Debra Moss Vollweiler is a Visiting Professor at Haub Law for the spring semester of 2022, and the 2022-2023 Academic Year. While at Haub Law, Professor Vollweiler is teaching Secured Transactions, Corporations and Partnerships, and Contracts. She is a tenured Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and is the former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean of the College of Law. A frequently published scholar, her research and works have focused on professionalism, teaching, learning, and attorney discipline. An expert on the law school curriculum and teaching, learn more about Professor Vollweiler, her background, career, and advice for law students in this student-led Q+A.

You are teaching Secure Transactions and also Corporations and Partnerships at Haub Law this semester, what brought you to Pace?

I am currently a Visiting Professor here at Haub Law - from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in sunny, warm Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I recently finished five years of intense administrative work at NSU. I was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and I was the interim dean for a period of that time as well. I was Interim Dean during 2020, which meant I was in the seat when the pandemic hit. I was actually serving in both roles simultaneously at that time. We did get a new dean, and I assisted with that transition, but I ultimately decided that I was not spending as much time on teaching, which I truly love, because of that intense administrative role I had. So, I was looking for a way to return to teaching and that can be hard to fully immerse yourself in when you've been an administrator on a faculty. Nobody ever kind of really wants to let you go. And so my thought was if I could visit at another institution, it would give me the space and time to really dedicate myself fully into what I love to do and teaching and sort of be a hard break from what I was doing I loved my time as an administrator, but I am just so thrilled to be back in teaching.

I am from New York and I actually have a ton of family up here, my children are in New York, Boston, and Maryland, and we already had an apartment in New York. Being in this area was a big draw and when I thought about making the change, and when I saw that Pace was looking for someone whose teaching aligned exactly with what I wanted to do, I was immediately interested. I met some of the faculty and talking to them, I thought it was a great place to relaunch my full-time teaching journey so I'm thrilled to be here.

Now that you have been here, what do you think about Haub Law?

Actually, I have loved everything about it. I'm so impressed with everybody at Pace, everybody has really been very welcoming and helpful. Everyone is so dedicated to what they do-- students, faculty, staff alike. I'm really impressed with that.

You have mentioned a few times that your true passion is teaching – can you tell me about that?

When you look at some people's scholarship, they really connect their scholarship to the substantive law of what they do. People who teach environmental law often write about environmental law. My scholarship from the very beginning, and I'm going back 20 something years, has been about teaching, so I have spent the bulk of my career, not just being a teacher, but reading about good teaching, trying to think about teaching, and writing about teaching.

Since people who teach in law school don't necessarily come through the same path as other teachers-- if you wanted to be a K through 12 teacher you need certain degrees and student teaching and training, I've spent a lot of time reading about the formal training and reading into those resources that other kinds of teachers get and trying to import them and translate that to law school teaching.

Most faculty talk about their scholarship and their teaching dovetailing, but mine is a little different, as it is about the idea of teaching, not about contracts or corporations or secure lending. So I have literally spent my entire career thinking and learning how to be a teacher. I will say also when I was waiting for my bar results when I took the bar exam (I'm licensed in Florida) and it was a long wait for the bar results, I actually paid the bills by being a substitute middle school math teacher. So, that was actually where I got the idea that you know there's a lot more to teaching than we think about, and I went into practice after that. I didn't go right into teaching, but that was the first seeds of my personal understanding that teaching was a discipline to itself. In addition to the law, you could pair it with whatever subject you want, but it's a discipline that was sort of the root of that idea.

So, if anybody needs help with their algebra homework, you can let me know!

What are you currently working on right now?

I am currently working on an article that takes a concept that I saw once in passing, that's being used in other parts of education. I'm trying to think about how to use this in law education, which is something called a “skill”abus--replacing a traditional syllabus with a “skill”abus . I am reading and investigating everything I can find about how to do this and how this idea hasn't really formally reached law schools. Traditional syllabi are focused so much on doctrine--you know, 'in this class we're going to cover this case' and in this case gross negligence and corporate formation and whatever the doctrine is of the course.

