Spring 2009 - Texas Wesleyan School of Law - Texas Wesleyan ...

Photo by Abby E. Dozier
alumni
report
Dean Frederic White with Dean Emeritus Frank Elliott and former Dean Fred Slabach.
Letter to Alumni Association
Fellow Alum,
Very soon, my two-year term as president of our
association will come to an end. Although the law
school is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the
school, the alumni board and our association are
still in their early years. While all that I set out to do
during my six years on the alumni board was not
achieved, I have seen many accomplishments. Let me mention
just a few of these:
• To date, 2009 has seen the alumni giving percentage
increase to 6 percent, our highest rate ever. (Though we’re
still working to match the national giving average of 10
percent, so please continue to show your support!)
• A 2008 banquet honoring Professor and Judge Joe Spurlock
brought together more than 400 faculty, staff, alumni and
distinguished guests to celebrate Judge Spurlock’s
many achievements.
• The 2008 Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend was our
best ever, and included the inaugural Chief Justice Joe
Greenhill Golf Tournament, which brought in a scholarship
fund of $10,000 for the Chief Justice Joe Greenhill
Endowment Scholarship.
• In 2008, the alumni e-newsletter was created to keep you
informed and connected to the law school.
• In 2008, alumni events were expanded and are now being
held around the state.
• Alumni participation in events increased overall as a result
of enhanced outreach to members of the alumni community,
with quarterly CLEs and monthly networking luncheons
offered across the DFW area.
Your board didn’t make this happen alone. It was truly a
collaborative effort of the board, our association’s membership,
and the school.
Top, from left: Casey Dyer ‘06, director of alumni relations and external affairs; Caroline Akers ‘04;
and Jessica Graham ‘04. Front: Chris Long ’04 and Connie Pyatt-Dryden ‘06.
Since taking the helm of the school, Dean Frederic
White, not only by words, but by action, has
demonstrated his commitment to the alumni
association, and to you, its members. This is
evidenced by the expanded support the board
and our association receive from members of
the school’s alumni relations office. Casey Dyer
‘06, director of alumni relations and external
affairs, along with her outstanding staff, has been
instrumental in assisting the board to reach its goals
and grow our association. All of this exemplifies
our unified commitment to the association. New growth and
exciting beginnings are certainly on the horizon for our school
and association.
As a member of the law school’s first class, I’m excited about
where we are today, yet I am most excited about where we’re
going and what lies ahead. I hope you had the opportunity to
attend this year’s annual alumni weekend, and I ask that you
plan now to attend our school’s 20th anniversary celebrations
banquet this fall.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you and to have
had the opportunity to work with our many fine board members.
I remain committed to the association and to the school, and I
am proud to say that I am a Texas Wesleyan University School
of Law graduate.
Remember, great things are on the horizon for our association.
So this year, make the decision to be involved. You will be glad
you did.
My best regards,
Ralph Swearingin, Jr. ’94, president
Alumni Association
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Photo by Abby E. Dozier