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.