However, there are skills that you're teaching underlying that doctrine in every course, not just how we think in law school of skills courses like interviewing and counseling or trial advocacy, but that in every single course your teaching skills are built in. These could be anything from oral advocacy to critical thinking to whatever it is, so a “skill”abus signals the building of the skills into the benchmark of the syllabus so that this becomes more transparent and apparent to students. The whole goal of the course, and my idea, is to explain the concept of skills in every course, why they should be up front for students, not hidden underneath the doctrine of the syllabus, and to model some ways that we can reimagine syllabi to be “skill”abus.

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What advice do you have for students who one day would like to go into contracts or secured lending?

I think for students who want to go into contracts or secure lending. I think there's two things I want to get across. Number one – I think it's important to not dismiss the importance of foundational courses.

I think sometimes students get frustrated in a course like contracts or corporations because you're not drafting contracts, and you're not actually learning exactly the steps to take in whatever state you're in to form a corporation and to incorporate something--you're learning the underlying foundational theories and principles. So I would say my first advice to students is don't diminish the importance of those foundational courses. Understanding all of those underlying concepts and how they relate to one another is a really important step.

My next advice would be, then if you're still interested in the subject after the foundational courses, or if you become interested after the foundational courses, take as many levels in the subject as you can. If you can, take what the ABA would call a simulation course workshop, such as in a contract drafting that gives you the opportunity to apply your foundational knowledge to fictional clients. But then, close the loop and take that learning into a live client experience, whether it's through some type of a clinical experience or an externship or any type of position to appreciate each step of that path and what you learn at each point. Don't try to jump to the end right away. Don't try to say, well, I'm just going to get a job and learn there, I don't need all of this training.

I think that you will be a better lawyer by having taken your time and really practicing the skills at every step. I also want to say that even if you think you don't want to do contracts, or secured lending or deal with sales of goods, it's so ubiquitous in the world, that it's kind of hard to find an area of law where you're never going to touch any of those subjects. So I would encourage all students to take these kinds of foundational courses.

I can tell you I once had a student a long time ago, sat in the very back of my contracts class, who very clearly did not like the contracts class and one day before class I was just chatting with people get to know them. And I said, so what are you thinking of contracts and he says, I hate this class, I don’t want to learn it. I just want to be a sports lawyer. Of course, sports lawyers do contracts constantly. But in first year contracts, there are no sports law cases --you're talking about an opera house that burned down and you're talking about somebody not showing up for work on a sailing ship in the 1800s. But you still need to learn these foundations.

So that would be my other piece of advice, keep your mind open to all of the things that you want to do.

Thank you for doing this, I have friends in your classes and they absolutely love the class and have mentioned how great of a teacher you are.

I'm glad to hear they're enjoying the class. I really love these classes, so it's always nice when someone else shares my enthusiasm. It is always nice to hear that feedback regarding my teaching since I have spent a good deal of my scholarship and focus on thinking about teaching; really, it is actually wonderful to hear. I am looking forward to returning next year!

Once he decided that he was going to pursue a career in law, Marlon Campeche ’19 knew that the Immigration Justice Clinic at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University would best fulfill his desire to practice immigration law. Knowing that he too ultimately wanted to practice law, Marlon’s brother, Ulises (JD Candidate '24), studied political science in undergraduate school as a stepping-stone towards that goal, ultimately choosing Haub Law to pursue his studies in immigration law as well. In this Q+A, siblings Marlon and Ulises speak about their impactful experiences at Haub Law, the Immigration Justice Clinic, the collegial Haub Law atmosphere, their paths to law school, and more.

What was each of your paths to law school?

