As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence July 4, Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics is making experts available to discuss the nation’s history, constitutional traditions, civic culture and future challenges.

The institute has four faculty members available for interviews on topics ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court and constitutional government to education policy, free speech and the role of states in American democracy.

The available experts include:

Ryan Owens, IGC Director

• Email: owens@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Civics and higher education; law and courts; U.S. Supreme Court; judicial behavior.
• Story angles:
  • How has America thrived for 250 years?
  • What does the Supreme Court need to do to ensure another 250 years?
  • What does higher education need to do to sustain America for another 250 years?
  • Is patriotism bipartisan?
  • What trends do we see regarding upcoming generations of Americans?

James Strickland, Constitutional Liberty Branch Head; Associate Professor of Political Science

• Email: jms25s@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Interest groups; legislatures and subnational politics in the United States.
• Story angles:
  • He can discuss the recent student-run constitutional convention.
  • Was James Madison correct about interest groups?
  • What is the role of states today versus states earlier in America’s 250 years?

James V. Shuls, Educational Liberty Branch Head

• Email: jvs24b@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: K-12 finance; teacher policy; education reform.
• Story angles:
  • How has the “right to learn” issue evolved over time?
  • How does education today compare to education at earlier times in America?
  • What does K-12 education need to do to sustain America for another 250 years?

Denise Harle, Conscience Liberty Branch Head, First Amendment Clinic Director

• Email: dharle@law.fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Constitutional law; appellate practice; First Amendment rights.
• Story angles:
  • Why is the First Amendment so important to America’s 250th?
  • What do free speech and religious liberty mean for Americans today versus 250 years ago?
  • How can we create a culture that respects individual rights to expression and thought?

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At Florida State University, Clinical Professor Rima Nathan is leading a hands-on elder law clinic that trains future lawyers by tackling several crises for low-income senior citizens.

The Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic is a holistic, interdisciplinary program dedicated to strengthening the well-being and resilience of low-income older adults through legal advocacy and community education. Clinical students handle real cases and work on policy initiatives while helping seniors navigate turbulent times.

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The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30, bringing increased potential for destructive storms.

Florida State University faculty are leaders in the study of forecasting, evacuation, insurance and building resilience against hurricanes. They are available to speak with media through the 2026 hurricane season and beyond.

Four faculty members answered questions during a virtual media briefing.

Forecasting, Formation and Tracking

Mark Bourassa, professor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, and associate director of the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
mbourassa@fsu.edu , (850) 644-6923
Bourassa uses on-site and remote (aircraft and satellite-based) observations as well as meteorological models to research air-sea interactions and how satellites measure what is happening on Earth’s surface. He is an expert on the network of global meteorological and oceanographic observations that inform forecasts, and the identification of tropical disturbances, which are possible precursors to tropical cyclones. Bourassa is also a team leader for the NASA Ocean Vector Wind Science Team.

Chelsea Nam, assistant professor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science
ccnam@fsu.edu, (850) 644-1787
Nam researches formations and intensification of tropical cyclones and the hazards brought by these storms. She uses radar data from airborne, shipborne and land-based sources to develop high-resolution models tracking cyclones. Nam is a member of the American Meteorological Society Scientific and Technological Activities Commission Committee on Radar Meteorology.

Emily Powell, assistant state climatologist, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
epowell@coaps.fsu.edu, (850) 644-0719
Powell provides information about the historical and current climate and weather of Florida for application across a range of sectors and industries. Her expertise includes understanding the drivers of seasonal hurricane forecasts, such as the EL Niño/La Niña cycle, providing historical context, and investigating community risks associated with tropical cyclones. Recent projects have focused on historical climate trends and variability, natural hazards and public health risks, and strategies for building community resilience. She also coordinates the Florida Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), a voluntary-based network of citizen scientists measuring and reporting precipitation from their own backyards.

