Results from the February 2026 exam were released Wednesday, April 1, by the . 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 result far exceeds the statewide first-time passage rate of 74.78% and the school鈥檚 previous high of 82%, set by 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 charter class in 2009.

The Class of 2025鈥檚 success reflects a sustained, school-wide focus on teaching, preparation, and student support, all aimed at helping graduates succeed not only on the bar exam, but in their legal careers.

鈥淭his is what 乱伦视频 Law is all about,鈥� said Zak Kramer, dean of 乱伦视频 Law. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the dream-making business. The better our students perform, the faster they can begin making an impact as lawyers.鈥�

An upward trajectory

In recent years, faculty and staff have aligned around the mission of excellence on the bar exam. They adopted a new motto and mindset: 鈥淥ne and Done.鈥�

The gains are striking. First-time passage has climbed from 52.8% for the Class of 2021 to 91.96% for the Class of 2025, with steady increases along the way, including 79.4% for the Class of 2023, and 73.5% for the Class of 2024.

These efforts are part of a broader vision. 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 faculty continuously refine how they teach for real-world lawyering. The school鈥檚 2.5-year J.D. program accelerates students鈥� path to the profession 鈥� with a December graduation and February bar exam 鈥� while reducing the cost of a legal education. Recognized nationally for practical training with an A+ rating from PreLaw Magazine, 乱伦视频 Law prepares graduates to enter the profession with confidence and experience.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of our students who took the bar,鈥� said Jenny Lane, assistant dean for academic success. 鈥淲e gave them the mission, 鈥楥ommit, complete, conquer,鈥� and that鈥檚 exactly what they did.鈥�

With its highest bar pass rate in recent history and a multi-year trend of steady growth, 乱伦视频 Law is on a sustained upward trajectory.

鈥淏ig things are happening at 乱伦视频 Law,鈥� Kramer said, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e just getting started.鈥�

About 乱伦视频 Law

乱伦视频 Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated nearly 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining a Top 10 placement and an A+ rating each year since 2023. 乱伦视频 Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

乱伦视频 has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it enrolled its second cohort in fall 2025.

Recent 乱伦视频 Law graduate Dmitri McKinney L鈥�25 appeared as a contestant on where a legal hypothetical (or what sounded like one) led him astray.

Calling in from his hometown of 乱伦视频, McKinney joined host Peter Sagal for the program鈥檚 鈥淏luff the Listener鈥� segment, where contestants try to identify the real news story among three humorous options presented by the show’s panelists.

During his introduction, McKinney shared that he had recently graduated from 乱伦视频 Law and hopes to pursue public service or civil rights work, drawing applause from the audience.

When the panelists shared three unusual New York City stories, McKinney joked that one option 鈥� involving a tourist suing over a painfully spicy taco 鈥� sounded like something straight out of a first-year law class.

鈥淚鈥檓 not saying this is the real one, but Paula (Poundstone)鈥檚 story sounded like a tort hypothetical that I know a lot of the 1Ls went through a couple of months ago,鈥� he said.

Ironically, that lawsuit story turned out to be the real one.

鈥淎ll of the answer choices were so entertaining, but I thought there was no way that the real answer would essentially be a giant torts foreseeability hypothetical!鈥� McKinney said afterward. 鈥淚 wound up picking Alonzo Bodden鈥檚 story because it was so kind-hearted.鈥�

He appeared on the show after submitting an online form shortly after graduating from 乱伦视频 Law in December.

鈥淚 have been a lifelong listener of NPR and of 鈥榃ait Wait 鈥� Don鈥檛 Tell Me!鈥� so I wanted being on the show to mark a special occasion,鈥� McKinney said. 鈥淪omeone from the show texted me last week asking if I still wanted to be on the show. It was an absolute delight.鈥�

At 乱伦视频 Law, McKinney was a Presidential Scholar, Leadership Fellow, editor-in-chief of We the People: 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Constitutional Law Journal, president of the Innocence Organization, Law School Democrats and active on the Honor Council. He earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina State University in chemistry and political science.

Success in law rests on service and impact, a North Carolina Supreme Court justice said in urging 乱伦视频 School of Law鈥檚 newest graduates to shape their careers around three guiding principles.

• Choose the more meaningful path 鈥� especially when it鈥檚 uncomfortable or harder.
• Titles don鈥檛 define worth. What matters is what you do with the role you鈥檝e earned.
• Don鈥檛 be a bystander. Change comes through action, not observation.