Marlon: I decided I wanted to pursue a career in law when I was in high school. I used to volunteer as an ESL teacher to adults at nights. That experience motivated me to believe that I could do more for the immigrant community. Therefore, in college I majored in political science with a clear aim towards law school post-grad.

Ulises: I’ve always been interested in law, particularly beginning throughout my years in high school. As a senior, I took AP Government & Politics and I feel that learning experience solidified my interest in the field of law. Studying political science as an undergrad certainly exposed me to a variety of fields, but as I mentioned, I’ve always been drawn to learning and understanding the important role that law and courts have on society, particularly the immigrant community.

What was it about Pace in particular that appealed to both of you?

Marlon: I chose Haub Law because I always admired, and wanted to be part of, the Immigration Justice Clinic ran by Professor Vanessa Merton. The Clinic serves our local immigrant community in Westchester, the community where my brother and I were raised. I knew choosing to attend Pace and to join the Clinic was the right decision for me.

Ulises: While I chose Haub Law for their network connections with prestigious firms and organizations, I mainly based my decision off what my brother had told me about his experience while at Pace. Law schools have a certain stigma that everyone is constantly competing against each other, but thus far I haven’t felt or experienced that here at Pace. Whether it’s professors or classmates, there seems to be a level of collegiality, companionship, and empathy and that is something I appreciate.

Marlon, what area of law are you practicing in?

Marlon: I currently practice immigration law at a non-profit organization in Brooklyn, New York. I work for the removal defense team, which means I primarily defend people in removal proceedings at immigration court. Many of my cases are asylum-seekers, immigrant children and victims of domestic violence.

What area of law are you interested in, Ulises?

Ulises: I’ve always been interested in the field of immigration as it’s been a recurring theme in our family. We’re children of immigrants and empathy, humility and determination are values our parents inculcated in us from a young age and is something I adhere to each day. I hope to be able to advocate for immigrant rights, particularly for children facing a legal system alone.

Which experiences stand out to both of you from your time at Pace?

Marlon: As I mentioned before, my favorite course was the Immigration Justice Clinic. The Clinic provided me with first-hand experience of lawyering real cases, which ultimately was an upper-hand when searching for employment. Professor Merton is so knowledgeable in the field, and her teaching style pushed me to become a better attorney. I will always be grateful for Professor Merton and the Clinic.

Ulises: Although I’m still a 1L, I would say I grew to enjoy civil procedure. It was overwhelming at first, but Professor Mushlin certainly engaged his students and broke down each concept to the most minute detail as possible for us. Also, Professors Mushlin, Kuh, and Humbach were very understanding in light of some personal issues during my first semester and their empathy and understanding was very much appreciated.

Marlon, was there any advice you gave Ulises upon entering law school?

Marlon: Before Ulises entered Pace, I told him it would not be easy. I told him it would be a very different experience than undergraduate and thus he should prepare as much as possible. I did not worry too much, because I know my brother is a hard-worker and very dedicated to his academics. However, I often stress the importance of taking some time off and hanging out with friends -mental breaks are also very important in law school.

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At the University’s first in-person graduation ceremony in three years, U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng delivered the commencement address to the graduates from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and also received an honorary doctorate. This year marked the first year that Pace University held a combined ceremony for graduates of its campuses in New York City, Pleasantville, and White Plains. Delivering the commencement address for Pace University was Mayor Eric Adams, who also received an honorary doctorate. Finance and philanthropy leader, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, a Pace alum, was also recognized. This year’s ceremony, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, recognized not only the class of 2022, but also the classes of 2021 and 2022, who were not able to have a traditional celebration due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Horace E. Anderson Jr,, Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law served as the Master of Ceremonies. After a brief introduction, kicking off the ceremony was Haub Law student, Amanda Fugel, singing the National Anthem to the live audience as well as to hundreds of individuals live streaming the event. In his speech, Dean Horace Anderson focused on the ways that the three recent graduating classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, helped Haub Law thrive. From the number one ranking of Haub Law’s environmental law program, to top rankings in trial advocacy, launching of new programs, developing new initiatives, publishing papers in prestigious journals, and more – Dean Anderson noted that these are the student’s achievements.

