Faith M. Sparr

FAITH M. SPARR

Home
817 Granger Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
808-778-0041 (mobile) / Office
University of Michigan
Department of Communication Studies
5370 North Quad, 105 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285
734-764-3226
E-mail:

EDUCATION

LL.M.,University of Michigan Law School, 2012. Awards: Grotius Fellowship Recipient.

J. D., with Highest Distinction (Final class rank: 2/132), University of Nebraska College of Law, 1996. Awards and Honors: Nebraska Law Review, Executive Editor, Order of the Coif, Dean’s List , University of Nebraska Regent’s Scholar (full tuition scholarship).

B.A., History, with Distinction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1993. Awards and Honors: Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa.

EXPERIENCE

Teaching:

University of Michigan, Department of Communication StudiesAnn Arbor, MI

Lecturer II2005-Present

Subjects taught: Media Law, Internet Law, Gender and the Law

University of Michigan, English Language InstituteSummer 2012

Subject taught: Academic Legal Writing

Hawaii Pacific University, College of CommunicationsHonolulu, HI

Assistant Professor2003-2005

Subjects taught: Communication Law, Professional Writing,

Media Law and Ethics

University of Missouri-Kansas City,

HenryW. Bloch School of Business and Public AdministrationKansas City, MO

Adjunct Professor2004

Subject taught: Legal and International Environment of Business

University of Hawaii at Manoa,

William S. Richardson School of Law Honolulu, HI

Adjunct Professor2003

Subject Taught: Second Year Seminar Class – Scholarly Writing

University of Kansas, School of Business-Edwards CampusOverland Park, KS

Adjunct Professor2001

Subject taught: Internet Law

Legal Practice:

SprintOverland Park, KS Corporate Counsel 1999-2003

Served as main legal contact for Sprint PCS’ e-commerce group. Advised clients regarding online sales, online contracting, and development of partnerships with online companies. Responsible for negotiating licensing agreements for downloadable ring tones and advised clients regarding telecommunication regulatory concerns, copyright, and trademark matters. Negotiated marketing and sales contracts. Reviewed and approved advertising copy.

Morrison & Hecker, L.L.P.Kansas City, MO Associate Attorney 1996-1999

Engaged in the practice of general corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, securities filings, bankruptcy, employment issues, and trademark matters. Responsible for numerous acquisitions as lead attorney and served as direct liaison with business clients.

WORKS-IN-PROGRESS

The Theoretical First Amendment (examining current First Amendment doctrine limitations and relevance of the First Amendment in today’s media landscape)

Sony, the Supreme Court, and Congress (examining the interaction between the Court and Congress in setting policy and the factors contributing to congressional overrides of Supreme Court decisions).

PUBLICATIONS

Faith Sparr, The FCC’s Report on Regulating Violence: Is the Medium the Message?, Loy. L.A. Ent. L. Rev., Volume 28, No. 1 (2007).

Faith Sparr, Town Hall Meetings Without the Town: Were the Denver Three’s First Amendment Rights Violated?,Comm. L. & Pol’y, Volume 12, No. 1(2007).

Faith Sparr, Expanding the Public Forum Doctrine in Cyberspace: Some Lessons from Jersey,Comm. L. Rev., Volume 6, Issue 2 (2006), available at

Faith Sparr,Is SouthPark Next? A Look at the Supreme Court, Congress and Regulation of Indecency on Cable Television, Comm. L. Rev., Volume 5, Issue 1 (2005), available at

Faith Sparr,From Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words to Bono’s One Dirty Word: A Look at the FCC’s Ever-expanding Indecency Enforcement Role, First Amend. L. Rev., Volume 3 (2005).

PUBLICATION AWARDS

Top Paper in Communication and Law Division, National Communication Association, 2005 Convention. Faith Sparr,From Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words to Bono’s One Dirty Word: A Look at the FCC’s Ever-expanding Indecency Enforcement Role, First Amend. L. Rev., Volume 3 (2005).

CONFERENCE AND INVITED PRESENTATIONS

November 2009. The FCC’s Report on Regulating Violence: Is the Medium the Message? Presented at annual convention of the National Communication Association, Chicago, Illinois.

November 2006. Expanding the Public Forum Doctrine in Cyberspace: Some Lessons from Jersey. Presented at annual convention of the National Communication Association, San Antonio, TX.

June 2006. Town Hall Meetings Without the Town: Were the Denver Three’s First Amendment Rights Violated? Presented at annual conference of the International Communication Association, Dresden, Germany.

November 2005. From Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words to Bono’s One Dirty Word: A Look at the FCC’s Ever-expanding Indecency Enforcement Role. Presented at annual convention of the National Communication Association, Boston, MA.

November 2005. Is SouthPark Next? A Look at the Supreme Court, Congress and Regulation of Indecency on Cable Television. Presented at annual convention of the National Communication Association, Boston, MA.

October 2004. Commercial Speech and the First Amendment: An Uneasy Relationship. Presented at annual Mega Comm meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

September 2004. Indecency and the FCC. Presented at HawaiiPacificUniversity’s Faculty Scholarship Day.

October 2000. Legal Issues and the Internet. Presented for Dr. Doug Houston’s Webnomics class, University of Kansas School of Business.

October 2000. Communication and the Law. Presented for Dr. Howard Sypher’s Communication and New Technology class, University of Kansas.

GRANTS

2005 Trustees’ Scholarly Endeavors Grant, Hawaii Pacific University.

2004 Faculty Development Grant, Hawaii Pacific University.

ADDITIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS

LawSchool

  • American Jurisprudence Award in Torts**
  • American Jurisprudence Award in Contracts**
  • Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Scholastic Excellence in Contracts**
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Securities Regulation**
  • University of NebraskaCollege of Law Award for Individual Income Tax**
  • West Publishing Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
  • NebraskaLawCollege Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement
  • University of NebraskaSuperior Scholar

**Awarded for earning top grade in class

Undergraduate

  • Innocents Society, Treasurer
  • Mortar Board Society Candidate Member
  • University of NebraskaSuperior Scholar
  • Association of Students Appointments Board

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Kansas Bar Association

National Communication Association

International Communication Association

1