鈥淵ou weren鈥檛 trained just to know the law,鈥� North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. said. 鈥淵ou were trained to use the law, to serve with it, to fight with it, to preserve liberty. When you take real action, you鈥檙e not just solving a temporary problem. You鈥檙e changing lives and building foundations.鈥�

Berger delivered that advice and more in a Commencement address on Dec. 12, 2025, to 136 graduates in 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Class of 2025. With family and friends gathering in Alumni Gym on the university鈥檚 main campus, the program marked the culmination of rigorous legal studies and experiential service over the past 2.5 years.

Berger has served as an associate justice on the state鈥檚 highest court since 2021 following years as a prosecutor, Superior Court judge and appellate judge. He reminded graduates that their work will take them into places where people are hurting, confused or alone. Berger likened these places to 鈥渢he well,鈥� telling a modern parable about passersby who leave a man stranded in a well before one who knows the way jumps in to rescue him. Lawyers must be willing to step into these fraught situations and guide others forward.

鈥淭he world will not change because you walked by the well. It will only change if you jump in,鈥� he said.

Commencement for the School of Law鈥檚 18th graduation class also featured a student address from William 鈥淎nderson鈥� Rowe L鈥�25 鈥� a U.S. Army veteran, former construction professional, and father of four 鈥� whom classmates elected to deliver remarks, and a welcome message from former Student Bar Asosciation president Rebecca 鈥淏ecca鈥� Bailey L鈥�25.

Rowe praised a class that supported one another through accelerated studies, career changes, professional growth and personal hardships, united by a shared drive to pursue justice and make a difference in the world. He urged graduates to carry their motivations 鈥� their 鈥渨hy鈥� 鈥� into their careers and to use their voices and new credentials with purpose.

鈥淲hatever your reason, that 鈥榳hy鈥� has carried each of us through challenges like learning how to handle imposter syndrome, our accelerated curriculum, financial pressures and even loss,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith this Juris Doctor degree, we now can go into our communities, organizations, and workplaces and be the change that we want to see. The world we鈥檙e stepping into needs more than just good lawyers. It needs good people who practice law.鈥�

Bailey welcomed graduates and their supporters, encouraging the Class of 2025 to pause, recognize the weight of their achievement, and celebrate the community that helped make it possible.

鈥淲e are prepared, equipped, and well able to enter a truly noble profession,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淲elcome to the culmination of all you have worked for and the beginning of your next great adventure.鈥�

The program included the presentation of the David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism, the highest honor bestowed by 乱伦视频 Law each year on an individual from the graduating class whose activities represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism. The award is named in honor of David Gergen, a former adviser to four American presidents whose professional life and contributions embodied the highest levels of selfless leadership and service. Gergen served as chair of the 乱伦视频 Law Advisory Board from its founding until fall 2024. He passed away July 11 at the age of 83.

Professor Enrique Armijo presented the 2025 award to Saniya Pangare L鈥�25, the former co-director of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Pro Bono Board and Student Mentor Program, and a co-editor of the 乱伦视频 Law Review’s 2025 Symposium.

The ceremony also included a remembrance for Grayson Harris Rehm L鈥�25, who passed away in November 2024. Graduates wore gray and gold cords in his honor, and the class鈥檚 gift 鈥� thousands raised for the Student Emergency Fund 鈥� will support future students facing unexpected hardship. More than 60 percent of the class contributed, and two anonymous donors ensured every graduate could wear the commemorative cords.

In her charge to graduates, 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book celebrated the Class of 2025鈥檚 achievements and resilience, reminding them that their 乱伦视频 experience 鈥� grounded in learning by doing, real-world engagement, and a commitment to service 鈥� has prepared them to become stewards of justice in a rapidly changing world.

鈥淭oday, you are ready. You enter the profession at a moment when the practice of law is evolving rapidly 鈥� shaped by new technologies, shifting expectations and the pressing need for ethical judgment in a fast-moving world,鈥� Book said. 鈥淎t a time when discourse can be divided and disagreements feel sharp, the legal profession needs practitioners who model civility, clarity and respect.