Students Kellyann Dornan and Mitchell Quatinetz also gave remarks to the graduating classes and audience members. Both students acknowledged the impact that their professors at Haub Law made on them, and the perseverance of their class in not only graduating law school, but also graduating law school during a pandemic. Mitchell Quatinetz noted that, “I am optimistic that our law school experience, though admittedly not what we had envisioned when we began law school, has transformed us into lawyers who are resilient and adaptable.”

U.S. Representative Grace Meng was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Pace University Board Chair and Haub Law alum Rob Sands. Congresswoman Meng is currently serving her fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and represents the borough of Queens in the Sixth Congressional District of New York. She is the first and only Asian American Member of Congress from New York State, and the first female member from Queens since former Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. For her impressive and impactful work towards menstrual equality and more, Congresswoman Meng was recently recognized by Haub Law’s Women’s Association of Law Students with their annual Pioneer of Justice Award.

During her inspiring address, Congresswoman Meng stated, “This is a celebration not only of success, but of your determination, persistence, and resolve.” She spoke about what life is like after law school, giving the graduates sage advice as they navigate their future careers, discussing how she herself got involved in politics, the ways in which she looked to support her community, and how important it is to positively represent the voices that may not be in the room where decisions are made and communities that lack the resources to have their voices heard. Speaking directly to the class of 2022, Congresswoman Meng said, “it is the responsibility of all of us and on the shoulders of all of us to step outside of our comfort zones and in addition to the legal expertise that you have and will continue to develop to bring your own unique history and experiences to make the law fair and more accessible to everyone. And, with your degree and an open mind for tackling challenges, you can discover and contribute to the world, your ideas and your work that will make a visible difference in the daily lives of the people you serve. And whether you make mistakes or you find successes in addressing these challenges, these opportunities however tough they may be are not barriers, they are markers of your storied experiences and your job will be to continue to improve the lives of everyone around you.”

After her commencement address, the JD, SJD, and LLM graduates were called to the stage by Associate Dean and Professor Jill I. Gross and hooded by Professors Bridget J. Crawford, Jared Hatcliffe, and Jason J. Czarnezki. After the last name was read, remarks were made by Madison Shaff, graduate of the class of 2022 and Student Bar Association President. She stated in part, “I am honored to be here today with my colleagues because today we can look around, and we are here, once again a connected community. Together we had to confront ongoing adaptation, sometimes grief, but throughout it all learned some hard, but valuable lessons. If you take anything away from your law school experience, I hope it is the idea of community.” The ceremony ended with remarks by Pace University president, Marvin Krislov.

This year’s 2022 graduating class from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University included 213 Juris Doctor degrees, 32 Master of Laws degrees (15 in Comparative Legal Studies, 11 in Environmental Law, and 6 Doctor of Juridical Science in Environmental Law degrees). Of the JD graduates, 9 graduated summa cum laude, 26 magna cum laude, and 67 cum laude. Of those, 9 students earned certificates in Health Law and Policy, 30 in Environmental Law, and 6 in International Law.

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Why English Language and Literature?

I've loved writing ever since I was little; being creative and being able to tell stories has always been a major passion of mine. I came into Pace with my major undecided, and really loved all of the creative/performance-based classes I was taking! I always tell people that being an English Language and Literature major feels like being in a really fun book club where you also get to effectively learn how to write and analyze, so I knew that it was the right fit for me.

Why Pace?

I am from Southern California originally, and I’ve always wanted to come to New York City. I knew of Pace through a lot of my performing and acting friends, and the thought of being surrounded by artistic people was so appealing to me! After touring Pace, it just felt right, and I knew that I would really be able to grow here.

