Faculty Highlights – April 2019
Michelle Hanlon, Air and Space Law Instructor and Research Counsel, wrote an article on the Apollo 11 Moon Landing that was picked up by Newsweek.
Hanlon presented at the International Institute of Space Law and European Center for Space Law’s annual symposium in Vienna, Austria. Her presentation topic was “Challenges for the Implementation of the Moon Agreement.”
Professor of Law Ron Rychlak will be speaking on “Soviet Disinformation and the Attack on Western Values” at the Society of Catholic Social Scientists spring conference April 12 in Naples, Florida.
On April 25, Ron Rychlak will represent the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at the spring meeting of the Autonomy Conferences (the “Power Five Conferences”), held in Dallas.
Associate Professor of Law Will Berry‘s article, “Individualized Executions,” was published this month by the UC Davis Law Review.
Hanlon was interviewed by ABC Australia on preserving human heritage in outer space.
Assistant Professor of Law Stacey Lantagne appeared on American University Radio to discuss real person fan fiction.
Hanlon presented at Harvard University‘s Space Night April 22.
Associate Dean Sandra Cox-McCarty Honored by IHL
OXFORD, Miss. – Sandra Cox-McCarty, associate dean for administration and diversity initiatives at the University of Mississippi School of Law, is dedicated to diversity and inclusion.
For more than 27 years, she has worked diligently to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and tolerance. Because of her efforts and successes, Cox-McCarty has be recognized for her work by the board of trustees of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning with its Excellence in Diversity Award.
Cox-McCarty joined the law school in 1992 and has dedicated her career to making it a diverse and inclusive environment for all students. Her main role is dealing with administrative day-to-day aspects of the school. But she does much more than that for students, the school and the university behind the scenes.
She coordinates HBCU visits to the law school and develops relationships with those institutions through pre-law initiatives. In service, she mentors prospective law students and continues to serve as adviser for the Undergraduate Black Law Students Association.
“I am honored to have received this award,” Cox-McCarty said. “I want all students to feel welcome at the law school. I know how overwhelming the law school experience can feel initially and if I can help in any way, I would like for the students to know that my door is always open as a safe space. ”
Last year, Cox-McCarty also was among 30 recipients nationwide to receive the Council of Legal Education Opportunity award for Education, Diversity and Greater Equality. She was honored with the CLEO EDGE award at the council’s annual conference in November.
One of Cox-McCarty’s many mentees includes UM alumnus Rod Hickman, who was influenced by Cox-McCarty before his legal education career even began. When he was accepted into the program, he had several questions about the atmosphere at the law school. However, those concerns were put at ease when he got a call from an administrator, Cox-McCarty, who called him personally to answer his questions.
Hickman graduated from the law school in 2017 and practices at Brunini Attorneys at Law in Jackson, but the foundation of his career began with his first conversation with Cox-McCarty.
“I don’t think there is a more deserving person for this award,” he said. “She is an asset to the law school and has been for a long time. As a pillar of the law school community, she puts in a lot of hard work and is so passionate about it.”
Hickman began working closely with her in coordinating efforts with HBCUs, including Law Preview Day events and recruiting, but he said she does so much more than that.
“She helps make sure the environment at the law school is conducive to diversity, and makes sure all students are heard, regardless of race, nationality, sexual orientation or even age, since many nontraditional students attend law school,” Hickman said.
Hickman followed Cox-McCarty’s lead and began to mentor incoming students as well, including second-year law student Conisha T. Hackett. Of the many tidbits Hickman impressed upon her, he suggested Hackett get to know Cox-McCarty. After meeting her for the first time, Hackett then began to look to Cox-McCarty as a resource within the law school.
“She is more of a guidance counselor, helping us navigate our way through law school and life,” Hackett said.
She described McCarty as having a confidence that permeates through the lived experiences of her students.
When Hackett chose to run for vice-president of the law school’s Student Bar Association, she turned to Cox-McCarty for advice.
“She reminded me that if something doesn’t work out the way we want it to, we can mold that experience into something else and redefine what success looks like.”
Hackett, from Summit, said Cox-McCarty’s conversations have inspired her and redefined what diversity and inclusion mean to her.
“Inclusion does not really happen because other people are in the room; it’s about including them in the way that you think,” she said. “I didn’t really grasp that until after one of my conversations with her.”
As busy as Cox-McCarty is, she always finds time to speak with students, and her door is always open.
“Even if she doesn’t have the time, she’ll make time for you, which is so valuable,” Hackett said. “When you sit across from her, she treats you as an equal and you can open up and be honest. She’s always honest with me, despite everything else.”
Valuable lessons have been learned along the way, according to Hickman, Hackett and countless other current and former students.
“She has meaningful conversations with you and always leaves you with something to think about, sometimes for days and weeks,” Hackett said. “You’re thinking about it even if you don’t know you are.
“Those little nuggets teach you how to process and articulate your thoughts in a way that you need to move forward. Dean McCarty is truly one of the law school’s most valuable gems.”
Faculty Highlights – March 2019
Professor Michael Hoffheimer published a new fourth edition of Conflict of Laws in the Examples and Explanations series by Wolters Kluwer. An active Supreme Court and state law developments required significant revisions, according to the author. Previous editions were popular, earning solid five-star ratings on Amazon.
Associate Dean for Clinical Programs Tucker Carrington co-authored the book The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist, which was released last year. The book is now a finalist for the 2019 Audie Award.
Professor of Law and Ray and Louise Stewart Lecturer Larry J. Pittman‘s article “The Elusive Constitutional Right to Informational Privacy” was recently published in the Nevada Law Journal.
Assistant Professor of Law and MacArthur Justice Center Director Cliff Johnson has been selected as a Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow. He will be inducted at a dinner in Jackson on April 11. According to the Foundation, “The Fellows designation is the Foundation’s highest honor. Only 10% of the lawyers in Mississippi are eligible for membership as a fellow. Their selection is recognition by their peers that the attorney has achieved the highest level of professionalism, competence and leadership. Fellows are selected for membership based not only on their excellence as a lawyer but also by their dedication and service to the public and profession.”
Associate Dean for Administration and Diversity Initiatives Sandra Cox-McCarty was this year’s recipient of the IHL Excellence in Diversity Award.
Assistant Professor of Law Stacey Lantagne‘s most recent article, “Catchy Phrases That Convey a Message: The Danger of Tam’s Copymark Creep and Trademark Law’s New First Amendment Analysis,” will be published in the Nevada Law Journal.
Earlier this month, Lantagne spoke about her upcoming article at Marquette Law School as part of their Intellectual Property Speakers Series.
Lantagne will be part of a panel on user generated content this May at Harvard Law School’s CopyrightX Summit.
Professor Ron Rychlak will speak at the upcoming Criminal Law Symposium at Texas Tech University March 29. He will be talking about free speech and flag burning, 50 years later.
Michelle Hanlon, associate director for the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law, and instructor at the UM School of Law, gave a presentation earlier this month on Space Law at MidSouthCon in Memphis.