈥淐hief Justice Beasley has given much, opening possibilities for young people who could not yet imagine them, and modeling the passion and integrity our justice system demands.鈥�

G.K. Butterfield, who represented North Carolina鈥檚 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2004 to 2022 and previously served as a state Supreme Court justice and superior court judge, praised Beasley for modernizing the courts through technology and expanding specialty and treatment courts that make the justice system more efficient, equitable and responsive to community needs.

From inside the chief justice鈥檚 chambers, former Chief of Staff and General Counsel Anna Stearns described Beasley鈥檚 leadership as a model for other jurists to uphold their oaths without fear or favor, and her belief that 鈥渢he courts can be an engine of good and that we have a duty to make it so.鈥�

Beasley, who teaches appellate practice, professional responsibility and negotiations at Elon Law, has quickly become a trusted mentor and colleague.

鈥淭he work of justice is not a destination,鈥� Beasley said. 鈥淚t requires all of us 鈥� judges, lawyers, staff, law enforcement 鈥� to remain vigilant, compassionate and courageous. To the young people here 鈥� whether you鈥檙e first-generation students or aspiring lawyers: You are talented and capable. You can do anything.”

鈥� Cheri Beasley, former Chief Justice of the N.C. Supreme Court and Sandra Day O’Connor Professor

鈥淲e have the privilege of calling her Professor Beasley, and our students have the even greater privilege of calling her mentor,” Kramer said. “They see in her what we all see: someone who opens doors. Opening doors is an act of kindness, and our students are its beneficiaries.鈥�

Beasley closed the evening by thanking colleagues, her family and the society for the honor, emphasizing shared responsibility for the rule of law and calling on young lawyers and leaders to take up that charge: to say yes.

鈥淭he work of justice is not a destination,鈥� Beasley said. 鈥淚t requires all of us 鈥� judges, lawyers, staff, law enforcement 鈥� to remain vigilant, compassionate and courageous. To the young people here 鈥� whether you鈥檙e first-generation students or aspiring lawyers: You are talented and capable. You can do anything. I am grateful for the privilege to serve the people of North Carolina, grateful for where I鈥檝e been, and hopeful for where we are going together.鈥�

Assistant Professor of Law Rosa Newman, whose scholarship focuses on housing and economic development law, was named chair of the American Bar Assocation鈥檚 Real Property, Trusts, and Estates (RPTE) Section Legal Education Committee on Sept. 1. In the role, Newman helps guide the section鈥檚 efforts to strengthen teaching and scholarship in property, trusts and estate law. The RPTE Section is one of the ABA鈥檚 largest professional communities, connecting lawyers, academics, and policy experts who advance best practices in areas affecting real property, housing, land use and wealth transfer. Newman previously served as the committee鈥檚 vice chair.

Additionally, Newman recently joined as a contributing editor. She will highlight and review notable new scholarship in property law. The online publication features leading academics offering accessible insights into important developments in their fields, connecting practitioners, teachers and students to innovative legal research.

鈥淚 see my work with RPTE and Property JOTWELL as part of a larger effort to connect ideas to impact 鈥� elevating the kind of scholarship and dialogue that make property law more equitable, relevant, and responsive to how people actually live and build community,鈥� Newman said.

Newman will also lend her scholarly expertise this fall to a symposium around housing insecurity. will examine housing insecurity in the Greensboro area from civic, legal and religious perspectives. The symposium is Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of West Market Street United Methodist Church, at 302 W. Market Street in Greensboro, co-hosted by the church and Elon Law.

Newman joined the Elon Law faculty in 2022 after concluding her service as a Louis Westerfield Fellow at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Her legal research and teaching are focused primarily on property, land use, and business transactional law, with additional interest in affordable housing development.

Newman continues her service to the statewide legal community on the Trusts Drafting Committee of the North Carolina General Statutes Commission, which studies and recommends updates to the state鈥檚 trust laws to ensure clarity, consistency, and modernization.

Newman previously worked in the commercial real estate development field for several firms both in her hometown of Miami and in Charlotte, specializing in multilayered financing for mixed-income, multifamily housing developments in four states. She also has experience working for a Florida elder care law firm where she handled wills, trusts and estate matters.