State Democracy Research Initiative has four new staffers:
- Danielle Friedman, State Democracy Research Institute (SDRI) legal director. Friedman previously worked in private practice as a political lawyer, focusing on campaign finance, voting and election administration issues.
- Bridget Lavender, SDRI staff attorney. Lavender most recently worked as a Skadden Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) State Supreme Court Initiative.
- Melina Nguyen, SDRI program coordinator. Nguyen graduated last May from University of Wisconsin–Madison with a bachelor’s degree in political science, geography and environmental studies.
- Harrison Stark, SDRI senior counsel, director of special projects. Stark most recently worked with the Vermont ACLU affiliate, where he litigated civil rights and civil liberties matters in state and federal courts.
William H. Hastie Fellowship
Our latest William H. Hastie Fellow is an alumnae, Emma Shakeshaft ’12. She most recently served as senior staff attorney and researcher at the ACLU of Wisconsin.
The two-year Hastie Fellowship has provided aspiring scholars with an outstanding opportunity to prepare for a career in teaching law since 1973.
Three faculty members have been elevated to associate dean roles over the summer:
- BJ Ard is now associate dean for Research and Faculty Development. Ard has been teaching and writing at UW Law since 2018, with a focus on copyright, innovation and the intersections of law and technology. “I look forward to supporting our world-class faculty as we engage with today’s most pressing legal challenges,” he said. Susannah Camic Tahk, who served in the role for nine years, will continue to teach and research tax law.
- Emily Buchholz is now associate dean for Experiential Learning. Buchholz joined UW Law in 2022 as the director of the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic. “UW Law has been a leader in the experiential learning field for decades,” Buchholz said. “It’s a privilege to work with and support our outstanding experiential faculty.” Ursula Weigold, who served in the role for the past six years, retired this year after 15 years at UW Law and a distinguished academic career in legal research and writing.
- Emily Cauble is now associate dean for Academic Affairs. She has taught and written about tax law at UW Law over the past three years. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the rest of our academic affairs team and our faculty on continuing to offer our students an excellent legal education,” she said. Cauble, the Thomas G. Ragatz Chair in Tax Law, took over the role from Kevin Kelly ’91, who’s moved into a teaching professor role. Kelly has been on the Law School staff since 1998; he was appointed an assistant dean in 2000 and an associate dean in 2010.
Tenure-Track Faculty Updates
Three new hires have joined our tenure-track faculty, all focused on the emerging issues of technology and artificial intelligence: Paul Connell, Jason Reinecke and Benjamin Sobel. Read more about them in Fresh Scholars, Bold Ideas.
One of the two new Legal Analysis, Advocacy, and Writing teaching faculty hires is also an alumnus, Tony Lucchesi ʼ00. See more about him, Hugh Dowell and the program in Rewriting the Program.
The Three Emilys
With the promotions of Buchholz and Cauble, UW Law now has three associate deans named Emily. Emily Kite is associate dean for the Office of Professional and Career Development (OCPD), where she has been supporting students and alumni since 2013.