News
Spotlight: The University of Chicago Law School
Find out about The University of Chicago Law School. A new school is featured in our Member Spotlight every few months -- check back often!
2013 Vanguard Prize Recipient: Denise Boessen
The NNLSO Vanguard Prize recognizes individuals for outstanding professional achievement in support of student services. The recipient of this prestigious award is selected by the NNLSO Executive Committee after review of nominations from deans of member schools. The Prize includes a $2000 award to be earmarked for the recipient’s continued professional development. We are pleased to announce that the 2012 Vanguard Prize recipient is Ms. Denise Boessen.
Denise Boessen has been the Registrar at the University of Missouri School of Law for over 15 years.
She is a long-term member of NNLSO who has served the Association as a Regional Representative and a as a member of the Board. Her charismatic smile has graced many a welcome booth at the Annual meeting.
In his nomination, Associate Dean Gely noted that “Denise was responsible for overseeing a massive transition to a new information managing system (PeopleSoft) which the University was adopting. Denise managed the transition to the new system masterfully, in a way that minimized disruptions to the record-keeping functions at the Law School … Denise has been very successful in streamlining various aspects of the Law School record keeping functions. The Law School curriculum has gotten more complicated over the years, with schools adding requirements, concentrations, and other curricular innovations, which in turn demand much more detailed and nuanced record keeping. Denise has excelled in adapting to these new requirements and more importantly to providing the support needed to accommodate changes to the Law School’s curriculum … The most impressive aspect of her performance is that she has managed to be technically and administratively efficient while at the same time providing students and faculty with friendly, professional and personal service. To students, she is in many respects much more than a registrar, but in many respect she is a trusted advisor and ‘surrogate mom’.”
The NNLSO Executive Committee invites you to join us in congratulating Ms. Denise Boessen. A formal presentation ceremony will be held at the NNLSO Annual Luncheon and Business Meeting in San Francisco, on April 16, 2013. NNLSO thanks ExamSoft for its support of the Prize.
The Journal
Check out the latest NNLSO news in the Fall edition of The Journal.Spotlight: University of Mississippi
Find out what is happening at the University of Mississippi School of Law. A new school is featured in our Member Spotlight every few months -- check back often!
Message from the Executive Director
Fall is here! Take a minute to read a message from NNLSO's Executive Director.2012 Vanguard Prize Recipient: Judith Calvert
The NNLSO Vanguard Prize recognizes individuals for outstanding professional achievement in support of student services. The recipient of this prestigious award is selected by the NNLSO Executive Committee after review of nominations from deans of member schools. The Prize includes a $2000 award to be earmarked for the recipient’s continued professional development. We are pleased to announce that the 2012 Vanguard Prize recipient is Ms. Judith Calvert.
Judith Calvert has worked at Yale University for more than 25 years, as, among other things, a commissioning editor at Yale University Press; Deputy Registrar for Yale College and Director of Classroom Scheduling for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences; and, since 2002, as Registrar and now also Assistant Dean at the Yale Law School.
She has also been a long term member of NNLSO and served as the Journal editor from 2003-2007 and served on the Executive Committee from 2003-2008.
In her nomination, Associate Dean Megan Barnett noted that Ms. Calvert “has worked hard to envision, implement and manage technological solutions that actually support the educational mission of the school.” Part of Ms. Calvert’s service to Yale Law School has included developing an online exam system that affords students the luxury of taking exams anywhere in the world; creating ways to make technology work with the school’s mission instead of changing the school’s mission to fit technology; collaborating with various constituents to create processes that work to the benefit of students; and enhancing the ability to create much needed reporting about curricular issues for the faculty.
The NNLSO Board invites you to join us in congratulating Ms. Judith Calvert. A formal presentation ceremony will be held at the NNLSO Annual Luncheon and Business Meeting in Philadelphia, PA on April 3, 2012. NNLSO thanks AppointLink for its support of the Prize.
Join us for the Annual Conference
More information about the Annual Conference can be found here. Early bird registration deadline is February 17. Budget tight? Don't forget about the NNLSO First-Time Attendee Grants!Pay NNLSO Dues Online
You may now pay your organization's NNLSO dues online. You can pay using your PayPal account or a credit card (no PayPal account required). And, of course, you can still mail in a check.
Questions? Contact Treasurer, Jay Ruffner, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Looking to Publish?
NNLSO is awarding up to $2000 through its Research Grant Program. If you are interested in submitting articles for the NNLSO Journal, then learn more about this opportunity.Spotlight: University of Memphis
Find out what is happening at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. A new school is featured in our Member Spotlight every few months -- check back often!
2011 First-time Attendee Grant Recipients
Through the First-time Attendee Grant program, the following professionals joined us for the 2011 Annual Meeting in Seattle.
