2023 Law School Dean's Circle Awards Announced

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Top from left: Howard Brill and Susan Schneider; bottom: Caleb Griffin, Bob Wheeler and Audrey Briggs with Dean Cynthia Nance.

The U of A School of Law has announced the 2023 Dean's Circle Award recipients. The awards were created to recognize faculty for their excellence in teaching and advising, research and scholarship, and public service, as well as staff members for their commitment and dedication to students and the school.

Assistant professor Caleb Griffin received the Dean's Circle Faculty Award for Scholarship, Howard Brill, Vincent Foster Professor of Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility, received the Dean's Circle Faculty Award for Teaching, Susan Schneider, William H. Enfield Professor of Law, received the Dean's Circle Faculty Award for Public Service and Bob Wheeler and Audrey Briggs received the Dean's Circle Awards as Outstanding Staff Members.

 "I am grateful to the awards committee for its diligence in selecting this years' awards recipients," said Dean Cynthia Nance. "Each of them has made significant contributions to the law school, the law, and our students. We are quite fortunate to have such terrific and dedicated colleagues."

The Dean's Circle Faculty Award recipients are recommended by the awards committee to the dean. These awards honor up to three outstanding professors and typically one staff member. Each award carries an honorarium payment of $1,000.

The committee was chaired by professor Carol Goforth. The other committee members were professors Sharon Foster and Christopher Kelley and staff member Jackie Stites.

FACULTY AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP – CALEB GRIFFIN

The selection of this award is based on scholarship that is novel or inherently excellent, addresses complex material, is well-researched, well-written, well placed, well received by experts in the field and is influential among lawyers, judges or the legal academy.

"I am very grateful to receive this award, and I feel so privileged to work alongside a group of such talented and accomplished scholars," said Griffin. "We have such an amazing law school with fantastic students and colleagues, and I am so thankful for their support."

The committee selected Griffin for this honor "in recognition of the impact that his scholarship is already having. He has been influential in helping shape federal legislation and has been called to testify before Congress. His work is very well regarded by his peers, but the fact that he is already impacting legislation is what most impressed the committee."

FACULTY AWARD FOR TEACHING – HOWARD BRILL

The selection of this award is based on implementing pedagogical techniques in the classroom that engage students in reflecting on their own learning process, stimulate critical and creative thinking, and incorporate formative assessment. 

"I am honored to have been chosen by my colleagues for this recognition," said Brill. "Teaching is the most important, the most enjoyable and the most fulfilling aspect of being at the school of law. It permits the instructor to impart knowledge to the students and to gain insights from the students."  

According to the committee, "We selected Howard Brill in recognition of his many years of dedication to our students. He routinely teaches course overloads, is incredibly creative in his teaching, actively uses formative and practical assessments, and does a tremendous job in teaching large numbers of students each year."                   

FACULTY AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE – SUSAN SCHNEIDER

The selection of this award is based on modelling excellence through outstanding service to law school, legal academy or legal community, which is particularly important at a public, land grant university. 

"I am truly honored to have been selected for the Dean's Circle Service Award," said Schneider. "Committee work and administrative tasks keep the law school running smoothly, and while my focus is usually the LL.M. Program, I was happy to help with JD service as well this past year. There are a lot of exciting developments in legal education, and keeping current for our students is important."

The committee honored Schneider "for her many years of dedicated service to the LL.M. program, which she has helped create its current prominence. We also looked at her national service and reputation in the area of Agriculture and Food law. On top of that, she has carried a heavy load within the Law School, chairing our Curriculum Committee, and being very helpful in the self-study process, routinely offering insightful and helpful comments and suggestions."

OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBERS – BOB WHEELER AND AUDREY BRIGGS

Nominated by the Class of 2022 and selected by the committee, these awards honor staff members who made a tremendous impact on a graduating student or students.

"While I'm grateful to be recognized for the work and support I provide, I don't feel like I do anything above and beyond what most of my peers do," said Wheeler.

"I am so honored to be considered and even more so to receive this award," said Briggs. "The committee members are truly generous, and I appreciate their vote of confidence in me!"

According to the committee, "We recognized Bob for his years of dedication to the students, faculty, and other staff. He is always helpful, cheerful, and willing to go above and beyond to make sure that our classroom (and office) equipment is functioning.  We recognized Audrey not only for her consistently positive demeanor in the clinic office, but also for an extraordinary effort in assisting the faculty hiring committee during an exceptionally active year."