As we end the Fall semester and bring 2025 to a close, we’ve been taking some time to reflect on our first semester serving as Co-Interim Deans.
What stands out most—what rises above the calendars and commitments—is how incredibly fortunate we are to work with such a dedicated, caring group of faculty and staff who understand that our work is not only about training lawyers, but also a craft and a calling to shape lives and realize dreams. One of the most wonderful parts of this job is hearing directly from students how our colleagues demonstrate that commitment: with rigor and patience, with high expectations and steady belief, with acts of everyday kindness that can change a semester—or a life.
With deep gratitude and appreciation, we’re sharing a small sample of those voices—brief dispatches from the front lines of learning that remind us why we’ve chosen this path.
Warmest wishes for the Holidays,
Carolyn and Brian
Brian Ray
Co-Interim Dean
b.e.raynull@csuohio.nulledu
Carolyn Broering-Jacobs
Co-Interim Dean
c.broeringjacobsnull@csuohio.nulledu
Assistant Dean Allison Bolt, Senior Assistant Dean Nick DeSantis and Professor Brandon Stump
I wanted to take a moment to say a genuine thank you. These past few months have been some of the hardest I’ve ever had to navigate, and starting law school in the middle of all of it felt, at times, like climbing uphill in the dark. But your support, kindness, and willingness to help me through each challenge made all the difference.
Finishing my first semester of law school is something I’m incredibly proud of, and I know I couldn’t have done it without the guidance and compassion you showed me along the way. Each of you played a direct role in helping me stay grounded, stay focused, and keep moving forward when life felt overwhelming.
I’m deeply grateful - not just for the academic support, but for the humanity behind it. Thank you for making this journey possible, and for reminding me that I’m not doing it alone (even though I am across the country).
Senior Assistant Dean Nick DeSantis
- Thank you so much for your guidance this past semester. I learned a ton, but the most important things I learned were about myself. I'll make a few changes for next semester, and I'm nervous about my grades, but I am proud of myself. I couldn't have done it without help from you and other faculty and staff. Have a great break!
Professor Patricia Falk
- I am not sure how I'll do in the exam, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time and guidance today. You are a true nurturer of knowledge and teacher (in India, we say Guru). You truly are a Guru in Evidence, but also an amazing Guru to us students with your gift of giving knowledge generously and meeting us "where we are" in our understanding of the class. It is refreshing and inspirational. In India, Gurus are revered, and I have been blessed to have been taught by a few, including a couple at Cleveland State University.
- I am writing to see if you currently have any plans to teach next semester (or next year). I am so grateful that I got to take criminal law with you last year and was hoping that would not be the last time I could take one of your classes. I was particularly hoping that you planned to teach Evidence sometime in the future, but I would truthfully sign up for anything with your name on it. Either way, thank you again for an incredible semester last spring.
Professor Brian Glassman
- Thank you for an enjoyable and enriching semester in Art Law. I really appreciated the opportunity to draw on some of my art history background throughout the course, and the subject matter was consistently fascinating, especially the thefts! I’m looking forward to our upcoming CMA trip.
Professor Debbie Hoffman
Thank you for such an amazing semester. I learned so much in your class, and I really enjoyed having you as my professor!
I just wanted to reach out and share that I passed the July Bar Exam. I scored 5/6 on the Corporations/LLCs MEE essay, and that had most to do with your fantastic law class on Corporations.
I just wanted to say thank you for emailing about the legal position with Nova Title Agency! Your email helped me connect with the president, John Dyer, and led to me accepting a position to join their legal team.
I would not have known about the position without your help and am so excited to start my legal journey with such a good company. Again, thank you for spreading that information! I hope you have a great week.
Professor Laura Hoffman
- I just wanted to say one last thank you for a great semester in Health Law. Even though the course was asynchronous, the structure and clarity of the materials made the class engaging and easy to follow. I’m especially grateful for your help and feedback on my group project and final paper-- it was really valuable! I look forward to being in your class again next semester.
- I truly enjoyed Health Law this semester and can't believe how much we were able to learn, even online. I also want you congratulate you on your Law Review article—I read it last week. It was beautifully written, thought-provoking, and left me with motivation to address this loneliness epidemic where I can in my own life.
