In our four years at Sam Houston State University, we have had many opportunities to attend conferences. And, perhaps unusually, we have also had the opportunity to present at conferences, and one of those opportunities arose late this semester–two weeks prior to our graduation!
Our presentation, alongside Dean Lyons and Associate Dean Boisvert, was to highlight the many ways that SHSU, the College of Criminal Justice, and the LEAP Center help bridge the gap between academia and the “real-world.”
While the Deans ably handled high-level things such as state mandates, trends in higher education, and challenges faced across the educational industry, we offered an overview of some of the ways that this curricular “bridge” has helped us participate in and transition to the workplace.
This included discussions of things we experience in the classroom, such as police simulations; internship opportunities we have had in and outside of our fields of study; travel opportunities we have enjoyed; and the community service in which we have engaged. This approach was taken to demonstrate that, in a world where a career lattice (rather than career ladder) is likely, it’s important to have broad and well-rounded skills rather than narrow and inflexible skills.
It was a pleasure to have this opportunity–and especially together–as we approach our graduation. As fellow Criminal Justice majors with an assortment of minors, and as former SHAIP interns, and as students very active in the LEAP program, it was a pleasure to share some of our experiences with Dean Lyons and Associate Dean Danielle Boisvert…
…in front of many of the leading professionals in the correctional-legal field.
Each year, the American Moot Court Association fields national competition for pre-law students. The competition consists of regional tournaments, preliminary nationals, and then nationals. For those into writing, there is a separate brief writing contest.
The Moot Court experience simulates that of an appeals court, an appropriate match for SHSU, inasmuch as we are one of the few institutions to bring in an appeals court annually to hear cases.
This Year’s Moot Court Case & “How to Win in the Courtroom”
Each summer, Professor Yawn teaches “How to Win in the Courtroom,” which uses the Moot Court case as the class curriculum. Students who sign up for this course will not only receive academic credit, but also have a head start in learning the material. The course unfolds as follows:
Introduction to Courts and the Judicial System
How to Brief a Case / Moot Court Rules
Bronner v. US
Con Law Cases (8 involving the 4th Amendment and search and seizure; 9 involving Article II of the US Constitution and Presidential Powers)
Oral Arguments
This year’s case involves the detention of Bobby Bronner following a 93-day period of visual surveillance, posing questions of (1) the extent to which the government can use surveillance techniques (in this case, “Ring” cameras installed on telephone poles) and (2) the legality of detaining non-citizens under presidential order.
Moot Court Team Awaits Its Assignment
Students interested in Moot Court are thus encouraged to take the class, allowing them earn credit while gaining low-pressure exposure to Moot Court. Students who do well in the course and otherwise show desirable characteristics of a moot court participant are invited to meet with the coach and team lead.
Depending on the number of participants and the budget, additional students may be able to try out for the team.
How Moot Court Works
“Mooters,” as participants are called, compete in teams of two. One individual handles the first legal issue (in this year’s case, it is the fourth amendment); the second member of the team handles the second legal issue (Article II powers of the President, in this year’s case). with one of the team handling rebuttal, when called for.
To prepare for the Oral Arguments, the team members have to thoroughly know their own issue, and have some knowledge of their teammate’s issue. This involves reading and re-reading the hypothetical scenario posed by AMCA (i.e., Bronner v. US) and the cases that form the backbone of their issue. For the Fourth Amendment issue, as previously mentioned, this involves eight cases, including landmark USSC cases such as Katz v. US. For the Article II issue, this involves reading nine cases, including landmark USSC cases such as Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co v. Sawyer.
Mooters Participate in Weekly Meetings to Prepare
Even after taking the class “How to Win in the Courtroom,” students will need to engage in weekly meetings (approximately two hours long) in preparation of the regional tournament, which typically takes place in late October or early November. Because registration for the tournaments takes place September 1, teams have to be established by then.
The Competition
There are approximately 15 regional tournaments each year, and in the last two years, SHSU has attended tournaments in Fort Worth (TAMU Law) and Fort Lauderdale (Shepard Broad College of Law).
For the first round, teams are assigned their role: either petitioner or respondent, with the petitioner having the opportunity for rebuttal. Three judges (actual attorneys) hear the cases, interrupting as they see fit, and scoring each participant following the round.
Participants are scored on (1) knowledge, (2) response to questions, (3) forensic skill/courtroom demeanor, and (4) organization, logic, and clarity of argument.
For the second round, teams take the side opposite they argued in the first round, and for round three, a coin toss determines the team’s side.
Depending on the size of the tournament, a quarter to half the teams will advance to the tournament’s second day, where the competition will proceed much like the first day.
Benefits of Moot Court
Moot Court sharpens the mind, pushing students to develop reading comprehension skills, sharpen their persuasive skills, enhance their public speaking, refine their use of logic, and expand their legal network.
Almost all law schools offer a Moot Court team, and law students have the option to choose among Moot Court, Mock Law, Negotiations, or all three. Participating as an undergraduate can give students a head start on this decision, while also providing skills and exposure that helps in law school.