Community Resilience

Pedro L. Fernández-Cabán, assistant professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center
plfernandez@eng.famu.fsu.edu , (850) 410-6251
Fernández-Cabán’s research couples laboratory and field experiments to assess the structural performance of civil infrastructure during windstorm events. His recent work focuses on developing state-of-the-art AI and machine learning models to predict hurricane wind fields and their interaction with coastal landscapes. Fernández-Cabán’s research leverages ground-level anemometric datasets collected during landfalling hurricanes and advanced wind tunnel techniques to better model the impact of coastal storms on civil infrastructure.

Katie Kehoe, assistant professor, College of Fine Arts
mkk22f@fsu.edu
Kehoe primarily works in performance and site-specific installations with a focus on natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. She led a 2024 project that honored the resilience of the rural Florida community of Steinhatchee in the aftermath of hurricanes Idalia and Debby. The project, “Learning from Local Experience to Strengthen Disaster Resilience,” was part of a pilot research initiative that examines how rural communities recover from extreme weather events such as hurricanes.

Paul Niell, associate professor, Department of Art History, College of Fine Arts
pniell@fsu.edu
Niell’s research focuses on the architectural history and cultural landscapes of the Caribbean. Through his scholarship, he has worked closely with indigenous communities to foster conversation about their traditional architecture and construction methods, designed to be resilient against the region’s intense storms. He has taught courses on Caribbean architecture and culture and is available to discuss how historic building practices helped ensure survival for the region’s Native peoples and how we might be able to apply their knowledge to make our communities more resilient to hurricanes today.

Emergency Management

David Merrick, director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program; director of the Center for Disaster Risk Policy
dmerrick@fsu.edu , Office: (850) 644-9961, Cell: (850) 980-7098
Merrick has worked in state emergency management for more than 21 years in roles including planning, external affairs and air operations. He developed and oversees the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program’s Disaster Incident Research Team, which deploys to disaster impact areas to perform field research on disaster and emergency management. This team has deployed to disasters such as hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Michael, Ian, and Helene to support federal, state and local agencies. His research interests include emergency management planning and policy, remote sensing and unmanned aircraft systems, and information technology in emergency management.

Environmental Law

Shi-Ling Hsu, D’Alemberte Professor, College of Law
shsu@law.fsu.edu , (850) 644-0726
Hsu is an expert in the areas of environmental and natural resource law, economics and property. He has published in a variety of legal journals, co-authored the casebook Ocean and Coastal Resources Law and has appeared on the American Public Media radio show “Marketplace.” Before entering academia, he was a senior attorney and economist for the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C.

Evacuation

Eren Ozguven, associate professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, director of the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center
eozguven@eng.famu.fsu.edu , (850) 410-6146
Ozguven directs the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center, which improves the quality of life in Florida and the Southeast by identifying disaster vulnerability, improving infrastructure and investigating ways to minimize negative impacts of natural disasters. His research interests include transportation accessibility, modeling of emergency evacuation operations, artificial intelligence and the simulation of transportation networks. Recent scholarship focuses on the relationships among different infrastructure networks in Florida and how that contributes to disaster preparation.

Maxim A. Dulebenets, associate professor and graduate program director, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
mdulebenets@eng.famu.fsu.edu , (850) 410-6621
Dulebenets’ research mainly focuses on operations and optimization. His research group has developed efficient algorithms that can be used to schedule large-scale evacuations in preparation for major natural hazards. His models capture realistic features of emergency evacuation planning, including potential impacts of evacuation settings on evacuees themselves. His recent studies propose new types of optimization models and solution algorithms for emergency evacuation planning under pandemic settings, considering a higher risk of virus spread in overcrowded emergency shelters. 

Risk and Insurance

Patricia Born, Payne H. & Charlotte Hodges Midyette Eminent Scholar in Risk Management & Insurance, Herbert Wertheim College of Business
pborn@wertheim.fsu.edu, (850) 644-7884
Born studies the insurance market structure and performance, professional liability, health insurance and the management of catastrophic risks, such as hurricanes and other natural disasters. She is a past president of the American Risk and Insurance Association and the Risk Theory Society.