Professor Doron Kalir
- I want to thank you for everything you did for us this semester. I value every ounce of feedback you gave me, positive or negative, and I do not take for granted how thorough and thoughtful it was. Because of this Clinic, my writing skills, my research abilities, and most notably my confidence have all improved. I start at [a very reputable law firm] this summer and feel much better prepared to navigate this next chapter after your Clinic.
- I am so thankful for this opportunity to have learned so much from you, and I look forward to implementing the lessons from this clinic throughout the entirety of my legal career!
- I once again want to emphasize how much I have appreciated your time and feedback this semester... I recognize that this is necessary to be a great legal professional! Even what you consider “picky” feedback was immensely helpful. I strived every week to make the timesheets acceptable. I cannot articulate how much you have help me - Truly! Thanks again for all you do.
Professor Jenny Kappus
- I meant to reach out earlier to let you know that I was selected to be an associate on Law Review. I want to thank you for being an awesome teacher and providing the foundational skills that have helped me excel as a legal writer. It goes without saying that I would not have been prepared without your guidance and I think it is worthwhile to let you know that your dedication to student success is making a difference.
- The Fall Fest yesterday was so great! I know we all really appreciate you and the other professors and staff going above and beyond to plan events where we can come together and enjoy time with one another that isn’t just focused on school. You really are the best!
Professor Lorenzo Luisetto
- Just wanted to reach out and say thank you for a great semester. I look forward to hopefully taking some of your classes in the coming semesters and possibly even working with you in research, as we’ve previously discussed. Your class this semester was a pleasure every day, and I learned quite a ton more than I could have hoped for coming into my first semester of law school. Have a great break, and safe travels home or wherever you may be headed for the holidays.
Patricia Riley
I know it's not necessarily my place as a student, but I'm going to take the liberty because we don't take enough time recognizing the good.
I wanted to commend the exceptional work you do managing the JDOs! Over the years, you have effortlessly transitioned from overseeing a single cadre to juggling three, each filled with unique personalities and wonderful backstories; all while remembering everyone's name—truly impressive! There are days I can barely remember my own name.
You navigate complaints, frustrations, joys, and sadness with remarkable empathy and grace while protecting the privacy of others (something near and dear to my heart).
Your support is invaluable to those who need a boost or a gentle push. You are the rock behind the scenes, and I want to make sure you know just how much all the JDOs appreciate you. I can't tell you the number of times in our group chat people ask did you talk to Patricia.
Professor Heidi Robertson
Throughout my first year of law school—and even before beginning law school —I often heard about the dreaded Property Law course. When I learned that Professor Heidi Robertson would be teaching it, I was relieved. Having previously taken Legislation and the Regulatory State with her, I was already familiar with her teaching style.
Professor Robertson truly exceeded expectations with Property Law. She approached each module with care and precision, breaking down complex topics into manageable parts. She made herself consistently available to us, ensuring that we had the opportunity to fully grasp the material. Her commitment to providing constructive feedback assignment after assignment without giving up until I became competent was instrumental in furthering my understanding of the course.
What stood out most was her encouragement and subject matter expertise — Estates and Future Interests, Covenants, and Equitable Servitudes became far more digestible and even enjoyable because of her. I am ever grateful for Professor Robertson’s mentorship and dedication. She quite literally taught me Property Law, and I hope I have another chance to learn from her again.
Professor Mark Sundahl
- I wanted to reach out and thank you for who you are as a professor. You foster an educational, efficient, practical, and entertaining classroom environment that is greatly appreciated by many students. Throughout the course of this semester, I've had a few of your old students ask about you. Just wanted to make sure you were aware you are respected by many students. I was going to stay after our zoom class today, but I saw some other students looked like they had questions and I didn't want to take away from their ability to ask questions. It has been an honor being your student both last spring in article 2 and this fall in article 9. Looking forward to studying for your final, I can't get enough of this stuff!
Director of Student Success Dean Williams
- You’ve made this transition to law school so much easier than I imagined it would be. I appreciate all the lessons, techniques, and advice you’ve shared with me, and I hold them close to my heart.