“Your ability to listen deeply, advocate honorably and engage constructively will strengthen both the profession and the communities you serve.鈥�

“Your ability to listen deeply, advocate honorably and engage constructively will strengthen both the profession and the communities you serve.鈥�

鈥� 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book

乱伦视频 School of Law’s Class of 2025

Elizabeth Rose Allred
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chloe Bae Anderson
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Christian Anderson
B.S., East Carolina University

Ericka Luana Arauco Anaya
B.A., University Gabriel Rene Moreno

Ethan Nicholas Badin
B.A., Hampden-Sydney College

John Denny Bailey, Jr.
B.S., Francis Marion University

Rebecca Susanne Bailey
B.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Ashley Cecilia Bell
B.S., East Carolina University

Bianca Nicole Blanks
B.A., Capital University

Elizabeth Simone Bradley
B.A., Gardner-Webb University

Karin McKenzie Brannon
B.S., Clemson University

Holden Sebastian Bryant
B.S., Lenoir-Rhyne University

Elizabeth Grace Bullins
B.S., Appalachian State University

Joshua Daniel Burgan
B.A., Appalachian State University

Jack Patrick Cahalane
B.A., Bucknell University

Julianna Ester Clark
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ashley Claire Clayton
B.A., Emory and Henry University
M.Ed., Emory and Henry University

Jackson Cluff
B.A., Utah Tech University

Jesse Alexander Collin
B.A., University of South Carolina

Matthew Harrison Cornell
B.S., University of Central Florida

Alexis Croce
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University

Whitney Malyn Cronin
B.S., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Robert Lee Crowder III
B.S., The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

David Cruz Reyes
B.A., Western Carolina University

Stephen Michael Cunnane
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Julia Nicole Cunningham
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Chase Patrick Duran
B.B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Landon Kyle Eckard
B.S., Appalachian State University

Liam Christopher Edsall
B.S., Randolph-Macon College

Frank Garrett Edwards, Jr.
B.A., George Mason University

Anthony David Figueroa
B.B.A., American Military University

Shea Alexander Floyd
B.S., Western Carolina University

April Nicole Franklin
B.S., North Carolina State University
M.S., MBA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Michael Giannecchini
B.A., Florida Gulf Coast University

Madison Dayle Gilbert
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jackie S. Gill
B.A., University of Texas
M.A., University of Texas
Ph.D., University of Texas

Kelsey E. Greene
B.A., East Carolina University

Diana Lizeth Guevara Reyes
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Quentin P. Haley
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Carter William Hall
B.A., Auburn University

Alyson Michele Hanlon
B.S., Pfeiffer University

Madison Herald
B.A., North Carolina State University

Adriana Hernandez Ordonez
B.A., B.A., Eastern Connecticut State University

Reagan Andrew Hess
B.S., University of Florida

Lillie Snow Hester
B.A., Brigham Young University-Idaho

Jordan Channing Holloway
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kimberly Ann Huffman
B.S., Appalachian State University

Olivia Joandrea Hughes
B.A., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Frederick Christian Hulse
B.A., Wake Forest University

Salvatore Internicola
B.S., Radford University

Molly O’Grady Irwin
B.A., College of Charleston

Brianna S. Izquierdo
B.B.A., Loyola University Maryland

William Zackary Jackson
B.A., North Carolina State University

Sierra Rose Jarrett
B.S., Western Carolina University

Celia Barclay Jones
B.A., North Carolina State University

Madeline Claire Kern
B.A., 乱伦视频

Lillie Claire Anna Kieken
B.A., Converse University

Thomas Krapp
B.A., University of Pittsburgh

Brian Alexander Kreimer
B.A., Rowan University

Justin Ryan Kremer
B.S., Florida State University

Sadie Elizabeth Lambert
B.S.W. Arizona State University
M.S.W., Arizona State University

Gianna Renee Landrum
B.S., St. Thomas Aquinas College

Nyla Olwen Lewis
B.A., Christopher Newport University

Caroline Moffett Lohn
B.A., Georgia College and State University

McKenna Paige Longo
B.A., University of Delaware

Sophia Maratellos
B.S., Old Dominion University

Daniel Frederick Marshall
B.A., University of Lynchburg

Alicia M. Mathewson
B.S., The University of Akron

Jacqueline Yates May
B.A., B.A., 乱伦视频

Michael James McClelland
B.A., Davidson College

Kaitlyn McConnell
B.A., East Carolina University

Margaret Mary McDonald
B.A., B.S., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Hailey McGregor
B.A., University of South Carolina