Charles Nyce, Dr. William T. Hold Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and chair of the Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate & Legal Studies Department, Herbert Wertheim College of Business
cnyce@wertheim.fsu.edu , (850) 645-8392
Nyce’s research focuses on catastrophic risk financing. He has written numerous articles on risk management and insurance topics, including title insurance, enterprise risk management, predictive analytics and natural hazards.

Public Health

Chris Uejio, professor, Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
cuejio@fsu.edu
Uejio studies how the physical environment influences human health and well-being. His recent research includes investigations of tropical cyclones, extreme heat and health. Uejio has been quoted in the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, Wall Street Journal, Science Friday and other news outlets about public health issues, including heat waves and hurricanes.

Urban Planning

Dennis Smith, planner in residence, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
djsmith3@fsu.edu
Smith is the director of the Mark & Marianne Barnebey Planning & Development Lab, which uses the academic and professional resources of Florida State University to connect with public and private partners to provide capacity and innovative planning for the sustainable growth and long-term viability of Florida communities. His work has focused on risks to the built environment, including projects for resiliency, transportation modeling, evacuation planning for high-risk areas and vulnerability assessment. He has extensive experience managing state and federal programs and a thorough knowledge of laws relating to land use, transportation and disaster recovery.

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Students from the Florida State University College of Law have been selected for some of Florida’s most competitive public service fellowships, earning placements across the executive, judicial and legislative branches of Florida state government.

This year, five FSU Law students were selected for Class XXI of the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows; five of the nine students chosen statewide for the Florida Supreme Court Fellows Program come from the college; and all eight participants in the Florida House of Representatives Legislative Fellows Program are FSU Law students.

“Together, these placements highlight the college’s longstanding role in preparing students for leadership in public service,” Dean Erin O’Hara O’Connor said. “Being located in the heart of the state capital gives our students unparalleled access to the institutions and leaders shaping the law. These fellowships allow our students to move beyond the classroom and engage directly in the work of government across all three branches, gaining experience that prepares them to lead from day one.”

For decades, FSU College of Law has served as a pipeline for leaders in Florida, the third largest state in the nation, and beyond, equipping graduates with the skills, insight and professional connections needed to navigate complex legal and policy challenges.

Gubernatorial Fellows

Five FSU Law students were selected for the highly competitive Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Class XXI, one of the state’s most prestigious public service leadership programs. The yearlong fellowship places emerging leaders within top state agencies for immersive, hands-on experience in policymaking, public administration and government operations.

This year’s FSU Law Gubernatorial Fellows include:

• 2L Cole McLellan — Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• 3L Alexa Kays — Florida Department of State
• 2L Lucas Piroli — Executive Office of the Governor, Office of General Counsel
• 2L Andrew Otanes — Florida Department of Commerce
• 2L Kate Rumisek — Florida Department of Corrections

The program allows students to work alongside senior leaders in various state agencies. The fellows will conclude the program with a formal presentation of their policy research findings and recommendations directly to the state’s senior leadership.

McLellan says his experience at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been a great learning opportunity. He split his semesters, first working in the Cyber Division and then in the Office of the General Counsel, giving him interdisciplinary experience throughout his fellowship.

McLellan discussed the advantages of participating in the program alongside seven other FSU students, noting they support one another and maintain a sense of accountability.

“It is reassuring because we are bouncing what we’re feeling off each other, and it keeps our motivation going,” McLellan said. “It’s definitely nice to have people to talk to that are right there with you.”

Piroli said working at the General Counsel’s office provides valuable experience with a wide range of legal issues.

“This is a prestigious program, and getting to work in the government for the third-largest state in the country is just really special,” Piroli said. “It’s a great administration, and I’m really proud to be able to serve Florida and contribute and to learn from some impressive leaders.”

