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News about the hiring of Stetson Law’s new dean — Michèle Alexandre — has been published in the London News Journal and other media outlets via the March 20 newswire. The March 18 Philadelphia Tribune reported, “Florida’s elder law school hires first Black dean after 119 years.” Locally, the Tampa Bay Reporter and Florida Courier also provided coverage.

Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote the March 19 Brennan Center for Justice article, “Beware of Scam PACs in This Crowded Presidential Field.” Also, Torres-Spelliscy spoke with the Miami Herald for the article, “Cindy Yang helped Chinese tech stars get $50K photos with Trump. Who paid?”

Jason Evans, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental science and studies, was mentioned in an article from Our Time Press, regarding the “impact and implications of a rising sea level.” 

Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote the March 19 Elder Law Prof Blog, “Combating Loneliness in Older Adults.” Also, Morgan wrote the March 20 Elder Law Prof blog, “CDC Says Dementia Deaths Up.”

Other News

Professor of Psychology Christopher Ferguson, Ph.D., was quoted in a March 21 MSN article titled, “Saudi social worker says PUBG causes ‘evil and violent’ thoughts.” In response to the claim, Ferguson said: “Violent video games may help reduce societal violence rather than increase it.”

Peter Lake, director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy, was quoted in the March 19 article, “College admissions scammers found ‘the hole in the Death Star,’” from the Miami Herald. Lake commented on the recent bout of fraud discovered in colleges across the nation. “We assume there’s the occasional person who scams their way into higher education, but this is very organized and systematic,” he said. “It has the feeling of white-collar crime and insider trading — people working inside systems to gain advantage. The fact that it was so widespread, with so many people involved at one time and the deliberateness of it, is disturbing.”

Also, Lake was quoted in the March 18 Yahoo News article titled, “How the College Scandal Is Different from Other Ways Rich Parents Con Their Kids Into School.” He compared the recent scandal to Wall Street insider trading schemes. “This is insider trading, college style,” Lake said. “It reminds me a little of some of the scandals of the 80s on Wall Street, and it potentially undermines the credibility of just about everybody until they can demonstrate otherwise.”

Alumni in the News

The March 19 Daily Tribune News reported that alumnus Judge George Carey Nelson III passed away March 18.

Alumnus Cliff Self was featured in a March 20 article of the Port Townsend Leader (Washington state) titled, “A brain rewired for sound.” Self, a graduate of Stetson University School of Music who is also blind, teaches students music at Port Townsend. “I carried the torch for a while, and I was lucky to do so,” Self said. “Most teachers that I know didn’t have the opportunities that I had to play around the country and around the world.”

Law alumnus George Dondanville is a candidate for Naples City Council, according to the March 20 Naples News.

Alumna LeeAnn Valcarcel was mentioned in an article from The St. Augustine Record, regarding her role as the Choir Director and Lower School Music teacher at Fayetteville Academy in North Carolina. Her music students of the Fayetteville Academy Chorus performed in St. Augustine on March 15.

Law alumnus Matt Towery published an article titled, “The One Thing Trump Should Do to Lock Up His Re-Election,” at Newsmax on March 16.

General Counsel Newsreported that R. Craig Mayfield was named Managing Partner of Bradley’s Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Tampa office.