Tell us about your on-campus experience

I absolutely adore the entire English department! I have felt so included in the department, even though I didn't officially declare my major until the end of my sophomore year. All of the professors are amazing and truly care about each individual student. Professor Sid Ray has ultimately been a huge support for me! She has really helped me find my voice in my writing, as well as mentoring me in so many different aspects.

What on-campus research have you performed?

Editor's note: Kailey was awarded the Provost Undergraduate Research Grant for the 2022-2023 academic year for her project, "The Lost Black Involvement in American Theater," with Professor of English Sid Ray.

My research project, “He is Our Bard as Well as Yours”: Recovering the Lost Black Involvement in Early American Theatre,” has really become such an important part of not only my education at Pace, but ultimately, my life. The main purpose of the project is to recover the lost history of William Alexander Brown and the African Company, an all-Black theatrical company in New York City in the early 19th^th century. These amazing people changed history and paved the path for Black performers, yet their story is relatively unknown.

Why is your research meaningful?

This isn't just a research project; I really can see this being momentum in the movement towards justice for Black actors. Throughout the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the rebirth of theater throughout the pandemic, we've seen a lot of promises of change and progress. What better time to acknowledge the pioneers of Black theater? You can’t claim to fix the present without fully acknowledging the past. Ultimately, my goal is to be able to help un-silence silenced voices. A lot of history surrounding early American theater happened under our feet (Pace sits on top of so much history!). I feel a really strong responsibility to educate people about it, and then make physical, actual change.

This project also truly fits in to who I am as a person. I am biracial (half-Black and half-White) and that has continuously been a major aspect of my life. The research surrounding the African Company really feels like a fusion of my two main focuses in life: social justice work and theater. When researching the actresses of the African Company, I feel so connected to them and obligated to make their stories known. Who are we to follow in the footsteps of people whose footsteps have been erased from history?

What extracurriculars are you involved with?

I am in the Pforzheimer Honors College and the Pace Storytelling Fellowship for Equity and Inclusion. Being in the Honors College has been really great because of the one-on-one attention that students get, and how truly kind everyone is. The Fellowship started this spring, and I have already learned so much about being a working writer and fostering my voice. I'm also a Residential Assistant in the residential halls. I love being able to help first-year students, and I’m reminded of the excitement of being in college in the city every day! I'm really blessed to be in these organizations, and I'm truly thankful for the mentors and leaders that I have met.

What are your graduation plans?

Ultimately, I want to be a playwright. I want to be able to create and tell stories of the people who are often silenced. I think that theater can be such a powerful tool to help inspire change, and it would be so fulfilling to be a part of that.

Any advice for current students?

Listen to yourself always, and in whatever you do, really fight for your point of view. I think this is such a confusing period of time where we as young adults really discover who we are as individuals. Injecting your soul (which I know sounds super intense, but just go with it) into everything that you do truly makes everything in life a passion project.

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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law School at Pace University honored outstanding members of the Class of 2022, as well as distinguished faculty and staff on Friday, May 13 at Mansion on Broadway, a stately and historic venue in White Plains, New York. The evening was enjoyed by students, families, friends, staff, and faculty who came together to celebrate the accomplishments of the awardees.

The Haub Law Student Bar Association created five award categories based on important values of the law school. These categories included the Brightest Light Award, the Co-Counsel Award, the Community Award, the Underdog Award, and the annual Adolph Homburger Humanitarian Award. Students were nominated by their peers to receive these significant awards and the recipients were ultimately selected by a class-wide vote. Additionally, the Dean’s Award – personally selected by Dean Horace Anderson – was presented at Commencement.

The awards ceremony also recognized outstanding faculty and staff with the distinguished Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor of the Year Award and the Award for Outstanding Staff Member or Department. These award recipients were also selected by a vote of the graduating class and honored for their impact on students and their overall contributions to the law school.

Class Of 2022 Student Awards

Dean's Award

Madison Renee Shaff

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law Dean’s Award is presented to a graduating student in the full and/or part-time program who best demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and service to the law school and community.