Florida Supreme Court Fellows

FSU Law students also earned a significant share of placements with the Supreme Court of Florida, with five of the nine fellows selected statewide coming from the College of Law.

The program provides students with hands-on experience supporting the court’s work while also offering mentorship from justices and their clerks.

This year’s placements include:

• 2L Haven Branca with Justice Renatha Francis
• 3L Mason Bennett with Justice Meredith L. Sasso
• 3L Sheldon Burnell with Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz
• 2L Zenani Johnson with Justice Jorge Labarga
• 3L Steven Wiktorski with Justice Adam S. Tanenbaum

Located just steps from the court, FSU Law provides students with unique access to Florida’s highest judicial body, creating opportunities for direct engagement that extend beyond the classroom.

Burnell says being a part of the Florida Supreme Court Fellows Program was truly the highlight of his time in law school.

“Serving as Chief Justice Muñiz’s Fellow gave me the opportunity to work closely with the Chief Justice and his outstanding staff, connect with the Associate Justices of the Court, and contribute to work involving cases before Florida’s highest court,” he said.

Burnell gained additional opportunities while in the program, such as observing oral arguments, which gave him a firsthand look at the appellate judicial decision-making process.

Branca shared her experience with Justice Renatha Francis, noting that her time serving as a Florida Supreme Court Fellow was among the most meaningful and rewarding of her time at FSU Law.

“I am incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to learn from Florida’s leading legal minds, observe oral arguments, and gain insight into the judicial decision-making process,” Branca said. “I am especially grateful for the mentorship and support of Justice Francis and the outstanding team in her chambers, as well as for the opportunity to work alongside such exceptional fellow students.”

Branca recognized that the unique opportunity to work alongside Justice Francis was made possible by FSU Law’s strong reputation and its proximity to our state’s highest court.

Florida House of Representatives Legislative Fellows

Through the Florida House of Representative Legislative Fellows Program, all eight fellows selected for the 2025–26 academic year are FSU Law students, an uncommon distinction that reflects the college’s strength in preparing students for leadership in public service.

This year’s Fellows include:

• 2Ls Kennedi Ray, and Zack “Gambill” Dallas — Commerce Committee
• 3L Sarah Augustine — Health & Human Services Committee
• 2L Teddy Fronczak — Judiciary Committee
• 2L Juan Castro Jordan — Majority Office
• 2L Andrew Louis — Minority Office
• 2L Patricia Waltz — Rules & Ethics Committee
• 2L Amy Kurtz — Ways & Means Committee

Established in 1967 through legislation sponsored by Lawton Chiles, the program provides graduate students with a unique opportunity to engage directly in the legislative process and gain insight into the inner workings of state government.

Augustine was placed in the Health & Human Services Committee and expressed that the Florida House of Representatives Legislative Fellows program placed her at the center of real legislative work at the Capitol.

“I had the privilege of analyzing bills with direct consequences for Floridians, including legislation establishing a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry that will improve data collection, expand research and ultimately better the lives of patients and families across Florida,” she said. “For any law student interested in public service, this program is where policy becomes real, and the legislative process comes to life.”

Waltz shared her experience in the Legislative Fellowship Program as a pivotal point in strengthening her research, communication and professional writing skills while allowing her to see how policy decisions are developed, debated and refined within a complex environment.

“My experience in the Florida House Fellowship Program with the Rules and Ethics Committee gave me firsthand insight into the legislative process, committee procedures and the standards that guide the state legislature,” Waltz said.

To learn more about the FSU College of Law and its offerings, visit law.fsu.edu.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University College of Law students didn’t just study Supreme Court cases this semester — they helped write a legal filing that was cited during oral arguments in a major election law case before the nation’s highest court.

Students in the Supreme Court Litigation course, taught by Michael T. Morley, Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law and FSU Election Law Center Faculty Director, and Maureen Wagner Vinson, FSU Election Law Center Executive Director, are gaining hands-on experience preparing briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. Through the course, students engage directly in amicus advocacy, learn Supreme Court procedure and develop high-level legal writing skills.

