Roger Williams University School of Law 2025-2026, (Effective December 2, 2025), The Honorable Brian Stern, ,, , Chair, Associate Judge Rhode Island Superior Court, Nicole J. Benjamin, Esq. ’06, ,, Vice-Chair, Shareholder Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., Hinna Mirza Upal, Esq. ’07, ,, Secretary, Senior Manager, Investigations Office of Compliance and Ethics Associate Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs Rochester Institute of Technology, Collin Bailey, Esq. ’08, Vice President of Global Procurement Bally’s Corporation, Alyssa V. Boss, Esq. ’97, General Counsel University of Rhode Island, Gregory W. Bowman, Dean and Professor of Law Roger Williams University School of Law, Ex-Officio Member, Bradford Boyd, Esq. '08, President & Founder ANOVA Marine Insurance, Marek P. Bute, Esq. ’05, Senior Manager, Tech Business Development, Business Contracts Amazon Web Services, Brandon Cuffy, Esq. ‘14, Associate Miles & Stockbridge, Marc DeSisto, Esq., DeSisto Law Offices, The Honorable Melissa R. DuBose ’04, District Judge Rhode Island District Court United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Stacey Erickson, Esq., Assistant United States Attorney United States Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island, Carly Beauvais Iafrate, Esq. ‘00, Law Office of Carly Beauvais Iafrate, PC, Paul Kessimian, Esq., Co-Managing Partner Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, J. Scott Kilpatrick, Esq, . Partner Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick, Stephen P. Maguire, Esq. ’96, Law Office of Stephen P. Maguire, Inc., Zachary Mandell, Esq. ’11, Partner Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ioannis "Yannis" Miaoulis, President Roger Williams University, Ex-Officio Member, Weayonnoh Davies-Nelson, Esq. ‘07, Executive Director The Economic Progress Institute, Crystal D. Peralta, Esq. '20, President RWU School of Law Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, Ex-Officio Member, Adam Ramos, Esq. ‘06, Partner Hinckley Allen, Michael P. Robinson, Esq. ’00, Partner Savage Law Partners LLP, Joelle Rocha, Esq. ‘06, Senior Counsel Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., George L. Santopietro, Esq., Partner Coia & Lepore, Ltd., Ondine Galvez Sniffin, Esq., Law Office of Ondine Galvez Sniffin, Katherine Sulentic, Esq. ’09, Deputy Athletic Director for Regulatory Affairs University of Memphis, The Honorable Paul A. Suttell, Chief Justice Rhode Island Supreme Court
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Welcome to the Office of the Dean at Roger Williams University School of Law, where we pride ourselves on offering an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, a commitment to public service, a culture of excellence, and a vibrant community of extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, engaged alumni, and dynamic administrators. At the helm, you’ll find Dean and Professor of Law Greg W.…
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Sponsored by the Student Bar Association, , 6:00 PM Meet & Greet 7:00 PM Dinner and Dancing Omni Providence Hotel One West Exchange Street Providence, Rhode Island Check back for event ticket information. Omni Providence Hotel Omni Providence Hotel, Overnight Special Room Rate:, A limited number of overnight rooms are available at a reduced nightly rate of $179 at the Omni Providence Hotel. Reservations may be made directly by calling Omni Reservations Line at 402-952-6646 and mentioning the 2026 RWU Law Barrister’s Ball Room Block. Online room reservation link., All room reservations must be made before February 20, 2026., Event Ticket Refund Policy:, RWU Law Barrister's Ball tickets may be refunded if the request is received in writing to lawevents@rwu.edu by February 20, 2026. The University Ticket processing fees are forfeited., SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:, Persons who, because of a special need or condition, would like to request an accommodation for this event should contact the Office of Law Programs at lawevents@rwu.edu , as soon as possible, but no later than 72 business hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
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No textbook warned Alexis Wozdusiewicz L’27 what it would feel like to walk into lockup for the first time. She had studied criminal law in class. She had read the theories and debated the philosophy behind punishment and justice. But nothing prepared her for the moment she witnessed the criminal legal system at work. “I had never spoken to someone accused of a crime before, or anyone…, Respect, Compassion, and Trust, Later that summer, Alexis returned to the Public Defender’s Office in Waterbury for a full internship, where she had a new mentor team. That’s when she witnessed a case that would forever shift her perspective: the trial of Michael Anderson , a local restaurateur charged with murder in a 2022 fatal shooting. The defense? Self-defense. “I learn a lot in my case books, but they don't teach me…, well, .” As for what comes next? Wozdusiewicz is still figuring it out. “Maybe juvenile criminal defense,” she says, thoughtful. But one thing is certain: she’s not looking at the justice system through a casebook any longer.
