KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Eight law students at the University of Kansas have been selected as Dean’s Fellows for 2011-12.

The second- and third-year students will serve as mentors for first-year students, providing them with a peer’s insight into the first-year experience and helping ease their transition into law school. This is the fifth year for the program, which is administered by the law school’s Office of Student Affairs.

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“This year’s Dean’s Fellows represent a good mix of students with different law school experiences who should be able to relate well to the many different types of students we will see in the first-year class,” said Wendy Rohleder-Sook, associate dean for student affairs. “Our goal is to provide a peer connection for new students and strengthen ties among the classes.”

Rachel Sherck will return for her second year as a Dean’s Fellow.

“I enjoyed having an opportunity last year to get to know 1L students and share some of what I learned my first year with them,” she said. “At our first meeting, it was clear that the ‘new’ Dean’s Fellows bring great ideas, and we ‘returners’ bring experience. So hopefully, together, this group can make a great program even better.”

The 2011-12 Dean’s Fellows are listed below by hometown.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Abilene 67410
Rachel Sherck, a second-year law student, completed a bachelor’s in English literature at Kansas State University. She has participated in the Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies and Traffic Court, and she is pursuing the Advocacy Certificate. Next year, Sherck will be a member of the Moot Court Council. She served as a member and committee chair of Women in Law and sits on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council. Sherck is returning for her second year as a Dean’s Fellow. She graduated from Abilene High School and is the daughter of Robin Black and Jack Sherck.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66061
Jenny Conner, a first-year law student, earned a bachelor’s in management and leadership and human resource management at KU. Conner plans to pursue a certificate in business and commercial law. She sits on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board and is a member of Traffic Court, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and Women in Law. Conner will be a 2L class representative next year. She graduated from Olathe South High School and is the daughter of David and Jane Conner.

From Prairie Village 66208
Sean Foley, a second-year law student, completed a bachelor’s in history at Truman State University. Next year, Foley will serve on the Moot Court Council and the board of editors of the Kansas Law Review. He also participates in the Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies and is a member of the International Law Society. He graduated from Bishop Miege High School and is the son of Tom and Sheila Foley.

Joe McLean, a first-year law student, earned a bachelor’s in business administration and French at Benedictine College. He will participate in the Judicial Clerkship Clinic this summer and plans to pursue a certificate in business and commercial law. He graduated from Mount Michael Benedictine High School in Elkhorn, Neb., and is the son of Trisha McLean of Kansas City, Mo., and Gene McLean of Fort Worth, Texas.

From Shawnee 66217
Elizabeth Landau, a second-year law student, earned a bachelor’s in comparative religion at William Jewell College. Landau participates in the Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies and will take part in the Immigration/Asylum Law Clinic next year. Last summer, she studied abroad in Istanbul, and she is pursuing a certificate in international trade and finance. Landau serves as the communications director for the International Law Society and has been secretary for Women in Law. She graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and is the daughter of Mason and Susanne Landau.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67502
Casey Walker, a first-year law student, earned a bachelor’s in history and English at KU. She will participate in the Judicial Clerkship Clinic this summer, and she plans to pursue certificates in elder law and media, law and technology. Walker graduated from Buhler High School and is the daughter of David Henderson and Patty Coon.

MISSOURI
From Parkville 64152
Haley Bowman, a first-year law student, completed a bachelor’s in English literature at St. Lawrence University. She plans to pursue a certificate in elder law. She will study abroad in Galway, Ireland, this summer as part of a human rights symposium. Bowman is a member of the International Law Society and the Kansas Bar Association. She is also involved with the KU Law Mentor Program. She graduated from St. Pius X High School in Gladstone, Mo., and is the daughter of Jim and Jeane Bowman.

VIRGINIA
From Alexandria 22310
Ganesh Nair, a second-year law student, completed a bachelor’s of business administration in risk management and finance at Temple University. He has served as president of the Asian Law Students Association and is co-founder of the KU Law Legal Entrepreneurs. Nair has also sat on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board. He is returning for his second year as a Dean’s Fellow. Nair graduated from Thomas Edison High School and is the son of Sarala and Bala Nair.