First Monday - August 3, 2009

In this issue:

• Centennial Celebrations to Encompass All Regions of Idaho
• New Faculty Appointment Enhances College’s Distinctive Emphasis in Natural Resources and Environmental Law
• Hail … But Not Farewell:  New Associate Dean and Admissions Director Join the Administrative Team

Centennial Celebrations to Encompass All Regions of Idaho

As the College of Law marks its 100^th year of service to Idaho, celebratory gatherings are commemorating the contributions made by law alumni, faculty, and students to the state’s development and to the administration of justice.  Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter has proclaimed 2009 to be “University of Idaho College of Law Recognition Year.”  The Governor delivered his proclamation during the centennial celebration at Boise on March 12, where the Hon. John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States, made keynote remarks before traveling to Moscow and delivering the Bellwood Lecture.  On July 30, the College of Law took its centennial celebration to Coeur d’Alene, where a reception was held at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.  Upcoming centennial celebrations will complete the College’s outreach to every judicial district in Idaho.  The future celebrations are tentatively scheduled as follows:

August 28 -- Pocatello
September 18 – Moscow
September 24 – Idaho Falls
October 9 – Twin Falls
October 23 – Caldwell
November 6 – Lewiston

Specific times and locations will be provided to alumni and friends in each region.  Further information about the general schedule of centennial events may be obtained from Michele Bartlett (bartlett@uidaho.edu), Director of Development for the College of Law.

New Faculty Appointment Enhances College’s Emphasis in Natural Resources and Environmental Law

This summer the College of Law community proudly welcomes Anastasia Telesetsky to the tenure-track faculty and College of Law community.  Professor Telesetsky received her J.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) and is completing an LL.M. degree in international environmental law at the University of British Columbia.  She previously received her baccalaureate degree summa cum laude from Vanderbilt and a masters degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.  She has engaged in the private practice of environmental law; has served as a consultant to the Ethiopian-Eritrean Claims Commission; has been a Bosch Foundation Fellow in Berlin and Cologne, Germany; and has been a Fulbright Fellow at the Environmental Legal Assistance Center in the Philippines. Her scholarly works have addressed international legal dimensions of environmental, natural resources, and global warming issues.

In the words of law faculty colleague Barbara Cosens (co-founder of the “Waters of the West” interdisciplinary program at the University of Idaho), Professor Telesetsky’s appointment signifies that “we have now developed what I think is one of the best programs in Natural Resources and Environmental Law in the country.”  The full-time faculty teaching and conducting research in this vital subject are include:

• Professor Dale Goble, an expert on the federal Endangered Species Act, wildlife law, and public lands
• Professor Cosens, an expert on water law and the intersection of law with science
• Professor Jerrold Long, an expert on land use and its relationship to environmental issues
• Professor Telesetsky, an expert on international environmental law
• Professor Angelique EagleWoman, an expert on Native American natural resource law (and creator of a Native Law emphasis in the law school curriculum)
• Professor Richard Seamon, an expert in administrative law including federal and state agency management of natural resources

Further information about the Natural Resources and Environmental Law emphasis at the University of Idaho may be obtained from Professor Cosens (bcosens@uidaho.edu).

Hail … But Not Farewell:  New Associate Dean and Admissions Director Join the Administrative Team

The College is pleased to announce that Helen Albertson-Ploucha will commence her service this month as the new Associate Dean for Students and Administration.  She succeeds Professor Richard Seamon, who is not departing but is instead resuming his full-time faculty responsibilities in teaching, research, and outreach.  Dean Albertson-Ploucha comes to the University of Idaho from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she has served as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the School of Law.  Previously she was the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.    She received her J.D. degree from the Temple University School of Law, and currently is completing the requirements for a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.  She received her baccalaureate degree in management and industrial relations, with a minor in accounting and economics, from Mankato State University.  She worked in human resources management before deciding to go to law school.

The College also is pleased to announce that Jenifer Finney will become the new Director of Admissions this month.  She succeeds Stephen Perez, who is remaining at the College of Law as a Development Coordinator.  (The College thanks Moscow lawyer Gretchen Stewart for serving as the interim director during this important transition.)  Ms Finney earned her J.D. degree from the College of Law at West Virginia University, where she also received the W.E.B. DuBois Award and a baccalaureate degree magna cum laude.  While still a student, she became the College of Law’s graduate assistant for minority recruitment, representing West Virginia University at Law School Admission Council (LSAC) forums throughout the country.

Further information about the administrative team at the University of Idaho College of Law may be obtained from Dean Burnett (dburnett@uidaho.edu).