Celebrating Success, Shaping What’s Next

Greetings!

“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” This season, those words ring true through our Online LL.M. community! 

Between alumni earning national recognition, graduates and bar passers reaching new milestones, and many upcoming opportunities, we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work our community puts into all they do. 

In this issue, you’ll find highlights of recent events, community successes, and a look ahead to new opportunities—including upcoming CLEs that will keep our community learning and leading. 

Whether you’re a student, alum, or future Flyer, we hope you find inspiration in the stories shared here.

Sincerely,

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

Assistant Dean for Online LL.M. Programs

University of Dayton School of Law

The success of our Online LL.M. program is built not only on our students and faculty, but also on the dedicated professionals who design and support the online learning experience. One of those is Hannah Jackson, Senior Instructional Design Specialist at UD’s Center for Online Learning.

Hannah helps design courses that are rigorous, accessible, and global. “All courses, online or not, start at the end—with the learning goals,” she explained. From there, assessments and activities are built to help students reach those goals.

For our diverse, multilingual student body, that means thoughtful support such as audio captioning, downloadable transcripts, and frequent low-stakes practice. “I’m frequently impressed at the way our students show up from different corners of the globe, all while juggling families and careers.”

Her advice to students? “Allow yourself time for reflection. Metacognition—thinking about your thinking—is where deep learning happens.”

• Connect new concepts to what you already know.
• Summarize court reasoning in your own words.
• Compare essays to model answers and draft questions to bring to support sessions

Inspired by her grandfather’s journey from ranch life to earning both a Ph.D. and J.D. as a working parent, going on to work as a staff Attorney for the Arizona State Senate, Hannah has a special admiration for the Online LL.M. student body. 

“I feel grateful that part of my job is to watch these students’ legal journeys unfold, and to work with the staff and faculty at UDSL.”

This season, we have so much to celebrate! We’re proud of all the hard work our Online LL.M. community members do every day and we love celebrating their achievements! 

His dedication and excellence continue to reflect the strength of our alumni community as leaders in a global legal landscape.

Beyond the bench, she’s an author, an active Jacksonville Bar Association member, a former member of the Board of Governors, and a voice of inspiration for our students! Get to know more about Amber and celebrate her success with our community.

We are proud to celebrate our graduates who took on the Bar Exam this year and emerged victorious. Their success is an inspiration to all who are preparing for their own bar journey.

DC Bar:

Andrea Belfiori Viana

Chan Woo Cho

Elena Sulhan

Sang-Jin Kim

Seong Mu Bak

Seungyun Back

CA Bar:

Diana Stephanyan

Kevin Salatti

GA Bar:

James Jenkins

MO Bar:

Carolyn Lowery

TX Bar:

Socrates Djemba

WA Bar:

Juliana Serna Guerrero

Another outstanding group of Online LL.M. students crossed the finish line this summer and graduated – please join us in congratulating our newest Online LL.M. alumni!

Ana T.

Blanca G.

Esther J.

Gabriel L.

Guido A.

Hyosic I.

Jaehyung P.

Jesus P.

Jun Seok L.

Kevin S.

Luciana M.

Sangyong U.

Seung Won Y.

So Young P.

Valerie J.

Yongkyun K.

“Powerful” was the word on everyone’s lips after Attorney Yoel Lemus, Esq. joined us to share his career journey. From navigating the bar exam as an ESL attorney to building resilience in the face of setbacks, his candor and encouragement left a lasting impact. A special thank-you to Professor Ericka Curran for hosting this meaningful conversation.

Constitution Day: The 14th Amendment Citizenship Clause

On Constitution Day, Professor Ericka Curran joined Professor Carlos Bernal and Dr. Márton Sulyok for a thoughtful discussion on the 14th Amendment Citizenship Clause.

Their insights reminded us how constitutional principles continue to shape—and challenge—our understanding of citizenship today.

UD School of Law was honored to host a Naturalization Ceremony, where new U.S. citizens took their oath surrounded by family, faculty, and students. Judges Michael Newman, Mary Donovan ’77, and Elizabeth Ellis ’01 presided, with the Immigration Law Student Association providing refreshments.