Marcella R. McIntyre
B.A., Roanoke College

Dmitri Craig McKinney
B.A., B.S., North Carolina State University

Madelyn Hanna Mehr
B.A., B.S., North Carolina State University

Briana M. Miller
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Summer Jane Miller
B.S., 乱伦视频

Kaytlyn M. Mullins
B.A., Western Governors University

Ashley Morgan Myers
B.S., Clemson University

Harrison Penn Nugent
B.S., Auburn University

Adnan R. Omer
B.S., University of South Carolina

Delaney Clare O’Neill
B.A., Western Kentucky University

Jace Alexander Ortman
B.S., University of North Georgia

Laura Elizabeth Overkamp
B.A., George Mason University

Callie Elizabeth Owens
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jayme Taylor Palmer
B.S., East Carolina University

Saniya Y. Pangare
B.S., North Carolina State University

Lindsey Ann Parsons
B.M., DePauw University
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Reema Manish Patel
B.S., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Caylin Lace Perdue
B.S., Western Carolina University

Ashton Perret-Gentil
B.A., B.S., East Carolina University

Lillie Belle Peterson
B.S., The University of Utah

Taylor Faye Rathbone
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Samantha Marie Reid
B.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Gabriella Nicolle Reynolds
B.A., The University of Tennessee

Tristan Anthony Reynolds
B.S., Excelsior University

Hanna Duffy Riley
B.S.M., Tulane University

Cameron Rose Riordan
B.S., West Virginia University

James Tillman Rivenbark
B.S., Birmingham-Southern College

Zinyah Akinyele Robinson
B.A., North Carolina State University

Taylor Renee Rockwood
B.S., Appalachian State University

Jacy Romero
B.A., B.S., Western Carolina University

William Anderson Rowe
B.A., North Carolina State University

Reilly Ann Ruddiman
B.A., University of Washington

Sarah G. Ruffin
B.A., The University of Mississippi

Gavin Elliott Russell
B.A., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Millenium Dilia Russell
B.S.L.S, Purdue University Global

McKinley Elizabeth Sanders
B.A., Clemson University

Ivey Elizabeth Schofield
B.A., Middlebury College

Jaden Marie Schutt
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Emma Patricia Seegers
B.A., University of South Carolina

Darci B. Sharpe
B.S., Liberty University

Ann Estella Sheppard
B.A., B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tyler Austin Sherrill
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Julia Young Shumate
B.S., Liberty University
M.A., Liberty University

Christopher Galen Siefke, Jr.
B.A., B.S., Longwood University

Jennie Lee Slater
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Catherine DeVeaux Snyder
B.S., Clemson University

Austin Charles South
B.S., James Madison University

Savannah Rebekah Stinson
B.A., Winthrop University

Micah Salome Stone
LLB, Independent Institute of Education Varsity College

Taylor Streuli
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kristin Nicole Swilley
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte
M.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Nathan Bryant Tessau
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Anna E. Thomas
B.A., University of Georgia

Hannah Thompson
B.A., B.A., California State University, Chico

Brigid Kildare Tournoux
B.B.A., Southeastern Louisiana University

Karrington Nicole Wallace
B.A., Seton Hall University

Michael Spencer Watkins
B.A., 乱伦视频

Sophie Grace White
B.A., Colorado State University

Aliya Elaine Williams
B.S., Towson University

Trevor Chase Williams
B.A., Radford University

Brendan Matthew Wood
B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Gavin J. Woolard
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adam Jozef Zebzda
B.S., Appalachian State University

Moments before, their fighter plane had taken direct hit from German fire.

He aimed their perilous landing on a farm just outside Brussels. McClenny鈥檚 feet hit the ground so hard, his boots left an impression in the earth. Upon landing, the lone survivors of a 10-man crew were immediately captured by German soldiers. From a distance, a Belgian farmer watched their descent and hurried to assist. He found only McClenny鈥檚 footprints and made a plaster cast to preserve the moment.

Fifty years later, that same patch of ground would become a monument to American servicemembers who helped free Belgium and Europe from Nazi rule.

After the war, McClenny returned to continue studies at 乱伦视频 as a star football player and later become a highly respected educator in his hometown of Pikeville, near Goldsboro, North Carolina.

When his grandson, Trey McClenny L鈥�26, decided to study law at 乱伦视频, he carried that legacy with him.

