The College of Law’s Institute for Professional Leadership will start the fall semester with new faculty, staff and student leadership.
Professor Joan Heminway has been appointed serve as interim director. Career Center Director Brad Morgan will serve as interim assistant director and UT pro bono coordinator, and third-year student Annie Batcheller will serve as the Hardwick-Woods fellow.
As the interim director, Heminway, a professor at the College of Law since 2000, will help students identify and develop their leadership skills, professional values, and career paths through interdisciplinary programming beyond a strictly legal context.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to direct the Institute for Professional Leadership at this important moment in legal education,” Heminway said. “Leadership is needed in so many aspects of life that are influenced by lawyers and lawyering. I look forward to working with this team to educate our students and move the institute’s program further forward.”
Heminway is past president of the University of Tennessee faculty senate. She researches and writes primarily about disclosure regulation and policy under federal securities law, including insider trading and state entity law.
College of Law Interim Dean Doug Blaze and alumnus Buck Lewis co-founded the Institute in 2014 with Blaze serving as director until his return to the dean’s office in July. Lewis, a senior partner with Baker Donelson, will continue as the Larry Wilks Distinguished Practitioner in Residence.
“We are so lucky to have someone of Professor Heminway’s caliber to take on leadership of the institute,” Blaze said. “Joan has been involved in leadership training and development for a number of years and has served in significant leadership roles through legal education. Her experience, energy, enthusiasm will help increase the impact and reputation of the program.”
In his role with the institute, Morgan will assist students in undertaking pro bono service opportunities and developing their leadership skills.
As the fellowship recipient, Batcheller will work as a teaching assistant for the Institute’s curricular offerings. She will also offer research and communication support for the Institute and execute projects on behalf of the College and the Institute.
She earned the College of Law’s Susan B. Anthony Award, served on the leadership team of Law Women, was staff editor for Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law, and research editor for the Tennessee Law Review. Batcheller earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Notre Dame University.
The Hardwick-Woods Fellowship is awarded annually and is made possible by a gift from Laura S. and Christopher M. Woods.