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Dear VLGS alumni and friends,
This edition of Swanvine highlights campus and program happenings; faculty, staff, and student accomplishments; and the many exemplary ways our alumni engage with our community and impact our world. VLGS enables and ignites the passions and dreams of many people, in profound ways.
We launched our Bold Action—Global Change: VLGS 50th Anniversary Campaign in December with a powerful video I'm sure you'll enjoy. I wish to recognize and congratulate Jerry Edwards JD'05 for being confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge in Louisiana. And there's more to peruse below.
Even with all this heartening news, we are not immune as a community to life's oftentimes tragic realities. I am very sorry to share the news of the recent losses of several of our cherished community members—first-year law student Neil Chatterjee, Professor Kevin Jones, Professor Ken Kreiling, and former assistant registrar Diana Perkett. This is a difficult time for their families, friends, colleagues, and everyone across the extended Swan family. On behalf of everyone in the Offices for Alumni Relations and Development, I extend my heartfelt condolences.
Sincerely,
Dave Celone JD'92
Vice President, Alumni Relations and Development
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Compliance with workplace safety requirements for farmworkers who are exposed to dangerous pesticides is lacking, according to a new report from the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at VLGS in partnership with Farmworker Justice and the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic.
More »
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Vermont Law and Graduate School hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Tuesday, January 16. We were honored to have Mia Schultz—Vermont State Truth and Reconciliation commissioner and Rutland Area NAACP president—as our guest speaker. View the recording by clicking the link below.
Watch »
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How will AI large language models challenge and revolutionize the legal profession? Click the link below to hear from Derek Li, one of China's most successful AI entrepreneurs in education. Derek recently joined us on campus to share his expertise with the VLGS community.
Watch »
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50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
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Bold Action—Global Change:
The VLGS 50th Anniversary Campaign
It's an exciting time at Vermont Law and Graduate School with the start of our 50th Anniversary Campaign, titled Bold Action—Global Change. This is an intrepid initiative that will shape the future of our school and empower us to reach new heights.
VLGS continues to change the world with faculty, staff, students, and alumni who care deeply about the work they do to advocate for others. Now is the time to invest our resources to better serve future generations of students.
To learn more about our 50th Anniversary Campaign, including how to get involved, please contact the team of dedicated staff in the Offices for Alumni Relations and Development at BoldChange@vermontlaw.edu.
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FACULTY AND STAFF FEATURE
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AALS 2024
In January, a strong contingent of VLGS faculty and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) 2024 Annual Meeting. Throughout the multiday conference, 10 VLGS presenters were involved in leading a variety of sessions for colleagues around the country.
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Jerry Edwards JD'05
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Jerry Edwards JD'05 as a U.S. District Court Judge. He is the first Black federal judge to serve on Louisiana's U.S. Western District Court. As a first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District, he was nominated for the judgeship by President Joe Biden in June 2023.
Please join us in congratulating Jerry, who is also a member of the VLGS Alumni Association (VLGSAA) Board of Directors!
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Joel Burcat JD'80
Joel's fourth novel, "Reap the Wind," was released on Tuesday, February 6. Published by Sunbury Press, Inc., it is an action/adventure thriller in which three lawyers set out from Houston heading to Cincinnati in a rented Lincoln Town Car. They must drive across Texas and the Midwest in the midst of the worst climate change-induced hurricane of the century so Josh Goldberg can be with his girlfriend who is giving birth to their baby.
Learn more »
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Lindsay Bourgoine MELP'15
The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) named Lindsay a Community Solar Champion. She is one of 22 advocates and legislators from six states recognized with this prestigious honor. Lindsay currently serves as the director of policy and government affairs for ReVision Energy, a Certified B Corp with a mission to make life better by building a just and equitable electric future.
Learn more »
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Dr. Bob Robertson MSL'85
Bob—president and chief executive officer of the University of the Cayman Islands—has been selected as an international scholar by the Canadian government. This is a distinguished honor in which he will participate in a senior academic administrator mission to Canadian universities. Bob is also a member of the VLGSAA Board of Directors.