鈥淚t was always my grandfather鈥檚 dream to pursue a law degree,鈥� McClenny said. 鈥淏y the time he had a chance, my mom and her sisters were grown, and they would have had to move from Pikeville, so it never happened. But when I decided to go to law school, that put 乱伦视频 at the top of my list. My grandparents aren鈥檛 here, but studying here feels like they鈥檙e with me for the journey.鈥�

Leading with purpose

Recently elected president of the Student Bar Association at 乱伦视频 Law in Greensboro, Trey McClenny leads with values of service-leadership that are family traits. As a first-year student, McClenny represented his class in the SBA and helped the organization adopt a new set of bylaws 鈥� the first major update since the law school opened in 2006. He also joined the Education Law Society and serves on a faculty-led subcommittee focused on academic climate and student success.

鈥淢y grandparents were both deeply invested in people,鈥� Trey McClenny said. 鈥淚 learned from them that the best kind of success is shared success.鈥�

His passion for advocacy began long before law school. Trey McClenny studied elementary education at UNC Wilmington and spent five years teaching second, third and fourth grade in Brunswick County Schools. He thrived in Title I classrooms that served low-income families, finding purpose in helping students discover their strengths.

鈥淚 wanted my students to reach their full potential,鈥� he said. 鈥淭heir wins were my wins.鈥�

But teaching also revealed how much policy shapes education.

鈥淚 wanted to do more for our schools than I could do from inside the classroom,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe in public schools. They teach more than academics 鈥� they teach community and understanding. I want to protect that. Being a lawyer will help me advocate for education in a way that combines both what I know from teaching and what I鈥檒l learn from the law.鈥�

A legacy that endures

Trey McClenny grew up in Pikeville just a few miles from where his grandparents built their life together. His grandfather became a beloved teacher and coach and was elected to the Wayne County Board of Education, where he served eight years as its chair. Though he has only faint memories of his grandfather, Trey McClenny often heard stories from former students and athletes remarking how much his teaching or coaching influenced their lives. His grandmother balanced a banking career with civic leadership, serving on the town board, leading the Lions Club, and volunteering in projects that strengthened their small community. The two shared a deep bond, and Trey McClenny was influenced by her gregarious altruism.

He was later surprised to find that his grandfather hadn鈥檛 shared much about his wartime experiences until later in life. About 10 years after the war, Dave McClenny received a letter from the farmer who preserved his footprints and recovered the flight helmet he lost during his descent. From across the Atlantic, he鈥檇 tracked him down to let him know about the preservation of the site and small shrine erected there. Statewide news articles at the time described Dave McClenny鈥檚 wonder at the discovery.

In 1995, Dave McClenny returned to Belgium with U.S. dignitaries to dedicate a six-foot tall stone stele as a permanent monument to U.S. forces who liberated the country.

As he looks toward his future in law, advocating for North Carolina鈥檚 public schools and the students and teachers he once served from the front of the classroom, Trey McClenny sees 乱伦视频 Law as a place where service and purpose converge 鈥� a community that reflects the same values his grandparents lived by. He often thinks of his grandfather鈥檚 footprints preserved in Belgian soil, a reminder that courage and compassion leave a lasting mark.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to represent my classmates. I want everyone to feel supported; to know they have someone in their corner,鈥� McClenny said. 鈥淭hat sense of belonging matters to me.鈥�

As an 乱伦视频 undergrad and football player, now a member of TikTok鈥檚 North American legal team, Thompson printed r茅sum茅s, stuffed envelopes and mailed every NFL franchise to get his foot in the door of professional sports. One team called back: the Detroit Lions. That single response opened his first NFL opportunity in player personnel, setting a tone of persistence and relationship-building that has defined his career ever since.

鈥淵ou only need one 鈥榶es鈥�,鈥� Thompson told 乱伦视频 Law students during a career-building session Wednesday, Sept. 10. 鈥淵ou all should use LinkedIn. Reach out to professionals you admire, people whose career you鈥檇 like to emulate. Just reach out. Send a message and ask for a short call to learn about them and their path. Shift your goal from, 鈥業 need an internship,鈥� to 鈥業 want to meet people who know me and like me.鈥� If that conversation goes well, mention opportunities like 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 residency program or internships, but more importantly you鈥檝e made a connection and started a relationship you can return to years later.鈥�

From 乱伦视频 football to 乱伦视频 Law, Thompson鈥檚 path moved through a 1L summer with a sports agency, a residency with the Washington Commanders, his 2L at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, one of Wall Street’s oldest, and most prestigious law firms. That led to his first job, as an associate attorney in Cadwalader’s global litigation and sports law group. He went on to a role as assistant general counsel and a certified NFL agent at Priority Sports & Entertainment, where he negotiated millions of dollars in NFL contracts and advised elite athletes on legal and business matters.