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The ninth annual Stonewall Lecture at Roger Williams University School of Law was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, honoring the LGBTQ+ community and the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. This year’s guest speaker was Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi, Speaker of the RI House of Representatives, welcomed by Gregory W Bowman, Dean of the Law School, and second-year law student Skyler…, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice., He said the world has witnessed courage and resiliency of a generation of LGBTQ+ people since the Stonewall riots. “What has begun in New York City nearly half a century ago, now explodes in technicolor, every June, when nations, cities, and even corporations gather to celebrate pride.” Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi smiling with the podium in front of him. Rhode Island’s Pride parade,…
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The first edition of “Race and the Foundations of American Law,” a new casebook by a group of Roger Williams School of Law professors, makes the resources from RWU Law’s first-of-its-kind course on the same subject available to schools and students around the U.S. and sheds light on the role of race and racism in everything from property ownership to the child welfare system. The new book, by…, Beyond the books, “Law isn’t just in a book,” says Dyszlewski, RWU Law’s assistant dean for curricular innovation. When she was in law school, no one taught her about topics like law and prison abolition, and she hopes that the book will provide students today with foundations she did not have in order to make them well-rounded attorneys. Mid shot of Professor Dyszlewski wearing a red dress with hands clasped in…, Kelo v. City of New London, . The court’s ruling against Susette Kelo, who is white, in her case against the city government over the fate of her home prompted public backlash and new laws in many jurisdictions. But Teixeira de Sousa remarks on how often this type of taking happens in communities of color, without public outcry. “You can’t understand the material without the historical context,” says Teixeira de Sousa. “…, A team effort, Each of the co-authors approached the research and writing process from a different scholarly and professional context. “We come to it from different angles,” says constitutional scholar Hassel. “It’s important that we did it together.” mid shot of Professor Teixeira de Sosa with crossed arms wearing an off white pin striped jacket In addition to their legal backgrounds, “We had generational…, Race and Foundations of American Law: First Edition, is being planned as part of the law school’s signature program,, Integrating Doctrine and Diversity, . More information here .
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Nate Reid L’26 is not an emotional person. And yet, Reid found himself deeply impacted by the real-life stories of the justice system and wrongfully-incarcerated people during a short-term volunteer project at the Innocence Project’s New York headquarters. “I keep joking, I think in the past five years, I’ve cried three times, and it was when my college soccer career ended, when the Eagles lost…, Eye-opening perspective, During the week with the Innocence Project, Reid’s main assignment was tracking down the case files and evidence records for a matter the organization was evaluating, that had been tried decades ago. After numerous phone calls, he located the documents through a court clerk in Louisiana. There was just one wrinkle: The bill for the court to copy and ship the documents was thousands of dollars.…, Exploring new experiences, Reid is interested in a career in civil litigation after law school. He also would like to continue doing pro bono work. This summer, he will be working at Motley Rice on mass tort litigation. Reid encourages students with similar career interests to make the most of public interest opportunities like ASB even if they don’t plan to practice public interest law. “Don’t close off one road before…
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Two members of the Roger Williams University School of Law community—Michelle Alves M'00 L’03 and 2L Gianna J. DelMonico, , —were among this year’s honorees at the 43rd Annual Neil J. Houston, Jr. Memorial Awards , hosted by Justice Assistance, a Rhode Island nonprofit led by CEO Jake Bissaillon L’16. Held on October 9, 2025, the annual awards recognize leaders who exemplify fairness, compassion, and integrity in strengthening the state’s justice system. Since its founding in 1978, Justice Assistance has supported…, Future Changemaker Recognized, RWU Law student Gianna J. DelMonico received the Francis J. Darigan, Jr. Scholarship, awarded each year to a law student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community service. Named for the late Judge Francis J. Darigan, Jr., the award honors his lifelong dedication to fairness and mentorship in the administration of justice. DelMonico, a Juris…, Alum Honored for Public Defense Leadership, Michelle Alves M'00 L’03, an Assistant Public Defender in the Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender, was among five recipients of the Neil J. Houston, Jr. Memorial Award, which honors Rhode Islanders whose dedication and integrity have made a lasting impact on the justice system and their communities. Alves was recognized for her tireless advocacy on behalf of clients and her leadership…, Continuing a Legacy of Justice and Service, As Chief Executive Officer of Justice Assistance, Jake Bissaillon L’16 leads the organization that confers these honors each year. Under his direction, Justice Assistance continues to expand its impact through initiatives such as Habitat for Justice, which provides affordable housing to justice-involved individuals, and JA Health & Wellness, an integrated primary and behavioral health clinic…, This news article was adapted from a press release from Justice Assistance.
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The Hague has always been central to Professor Louise Ellen Teitz 's career. To this day, The Hague remains a core part of her work. Previously a member of the US Delegation to the Hague Conference for the Judgments Convention, she served as First Secretary at the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) from 2011 to 2014. This December, her affiliation with The Hague comes full…, "The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements: A Commentary, ," co-authored with Gilles Cuniberti of the University of Luxembourg and Brooke Marshall of the University of Oxford. This book, which has been years in the making, will be launched at the Hague Conference. Having her latest book launched at the place that has been at the heart of her career is quite meaningful for Professor Teitz. "It has particular meaning to me since I have been working with…, Drawing from Experience, At the core of this book is a thorough examination of the 2005 Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements, which has been in force since October 2015. The book's co-authors take a detailed dive into each article of the Convention, looking at everything from its history to its meaning. The time Prof. Teitz spent at The Hague was crucial for her as she worked on this book, as she was able to…, A Collaborative Effort, Working on this book has been a laborious process for all involved. They began work right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ultimately slowed down the project's process. As work on the book continued, one of the project's original co-authors, Peter Mankowski, a professor at the University of Hamburg, passed away tragically in 2022. For the authors, the work has been challenging…
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Zaki Farah understands firsthand that for many, the courtroom is not a place of fairness, but a place of fear. His mission is to change that. The son of Syrian immigrants who fled religious and political persecution, Farah grew up in upstate New York watching his family navigate the immigration system with little support. His father built a photography business from the ground up, but the process…, Zaki Farah flanked by two other RWU Law studnets with the LA Superior Court of California building behind them., That purpose led him to Alternative Spring Break during his 2L year , where he was placed with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office . It was, in his words, “the most formative experience of my legal education.” There, he was thrown into active criminal cases, invited into courtroom chambers, and mentored by public defenders and judges who modeled the kind of advocacy he aspires to…
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