Chelsie Horne, Director of Programs & Initiatives, and Nicole Dyszlewski, Assistant Dean for Curricular Innovation and Professor, have received the 2025 Presidential Spotlight Award from the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) for their sustained leadership of the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series., A Nationally Recognized Initiative, The Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series was launched as an extension of the book Integrating Doctrine and Diversity: Inclusion and Equity in the Law School Classroom, co-edited by two RWU Law professors. The initiative provides practical, classroom-ready strategies for incorporating equity, inclusion, and critical perspectives into doctrinal instruction. In 2024, the project…, Sustained Work Behind the Series, The AALS Presidential Spotlight Award recognizes individuals and programs whose contributions strengthen pre-law education and expand access to the legal profession. This year’s award reflects the sustained commitment and collaboration of Horne and Dyszlewski in developing, coordinating, and sustaining the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity initiative. Dean Gregory W. Bowman commented on the…, “This recognition from AALS affirms the extraordinary leadership behind the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity initiative. Nicole Dyszlewski and Chelsie Horne have built a program that is reshaping legal education by giving faculty practical, thoughtful ways to bring DEIB principles into the law school classroom.”, View past sessions from the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series here.
Type: Article
This one-hour program introduces attorneys to the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Rhode Island with a focus on the Social Equity Program. Through a blend of legal analysis, policy history, and insights into the existing regulatory framework, this session will help practitioners build a foundational understanding of cannabis equity policy in our state. The panel of speakers will offer a…, Meet the Speakers, Carla Aveledo, Carla Aveledo, Esq., Chief of Policy, Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission Carla Aveledo is an attorney currently serving as Chief of Policy for Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission. In this role, Carla supports in policy-making decisions for the State’s adult-use cannabis regulatory framework, specifically the Social Equity Program, and helps facilitate public meetings for the Cannabis Advisory Board.…, Michelle A. Reddish, MS, MPH, Administrator, Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission Michelle A. Reddish Michelle A. Reddish, MS, MPH is a mission-driven leader with a passion for cannabis, compliance, and community. Known for her practical leadership style, she builds systems that promote health, equity, and innovation, creating space for meaningful change in complex, highly regulated environments. Her regulatory career…, Shannon Heery, Associate Professor of Law, Roger William University School of Law Shannon Heery Shannon Heery joined the Roger Williams University School of Law faculty in July 2025. Prior to joining RWU Law, Professor Heery taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence at Vermont Law and Graduate School. She currently serves as the Reporter for the Advisory Committee to the Vermont Supreme Court on…, Meet the Moderator, Nicole P. Dyszlewski, Assistant Dean of Academic Innovation, Roger Williams University School of Law Nicole P. Dyszlewski Nicole’s work centers on building a more inclusive and equitable legal system. Her areas of focus include DEIB pedagogy in law schools, mass incarceration, and access to information— topics where she brings both a lawyer’s insightful analysis and a librarian’s relentless curiosity. Nicole is the…, Rhode Island MCLE Credit, This program is approved for one DEI Rhode Island MCLE Credit., Registration, $40 Registration/One RI MCLE DEI Credit $25 RWU Law Alumni $25 Non-profit/Government Complimentary RWU Law Students Complimentary RWU Law Faculty & Administration Register for the January 13, 2026 CLE Program Here, Cancellation & Refund Policy, RWU Law CLE cancellations received by Thursday, January 8, 2026 are eligible to receive a full refund less a $5 administrative fee. Cancellations received after the stated deadline will not be eligible for a refund. Cancellations are accepted via email at lawevents@rwu.edu
Type: Event
Ben Frost is a housing advocate, driven by the belief that everyone has the right to a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. He was appointed President of Proactive Development at Rhode Island Housing in 2024, a position created to find innovative ways to stimulate housing production and solve the Ocean State’s housing crisis. Prior to coming to Rhode Island, Ben worked at New…
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Monica Teixeira de Sousa is a Distinguished Research Professor of Law and Director of the Housing Policy Clinic at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. At RWU Law, she teaches Property, Housing Law and Policy, Education Law, Family Law, and Race & the Foundations of American Law. Professor Teixeira de Sousa joined the RWU Law Faculty in 2022, where she was…, Books, Race and the foundations of American law., (Aspen Publishing, 2025)(with Nicole Dyszlewski and Diana Hassel), Articles, , " Students for Fair Admissions Sends Us Bakke to the Drawing Board for Race-Conscious Affirmative Action in Higher Education ," 29, Roger Williams U. L. Rev., 290 (2024) " The Law Professor and the Therapist: Beyond Belonging There's a Place (and Need) for Group Solidarity Among First Generation and Low-Income Students in the Law School Setting ," 28, Roger Williams U. L. Rev., 161 (2023), ", Class Houses: Fragility and Disunity in the Ranks of Academe or