Since 2023, he鈥檚 served as legal counsel on TikTok鈥檚 North American Legal team, negotiating major sponsorships, closing deals with top creators and celebrities, and supporting TikTok’s high-profile events.

An engaged alumnus, he regularly takes calls and messages from students to connect them with opportunities in his network and mentor them. Thompson is also a member of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 advisory board, helping guide the school toward its mission to be the premier law school for practical skills training and experiential learning.

During an hour-long discussion with students, he outlined some key tips for success.

Building a network and nurturing relationships

鈥淪ome of your most important professional relationships start here with your classmates,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淓veryone in this room brings their own network and experiences, so take the time to build relationships with your future colleagues.鈥�

Thompson emphasized that relationships grow through shared experiences, collaboration and intentional connection.

Standing out in a competitive job market

Thompson pointed to 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 hands-on learning model as a powerful way for students to differentiate themselves. With built-in support for securing meaningful 1L and 2L summer positions, alongside a full-time legal residency, students graduate with practical experience that sets them apart.

鈥淚f you can walk into interviews with three strong experiences from your summers and residency, you鈥檒l rise to the top of the applicant pool,鈥� he said.

Growing in your career

鈥淭he key is learning to adapt to changes 鈥� in the market and in your own life,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 work closely with my clients and make it a point to really immerse myself in their world. The more you understand your clients, the trends shaping their industries, and where the world is headed, the better positioned you are to adapt and stay ahead.鈥�

As his roles have evolved, so has his home life. Now married with a young child, he can鈥檛 be accessible at all hours as he once was. He鈥檚 set boundaries and redesigned how he mentors and networks, for example consolidating individual calls into bi-monthly group Zoom sessions to protect time for family.

乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer closed with a call-to-action for students.

鈥淎 huge part of our job at 乱伦视频 Law is to allow you to imagine what your life can be, so this is an opportunity to think about what your career and your life could look like,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淭he lesson I take from Jordan’s life and career is he chased what he wanted, and he didn’t shy away from talking to each and every person.

鈥淛ordan’s is a story about reaching out, and one about receiving calls as much as making calls. If you take anything from this conversation, it鈥檚 that your career is in your control and you have to grab it.鈥�

Superior Court Judge John Morris L鈥�10 encouraged members of the Class of 2027 to nurture their integrity, serve others with kindness, and hold space for life鈥檚 enjoyment.

鈥淎s you prepare yourselves for the academic rigors of law school and as you plan for your legal career ahead, I want you to consider something this morning even more valuable than academia and your professional career goals: That is your character,鈥� Morris said in a Call to Honor address Tuesday, Aug. 5, as part of New Student Convocation for full-time students at 乱伦视频 School of Law.

鈥淵es, it is important to earn the grade, to work diligently for that prize internship, but what is most important is how you get there,鈥� he said to 182 incoming students, the largest class in the 乱伦视频 Law’s history.

Morris is 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 first graduate to serve as a Superior Court judge, overseeing felony trials, high-value civil cases and appeals in North Carolina鈥檚 22nd Judicial District in Rockingham and Caswell Counties. Among the advice he shared with new students and families gathered in Alumni Gym on 乱伦视频鈥檚 main campus:

• 鈥淒ig in and get tougher鈥� when 鈥渁dversity seems unbearable. Surround yourself with positive individuals who will build you up and not tear you down and focus on improving those aspects in your life of which have control.鈥�

• Find satisfaction in service: 鈥淲hen we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. We become more significant individuals as we serve others.

• Make time to enjoy the journey: 鈥淭he study of law and life in general is a serious business, but 鈥� let me encourage you to set some time apart to relax, enjoy this season in your life, laugh and face your future with optimism.鈥�

After graduating from 乱伦视频 Law in 2010, Morris worked for accounting firm KPMG before entering private practice. In 2018, he was appointed as Rockingham County attorney. He was elected as a resident Superior Court judge for Rockingham and Caswell Counties in 2022.

The new student convocation also included remarks from university and law school academic and student leaders, including 乱伦视频 Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn and Rebecca Bailey L鈥�25, president of the Student Bar Association.