Madison (Maddie) Shaff was selected for the Dean’s Award because of her exemplary student leadership during her time at Haub Law, demonstrating outstanding commitment to academic excellence, public service, community spirit, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As President of the Law School’s Student Bar Association, Maddie has been a champion of creating community at the law school, spearheading many programs and initiatives, and raising awareness of important social issues that impact students and the broader legal community.

Adolf Homburger Humanitarian Award

Madison Renee Shaff

The Adolf Homburger Humanitarian award winner is chosen by the graduating class in memory of the late Adolf Homburger. He was a teacher, advisor, and scholar and he exemplified the ideals he attempted to impart: commitment and character: spirit and patience, warmth and modesty and devotion to careful scholarship.

Madison (Maddie) Shaff was selected by her peers because of her dedication to the law school community, creating programming and opportunities for all members of the community to be included and heard.

Brightest Light Award

Yasmin Noora Laskar

The Brightest Light Award honors a student who is consistently a “bright light” for their peers. Filled with positivity and joy, this student always inspires their peers to be happy.

Yasmin Laskar was selected by her peers for her kindness and warm-hearted personality with the student body. She is described by peers as a nurturing role model who always has encouraging words. An example of her inspirational leadership was displayed in her curated weekly morning mindset walks for residents, which focused on building a supportive community while promoting mental health.

The Co-Counsel Award

Krittika B. Shah

The Co-Counsel Award honors a student who is a true partner, a person you can depend on to review your legal research, give feedback on your cross-examination and lean on when faced with challenges. This student always has your back and best interest in mind.

Krittika (Kye) Shah was selected because of her loyalty and support to her friends and peers, and her strong work ethic. She is described by peers as always being a resourceful team player when working on projects.

The Community Award

Michael Andrew Pabon Jr.

The Community Award honors a student who is passionate about public service and goes above and beyond to put their community first.

Michael (Mikey) Pabon was selected because of his active involvement in campus life, leadership in mentoring peers while remaining studious, and his enthusiasm to help whenever needed.

The Underdog Award

Michael Robert Thompson

The Underdog Award honors a student who demonstrates incredible grit and determination at every opportunity and who is always fighting to be the highest version of themself, despite the obstacles that are thrown in their way.

Michael Thompson was selected because of his strength and determination when faced with extreme adversity. Michael is a wonderful friend dedicated to community service through his work at the Pace Health Law Clinic. Michael bravely overcame challenges to become a successful and passionate law student and has provided inspiration for his classmates along the way.

Faculty and Staff Awards

Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor Of The Year Award

Professor Bridget J. Crawford
Adjunct Professor Jared Hatcliffe

The Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor of the Year Award honors a professor(s) who displays incredible commitment and character to their students and has a keen interest in current events in the law and society.

Professor Bridget J. Crawford received the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award for the 8th time! She teaches Federal Income Taxation; Estate and Gift Taxation; and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Her students describe her a passionate and enthusiastic professor who is a skilled educator, committed to law students and future lawyers. She is always available and willing to help any student and is a mentor to many students.

Professor Jared Hatcliffe teaches Trial Advocacy and Motion Practice at Haub Law. His students say he demonstrates true compassion for all students, not only in the classroom, but in life. He is dedicated, passionate and always available for students to practice mock trials, make sure they understand the material, and advise them on internship and job opportunities.

Award For Outstanding Staff Member Or Department

Dining Hall

The Award for Outstanding Staff Member or Department honors staff who have been active in supporting the student body and who were effective in problem solving unexpected challenges, always providing top-notch customer service and care.

The staff of Chartwells Dining Hall was selected as a result of how they serve and support the student body. For many students, they provided a friendly face on campus, a listening ear when needed most, and took special care to ensure students had access to delicious food, providing the comfort of home that was so often needed.

See Photos from the Ceremony