College of Law

Law Faculty Honored at University Awards Ceremony

by Diana Case | April 20, 2018

The University of Toledo honors full-time faculty members across the university with awards recognizing excellence in teaching, research, outreach and scholarly engagement. This year, three College of Law professors were celebrated for their contributions at the university awards ceremony on Thursday, April 19.

Nicole Porter

Professor Nicole Buonocore Porter received the Outstanding Faculty Research and Scholarship Award, which recognizes exceptional research, scholarship, and creativity. The selection committee was impressed by the breadth of her scholarly work and research impact.

Porter teaches employment discrimination, disability law, higher education, criminal law, contracts, and feminist legal theory. She is a leading expert in disability law. Her research interests focus on the employment rights of women and individuals with disabilities. Porter earned her JD from the University of Michigan Law School.

Kara Bruce

Professor Kara Bruce received the Outstanding Teacher Award. This prestigious award honors faculty members who inspire, motivate, challenge, and bring out the best in their students. The selection committee cited Bruce’s commitment to student success and significant contributions to the university’s mission.

Bruce teaches creditor/debtor law, business bankruptcy, secured transactions, and commercial paper payment systems. Her research focuses on bankruptcy law and procedure. Bruce is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA) and Tulane University Law School (JD).

Kenneth Kilbert

Professor Kenneth Kilbert received the Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to community outreach and engaged scholarship.

Kilbert teaches environmental law, natural resources law, administrative law, civil procedure and water law. He coordinates the Great Lakes Water Conference, Environmental Law Certificate and Master of Studies in Law programs. He also serves as director of the Legal Institute of the Great Lakes, which is a multidisciplinary research center within the College of Law. Kilbert is a graduate of Bethany College (BA) and the University of Pittsburgh (JD).

The selection committee noted his work coordinating the annual Great Lakes Water Conference at the College of Law. The conference brings together leading experts to address critical water issues that impact the Great Lakes region. The committee also recognized his work guiding local policymakers through research such as, “Moving Forward: Legal Solutions to Lake Erie’s Harmful Algal Blooms” (2015 with J. Tuholske).

“These three award winners represent what makes Toledo's faculty special,” said Geoffrey Rapp, associate dean for academic affairs and Harold A. Anderson Professor of Law and Values. “Our faculty, like Professor Bruce, are amazing classroom teachers; like Professor Porter, they are nationally recognized authors; and like Professor Kilbert, they maintain a focus on the community and the public good in their professional work. I could not be prouder to call these three award winners my colleagues."

Last Updated: 6/27/22