Hello Jordan,

As the holidays approach, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements and milestones within our Online LL.M. community. From new partnerships to faculty highlights and student success stories, there’s so much to be proud of this season!

In this edition, we’ll bid a fond farewell to a valued team member, introduce new faces, and showcase exciting updates in law and tech. Plus, we’re wrapping up the semester with bar prep news and a spotlight on global opportunities.

As you enjoy the season of reflection and renewal, know that we’re cheering you on every step of the way. Here's to purposefully closing the year and welcoming the new one with fresh opportunities!

Sincerely,

Margaret Ioannides, J.D., M.S.F.S.

Assistant Dean for Online LL.M. Programs

University of Dayton School of Law

Honoring Mary Beth Miller’s Remarkable Career

After 18 years of dedicated service to the University of Dayton School of Law, Mary Beth Miller, Senior Coordinator for the Online LL.M. Program, is retiring!

Mary Beth joined the School of Law in August 2006, beginning her journey as Registrar Coordinator to the Registrar and Associate Dean. She has worked with our Online LL.M. students since the launch of the program in 2019 and joined the Online LL.M. Program in March 2023 as the Senior Online LL.M. Coordinator.  

Mary Beth’s attention to detail, responsiveness, and passion for supporting students and faculty quickly became invaluable to the program. She brought compassion, sincerity, and thoughtful guidance to each interaction. Mary Beth was committed to the School of Law and ensuring that our students had the best experience as they navigated the program.

Before her time at UD, Mary Beth brought her expertise to an elementary school and an area hospital. These experiences shaped her caring approach to her work and her unwavering commitment to the success of others.

Mary Beth has been a cornerstone of the Online LL.M. Program, supporting students and faculty alike with warmth, professionalism, and enthusiasm. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on our program and our community. We will miss her.

Please join us in celebrating Mary Beth’s remarkable career and wishing her all the best in this new chapter of her life! 

We’re so excited to welcome Professor Donna Starr-Deelen as part of our Spring 2025 faculty lineup! Donna will be teaching Law 4020 (Torts) in our Online LL.M. Program, bringing her extensive global experience and dynamic teaching style to our students.

Donna’s journey in law and academia is truly international. After earning her LL.M. in International and Comparative Law at Georgetown University Law Center, she worked at law firms in Belgium and Germany and taught at institutions worldwide, including:

• Central European University in Prague
• The University of Baltimore Law School
• Flinders University Law School in Adelaide, Australia

Her passion for Public International Law and Human Rights Law has led to numerous achievements, including an award for her innovative lectures on European Human Rights Law in the Czech Republic. Donna is also a published author, with works analyzing U.S. counter-terrorism policies across multiple administrations.

When she’s not teaching, Donna enjoys travel and snorkeling and has lived in several countries, including Ireland, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Australia (where one of her daughters was born). She loves learning new languages (German is her strongest) and has great appreciation for those who study internationally in a language that isn’t their native tongue. Her husband’s Belgian heritage brings her back to Europe yearly to visit family.

Donna’s diverse background, combined with her enthusiasm for connecting with students worldwide, makes her a perfect fit for Dayton Law. We’re thrilled to have her expertise and energy as part of our program.

Welcome to the Flyer Family Professor Starr-Deelen!

The University of Dayton's Online LL.M. program is proud to have formed global partnerships with 13 leading universities worldwide, enhancing the educational experience for our students and enriching the global legal community.

These collaborations offer our students unique opportunities to earn advanced legal degrees, including accelerated LL.M. pathways, as well as partial tuition scholarships.

Through these partnerships, we are able to broaden our understanding of legal education worldwide and offer more accessible and diverse opportunities for law students and graduates.

By joining forces with top institutions across the globe, we continue to support and develop future legal professionals with an international perspective, helping them excel in the global legal landscape.

We’re proud to announce an exciting new partnership with The University of the West Indies-Cave Hill Campus (UWI) to launch two Double LL.M. Degree Programs.



Through this collaboration, students can earn an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law or Intellectual Property Law from UWI, alongside an LL.M. in American and Transnational Law from our Online LL.M. Program — enhancing global career prospects and legal expertise. This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing global legal education.

Why it Matters

This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing global legal education. The programs offer:

• An accelerated timeline to earn two advanced degrees.
• Partial tuition scholarships, making global education more accessible.
• A robust international network, building on our partnerships with 12 other law schools worldwide.

“The collaboration with UWI strengthens our mission to globalize legal education, providing students with diverse experiences that prepare them for the global job market.”

~ Margaret Ioannides, Assistant Dean Online LL.M. Programs

This partnership underscores the University of Dayton’s role as a leader in innovative, inclusive online legal education—equipping students for success in an ever-growing connected world.

We’re proud to recognize the incredible achievements of our students, alumni, and global network who continue to raise the bar (literally!) and achieve new milestones. Your hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence inspire us all.

Huge congratulations to our recent bar exam passers & certified professionals:

✨ D.C. Bar Passers (July 2024):

• Junbeom Hahm
• Isabela Brasil do Amara

✨ Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) Passers (November 2024):

• Matthijs Alberts
• Gabriel López Córdova
• Nilton Simões

✨ Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) Certification Passer:

• Vicky Datsova

From all of us at the University of Dayton School of Law and the Online LL.M. Program — Congratulations on your outstanding achievements!

A trailblazer in both the legal and medical fields, Dr. Francisco Borja, one of our Online LL.M. alumni from partner university Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary excellence. He currently serves as a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador, where he educates and mentors the next generation of legal scholars.

In addition to his contributions to legal education, Dr. Borja is making a global impact in the medical field as a Senior Teaching Assistant for Harvard University’s Principles and Practice of Clinical Research program. His unique ability to bridge the worlds of medicine and law reflects his passion for advancing knowledge and promoting academic excellence on an international stage.

Let's Celebrate Your Achievements

We love celebrating the achievements of our Online LL.M. community ... and that means you too!

Our prospective students, current students, alumni, and faculty have all expressed interest in knowing more about our community's successes and accomplishments. 

If you have a new position, accolade, or professional achievement you'd like to share, please email us directly.