• 鈥淭oday I have the opportunity to introduce you to the law faculty. As teachers, faculty members will help you learn to examine information critically, think analytically, ask questions insightfully and reflect thoughtfully on what you鈥檙e learning. They will stretch you and challenge you more than you thought possible, and I hope you will embrace this opportunity to work with these outstanding thinkers.鈥� 鈥� Provost Rebecca Kohn
• 鈥淚 will not be the first nor the last person to tell you that you are entering a noble profession. We are advocates. Counselors. Enforcers of justice. You have entered a profession where people look to you for your wisdom and guidance. You will be a pioneer and a leader in your community. I charge you now with being worthy of such a call.鈥� 鈥� Rebecca Bailey L鈥�25

During the ceremony, each student鈥檚 name and undergraduate alma mater were read aloud as they signed a poster with the four tenets of the Honor Code: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. The poster will be displayed inside the law school commons. Kohn then gifted an acorn to each member of the class. At 乱伦视频, which is the Hebrew word for 鈥渙ak,鈥� all new students receive an acorn as they begin their studies, a symbol of their potential for growth.

Graduates later receive an oak sapling at Commencement ceremonies, a tradition that began more than three decades ago.

乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer concluded the ceremony by urging members of the Class of 2027 to support each other and make the most of their law school experience.

鈥淚n keeping with Judge Morris鈥� wonderful call to honor, I encourage you to think about all of those choices and do the best you can to make good choices, to invest in not only your career, but your classmates鈥� careers,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淟awyers serve a noble profession, but most importantly, we serve clients and work for people who work on behalf of the community.

“Make choices and decisions while you鈥檙e here with us that look towards your future, the kind of lawyer you鈥檙e going to be and how you鈥檙e going to serve the community,” said Kramer.

About 乱伦视频 School of Law

乱伦视频 Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive curriculum offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated more than 1,700 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students, and the law school is regularly featured in the top tier of PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings. The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for place-bound students at 乱伦视频鈥檚 Charlotte campus, welcomes its second cohort in Fall 2025.

McClanahan is managing partner at the in Greensboro, with expertise in estate planning, elder law and probate and trust administration. She co-authored the North Carolina edition of 鈥淗ow to Protect Your Family鈥檚 Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs鈥� and regularly speaks on elder law topics to state residents. Earlier this year, she was appointed to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys鈥� Board of Governors.

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the ABA as one of this year’s top 40 Young Lawyers,鈥� McClanahan said. 鈥淭his award reflects the values I strive to uphold every day: compassion, clarity and commitment to the families we serve. I’m grateful to my colleagues and mentors who continue to inspire and challenge me, and I look forward to advancing the practice of estate and elder law with integrity and heart.鈥�

The annual is administered by the . It recognizes newer lawyers who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service, the ABA said.

McClanahan earned a B.S. in business administration from North Carolina State University before completing her juris doctor at 乱伦视频 Law and becoming barred in 2015. In addition to her practice, she has taught elder law graduate courses at the University of North Carolina 鈥� Greensboro.

“We are over-the-moon proud of Blaire,” said Cheryl David, founder of the Law Offices of Cheryl David. “Her work ethic, empathy for clients and ability to translate complex estate and elder law issues into clear guidance for families are true gifts. This ABA recognition confirms what we get to see every day: Blaire is a force for good in our clients’ lives and in our profession.”

Jonathan Kelly, founder and CEO of Asymmetric Holdings Worldwide (AHW), and the Hon. Barron Thompson L鈥�09 serving a second term as District Court judge for N.C. District Court 37, joined the 乱伦视频 School of Law Advisory Board this spring. They attended their first semiannual meeting of the 21-member board March 26-28.

The School of Law鈥檚 advisory board offers strategic guidance to university and 乱伦视频 Law administrators as they continue to innovate programs and curriculum. The board is chaired by Ellen Gregg, an accomplished attorney who successfully litigated cases at all levels of state and federal courts and retired partner of Womble Bond Dickinson in Winston-Salem.