Moments like these remind us of the law’s power to shape lives, strengthen communities, and open doors.

Between timely legal discussions and future-shaping conferences, this season is offering plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and contribute. Whether you’re earning CLE credit, expanding your expertise, or sharing your own voice on a global stage, there’s something here for you!

Education Law Symposium

Discipline in Education: Goss v. Lopez at 50

🗓 Oct. 10th

⏰ 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET

💻 Online via Zoom

This year’s symposium reflects on the landmark case Goss v. Lopez and its impact 50 years later—exploring student rights, due process, campus discipline, and international perspectives on educational justice.

☑️ Free to attend with registration


☑️ Approved for 5.5 CLE credit hours (Ohio)

Social Practice of Human Rights 2026 – Call for Proposals

Creative Resistance: Activism, Technology, and the Right to Dissent

🗓 Proposal Submission Deadline: Oct. 31st, 2025

🗓 Event Date: Apr. 9–11, 2026 | 📍 Dayton, OH (hybrid options available)

The University of Dayton Human Rights Center invites proposals for the 2026 Social Practice of Human Rights (SPHR) Conference. This year’s theme, Creative Resistance, explores how art and technology are reshaping activism, dissent, and the fight for human rights. Artists, advocates, technologists, and scholars are encouraged to submit proposals by October 31, 2025.

Program in Law and Technology (PILT) Seminar

The Ever-Changing Legal Tech Landscape: AI and More

🗓 Nov. 7th

⏰ 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

📍 Keller Hall

Now in its 34th year, the PILT Seminar dives into the evolving role of technology in the legal profession—with a special focus on AI and its ethical and practical implications.

☑️ Approved for 7.0 CLE hours in Ohio (6.0 General; 1.0 Professional Conduct)

☑️ Free for all UDSL & Online LL.M. faculty, staff, and students with registration

Mini Bar Prep Course

Our popular Mini Bar Prep Course returns this winter! This program, led by Director of Bar Preparation & Online LL.M. Professor Tommy Sangchompuphen, provides focused, practical support for Online LL.M. students and graduates preparing for the U.S. bar.

📌 Keep an eye on your inbox, our Mini Bar Prep page, and/or LinkedIn for details.

The priority scholarship deadline for the Spring 2026 Semester is fast approaching—November 1st. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to secure a guaranteed 30% tuition scholarship—take the next step in your legal education and apply now!

• Sept 15^th - Oct 5^th: Unit 2
• Oct 6^th - 7^th: Reading Period
• Oct 8^th - 13^th: Midterm Exam Period
• Oct 10^th: Education Law Symposium
• Oct 13^th - Nov 2^nd: Unit 3
• Oct 16^th - 17^th: Fall AILA CLE Conference
• Nov 1^st: Spring Priority Application Deadline
• Nov 3^rd - 23^rd: Unit 4
• Nov 7^th: PILT Conference
• Nov 23^rd: Last Day of Classes
• Nov 24^th - Dec 1^st: Reading Period
• Nov 27^th - 28^th: Thanksgiving Break - University Closed
• Dec 1^st: Spring Standard Application Deadline
• Dec 2^nd - 11^th: Final Exam Period
• Dec 12^th - Jan 11^th, 2026: Christmas Break - No Classes
• Jan 12^th, 2026: First Day of Spring 2026 Term

Bar Exam Application Deadlines Are Approaching

Planning to sit for the February 2026 bar exam? Planning ahead is key—here are some important filing windows to keep in mind:

• California: Oct 1st - Nov 3rd*
• Washington D.CWashington D.C.: Oct 6th - Nov 10th*
• Washington State: Sept 1st - Oct 5th*

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply—your future self will thank you!

*Late filing dates not included. All dates are subject to change—please confirm directly with the state bar admissions office where you plan to apply.

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 let us know by emailing us directly.

Thank you for being part of this global community and for all the ways you continue to learn, lead, and inspire.