Learn more »
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Save the Date for Reunion 2024
Mark your calendar and plan to join us in South Royalton on Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30, for Reunion Weekend! All alumni are encouraged to attend. Swans from class years ending in four and nine will be celebrating milestones, which will include a special dinner and more.
If you're a member of a milestone class—1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019—and you want to get involved in the planning of your group's celebration, please email alumni@vermontlaw.edu.
Click the button below to access the Reunion 2024 webpage, which will be updated as new information is available.
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Daria, a current Vermont Law and Graduate School animal law student, is now featured on the Johns Hopkins University Toxicology Policy Research blog with her work titled, Could Octopuses Become the Next "Lab Rat"? Read the full post by clicking the link below.
More »
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VLGS Mural Litigation is Over
VLGS President Rod Smolla recently alerted the campus community that the ongoing mural litigation is now over. Please find his message below.
I am writing to update you on the status of the mural litigation, in which Samuel Kerson sued VLGS over the placement of a wall of fabric cushioned acoustic panels concealing the two murals he painted on the sheet rock wall in the Chase Center in 1993. In August, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that Kerson's claim against the school under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 was meritless. The deadline for Mr. Kerson to pursue an appeal in the Supreme Court of the United States has now passed, and the litigation is over. VLGS will continue to keep the panels that were erected in place in the manner approved by the Court.
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Joining the alumni LinkedIn group is an easy way to stay connected and informed. This is a great place to network with other Swans, share articles of interest, post job opportunities, pose legal and policy questions, and more. Please encourage your VLGS classmates who aren't already members to get involved as well.
Join »
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Job Postings
The Career Services team at VLGS has both LinkedIn and Facebook groups, which you can request to join via the links below. Whether you are searching for a job or looking to fill a position, you can use these groups as a resource. Please note that membership is limited to VLGS alumni, current students, faculty, and staff.
Browse on LinkedIn »
Browse on Facebook »
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Don't miss out on any upcoming events! We maintain a calendar so it's easy to browse the latest happenings. You'll find key institutional events, regional group gatherings, webinars, and more! If you don't see an event in your area and you're interested in hosting one, please let us know.
View and register »
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ALUMNI-STUDENT CONNECTIONS
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Climate Action Film Screening
VLGS students and alumni attended a film screening on climate and snow sports followed by a panel discussion with Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman on Friday, January 26, at J Skis in Burlington. Panelists included current student Jonathan Godbout JD'24, Laura Berguer MELP'18 of Burton Snowboards, Ben Gubits of Protect Our Winters, and Zuckerman.
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Alumni-Student Hockey Game
Swan alumni flocked to the Wendell A. Barwood Arena in White River Junction, Vermont, to face off with students on Saturday, January 27, for a rousing sixty straight minutes of hockey play. These Fighting Swans were cheered on by a group of VLGS students, staff, and faculty. Thanks to all our alumni and student hockey players for keeping this beloved tradition going.
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Check out the latest updates from VLGS's Environmental Law Center. Highlights include a Hothouse Earth Podcast episode, a recap of COP28, experiential learning news, information on VLGS's Animal Law LLM fellowship opportunities, and faculty updates.
View »
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From a report on offshore wind solicitations and non-price criteria to a community solar ribbon cutting, take a look at some of the IEE's 2023 highlights. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the Global Sustainability Field Studies course, which traveled to Cuba during the fall semester to study energy and agriculture sustainability.
View »
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Hear from members of the Alumni Association's Master's Only Committee in their latest newsletter. In this edition, you will find student and alumni features and the latest information on committee initiatives like the Master's Only Scholarship Fund. Plus, you can read a message from Dean Dan Bromberg.
View »
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1.802.831.1312
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Offices for Alumni Relations and Development
Vermont Law and Graduate School
PO Box 26, 164 Chelsea Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
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