As part of the FSU College of Law’s 2026 Supreme Court Litigation course, students worked alongside Professor Morley to file an amicus brief in Watson v. RNC, a case that asks the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the meaning and scope of federal Election Day statutes — specifically, whether ballots received after Election Day in federal elections remain valid under federal law.

During oral arguments March 23, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh referenced Morley’s brief and the position advanced by the FSU Election Law Center. The exchange underscored FSU Law’s growing reputation as a national leader in experiential legal education and election law scholarship.

For second-year law student Lauren Bina, hearing the brief cited in court was both unexpected and unforgettable.

“The feeling of going to that YouTube link and hearing Professor Morley’s name being cited by Justice Kavanaugh was surreal,” Bina said.

Third-year law student Spencer Moreno said the moment validated months of intensive legal research and drafting — work that mirrors what attorneys do in appellate practice.

“We are so busy working on other briefs and other things. That wasn’t necessarily something we were checking for,” Moreno said. “But once Professor Vinson alerted us, we were definitely very excited to see that. Just hearing Professor Morley’s name cited by a current Supreme Court Justice was almost like a jump scare.”

“Providing students with the opportunity to contribute to a case before the U.S. Supreme Court reflects the kind of hands-on, high-impact learning that defines the Florida State University College of Law,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, Dean of the FSU College of Law. “Through experiences like the Supreme Court Litigation course and the work of our Election Law Center, our students are not only studying the law — they are helping shape it while developing the practical skills needed to lead in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.”

“Providing students with the opportunity to contribute to a case before the U.S. Supreme Court reflects the kind of hands-on, high-impact learning that defines the Florida State University College of Law.”

– Erin O’Hara O’Connor, Dean of the FSU College of Law

Watson v. RNC centers on a Mississippi law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to five days later. The Republican National Committee (RNC) argues that the policy is preempted in presidential and congressional elections by federal law, which establishes “Election Day” as a single day for federal elections.

To address that question, Professor Morley and his students examined congressional records dating back to the 19th century to uncover the original intent behind federal Election Day statutes.

“We were reviewing congressional record transcripts from the 1840s and the 1880s and piecing together the different floor statements that were made, the debates, the speeches, in order to tease out what the congressional purpose and the congressional intent was,” Professor Morley said of the team’s research.

The brief argued that the Supreme Court should interpret the statutes consistently with their original purpose: preventing voter fraud while preserving public confidence in election outcomes.

For Moreno, the fact that the Justices engaged directly with the argument captured the very purpose of filing an amicus brief.

“I think it was very, very surreal,” Moreno said. “I think it’s one of those things where you always hope they’re going to pay attention to what you say, that’s kind of the point of an amicus brief – you’re a friend of the court. You’re trying to bring up something that they’re not necessarily going to consider. The fact that they actually did read it and listened to our argument, we’re very pleased for sure.”

The brief’s citation elevates the national profile of the FSU Election Law Center and highlights the College of Law’s commitment to preparing practice-ready graduates capable of contributing to consequential legal debates.

From a Tallahassee classroom to the nation’s highest court, the experience is a reminder that student work at FSU can help shape the future of American election law.

The Center’s impact extends beyond the classroom. The FSU Election Law Center’s Spring Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., this year, bringing together the nation’s most preeminent election law scholars, leading policymakers, top litigators, election regulators and administrators, and other experts to tackle the most pressing issues affecting elections across the United States.

For more information about the Election Law Center, visit its website.

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The Election Law Center at Florida State University College of Law will host its two-day Spring 2026 Conference in Washington, D.C., on April 16–17, 2026, convening the nation’s leading election law scholars, policymakers, litigators and election officials to examine the most pressing issues shaping elections in the United States.

