Spring semester classes started this week, and it’s wonderful to have folks back in the building.
I’d like to share today a bit of what some of our faculty were up to during the “break” between semesters. First, “break” is something of a misnomer. While classes pause, the work does not. Throughout the winter recess, our faculty were deeply engaged in scholarship, teaching innovation, and national leadership, perhaps nowhere more evident than at last week’s American Association of Law Schools (“AALS”) Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Joseph C. Hostetler–Baker & Hostetler Professor of Law and Director of CSU’s Center for International Law Milena Sterio was a particularly strong presence at the conference, leading and participating in seven sessions focused on international law, democracy, and human rights. Her presentations addressed topics ranging from Ukrainian resilience in the face of war to climate emergencies, emerging international human rights scholarship, and the challenges of teaching international law and intergroup dialogue in polarized times.
Professor Sterio also organized and led a late-breaking panel responding to rapidly developing events in Venezuela, pivoting quickly to ensure timely and thoughtful discussion. In addition to her scholarly contributions, she provided commentary to junior scholars on a “New Voices in International Human Rights and International Law” panel—continuing her commitment to mentoring emerging academics. Reflecting her national leadership, Professor Sterio was also elected Treasurer of the AALS International Law Section and continues to serve on the Executive Committees of the International Human Rights Law and National Security Law Sections, where she is a past chair.
Professor Laura Hoffman, Co-Director of the William I. Weisberg Center for Health Law and Policy, demonstrated national leadership at the intersection of health law and wellbeing in legal education. She presented on supporting disabled and allied students, moderated a panel on mental health in the legal academy, and participated in a discussion on harassment and bullying. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to fostering inclusive, humane learning environments for both students and faculty.
That leadership extends beyond the conference itself. For 2026, Professor Hoffman will serve as Chair of the AALS Section on Law Professors with Disabilities and Allies, Treasurer of the AALS Section of Children and the Law, and a member of the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Law, Medicine, and Health Care—roles that underscore her influence in shaping national conversations at the intersection of health, disability, and legal education.
Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson contributed to a Natural Resources and Environmental Law Works-in-Progress session, sharing scholarship that critically examines how Ohio’s regulatory framework disproportionately favors oil and gas development over renewable energy projects. Her work analyzes how agencies might better assess public opposition by focusing on “what’s real and what’s remaining” rather than the sheer volume of comments. Professor Robertson’s work is grounded in empirical analysis of recent Ohio Power Siting Board decisions.
Professor Mehtab Khan presented in an Emerging Voices in Intellectual Property session, offering an innovative examination of the data that fuels artificial intelligence systems and access to those datasets. This was her first AALS conference, and her participation highlighted the growing national relevance of her work.
Alan Miles and Betty Willis Ruben Professor of LawReggie Oh participated in the Society of American Law Teachers (“SALT”) Cover Workshop on democracy and higher education. Professor Oh spoke about equal education as a core component of the democratic university and how the Roberts Court’s decisions are promoting inequality and undermining democracy.
Professor Karin Mika presented Leaning into GenAI to Elevate Teaching Legal Skills, offering practical, forward-looking approaches to integrating generative AI into skills instruction, an area of increasing importance for both legal education and the profession.
Finally, Legal Educator in Residence Howard Katz moderated a session on practice-ready skills across the curriculum, advancing national conversations about how law schools best prepare students for professional success. Throughout the conference, Professor Katz could also be seen mentoring newer law professors, a role he plays not only at CSU but across the country.
Taken together, these sessions reflect a faculty that is not only active but influential – they are shaping national conversations, mentoring the next generation of scholars, and bringing cutting-edge insight back to our students. We are proud of the role CSU Law plays on the national stage, and we are fortunate to benefit from our faculty’s leadership and energy as the semester gets underway.
Welcome back, and here’s to a great start to the spring term.
Warmly,
Carolyn