Classroom Law Project June 27-30, 2016

SPEAKERS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Dr. Paula McAvoy

Program Director, Center for Ethics and Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Paula McAvoy began her career as a high school social studies teacher in California where for ten years she taught and co-directed the Foothill Middle College Program. She went on to earn her doctorate in philosophy of education from the department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing that degree in 2010, Paula worked as an assistant professor at Illinois State University and then spent three and a half years as an associate program officer at the Spencer Foundation. She became the Program Director at the Center for Ethics and Education at UW-Madison in 2015. She is also the co-author with Dr. Diana Hess of The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education (Routledge, 2015), a book that blends analysis of a longitudinal mixed-method study of high school classes with philosophic discussion of the ethics of teaching. The Political Classroom is the 2016 recipient of the Outstanding Book Award for the American Educational Research Association.

Hon. Jack Landau

Associate Justice, Oregon Supreme Court

The Honorable Jack L. Landau joined the Supreme Court in January 2011. Before joining the Supreme Court, heserved on the Court of Appeals (1993-2010). Prior to that, he
·  clerked for then Judge Robert C. Belloni of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon (1981 - 1983)
·  practiced law as an associate and partner in the Portland firm Lindsay, Hart, Neil & Weigler (1983 - 1989)
·  served the Oregon Department of Justice as Assistant Attorney General and Attorney-in-Charge in the Special Litigation Unit (1989 - 1991) and as Deputy Attorney General (1991 - 1993)
Justice Landauhas been an adjunct professor at Willamette University College of Law since 1993, where he has taught Legislation,and has written numerous articles for law reviews and other publications.
Born in Colorado, Justice Landau grew up in Oregon. He graduated from Portland’s Franklin High School with honors (1971), Lewis and Clark College (B.A. magna cum laude 1975), Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College (J.D. 1980), and University of Virginia School of Law (LL.M. 2001).

Mr. Mark J. Molli

Associate Director, Center for Civic Education


Mark J. Molli manages government relations for the Center for Civic Education and maintains an office in the Washington, D.C., area. In addition to promoting the Center's educational programs in Congress and with the Administration, Molli has been closely involved in several of the Center's national initiatives including providing public information for the National Standards for Civics and Government, co-managing four ground-breaking Congressional Conferences on Civic Education, assisting in the successful implementation of the American Civic Education Teacher Awards (ACETA), and co-directs the Campaign to Promote Civic Education. He was among the first group of education professionals who went to Bosnia-Herzegovina shortly after the war to help implement an education for democracy program in the schools. He has made several presentations on civic education and education reform at international forums including conferences in Cairo, Egypt and Marrakesh, Morocco. Mark is a former chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins of Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland, where he earned a B.A. in political science.

James Westwood

Senior Counsel, Stoel Rives LLP

Jim Westwood isSenior Counselat Stoel Rives LLP and concentrates his practice in state and federal appellate courts. Well known as a constitutional scholar, Jim has handled nearly 200 appeals, including important cases in state and federal constitutional law, insurance, banking, energy, administrative law and punitive damages law.

Jim was recognized with the prestigious 2012 Legal Citizen of the Year award from the Classroom Law Project. He has served as Chair of the Constitutional Law and Appellate Law Sections of the Oregon State Bar. Previously, Jim was partner and associate atMiller Nash LLP (1978-1999, 1974-1976), and assistant to the president at Portland State University (1976-1978).

A native Oregonian, Jim has worked as a television meteorologist and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy (Naval Security Group) in Southeast Asia. He received his B.A. from Portland State University and his J.D. from Columbia University.

Classroom Law Project 620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205 503-224-4424 www.classroomlaw.org