“Hosting this conference in Washington, D.C., places our students and faculty at the center of the national conversation on election law,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the College of Law. “It provides a unique opportunity for our students to engage directly with the policymakers, regulators and thought leaders who are actively shaping election law and policy. Experiences like this are central to our mission of preparing graduates with a well-rounded, practical understanding of the legal systems that underpin our democracy.”

Established to advance research, education and public dialogue on election law, the Election Law Center at Florida State University College of Law serves as a hub for rigorous, nonpartisan analysis of the legal frameworks that govern elections. Through conferences, scholarship and student engagement, the Center plays a leading role in shaping conversations around election administration, voting rights and democratic governance.

The Center is led by Michael T. Morley, faculty director of the Election Law Center and Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law. Professor Morley is a nationally recognized scholar in election law with research focused on election emergencies, the constitutional right to vote, the Electoral Count Act, and the equitable powers of the federal courts. His scholarship has been widely cited by courts and commentators. Under his leadership, the Center continues to expand its role as a leading forum for rigorous, nonpartisan engagement with the most pressing issues in election law.

Confirmed speakers include a member of Congress currently serving on the House Committee on Administration’s Election Subcommittee; two commissioners (former and current) of the Federal Election Commission; a sitting commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission; and senior leadership from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). The conference will also feature more than twenty of the nation’s leading scholars in law and political science.

Panel discussions will address key topics, including voting rights, election administration, election litigation, campaign finance and institutional structures in a post-Callais landscape, among other critical issues.

Visit the Spring 2026 conference website for more information and registration details.

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Big tech companies Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube were each found negligent by a California jury on Wednesday for operating addictive products that have harmed adolescents – a decision that could impact how these companies function.

Florida State University’s Justin Sevier, the Charles W. Ehrhardt Professor of Litigation, is available for interviews and able to provide insight into how jurors might process emotional testimony from parents and children vs. technical arguments from tech giants. Sevier can also provide analysis on public perception of the trial outcome.

Sevier focuses on legal institutional design, where he identifies and examines the conditions under which the public willingly legitimizes legal rules, actors and tribunals. He explores his research primarily through psychology experiments in the law of evidence, studying both jury behavior and non-lawyers’ perceptions of trial outcomes, while also examining the role that popular legitimacy plays in shaping the law governing business torts and consumer behavior.

Interview requests for Charles W. Ehrhardt Professor of Litigation Justin Sevier can be made by emailing him at jsevier@law.fsu.edu.

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Speaking in front of a packed crowd at the Florida State University College of Law Rotunda, former U.S. ambassador Mark Brzezinski offered effusive praise for FSU’s legacy in international politics while promoting the importance of global diplomacy.

Brzezinski served as the featured speaker at the fourth annual D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights. The well-attended lecture included FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Clark giving the welcome address to a crowd that included members of the local community as well as FSU faculty, staff and students. He was followed by FSU Law Associate Professor Tahirih V. Lee, who welcomed Brzezinski and felt a connection to his work in Poland after her own grandfather emigrated from the Central European country to the United States.

Brzezinski’s presentation, “U.S. Embassies as ‘Force Multipliers’ for Democracy and Human Rights: The Case of Poland 2021-25,” described U.S. embassies as the most effective operational tools for advancing human rights. Stemming from his time as U.S. Ambassador to Poland (2021-24) and Sweden (2011-15), Brzezinski argued that embassies are positioned to advance democracy through daily, tactical engagement.

“The broad lesson is clear,” Brzezinski said. “Embassies aren’t ancillary, they’re the operational core. For half a century, they’ve done this work in context ranging from post conflict reconstruction to stable democracies.”

Brzezinski lauded former FSU President Sandy D’Alemberte (1994-2003) and the work he did with The Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI). D’Alemberte played an essential role in creating an organization that oversaw the American Bar Association’s (ABA) programs that promoted the development of fair and open election laws in 21 countries.

