The Dean's Brief

Dean's Note

As we move through the spring semester, we are pleased to share recent accomplishments across our academic, advocacy and student communities. These updates reflect continued progress in preparing students for the profession through a practice-ready approach to legal education. Our faculty continue to contribute through scholarship and instruction aligned with the NextGen UBE. Our students are demonstrating strong performance in national advocacy competitions, reflecting their preparation and professionalism. We also recognize those who have received scholarships and awards that support their continued development. Together, these efforts reflect the ongoing work across the College of Law and a shared commitment to access to the profession, student preparation and service to the community. Thank you for your continued support. — Dean Epps

Faculty Scholarship & Recognition

• Professor Angela Downes received the Texas State Bar ADR Section’s Justice Frank G. Evans Award. The award recognizes significant contributions to advancing alternative dispute resolution in Texas and leadership in preparing students to become credentialed mediators. Her work supports the development of practical skills in negotiation and dispute resolution.

• Professor Wesley Moore published an article "What Have You Drone for Me Lately?" in the Criminal Law Bulletin (January/March 2026), examining the legal implications of drone surveillance and Fourth Amendment protections. The article analyzes the absence of privacy safeguards in current Federal Aviation Administration regulations and evaluates how existing U.S. Supreme Court precedent may permit expanded law enforcement surveillance. It further reviews emerging state legislative approaches and argues for a general law framework that recognizes drone surveillance as implicating a reasonable expectation of privacy.

• Professors Shannon Conway and Meijken Westenskow authored Skills for NextGen: Client Scenarios in Torts, published by Aspen Publishing. The book integrates client-based scenarios into doctrinal instruction aligned with competencies assessed on the NextGen UBE. It emphasizes issue spotting, client counseling, legal research, negotiation and professional judgment to support practice-ready preparation.

• Professor Korin Munsterman authored Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law in a Nutshell, published by West Academic. The book examines the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence and its implications for legal practice, including professional responsibility, competence and regulatory considerations. It provides practical frameworks for attorneys navigating evolving technologies while addressing risks such as hallucinations, confidentiality concerns and the changing regulatory landscape.

• Professor Joseph Hummel published “So, This is a Little Embarrassing, But . . .: Embracing Vulnerability to Create Connection in Legal Writing” in the Fall 2025 issue of Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing (Vol. 32, No. 1). The essay examines the role of vulnerability in the first-year legal writing classroom, drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship and classroom-based research. It argues that modeling measured vulnerability can build student trust, reduce fear of failure and support deeper learning. The work highlights how structured classroom practices can strengthen engagement, resilience and skill development in legal education.

• Professor Brian Owsley published “The Role of Prosecutorial Discretion in Criminal Immigration Matters” in the William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice (2026). The article examines how prosecutorial discretion shapes enforcement of federal immigration laws, including disparities in charging decisions. It analyzes the limited prosecution of employers for hiring undocumented individuals and evaluates how enforcement priorities influence outcomes. The work provides a framework for understanding how discretion affects accountability and enforcement within the criminal immigration system.

• Professor Cheryl Wattley was honored by the Southwest Jewish Congress, which recognizes individuals who have contributed to the advancement of society, culture and community life. This year, Cheryl and her daughter, Elizabeth Wattley, were named a “Caring Couple,” one of the few parent-child honorees recognized through this designation.

Student Achievement

Students Daisy Hernandez, Amaya Smith and Isaac Torrez were named Sarah T. Hughes Scholars through the Dallas Bar Foundation. The scholarship recognizes academic achievement and commitment to the legal profession. This recognition supports continued student development and preparation for entry into the profession.

Advocacy

Our students continue to distinguish themselves in advocacy competitions, demonstrating the preparation and professionalism that define the College of Law. This year, the advocacy program reached a significant milestone, earning a place among the top 20 advocacy programs in the nation for the first time in the school’s history. This achievement reflects the consistent performance of our competition teams and the strength of a program built on practice-ready training and applied legal skills.

National competition performance Students Andrew Brown, Victoria Saucedo and Hamilton Hayers advanced to the semifinal round of the National Moot Court Competition and placed third overall, earning the third-place brief. The competition included 191 teams from 121 law schools. The team also defeated Harvard in head-to-head competition during the octo-final round.

National semifinalists Students Madison Daniels, Charles Keith, Matthew Wolf and Yvette Mendoza advanced to the semifinal round of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Competition national rounds. Competing among 36 teams nationwide, the group reached the top tier of national-advancing teams, demonstrating strong advocacy skills.

Regional advancement to nationals The BLSA-sponsored team — Jalen North, Semaj Adams, Mariah Lee and Queen Okoh — coached by Aryele Maye, advanced to the semifinal round of the SWBLSA Regional Mock Trial Competition and qualified for national competition. Their performance reflects continued student success in trial advocacy.