Students who would like to learn more about Moot Court can go the American Moot Court Association’s website.
Starting off an insightful day with George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of Staff, Jean Becker, we met at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building here on campus for a book talk and signing!
Though some of us had attended a previous event on her book tour, everyone was enthralled by Becker’s charismatic and engaging discussion of her newest book, Don’t Tell the President, co-authored by Tom Collamore. We listened eagerly as she discussed accounts of several of the stories of advance workers– the people who make sure that events go as planned– across presidencies from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama.
After several humorous anecdotes about the less-than-elegant side to life while working for the White House (like getting peed on at a phone booth while talking to her boss)…
…Becker closed on a more somber note. She reminded us that Americans have to pull together to make progress, and she highlighted the way that–despite their differences–Presidents Bush and Clinton worked together to raise funds for hurricane relief and that President Obama stopped in to Houston, days before President Bush’s death, to thank him for his service to the country.
This serves as a reminder of what our future both as a people and as a country, should look like: putting aside differences and helping each other where we can.
Following the book talk, Becker generously agreed to sign copies of her new book! Students lined up eagerly, discussing the fascinating stories she had shared. We were all very excited and grateful to have had her with us at Sam Houston once again.
LEAP students were back at the Senior Center, but this time it was for the Chamber’s Business After Hours, highlighting the good work of Stacey Loll and her staff.
And LEAP students were not alone, as some forty community members attended, including Representative Trey Wharton, Mayor Russell Humphrey, Chamber President Jason Brandolini, and, of course, the Senior Center’s Board members.
Visitors not only had a chance to see the physical space of the Senior Center, but also to tour it, enjoy the food provided by the non-profit (cooked by the wonderful chef, Rafael), and learn more about the program’s vital mission.
This mission includes providing an activity space within the facility, where seniors come on a daily basis for lunch, bingo, and companionship. A second leg of the mission is food delivery, with more than a hundred meals delivered each (week) day to food-insecure residents. And, third, the Center provides transportation to key sustenance and civic activities, such as voting, shopping, and medical visits.
With only two full-time staff members, the organization is heavily reliant on volunteers, many of whom handle the delivery of meals. As Director Loll noted, “You only have to deliver once, and when you do, you will know why we deliver meals and the extent to which our community needs this service.”
Certainly the drivers at the event echoed this sentiment, sharing stories with us about their experiences and the community’s needs. Moreover, they also spoke of the benefits they receive by helping. Volunteerism, as we have also learned through our own experiences at the Senior Center, isn’t just the volunteers giving to the community–it’s the impact that volunteerism has on the volunteers.
Speaking for ourselves, we certainly felt the impact, and after a bit of assistance to the staff and board with take-down, we left the Senior Center with the warm glow that comes from being part of a community that cares about others.
For those who would like to donate to the Senior Center, follow this link.
One of the advantages of attending SHSU is the opportunities afforded by the College of Criminal Justice, whose activities continue deep into the semester and even the summer. And so it was we found ourselves at lunch with 74 professionals from the legal and corrections community across the state of Texas–while listening to Texas Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan.
After an introduction by TDCJ General Counsel Stephanie Greger…
…Justice Sullivan highlighted five keys to leading teams of public servants.
Hire people smarter than you;
Grow a coaching tree;
Lead from the front;
Show people you care;
Build resilience.
He offered examples from his career, which he often shared tinged with traces of humor and a lot of common sense. He described his career as a government attorney and noted that while he didn’t earn as much as his private-practice counterparts (his wife, he says, “funds my government attorney hobby”), he was part of a team that produced successful leaders. This involves, he noted, disruption: good attorneys come in and work for the state; after a couple of years, they get better offers; and they move on to higher-paying jobs with greater influence. This creates turnover, but it is a product of a good strategy: hiring good people. And while those people leave eventually, they become coaches in their own spheres of influence, producing leaders that go on to serve.
Sullivan’s audience was on hand at SHSU to attend the Texas Criminal Justice Legal Conference, where leading practitioners were present to collaborate, think, and act to make Texas a better place. There were numerous attorneys present, including our friend Jack Choate and his excellent staff, and some new people we met, such as Rachelle White, Chief of Staff for TDCJ; Sean Groves, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Juvenile Justice; Eric Nichols, attorney at Butler Snow and Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and Wyvonne Long, Director of TDCJ Independent Office of Inmate Counsel. In short, there were a lot of people present from whom we could learn.
And learn we did! Between the conversations at the table and in the room, and the presentation by Justice Sullivan, we were exposed not only to tips for managing public servants, but also to the many careers in the law that also allow for public service.
Thursday, April 9th, was an exciting day for LEAP students. We traveled to the Asia Society Texas Center to hear Ambassador Rahul Chhabra speak on India’s place in global leadership, hosted by the World Affairs Council. The event provided new learning opportunities and deeper insight into the world’s largest democracy, India.
Following a warm welcome from Matthew Fuller, the director of Business and Politics at the Asia Society Texas and CEO of the World Affairs Council, Maryanne Maldonado introduced Ambassador Chhabra, setting the stage for a lively and informative discussion moderated by Chief Programs Officer Ronan O’Malley.
