News

The federal courthouse in Minneapolis has been renamed in honor of pathbreaking Judge Diana Murphy '74, the first woman appointed to the federal bench in Minnesota and the first to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Murphy died last year at the age of 84.

Belit Flores, who has a a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, spent five years doing research and development work at Cargill, Inc. before enrolling in Minnesota Law’s Master of Science in Patent Law (MSPL) program. She has more than 15 years of lab experience, which she is looking forward to putting to work in the exciting field of patent law.

Professor Brad Clary ’75 has been named the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Thomas F. Blackwell Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in the field of legal writing.

Kelly Zech, 1L, served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy specializing in operations for six years. Most recently, she served as a stay-at-home mom managing three children for seven years. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, where she obtained dual degrees in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurial Management.

Welcome to the Minnesota Law class of 2022! Could you describe your naval experience and how it connects to your decision to study law?

The Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Ramsey County Community Corrections have been awarded a $197,000 grant to conduct a joint in-depth research and data-analysis project on the drivers of probation failures.

Carlton Hemphill, 1L, was formerly an aerospace engineer in Florida and before that an intern at NASA. He has his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Wichita State University.

Welcome to the Minnesota Law class of 2022! You a former aerospace engineer. Could you discuss that a bit, including your work connected with the Blue Angels? 

“Students who want to work in environmental and energy fields need exposure and training in all three disciplines of law, policy and business,” says Gabe Chan, an assistant professor at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs who focuses on the science, technology, and the environment.

As a 3L, N. Georgette Marling ’19 had the opportunity to combine her interests in environmental law and international law during a semester at Uppsala University in Sweden.

With a bachelor’s in Biology, Health and Medical Sciences from Minnesota State University Moorhead, Loida Guajardo, 1L, wants to put her STEM background to work in the dynamic field of intellectual property law. While she considers herself generally reserved, she volunteered to speak at her commencement because she felt she had an important message to deliver.

Welcome to the Minnesota Law class of 2022! You were the commencement speaker at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). Could you discuss that experience a bit?

Amy B. Monahan, Associate Dean for Research & Planning and Melvin C. Steen Professor, was recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (ACEBC).