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“Thanks again to NNLSO for awarding me a first-time attendee grant for the 2011 AACRAO/NNLSO Annual Conference. I attended some great workshops and met many valuable colleagues in my field. I am looking forward to Philadelphia in 2011.” Jill Akervik |
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"Attending my first AACRAO/NNLSO conference was such a thrill. Not only did I get to see the beautiful city of Seattle, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with law school representatives from all over. The sessions I attended gave me the chance to learn how other law schools go about their practices and I learned that we pretty much have the same issues and hurdles. I hope to continue to attend these annual meetings to see everyone I met previously and meet to new contacts. This is a wonderful conference and I recommend it highly to anyone in higher education." Debbie Bartles |
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"I am grateful for the First-Time Attendee Grant because it allowed me the opportunity to meet and network with registrars from other law schools. I am only 6 months into my position as a law school registrar, so I gained valuable insights from my colleagues at other schools who have been in the field for a longer time. I've brought back helpful ideas and possible new strategies for improving the services we offer in our office. Thank you!" Registrar Saint Louis University School of Law |
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"I cannot thank NNLSO enough for selecting me as a recipient of the First-Time Attendee Grant this year. I am new to my position as the registrar at the University of Tulsa so it was great to meet other registrars in person. The opportunity to network was priceless, everyone was extremely welcoming and the sessions were very informative. I would definitely encourage others to attend! I certainly hope to be at the next annual meeting myself. Thank you NNLSO!"
Jen Grantham Assistant Coordinator for Student & Fiscal Affairs University of Tulsa College of Law |
2011-2012 Executive Officers and Governing Board
The 2011-2012 Executive Officers and Governing Board are in place and ready to serve. Learn more from NNLSO's Executive Director, Roberto Koch.
The Annual Meeting Is Just Days Away
It is hard to believe that the AACRAO Annual Meeting is right around the corner. Don't forget to join us at the:
NNLSO Social on Monday, March 14 from 7:30p -9:00p and NNLSO Luncheon and Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 15 from 11:30a – 1:00p. For information and registration, contact: Jerri Cunningham at (254) 710-4115 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Of course, don't forget to check out all of the exciting NNLSO sessions designed specifically with law school professionals in mind.
Safe travels!
NNLSO Salary Survey NOW OPEN
The NNLSO Salary Survey is a great tool for law school offices to use for benchmarking and/or negotiating your current salary or advocating for new positions in your area. But, in order for the data to be most meaningful, we need to get the largest number of responses possible - The fewer responses we get means the less helpful the data will be for all of us. So, help us to help you.
The salary survey is comprised of six short pages and should take only about 5 minutes to complete. Please be sure to work through all six pages and then click the 'Done' button at the bottom of page 6. The data that you submit can't be traced to you, and the survey date are published in aggregate - we won't (and can't) identify who submitted which responses.
So, please be a Valentine to all of your fellow NNLSO members and respond to this survey no later than Monday, February 14. Each staff person in your office should complete his/her own survey, so that we have a wide range of positions represented in the survey data.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE SURVEY!
Thanks in advance for your participation in our survey. We know that your time is valuable! The results of the survey will be released at the Annual Conference in Seattle, and then later posted to the NNLSO website.
Pay Your NNLSO Dues
NNLSO First Time Attendee Grants
NNLSO is committed to professional development of its members. In 2009 at the fall planning meeting in Albany, New York, the NNLSO Executive Committee approved the establishment of the NNLSO First Time Attendee Grant. Upon application and approval, the NNLSO EC will award up to five (5) $500 grants.
These grants are intended to encourage law school personnel to attend the annual NNLSO meeting held in conjunction with the AACRAO annual conference. NNLSO First Time Attendee Grants are awarded to offset the cost to the institution and are presented to active members who have never attended an annual meeting.
The NNLSO EC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 First Time Attendee Grants are:
- Cheryl Cudzillo, University of Baltimore School of Law
Cheryl is the Director of Enrollment Services at the University of Baltimore School of Law. - Daniel Kall, The University of Toledo
Daniel is the Law Register at the University of Toledo College of Law. - Jay Jorgensen, South Texas College of Law
Jay is the Assistant Director of Admissions at South Texas College of Law. - Shanna Pope, Oklahoma City University School of Law
Shanna is the Registrar at Oklahoma City University School of Law
We are sure this will be the first of many NNLSO meetings.
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Life members
The NNLSO By-Laws state:
Any Association member may make nominations for life membership to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall certify that those nominated have been members in good standing with the Association for five or more years, and have retired from active law school administrative work, or are no longer eligible for active membership in NNLSO. Life membership shall be based on repeated and significant contributions to the association as reflected by service as a board member or officer of NNLSO, active committee membership, an active presenter, and in regular attendance at the annual meetings over a period of five or more years. Length of membership or regular attendance at annual meetings does not of themselves constitute grounds for the awarding of life membership. The Executive Committee shall vote on the nominees. Announcement of Life Membership will be at the annual meeting.
This year the NNLSO Executive Committee is pleased to announce the following NNLSO members have been voted in as Life Members:
Pat Trainor – retired Registrar from New Mexico University School of Law. Dr. Dean Pat, as the NNLSO EC affectionately called her, served as the Executive Director of the NNLSO organization from 2003-2007. She was instrumental in the adoption of major changes to the NNLSO By-Laws in 2003. She was devoted to the NNLSO organization. Whenever there is a gathering, you will find Pat right in the middle and always the life of the party.
Elizabeth (Betty) Fischer – bestowed upon retirement from Washburn University School of Law, June 30, 2010. Betty served as a NNLSO Board Member 2000-2003. Washburn University School of Law has hosted the NNLSO website and listserv since it' was established in 2000. Betty has served as the NNLSO Website Manager for the entire 10 years. Her dedication and service to NNLSO will always be remembered. Betty is looking forward to spending more time with her children, grandchildren and her husband, Gunther.
The National Network of Law School Officers (NNLSO) is a nonprofit, professional organization designed for the educational and professional development of all law school officers.