“I am fortunate to have known Sandy D’Alemberte,” Brzezinski added. “He was a force of nature. Sandy was president of the American Bar Association in 1991 when the Berlin Wall was crumbling. Under Sandy’s leadership, the ABA initiated one of the most creative overseas assistance initiatives ever.”

“I am fortunate to have known Sandy D’Alemberte. He was a force of nature. Sandy was president of the American Bar Association in 1991 when the Berlin Wall was crumbling. Under Sandy’s leadership, the ABA initiated one of the most creative overseas assistance initiatives ever.”

– Mark Brzezinski, former U.S. Ambassador

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The Florida State University College of Law will welcome Mark F. Brzezinski, former United States Ambassador to Sweden and Poland, as the featured speaker for the 2026 D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights.

Brzezinski will deliver a lecture titled “U.S. Embassies as ‘Force Multipliers’ for Democracy and Human Rights: The Case of Poland, 2021-25” at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at the College of Law. The event is free and open to the public.

“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Brzezinski to FSU Law,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “His career at the intersection of diplomacy, law and human rights offers a powerful opportunity for our students and the broader community to engage with the real-world challenges of advancing democratic values and protecting human rights globally.”

“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Brzezinski to FSU Law. His career at the intersection of diplomacy, law and human rights offers a powerful opportunity for our students and the broader community to engage with the real-world challenges of advancing democratic values and protecting human rights globally.”

– Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of Florida State University College of Law

Brzezinski brings decades of experience in public service, international law and global affairs. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Poland from 2021 to 2024, where he played a key role in strengthening democratic institutions and advancing human rights during a pivotal period. Previously, during the Obama administration, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2015.

Brzezinski is president and CEO of Brzezinski Global Strategies, a geostrategic advisory firm. He previously served as a managing director at Makena Capital Management, where he led sustainability initiatives and advised on environmentally and socially responsible investment strategies.

Earlier in his career, Brzezinski was a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in Washington, D.C., where he helped build the firm’s international compliance practice. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, where he has served on the board of advisers for the organization’s Corporate Program. From 1991 to 1993, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Poland. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed him to the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.

The D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights is made possible by Patsy Palmer, Esq., and was established to educate the community about the critical field of international human rights, inspire FSU Law students and contribute to the global discussion on human rights issues. Previous speakers in the lecture series include Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson (2025), Ambassador David Scheffer, the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues (2024) and former General Counsel of the U.S. Navy Alberto J. Mora (2023).

Palmer is an FSU College of Law alumna and former FSU First Lady, known as a champion of the university’s academic and cultural initiatives.

“We are deeply grateful to Patsy Palmer for making this important lecture series possible,” O’Hara O’Connor added.

For more information, visit  law.fsu.edu/humanrightslecture.

Synopsis of 2026 D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights

Ambassador (ret.) Mark Brzezinski argues that U.S. embassies are the most effective — and underappreciated — tools for defending democracy and human rights. Drawing on his experience as Ambassador to Poland, he demonstrates how embassies function as “force multipliers” by converting American interests into effective diplomacy through precise leverage, local knowledge and side-by-side partnerships with civil society. From blocking anti-democratic legislation in Warsaw to supporting election integrity in Guatemala and Brazil, embassies advance American interests not despite their focus on democracy and human rights, but because rule of law, judicial independence and press freedom form the institutional infrastructure that makes reliable partnerships possible. As the liberal international order fragments and U.S. policy shifts, Brzezinski calls on the next generation to preserve this operational knowledge and reimagine democracy support for a more complex world — one that demands less prescription from distant capitals and more grounded, tactical collaboration on the frontlines where rights are actually won or lost.

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60th anniversary photo gallery

Florida State University College of Law is celebrating 60 years since welcoming its first students in 1966, marking six decades of leadership in public legal education, scholarship and service.

FSU Law began with a bold vision: to expand access to high-quality legal education and prepare graduates to serve Florida and the nation with integrity and excellence. From its early days in the historic Longmire Building, the college has grown into one of the nation’s leading public law schools.

