Drum Roll: Announcing our Animal Law Conference Scholarship Recipients
These nine law students are attending this year’s Animal Law Conference Nov. 4 — 6, in Portland, OR or virtually. Each student reviewed the agenda and answered the question, “What presentation at the conference most interests you?”
- Melissa Baines, Lewis & Clark, graduates May 2024, “I am so excited for the ‘Importance of Considering Animals in Political Campaigns’ session. My first question when voting is always where a candidate stands on animal initiatives, which has not typically been an issue candidates talk much about. I’m planning to work in legislation and lobbying, so the panelists are a dream come true: I can’t wait to hear about their experiences in their current positions and how to be effective in those roles as an animal advocate. I came to law school strictly for the animal law program.”
- Kaitilyn Bestor, Lewis & Clark, graduates May 2024, “I am looking forward to learning about the challenges that current lawyers are facing in protecting farmed animals, because I am interested in this field and understanding the roadblocks is the first step in order to find the solution. Additionally, I am excited to listen to the discussion about animal personhood and standing, because I am planning to address this topic in my capstone research. Overall, I am eager to learn from those who are the current leaders in animal law, as both an inspiration and guidance.”
- Alex Deherder, Wayne Law, graduates May 2024, “I’m most looking forward to ‘Using Science for Progressive Legal Outcomes for Animals’ because I’ve realized that a lot of the ideas and systems we’ve implemented throughout our country’s history, especially through the law, are broken, prejudicial, and too government-friendly. We need to think of creative, strategic, yet progressive ways to win cases and implement new laws and regulations to help progress society and solve the environmental and animal issues that plague the United States. I believe science is a great tool that can be used to help foster agreements between people of different political parties.”
- Dominique Ditmore, University of Toledo, graduates December 2022, “‘Using Science for Progressive Legal Outcomes for Animals’ intrigues me the most. I published a paper concerning the public health impacts of poultry slaughter and realized that having a strong foundation in science was important in the field of animal law. I then enrolled in an Associates of Veterinarian Technology program while finishing my last year in law school. Attending this panel will allow me to connect with other attorneys interested in using science to ensure more humane slaughtering laws & provide me with additional education regarding science’s intersection with animal law.”
- Meghan Jones, Lewis & Clark, graduates December 2023, “I am most looking forward to learning about the inclusion of nonhuman animals in political campaigns, and expanding animal law education. I am currently an online student based in Brooklyn, and am very much interested in a career in political advocacy for animals, specifically as it relates to educational mandates concerning nonhuman animals in various school settings. I have worked for the last 5 years in animal advocacy as an educator, and hope to learn how I can use my background to better advocate for policies that will change the status quo of animals in our society.”
- Julius Metcalf, Lewis & Clark, graduates April 2023, “I am most interested in hearing about the “Role and Future of Animal Sanctuary” because it directly relates to my studies and as an environmental/animal lawyer.”
- Ankita Shankar, Basel, graduates January 2026, “My research concerns making a case for animals already holding personhood and fundamental rights under positive law, and then arguing for its inclusion in positive legal provisions, along with recommendations for how to operationalise such. Therefore, I am looking forward most to learning about personhood and standing. Moreover, as an international criminal lawyer by training, I am also interested in the panel on crimes against animals.”
- Eric Sugarman, Lewis & Clark, graduates May 2024, “I am most looking forward to learning more about how nonhuman animal advocates are leveraging robust, empirical, falsifiable data into their work. I’m fascinated by the prospect of transitioning away from using animals in research, and hope to gain a better understanding of the biggest challenges facing that project.”
- Rebecca Sutton, MSU College of Law, graduates May 2023, “I’m looking forward to the vast array of topics that will be covered, in particular, the panels pertaining to transitioning away from using animals in research, the future of animal law education, and deconstructing personhood and standing. I believe it’s imperative to discuss how to continue to foster animal advocacy via education. With the ruling on Happy’s case, a discussion focusing on personhood and standing will be fascinating. I am excited to hear from all the incredible leaders in the animal law movement.”