Democratizing the Future of Legal Education According to the Vision of Ivan Illich ," 15, Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal, 1 (2018) , ", Violence Against Women and the Law," 10, Journal of Interdisciplinary Feminist Thought, (2017)(with David L. Richards and Jillienne Haglund), ", Compelling Honesty: Amending Charter School Enrollment Laws to Aid Society's Most Vulnerable," 45, The Urban Lawyer, 105 (2013) , ", The State of Our Unions: How President Obama’s Education Reforms Threaten the Working Class," 50, University of Louisville Law Review, 201 (2011) , ", A Race to the Bottom? President Obama’s Incomplete and Conservative Strategy for Reforming Education in Struggling Schools or The Perils of Ignoring Poverty," 39, Stetson Law Review, 629 (2010) , ", The Politics of Supplementing Failure Under NCLB: How Both Left and Right Are Forcing Low-Income Children to Choose Between a Deficient Education and Working Overtime," 10, Nevada Law Journal, 118 (2009)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Professor Colleen Murphy has been honored for her teaching, scholarship, and pro bono legal services. She has served at RWU as the Distinguished Teaching Professor for her excellence in teaching and as the Distinguished Research Professor for her creation and advancement of scholarship. The Rhode Island Bar Association honored her with its Pro Bono Publico Award for the free and extensive legal…, Northwestern University Law Review, , , Virginia Law Review, , and , Texas Law Review, , and she was a member of the American Law Institute’s Members’ Consultative Group for the Restatement (Third) of Restitution and Unjust Enrichment., Articles, "Removing Statistical Discrimination in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Compensation in Rhode Island," 29, Roger Williams University Law Review, 555 (co-authored with student Natalie DeAngelis) (2024) "Note-Taking Mode and Academic Performance in Two Law School Courses," 68, Journal of Legal Education, 207 (2019) (co-authored with C.J. Ryan & Yajni Warnapala) "Recognizing Restitutionary Causes of Action and Remedies Under Rhode Island Law," 20, Roger Williams University Law Review, 429 (2015) "Reviewing Congressionally Created Remedies for Excessiveness," 73, Ohio State Law Journal, 651 (2012) "What is Specific about "Specific Restitution?," 60, Hastings Law Journal, 853 (2009) "Money as a Specific Remedy," 58, Alabama Law Review, 119 (2006) "The Use of Prior Convictions after Apprendi," 37, U.C. Davis Law Review, 973 (2004) "Misclassifying Monetary Restitution," 55, Southern Methodist University Law Review, 1577 (2002) "Judgment as a Matter of Law on Punitive Damages," 75, Tulane Law Review, 459 (2000) "Judicial Assessment of Legal Remedies," 94, Northwestern University Law Review, 153 (1999) "The Narrowing of the Entitlement to Criminal Jury Trial," 1997, Wisconsin Law Review, 33 "Context and the Allocation of Decisionmaking: Reflections on United States v. Gaudin," 82, Virginia Law Review, 961 (1996) "Determining Compensation: The Tension between Legislative Power and Jury Authority," 74, Texas Law Review, 345 (1995) "Integrating the Constitutional Authority of Civil and Criminal Juries," 61, George Washington Law Review, 723 (1993)
Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
As Roger Williams University School of Law reflects on its public-interest legacy, one theme emerges: the steady, often understated role the school has played in the growth of the Rhode Island Center for Justice (CFJ). This milestone presents a meaningful moment to reflect on a partnership that has shaped both institutions and enhanced access to justice across Rhode Island., A Vision Rooted in Collaboration, The Center for Justice opened in 2015 after years of planning by its founders, attorneys Miriam Weizenbaum and Bud DeLuca, who sought to create a nonprofit that would expand Rhode Island's civil legal services landscape while preparing the next generation of public-interest lawyers. RWU Law quickly became a natural partner. Then‑Dean Michael Yelnosky recognized how closely the Center's mission…, A Training Ground for Public‑Interest Lawyers, Over the past decade, the Center has welcomed RWU Law fellows, externs, summer interns, Alternative Spring Break students, and many volunteers. Students and alums have provided direct client service in areas such as housing, immigration, workers' rights, education, prison conditions, and utility shutoffs. Their work has often taken place in a resource‑limited environment where every hour of…, Independent Nonprofit, Enduring Partnership, Although RWU Law played a key role in the Center’s early development, the Rhode Island Center for Justice has always been an independent nonprofit with its own governance, leadership, and funding. The law school's relationship with the Center today is one of support and strategic alignment. RWU Law faculty serve on the Center's board, alumni work as staff and fellows, and students continue to…, Looking Ahead, As the Center for Justice continues its work as an independent force for civil legal rights, RWU Law remains proud of the alums, faculty, and students who contribute to its mission. The partnership, built on respect and a shared sense of purpose, stands as one of the law school's most meaningful public‐interest achievements. A decade in, the story of RWU Law and the Center for Justice reflects…
Type: Article
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Type: L1 & Institute
The Financial Aid Office provides information about and access to a variety of funding sources to supplement each student’s available funds. Major sources of funds include the Federal Government, private loan providers, and private foundations. Financial aid is available for the full cost of attendance, including both direct costs (tuition, books, fees, and supplies) and indirect costs (…
Type: Basic Page