FSU Law welcomed its inaugural class of about 100 students under the leadership of founder Dean Mason Ladd. With a small but dedicated faculty, the young law school quickly established a reputation for academic rigor, public engagement and student-centered learning.

Over the decades, successive leaders — Joshua Morse III, L. Orin Slagle, Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, Don Weidner, and current dean Erin O’Hara O’Connor — guided the college through expansion, innovation and national recognition.

“As we mark FSU Law’s 60th anniversary, we honor a legacy of excellence in scholarship, teaching and public service that has shaped generations of lawyers and strengthened communities across Florida and beyond,” said O’Hara O’Connor. “Our story is one of growth, innovation and an unwavering commitment to student success. While we proudly celebrate our past, we are also building momentum for the future as one of the nation’s top law schools.”

“Our story is one of growth, innovation and an unwavering commitment to student success. While we proudly celebrate our past, we are also building momentum for the future as one of the nation’s top law schools.” 

– Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of FSU Law

Over the past 60 years, the institution has evolved, growing from a single building into a law school campus that includes two academic buildings, four historic houses, a student lounge, specialized research centers and robust academic programs.

FSU Law’s reach extends well beyond Tallahassee through nationally recognized centers and clinics, as well as an international study-abroad program at the University of Oxford in London.

FSU Law has produced leaders in the judiciary, government, private practice, public service, and academia. Its graduates serve as judges, legislators, advocates, entrepreneurs, and community leaders throughout Florida and around the world.

FSU Law’s faculty has earned national and international distinction for their scholarship, teaching and public engagement. Faculty members are regularly cited by courts, policymakers and the media, publish in leading law reviews and academic journals, and shape legal discourse in fields ranging from constitutional law and environmental policy to business regulation, technology and public interest advocacy.

Through their work in the classroom and beyond, FSU Law professors mentor students, advance knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the development of law and policy.

To commemorate the 60th anniversary milestone, the College of Law will host a yearlong celebration featuring special events, programming, alumni engagement opportunities and historical exhibits highlighting the people and moments that have shaped the College of Law.

For more information on FSU Law’s 60th anniversary, visit law.fsu.edu/60th.

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The Florida State University College of Law, along with the Stoops Center for Law and Business and the Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation, hosted its first AI Day in the Capital last week, bringing together experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

With College of Law Dean and Donald J. Weidner Chair Erin O’Hara O’Connor kicking off the event with a welcome message, the day was filled with discussions and presentations that included leaders in government, law, technology, and academia. The event examined the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its implications for public institutions, civic infrastructure and ethical governance.

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The Florida State University College of Law, through the Stoops Center for Law and Business and in conjunction with the Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation, will host AI Day in the Capital at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22. The event brings together leaders in government, law, technology and academia to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping public institutions, civic infrastructure and governance.

AI Day in the Capital will focus on how AI is already being deployed across state and local systems — and how law, policy and ethics must evolve alongside it. Through conversations, expert panels and hands-on demonstrations, participants will explore responsible AI adoption, transparency, workforce impacts, access to justice and public trust.

“AI is already reshaping how governments serve the public and how the law responds to innovation,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “AI Day in the Capital creates an important forum for policymakers, scholars and practitioners to engage directly with these issues and to explore how AI can be deployed responsibly and in service of the public good.”

Sponsored by Amazon, the event reflects a university-wide effort to convene expertise across disciplines. Speakers and participants include leaders from national law firms, technology companies, and various colleges and units at FSU, as well as government officials and industry experts from across the country.

AI Day in the Capital will feature hands-on demonstrations highlighting AI in action across the university, from health care and atmospheric research to legal applications.

The event is free and open to the public. Continuing Legal Education credit is available. Members of the media are encouraged to attend; interviews with speakers and university leadership are available upon request.

Visit the AI Day in the Capital website to view the full schedule and register.

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