University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Chief Executive Leadership Award by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District III, which is presented annually to an institutional head, president, chancellor, system head or other campus chief executive who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in support of education. Morehead is a 1980 graduate of the School of Law and has served UGA since 1986 in both faculty and administrative roles including as advisor to the School of Law's moot court program.
Congratulations to second-year students Taylor Cressler, Navroz N. Tharani and Andrew Q. Varan for finishing as national finalists in the Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition. More than 30 teams from law schools across the nation participated in the moot court tournament hosted by the Brooklyn Law School. Third-year law student Mollie M. Fiero helped coach the team.
We are pleased to share good news about the University of Georgia School of Law and its vision to be the best return on investment in legal education. The School of Law is now ranked 27th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, its second highest ranking in history. This news comes on the heels of the School of Law being named the best value in legal education for the third consecutive year - a first for the National Jurist ranking. The School of Law also posted gains in the specialty areas of international law (to 18) and clinical training (to 24), which highlights two centers of excellence at the state of Georgia's flagship law school.
Second-year law students Cole M. Harper, Destiny J. Burch and Cameron N. Kemp brought home the top trophy in the Intrastate Moot Court Competition, capturing this coveted state trophy for UGA for three straight times and for seven of the last 10 contests. UGA, Emory, Georgia State and Mercer field two teams in this annual Peach State law school rivalry. The second UGA team, comprised of Alexandria H. "Alex" Clark, Charles D. Calkins and Michael J. Robson, also represented the school with outstanding advocacy. Third-year students Alexa L. Dato and Abby J. Tyre served as coaches.
The University of Georgia School of Law honored four women for their service during the school's virtual Alumni/Alumnae Week. Valerie Caproni, B. Lynn Chastain and Santhia L. Curtis received the Law School Association's highest honor - the Distinguished Service Scroll Award - for their outstanding dedication and service to the legal profession and the law school. Additionally, Lt. Cmdr. Catherine T. "Katie" McMahon was presented with the Young Alumni/Alumnae of Excellence Award.