鈥淛udge Thompson and Mr. Kelly bring valuable insights to our advisory board,鈥� said 乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer. 鈥淭heir experiences will create connections in the profession and lead us to innovate as the premier law school for practical training and experiential learning. We鈥檙e grateful to have them on board.鈥�

Jonathan Kelly

Greensboro, North Carolina

Founder and CEO of Asymmetric Holdings Worldwide (AHW)

Jonathan Kelly established Greensboro-based investment company Asymmetric Holdings Worldwide (AHW) following more than two decades working with closely held multinational firms and their family offices. Kelly holds Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration degrees from Harvard University, earned his undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University and graduated from Greensboro鈥檚 James Benson Dudley High School. His expertise includes principal investment, mergers and acquisitions and capital allocation strategies, with roles at Orient Global, Koch Industries, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, HBK Investments and with the Heinz family.

Kelly currently serves on corporate boards of Viet Thai International JSC, Triad Business Bank and Quintet. He previously served on the boards of CULP Inc. and Grupo SALA. 聽He is a member of the Young Presidents鈥� Organization in the Southern 7 Chapter and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where he is a NACD Board Leadership Fellow, NACD Directorship Certified and a Subject Matter Expert with the NACD Certification Program. He resides in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife, Suzanne, and their two young children.

Barron Thompson

Asheboro, North Carolina

District Court Judge, North Carolina District Court 37

A member of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 inaugural class of 2009, the Hon. Barron Thompson has a rich history with the school. He has served on 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Alumni Council and delivered the convocation address to the Class of 2025. A first-generation college student, he graduated from UNC-Greensboro in 2001 and taught high school for several years before enrolling at 乱伦视频 Law.

While earning his Juris Doctor, Thompson completed all four legal concentrations and was active with the Law School Republicans, Federalist Society and the Delta Theta Phi professional law fraternity. He was first elected as judge for N.C. District Court 37 in 2020 and reelected to a second term in 2024. Prior to that, he was active in the community as an attorney, as a civil District Court arbitrator and a member of the Randolph County Board of Elections. He also is a former adjunct professor at UNC-Greensboro in the Political Science Department teaching introduction to law. He and his wife, Emily, reside in Asheboro, North Carolina with their two children.

About 乱伦视频 School of Law

乱伦视频 Law in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive curriculum offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated more than 1,500 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 440 students and the law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, remaining in the Top 10 list for three consecutive years.

The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for working professionals, launched in Fall 2024 at 乱伦视频鈥檚 Charlotte campus.

Adam Rozan 鈥�01 received a 2025 Smithsonian Education Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual employee鈥檚 鈥渃onsistent and outstanding performance in education.鈥�

Rozan, a staff member for the , was nominated for the annual honor based in part on the overwhelming success of the Smithsonian鈥檚 Staff Learning Series he developed and continues to lead.

The online lecture and discussion series invites experts from a range of industries and locations to provide professional development opportunities for all Smithsonian employees.

Recent speakers have been experts from OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT, Meta鈥檚 Facebook, the U.S. Census Bureau – even graphic designers and museum curators from Philadelphia and Virginia working on programs tied to the nation鈥檚 upcoming 250th anniversary – all of whom discussed trends and audience engagement strategies.

The goal of the series: 鈥淭o better support staff so they can better serve the public.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I love about this,鈥� Rozan said. 鈥淚t informs those who are already doing good work. It鈥檚 humbling for me to be recognized for trying to make an even better community of peers. That鈥檚 what my project is all about.鈥�

Since 2022, Rozan has organized over 50 presentations, attracting more than 100 staff members per session and reaching 1,700 attendees in 2024 alone. The Smithsonian Institution comprises 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo.

鈥淎dam鈥檚 ability to connect with noteworthy speakers and identify resonant topics has enriched our community with new ideas and diverse perspectives,鈥� Monique M. Chism, the Smithsonian鈥檚 Under Secretary for Education, wrote when announcing the annual awards.

Rozan graduated from 乱伦视频 in 2001 with a degree in studio art. He launched his career with Boston鈥檚 Museum of Science and has since served institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum, Oakland Museum of California, Harvard Art Museums and the Boston Children鈥檚 Museum.

Rozan was named to the 2023 BlooLoop Power 10 Museum Influencers list, a top honor for those in the field.

The event will take place on Wednesday, April 16, at the Chicago History Museum. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d鈥檕euvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book.

Evening for 乱伦视频 in Chicago with President Connie L. Book
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
6:30 p.m.聽Hosted reception with hors d鈥檕euvres
7:30 p.m.聽Program with remarks by President Book
8:00 p.m.聽Dessert reception

Chicago History Museum
Robinson Gallery
1601 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d鈥檕euvres

Register at聽 or contact聽advancement@elon.edu.