College of Law Hosts Biannual Lorio Emerging Scholars Program
On April 10, the College of Law welcomed five upcoming legal scholars for the biannual Kathryn Venturatos Lorio Emerging Scholars Program.
The Lorio Emerging Scholars Program was launched in 2022 to honor Dean Emerita Kathryn Lorio and her immeasurable impact on the College of Law. Dean Emerita Lorio served on the Loyola faculty for over 40 years, including as the first female dean of the law school, which she served in an interim capacity. The program celebrates civil law and brings together civilians to support other aspiring scholars and teachers.
“Dean Lorio was not only a brilliant teacher and scholar who pioneered important developments in Louisiana law on assisted reproduction, she was an enthusiastic mentor who always fostered and encouraged the next generation of lawyers and scholars,” said Professor Meera Sossamon, who coordinated the program and holds the distinguished professorship named in honor of Dean Emerita Lorio.
This day-long workshop is designed to assist emerging scholars who have a scholarly interest in civil law, particularly those interested in joining academia. These scholars present either a draft article or a developing idea to panels of civil law professors. The professors then offer feedback on the presentations, mentorship, and information and advice on entering the academic field.
The program was held in the newly renovated Sacred Heart building, a beautiful former private home and living space for Dominican nuns located in front of the College of Law building on St. Charles Avenue. In addition to hosting events for guests and alumni, the Sacred Heart building will also house Loyola’s Center for Social Justice.
The day started with a tribute to Dean Lorio from Dean Landrieu and various Loyola faculty. In addition, Dean Lorio's children, Liz Lorio Baer and Philip Lorio IV — both alumni of Loyola College of Law — were in attendance and spoke briefly to the participants on how much Dean Lorio would have loved to encourage their pursuit of legal scholarship.
This year’s participants included five recent law school graduates from LSU, Loyola, and Southern University who presented on a variety of legal topics. They included:
- David Gross – “Legal Limbo: 401K and Wages in Louisiana”
- Alexandria Johnson – “Zoning Plantation Geography and Equal Protection: Constitutional Limits on Industrial Siting in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley”
- Caleb O’Connell – “The Boundary Action’s Potential Relevance in Response to Real Action Revision”
- Ryan Simoneaux – “Unequal Protection: Same-Sex Parents and Louisiana Filiation Law”
- Ashley White – “Louisiana’s Economic Development District Legislative Framework”
Special thanks to all professors who attended and participated in the workshop:
- Jami Becnel (Loyola)
- Monica Hof Wallace (Loyola)
- Dean Madeleine Landrieu (Loyola)
- Melissa Lonegrass (LSU)
- John Lovett (LSU)
- Phillip McIntosh (Mississippi College)
- Markus Puder (Loyola)
- Martha Thibaut (Loyola)
- Courtney Turkington (Loyola)
- Sandi Varnado (Loyola)