College of Law

College of Law Faculty Receive University-Level Awards

April 19, 2016

Each year The University of Toledo honors outstanding faculty members with a variety of University awards.  This spring, six College of Law faculty were honored for their teaching, scholarly work, and cross-campus involvement with University-level awards.  

Two faculty members won the University’s Outstanding Teacher Award:  Shelley Cavalieri, an associate professor of law, and Benjamin Davis, a professor of law.  This distinguished award has a 41-year history and honors full-time faculty members who inspire, motivate, and challenge their students.  The most recent law faculty recipients were Professor Joseph Slater in 2008 and Professor Beth Eisler in 2013 (posthumously).

Professor Cavalieri teaches Property I, Property II, and Land Use Planning while Professor Davis teaches Contracts, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Public International Law, and International Business Transactions.

Professors Cavalieri and Davis were among only three tenure-stream professors and six total faculty members to be recognized this year.  “Both Professor Davis and Professor Cavalieri bring distinctive passion and intensity to the classroom,” said Associate Dean Geoffrey Rapp. “Their students have long praised their individualized attention and compassion and it is no surprise that they were nominated for the Outstanding Teacher Award by those students,” said Rapp.

Two law professors were also among the three faculty members honored with the University’s Outstanding Faculty Research and Scholarship Award:   Joseph Slater, Eugene N. Balk Professor of Law and Values, and Geoffrey Rapp, who also serves as Harold A. Anderson Professor of Law and Values.  This award is designed to recognize not just research and scholarship, but also creativity.

Professor Rapp teaches Torts, Business Associations, Sports Law, and Securities Regulation.  Professor Slater teaches Torts, Labor Law, Employment Law, and Employment Discrimination.  

Nicole Porter, a professor of law, was selected as one of this year’s Dr. Alice Skeens Outstanding University Women.  Selection criteria for the award include “exceptional contribution, achievement, and involvement with the UT community; positive attitude towards responsibilities; and active support of women’s issues longevity…”  In the award’s 19-year history, Professor Porter is the first law faculty member to win the award.  Professor Porter teaches Disability Law, Criminal Law, Contacts, and Feminist Legal Theory.

Kara Bruce, an associate professor of law, received the Provost’s Shining Star Award.  This award seeks “…to recognize and honor those who continuously demonstrate their commitment to excellence in teaching, challenging, and inspiring our students.”  This marks the first time a law faculty member has received the award in its 4-year history.  Professor Bruce teaches in the areas of Business Bankruptcy, Secured Transactions, and Commercial Paper.

“The awards conferred this year reflect that the faculty is composed of high-quality academics who are focused on the student experience.  It makes the College of Law a vibrant place to work and a wonderful place to study and explore the law,” said Eric Chaffee, Associate Dean of Faculty Research & Development and Professor of Law.

Last Updated: 6/27/22