Legal Deacon Digest – June 2026
Message from Leadership Dear Wake Forest Law Alumni, It was truly an honor to be chosen by the graduating class of 2026 as the recipient of the Jurist Excellence in Teaching Award and to deliver remarks during Hooding & Commencement this year. As the student speaker this year Sami Vincent so aptly noted during her own remarks to the class, this was truly a special and exceptional group of graduates. I cannot stress enough how proud I am of this group of people and how excited I am to see all the amazing things they will do as they move forward in their lives and careers. This year marked the end of my 12th year of teaching—eight of which have been spent at Wake Forest University School of Law. As I reflected on what I might say to the graduating class, I naturally found myself also thinking back to how much has changed for me in the years since I joined the legal academy—and how much has remained the same. While I have gained two amazing children, a dozen or so publications, and a considerable increase in gray hair since the time I started teaching, I find that my enchantment with Wake Forest Law (and the people who populate its hallways) has stayed remarkably steady. I fell in love with this place during my first interview here and have remained so ever since. In the current moment, it can be easy to feel a little unmoored. Political division, rapid technological advances, and instability on the world stage all compete for space among the headlines of the day. And yet, it is amazing how within the Wake Forest Law community, the world feels surprisingly consistent, optimistic, and friendly. It is a community of people who care about one another, work together towards the goal of improving society, and seek to find common ground even amidst differences. We do not always agree with each other about everything, but among the faculty, students, alumni, and staff, we hold each other up in ways both big and small. We show up for each other. We look forward to the future with hope. And in this way, I believe this community is a microcosm of what the world could be if only we work together to make it so. In my remarks to the graduating class, I concluded by reminding them that “there are few decisions that will affect your long-term happiness more than the person or persons you choose to spend your life with.” And I am so grateful that I get to spend my days with this group of people, with this amazing Wake Forest Law community. Thank you for being an integral part of this community—and we hope to see you on campus soon. Best Regards, Meghan Boone In Case You Missed It: The Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University announced the appointment of Peter Rodriguez as the University’s 15th President. He will begin his presidency at Wake Forest on July 1, 2026. See a special video introduction from him here. Spotlights Alumni
With a background in computer science, Emile Thompson (JD ’10) found his way to the law. Now, as Chair of the DC Public Service Commission, he’s combining science and the law to help shape the future of clean energy. We celebrated our 2026 graduates (our newest alumni) at Hooding & Commencement on Friday, May 15! Take a look at the photos. Promotions, New Positions, and Recognitions:
Students On Saturday, March 21, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) hosted its 41st Annual Scholarship Banquet at McCreary Tower in Winston-Salem. With this year’s theme, “Standing Strong: Resilience in the Face of Adversity,” the evening celebrated the achievements of students and community members while uplifting the next generation of legal leaders and featured a keynote address from attorney Alexandria Hill (JD ’22). On Friday, March 27, the Wake Forest Law Review hosted the symposium “Injury, Insight, and Influence: Celebrating the Work of Professor Michael Green.” The symposium honored former Wake Forest Law Professor Michael Green and his legacy as a scholar, teacher, and leader in tort law. Panels brought together leading voices in the field to explore pressing and emerging developments that build on Professor Green’s work. On Saturday, March 28, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Wake Forest Law gathered at Joymongers for the Public Interest Law Organization’s (PILO) annual Spring Auction to expand opportunities for students pursuing public interest work. The event serves as PILO’s largest fundraiser, directly supporting summer grants for students pursuing public-interest work. The 2025–2026 Pro Bono Project Impact Report highlights the meaningful ways Wake Forest Law students are serving others through pro bono work—supporting communities, expanding access to justice, and living out our Pro Humanitate mission. The report was released ahead of the Wake Forest Law Pro Bono Project’s annual Pro Bono Honor Society Induction and Community Appreciation Event, which took place on Friday, April 10. The event included a special video message to Pro Bono Honor Society inductees from Beth Hopkins (’73, P ’12), former director of the Wake Forest Law Pro Bono Project. SJD student Siwei Wang presented at the National SJD Roundtable on Friday, April 24, hosted by American University Washington College of Law. Siwei presented her research, titled “From Data Protection to Data Concentration: The Governance Paradox in the GenAI Era,” joining 36 SJD/JSD presenters representing leading law schools nationwide. On Wednesday, May 6, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Wake Forest Law’s Appellate Advocacy Clinic in the case of Greenhaus v. Goldstein. A team of 3Ls—Kaitlyn Snyder (JD ’26), Alex Gracia (JD ’26), and Mariah Webb (JD ’26)—researched and wrote a brief contending that the plaintiffs had established personal jurisdiction. Katie Koesters (JD ’26), Nayeli Selkis (JD ’26), Faith Shelman (JD ’26), and Melissa Stuckey (JD ’26) argued during the same week at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, Virginia, as part of the Appellate Advocacy Clinic. Congratulations to Sami Vincent (JD ’26) for being honored by the Class of 2026! Sami served as this year’s Student Speaker at the Hooding & Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15. Listen to her speech at minute 19:45. On Thursday, May 14, graduates were honored at the Wake Forest Law Student Awards Ceremony. The following graduates were recognized: Leadership & Character in Law Scholars, Honor Council Members, Student Organization Leaders, Student Bar Association Leaders, Wake Forest Law Ambassadors, Academic Journals Members, and Advocacy Team Members. Graduates were also inducted into the Order of the Barristers and the Order of the Coif. Additionally, 19 special awards were presented. Take a look at the photos. TaxProf Blog has ranked Wake Forest Law as one of the top law schools for employment rates Faculty On Friday, April 17, the Wake Forest Law community gathered at Worrell Professional Center to celebrate four outstanding faculty members retiring at the end of the academic year. Honored during the morning reception were Professors Timothy Davis, Mark Hall, Margaret Taylor, and Dick Schneider. A growing body of research shows tiny pieces of plastic are getting inside of us. But what is all this plastic doing to our bodies? And once it’s there, is there any way to get it out? Find out in this episode of Outside/In, featuring Professor Sarah Morath. Congratulations to Professor Meghan Boone and Jasmine Plott (at right) for being honored by the Class of 2026! Professor Boone was voted Faculty Member of the Year, and Jasmine Plott was voted Staff Member of the Year. Professor Boone served as this year’s keynote speaker at the Hooding & Commencement Ceremony. Listen to her speech at minute 29:41. Professors Meghan Boone, Marie-Amélie George, and Gregory Parks held their annual Civ Pro Field Day, where students from each of their Civil Procedure classes competed in games like civ pro pictionary and civ pro jeopardy. The students all did a great job, although Professor Boone’s team ultimately claimed gold! In this episode of “5 Things You Need to Know,” Dr. Alyse Bertenthal, an expert in criminal law and criminal procedure, breaks down searches and seizures. Check out our latest newsletters featuring faculty scholarship: the Faculty Scholarship Newsletter and the Program for Intellectual Property, Technology, Business, and Innovation Newsletter In this episode of Expert Encounters, Professor John Knox discusses the growing global recognition of the human right to a healthy environment. Drawing from his work with the United Nations, Professor John Knox reflects on the international effort that led the UN General Assembly to recognize the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and why that recognition matters for advocacy, accountability, and environmental protection worldwide. In her article titled “England’s ‘once in a generation’ housing law takes effect as US housing legislation sits in congressional purgatory,” Professor Allyson Gold examines the UK’s Renters’ Rights Act and how these reforms compare to current housing debates in the US. Professor Harold Anthony Lloyd’s article, “Bowers v. Hardwick Postmortems at Forty: Timely Dissections of Its Tradition, Enumeration, and Other Errors,” forthcoming in the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, was recently highlighted on Legal Theory Blog. The article revisits Bowers v. Hardwick and offers a critical analysis of its reasoning 40 years later. Wake Forest Law is delighted to welcome two new faculty members to our community this fall: Professor Sania Anwar and Professor Kristie Bluett.
Events Where are we going next? Upcoming:
Save the Date: More details coming soon!
Law Alumni Weekend and Homecoming Noteworthy With the end of the fiscal year fast approaching on June 30, please consider making a gift of any amount to Wake Forest Law. Alumni support provides critical resources for student scholarships, faculty excellence, and hands-on learning opportunities. Every gift—no matter the size—reflects the strength of our alumni base and demonstrates to current and future Legal Deacs that we are a community that supports and uplifts one another. Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, your participation sends a powerful message about the value of a Wake Forest Law degree, helps to keep the brand strong in the marketplace, and stewards the students and faculty at Wake Law. Help us finish the year strong by making your gift today! What lifelong friendship did you form at Wake Forest Law, and how did it begin? Answer the question for your chance to be featured in the next issue of The Jurist! Wake Forest University has received $5 million to expand the role of character-based leadership in legal education. The grant from the Kern Family Foundation will enable Wake Forest Law and the Program for Leadership and Character to sustain campus-based initiatives while also paving the way for a network of law schools committed to leadership and character in the law Thanks to the incredible Wake Forest Law community, we set a new historical record for Deacs Day of Giving—surpassing last year in both total dollars raised and number of donors. This year, we raised $240,300 with the help of 218 donors. These funds made it possible to create $140,000 in new scholarship support for our students. Because of you, our students will have even greater access to scholarships, hands-on learning, and opportunities that shape their futures. We’re also proud to be among the top-performing schools in this year’s Wake Forest Fund. Thank you for showing up for our students and for this community.
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Categories: Legal Deacon Digest, News