Skip to content

Reda Taleb’s Life’s Work: Turning Pain into Purpose — and Giving It Back to Dearborn

Reda Taleb’s Life’s Work: Turning Pain into Purpose — and Giving It Back to Dearborn

When Reda Taleb (McLean Class, 2015) talks about “giving back,” she isn’t just reciting a slogan — she’s living by example. The daughter of immigrants from Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, Taleb’s parents, along with her six older siblings, laid roots in Dearborn’s south end, an area known for its pollution-emitting factory smoke stacks and community of Arab Americans seeking the “American Dream.”

Read More
  • Law student Heather Silcott honored with SBM Animal Law Award
    Law student Heather Silcott honored with SBM Animal Law Award

    Law student Heather Silcott honored with SBM Animal Law Award

    Cooley Law student Heather Silcott knew from the moment she rescued a labradoodle named Bruno from an auction that animals needed lawyers.

  • Shining Star: Cooley Law school Student Graduated With A Perfect 4.0 GPA
    Shining Star: Cooley Law school Student Graduated With A Perfect 4.0 GPA

    Shining Star: Cooley Law school Student Graduated With A Perfect 4.0 GPA

    Mina Woodard’s original career goal was to become a math teacher, but she switched to criminal justice studies after transferring from the University of Louisiana to Michigan State University in her second year. “I wanted to have a career where I felt like I could help people,” she says. “I enjoyed learning about how the legal system works and the reasons behind why people commit crimes. Studying criminal justice was the beginning of my interest in law.” The seeds of her future career were sown when she took a law class at MSU and found it fascinating. After giving birth to her daughter Skye during her junior year of college, Woodard didn’t give much thought to continuing education—but after graduation, struggled to find a career that interested her. Three years as a Client Service Specialist at Jackson National Life in Lansing was a valuable experience, but she recognized it wasn’t what she was meant to do long-term.

  • Distinguished Alumni Awards Focus on exemplary service in the profession
    Distinguished Alumni Awards Focus on exemplary service in the profession

    Distinguished Alumni Awards Focus on exemplary service in the profession

    The 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Amy Rombyer Tripp (Blair Moody Class, 1996) and Karen Truszkowski (Richard H. Flannigan Class, 1999). The coveted award is presented at the annual meeting of the Cooley Law School Alumni Association, and this past year, the virtual ceremony was held on November 19, 2020. Recipients are chosen by the Past President's Committee of the Alumni Association and awarded annually.

  • The Liberty Bell Award Has Michigan Roots
    The Liberty Bell Award Has Michigan Roots

    The Liberty Bell Award Has Michigan Roots

    On May 1 each year, thousands of people and organizations across the nation participate in Law Day, celebrating the role of law in American society. Of the many events that make up Law Day, few capture its spirit as well as a program first developed in our own state, the Liberty Bell Award. The award honors persons or entities outside of the legal profession that have contributed to a greater understanding of our legal system, participated in it to the betterment of their communities, or helped to strengthen and improve the American system of justice.

  • Stacey Dinser Honored with Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award

    Stacey Dinser Honored with Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award

    An adjunct professor at Cooley Law School, Stacey Dinser might be considered a bountiful giver. It’s just something that comes naturally to her. It then is no surprise that her dedication and enthusiasm for teaching the law have resulted in her being honored with the 2018 Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award.

  • Law Student Couple Win in Love and Regional Client Counseling Competition
    Law Student Couple Win in Love and Regional Client Counseling Competition

    Law Student Couple Win in Love and Regional Client Counseling Competition

    This blog was originally published on February 14, 2015. “Who needs just red roses and dark chocolate when what I really love is working together and solving problems with my husband as a team,” exclaimed Elizabeth Devolder about the couple’s Valentine win in the ABA Client Counseling Regional Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Feb. 8th.

  • Cooley Honored by the Center for Plain Language
    Cooley Honored by the Center for Plain Language

    Cooley Honored by the Center for Plain Language

    Cooley and its professors have always been known for teaching and advocating for the use of plain language in the legal profession. The professors have written several books and countless articles on the subject, edited legal writing journals and columns, and won national and international recognition for their work. And now, because of two professors’ efforts, the school has received a ClearMark Award from the U.S. Center for Plain Language.

  • Lindsey Messenger: A little help, and leap of faith, pave law school success
    Lindsey Messenger: A little help, and leap of faith, pave law school success

    Lindsey Messenger: A little help, and leap of faith, pave law school success

    At 31, life has already been a roller coaster ride for Lindsey Messenger. Yet every single high and low has taught her something. Never one to shy away from anything new or to challenge herself, she's learned a lot over her short life. She's learned some valuable life lessons, and what she wants to do, and what she doesn't.

  • Professor Martha Moore: Trailblazer, Mentor, Friend
    Professor Martha Moore: Trailblazer, Mentor, Friend

    Professor Martha Moore: Trailblazer, Mentor, Friend

    Being given a chance to excel, to find your own path and be encouraged every step of the way is a "gift" that can last a lifetime. When those who have received this gift pass it on to someone up and coming, its value is increased manyfold.