Law School Legends and Retirements

Administrator for Student Services and former executive assistant to four deans

“My paternal grandmother finished every evening’s grace with the phrase ‘Let us be good, let us do good.’ Such simple words carrying such a monumental charge.

“I had several jobs before coming to work in the law school in November of 1974. I enjoyed them but it wasn’t until I arrived in O’Brian (within seven months of its dedication) that I found true satisfaction in my employment. And, better yet, I found a building full of faculty, staff and students who were devoted to Grammy B’s mantra: ‘Let us be good, let us do good.’ Fifty years later I can say I have been so fortunate to have witnessed and shared in the work of thousands of souls being good and doing good for our local and global community. I may never retire—working with our law students with their energy, enthusiasm and drive keeps me young.”

While Cheri celebrates more than 50 years of service, she remains devoted to the work she loves in our Office of Student Affairs.

University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor and Floyd H. and Hilda L. Hurst Faculty Scholar

“I have loved teaching in Buffalo. The town made me feel a bit like it was a tiny version of my home in the geographic Midwest. The faculty was tolerant of my dislike for their enterprise and of the strange ways and things I wished to teach and write about law. The students, who experienced me as just as strange, helped me to understand that tolerance of their lives brought real returns teaching. And the staff, including the librarians, have made it so easy to work here, that the thought of doing all this on my own after retirement this January is quite daunting.”

A faculty member since 1973, Professor Schlegel transitions to retirement at the start of the new year.

International Law Librarian and Library Faculty Member

"Nina held several pivotal roles within the School of Law, beginning her career as the audiovisual librarian before the digital era, helping the school navigate and overcome the challenges posed by non-book formats. As electronic databases emerged, Nina was at the forefront, learning new systems, guiding students in their use, and contributing early scholarship on resources such as the inaugural version of Lexis.

"She later transitioned to the role of International Law Librarian, developing deep expertise in Canadian law, international law, and human rights. In this capacity, she provided exceptional reference support and built strong collections that directly benefited the law school community, including the many students who competed in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest and oldest moot court competition devoted to public international law. 

"Nina’s kindness, creativity, and intellectual prowess shaped the teaching, research, and service missions of the law library, strengthening the School of Law and enriching the learning experiences of generations of law students."
—Elizabeth Adelman, SUNY Distinguished Librarian and vice dean for legal information services

SUNY Distinguished Professor and Bridget and Thomas Black Professor; and interim dean from 2014 to 2017

"Jim Gardner has made invaluable contributions that continue to shape UB School of Law as a center of innovative legal education and globally respected scholarship.  He served with grace and remarkable efficiency for many years as the vice dean for academic affairs, an often thankless and time-consuming but essential job that entails putting together a broad and deep curriculum, making sure all courses are well covered, and managing deftly the requests of faculty to have their preferences accommodated. 

"He then assumed the role of interim dean with steady and clear vision and the wide respect of his colleagues. During his deanship, he was instrumental in developing the undergraduate program in law, a program that has grown by leaps and bounds and now positions UB as a national leader in educational innovation. From its inception, Jim has taken on teaching its large, required courses, inspiring many of his students to go on and pursue a J.D. degree. The growth in this program has also added to the overall quality of the law school's JD program, and has attracted accomplished faculty who are eager to take on the challenges and joys of teaching both undergraduates and JD students.

"As a scholar, Jim is widely recognized as a leading expert in constitutional law—particularly the state and federalist systems—and in election law. His scholarship has earned international acclaim, culminating in his elevation to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Professor.  I was in the Provost's office when I helped shepherd his nomination for this highly selective and esteemed rank, a designation supported by glowing letters from top scholars around the world.

“Few scholars achieve international acclaim in one field, much less two. Jim and his many contributions will be deeply missed, but the legacy of the programs he has built will live on.” —Lucinda M. Finley, Frank G. Raichle Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy

Professor and a founder of the Buddhism and Law discipline

“In the time I worked with Rebecca editing the journal Buddhism, Law & Society, I came to appreciate two important things about her scholarship and influence in this field. One, the task Rebecca set for herself was very daunting. Trying to understand the nature of legal thought and practice in Buddhism and Buddhist societies raises deep questions about how law is conceptualized, where its boundaries lie, and the limits of existing scholarship in religion and law about Buddhism. Despite being one of the world’s great religious traditions, there was surprisingly little interest in thinking about law in Buddhism before Rebecca began her work. 

“Second, Rebecca’s insistence on these questions has helped shape a scholarly field in ways that few scholars have. While working on the journal, it quickly became apparent to me that many scholars—both junior and senior—thought of Rebecca as a trailblazer, opening fields of study, fostering scholarly collaboration, creating opportunities for future research and publication, and inspiring their work.

"Rebecca’s example, as a scholar, teacher, and colleague, impressed upon me the importance of taking intellectual risks with many of our preceived notions of the law, as well as the diligence and care that’s required to build scholarly communities.” —Joshua R. Coene, undergraduate lecturer in law

University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor and Floyd H. and Hilda L. Hurst Faculty Scholar

A legal historian and a leading scholar of American Legal Realism and economic legal history, Schlegel served as acting dean of the law school in 1985-86.

“Jack is both a brilliant historian and a beloved teacher whose influence has shaped generations of UB Law students. For more than five decades, he has taught courses in corporate and commercial law as well as regional economic development, while also helping to develop our finance curriculum and signature New York City Program—initiatives that have expanded opportunities and provided new pathways for our students.

"His scholarship has been equally transformative. Jack’s groundbreaking work on American Legal Realism and Critical Legal Studies positioned UB Law at the forefront of national discussions, while his research on economic legal history and regional development gave voice to Buffalo’s story as a Rust Belt city in transition.

“Since joining the faculty in 1973, Jack has been a cornerstone of our law school’s culture and community, serving in a wide variety of roles, including acting dean. Yet it is the many unofficial roles he embraced—mentor, colleague and guide—that make him truly unique. In countless ways, he has set the tone for how we engage with one another and how we build the community that defines UB Law. His retirement marks the close of an extraordinary chapter, but the values he instilled and the spirit he nurtured will continue to echo through O’Brian Hall for decades to come.” —S. Todd Brown, dean and professor of law