University at Buffalo (UB)
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School of Law
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Influence beyond the classroom

The influence of UB School of Law’s faculty and staff extends far beyond the classroom. They take their legal and practical expertise into the wider community in a variety of ways. From serving on nonprofit boards, to providing advice on policy initiatives, to breaking down complex issues in emerging areas of law, they are leveraging their knowledge for real-world results.

Faculty and staff honors and accomplishments

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Ashley Abbott, director of student life, received the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals 2024 DEI Award.

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Heather Abraham, associate professor and director of the Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic, was appointed to the Affordable Housing Task Force for the City of Buffalo.

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Farina Barth '17, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research faculty member, was elected to the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo's board of directors.

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Rebecca Chapman, senior assistant law librarian, collaborated with other scholars to formalize a protocol for citing tribal court documents that will be incorporated into the next edition of the Bluebook.

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David Coombs, lecturer in law, was appointed to the advisory committee of the Veterans Treatment Courts for New York State.

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Helen “Nellie” Drew '88, professor of practice and director of the UB Center for the Advancement of Sport, received the 2024 Jim Ruskin Award, presented by the New York State High School Athletic Association’s Section VI Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League.

Woman and man standing on a stage, hold a plaque between them. Jamila Lee, vice dean for student affairs, was recognized with several community awards: The Minority Bar Association of Western New York’s 2024 Outstanding Member Achievement Award 2024 Women Who Walk in the Footsteps of Greatness honoree A 2024 Black History Month Award in Law, presented by then-Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown

Jamila Lee '15, vice dean for student affairs, was recognized with several community awards:

  • A 2024 Black History Month Award in Law, presented by former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown
  • The Minority Bar Association of Western New York’s 2024 Outstanding Member Achievement Award
  • 2024 Women Who Walk in the Footsteps of Greatness honore
Woman standing between two men, holding a plaque. Meredith Lewis, professor and vice dean for international and graduate programs, received the 2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education, presented by UB’s Council on International Studies and Programs.

Meredith Kolsky Lewis, professor and vice dean for international and graduate programs, received the 2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education, presented by UB’s Council on International Studies and Programs.
 (Pictured with Professor Nojin Kwak, UB's vice provost for international education, left, and UB President Satish Tripathi, right.)

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John Harland Giammatteo, associate professor, was recognized by the Association of American Law School’s Section on Civil Procedure and its Section on Federal Courts, for outstanding scholarship by a junior faculty member.

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Patrick Long '00, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research faculty member and assistant dean for professional development, was appointed to the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.

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Makau Mutua, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor, was named a Top Scholar in General Law and Human Rights by ScholarGPS.

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Lisa Patterson, teaching faculty and director of externships and access to justice initiatives, was named dean of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Erie Institute of Law.

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Melinda Saran '86, teaching faculty and vice dean for undergraduate student affairs, was named to the 2024 Association of American Law School's Pro Bono Honor Roll.

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Jennifer Scharf '05, associate dean for career services and director of trial advocacy, was elected a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation.

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“Speaking with media outlets allows the law school faculty to reach different audiences outside of lawyers and academics.  It can also act as a springboard for getting scholarship to new eyes, thereby adding context and deeper understanding of nuanced issues.“ -  Professor Christine Pedigo Bartholomew

In the media

The public’s appetite for understanding complex legal matters is great, and media outlets often call upon UB School of Law faculty to make sense of emerging issues. In both commentary and analysis, they bring light to topics ranging from the everyday impact of new decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, to the status of union negotiations at the Starbucks coffee chain. Among many others, this year our faculty have appeared in The New York Times, CNN, Business Insider, USA Today, Forbes, The New Yorker, ABC News, Yahoo! Finance, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg News.

One notable example is Professor Christine Pedigo Bartholomew, vice dean for academic affairs. A go-to expert in antitrust law, consumer protection and class-action lawsuits, Bartholomew has been quoted by media outlets across the nations more than 60 times in 2024. She has addressed a wide variety of industries and topics, including the proposed merger of supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, as well as matters involving Google, JetBlue and American Airlines, and the National Football League.