Ambassador Chhabra was the perfect blend of entertaining and educational. He discussed India’s rise on the global stage and its relations with other countries. He also highlighted the “economic miracle” of India’s GDP growth, especially in comparison to China, as well as the U.S.
Ambassador Chhabra began by reflecting on India’s early years, following their independence from Britain at the end of the Second World War. He mentioned India’s first choice of ally was the United States, but they refused to be overly tied into diplomatic entanglements as a developing country.
This independent spirit was exemplified by the concept of “nonalignment” and India’s continuous choice to forge its own pathway rather than strictly aligning with the West, China, or Russia. He attributed this concept to “India’s economic miracle.” Ambassador Chhabra mentioned India’s choice to expand into the IT sector instead of manufacturing, which was the proven path to development that China underwent.
Another key topic Ambassador Chhabra explored was the significance of the “123 agreement,” which reversed the previous sanctions on nuclear trade with India. Under George W. Bush, India and U.S. relations increased significantly as India was the only country with which the United States had an arrangement like this. He attributed a large portion of this success to the Indian-American population and their unwavering support.
Nearing the end of the event, O’Malley opened the floor to questions, and Ambassador Chhabra answered multiple questions from the audience regarding India’s global strategy and international partnership.
Listening to his vast experiences and India’s point of view over the last several decades was particularly interesting, and left the audience pondering the effects of American policies on the rest of the world, for better or worse. After the event finished, Ambassador Chhabra was kind enough to take a photo with LEAP students, providing a memorable end to an insightful day.
It is only fitting to have a book talk in a book shop, and Huntsville is fortunate to have one of the best downtown bookstores in the state: Mortar & Pestle. Filled with books, wine, coffee, and art…
…this “Third Place” was soon filled with people and a charismatic and humorous speaker and, before long, a room full of laughs.
We learned about the travails of Bob Dole, who made an impromptu visit to highlight economic development, only to find himself keeping company with characters dressed as Woody Woodpecker, Frankenstein, Charlie Chaplin, and Mae West–not the look you want when you’ve just fired three campaign officials. Headlines the next day read, “Bob Dole Shakes up Campaign Staff.”
Senator Bob Dole during the Florida Primary at the construction site of Universal City. Photo by Dennis Brack
Of course, it wasn’t all laughs. There were also discussions of events such as attempted presidential assassinations, disaster relief, and 9-11. Irrespective of the anecdote, Becker related tales in the book with passion, intelligence, and a bit of mischief.
The Look of Mischief
The result was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in a wonderfully enjoyable venue.
Following the event, attendees bought books, had them signed, and stayed around to enjoy each other’s company.
LEAP Students, Kara Froelich, Carl Pittman (owners of Mortar and Pestle), and Jean Becker then indulged in a meal at Sam’s Table, where we were able to ask deeper questions after the much fulfilling day. Becker revealed more about the process behind wrangling people together to write essays for her book, discussed the busy schedule of a book tour, and extolled the virtues of a downtown bookstore such as Mortar & Pestle.
The LEAP Center follows many artists, but one in particular that every Ambassador admires not only for his work but also because of his local connections is David Adickes. Sadly, he passed away on July 13th, 2025, but his work is still cherished across Texas and the United States.
Fortunately, admirers have a chance to see many of his works across diverse media and eras at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s Walker Education Center through May 31.
The show was introduced by Tod Lawlis, Curator of Exhibits, who started his job shortly before the exhibit began!
He and Adickes’ long-time partner, Linda Wiley, did a wonderful job providing an overview of the show, and describing why this exhibit is both special and appropriate for Adickes and his legacy.
The exhibit showcases approximately 40 of his works, including sculptures, maquettes, studies, enhanced giclee prints, and original pieces of art. The exhibit title, however, derives from a song Adickes wrote, “Remembering You,” before he enlisted in the Army.
The works ranged from the 1950s through the 2020s, surely making Adickes one of the longest-working Texas artists in history.
We all had a chance to look at the pieces, select our favorites…
…review them some more, and revise our favorites list!
One of the joys of the event was speaking with many of our fellow attendees. We met descendants of Sam Houston, caught up with old favorites such as the Peases, Woodwards, Lee Jamison, and, of course, had a chance to meet or catch up with Linda Wiley.
Linda spoke lovingly of David, his career, and his vast legacy in the arts world, while also emphasizing that this was a celebration of David’s life and work.
She also took great care to include pieces in the show at difference prices, allowing many people the opportunity to purchase their own David Adickes, a strategy that proved helpful to some of the recent graduates in attendance!
It was a great showing, one befitting an artist who did much for the art world and the arts community.
And it was a particularly nice time for us–for many of us, our first art exhibit–learning more about the work of Adickes, Linda’s involvement in his life and work, and the community to which he contributed much.
The only work in the exhibit not by Adickes. This quilt, by Mary Laura Gibbs, was crafted from David Adickes’ tie collection.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 