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F A CUL TY F OCUS

ALLISON WINNIKE

As a research professor and research director of the She was a contributing author for two books in 2016, “Control
University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law & Policy Measures and Public Health Emergencies: A Texas Bench Book,”
Institute, Allison Winnike has made her mark, winning which she also edited, and “Preparing for a Pandemic: An Emergency
awards and honors for her work in the field, but she finds her Response Benchbook and Operational Guidebook for State Court
greatest satisfaction in assisting lawyers launch their careers. Judges and Administrators,” the latter authored as a member of the
“The most rewarding part of my job is teaching and Conference of Chief Justices Pandemic and Emergency Response
mentoring health law students,” she said. “We have J.D. and Task Force.
LL.M. students from around the world come to the Law She was invited to deliver more than 20 speeches on her work in
Center for our No. 3-ranked health law program, and it is a pleasure 2016, including presentations at the Law Center’s symposium “Zika
teaching them everything I know about public health law, health Virus Workshop: Public Health and Legal Control Measures” in April
legislation and advocacy.” and “Broadband Prescriptions for Mental Health: A Policy Conference,”
Winnike’s research revolves around applying legal principles co-hosted by the Federal Communications Commission, in May.
to public health problems to measure the impact of laws and “Given the translational nature of my public health law research, it
regulations on public health. The purpose of her research is to was particularly validating to be recognized by the National Center for
translate legal concepts into digestible formats suitable for health State Courts, the premier judicial organization for my health research,
professionals and policymakers. and the American Public Health Association, the premier public health
“My hope is that my research can help inform improvements in organization for my legal research,” Winnike said.
health policy at local, state and federal levels,” Winnike said. “This means that I am achieving my goals of translating public
If 2016 was any indication, Winnike accomplished that goal. health law into a practical format for the legal and health communities.
She was named to the Leadership Texas Class in 2016. Leadership Graduating from the Leadership Texas program was another great
Texas is the flagship program of Leadership Women Inc., a nonprofit milestone. I further developed my leadership skills to apply translational
social enterprise designed to give women a perspective on challenges best practices to my work.”
and opportunities beyond their normal career fields. After an eventful 2016, Winnike said she looks forward to interacting
In October, Winnike received the 2016 Distinguished Service Award with students, fellow professors and lawmakers in 2017, while
from the National Center for State Courts for making a significant examining and making improvements to public health law matters.
contribution to the justice system with her public health emergency “I really love being a research professor and research director at
preparedness legal writing and community outreach. the Law Center,” Winnike said. “I enjoy working on interdisciplinary
The American Public Health Association’s Law Section gave its research teams to analyze public health law issues. I am fortunate
Early Career Award for Excellence in Public Health Law to Winnike in to have the opportunity to speak with health professionals and
October in recognition for her contributions to research, teaching and policymakers on important public health law issues and respond to
mentoring, practice and advocacy. their questions and concerns.”

RAYMOND BRITTON
During his 58 years in the classroom, University of Houston associate professor from 1961-1965 before being elevated to a full-time
Law Center Professor Raymond Britton has developed a clear professor in 1966. He said he has seen substantial growth and change at
sense of what makes a good law student, and it isn’t necessarily the Law Center, from the facility to the faculty, as well as to the campus
the one with the most impressive academic credentials. of the University of Houston as a whole.
“I like a student who is willing to work hard to learn the “The change has been dramatic over the years,” Britton said. “When
law,” Britton said. “I prefer that type of attitude than a student I first started, we had maybe four or five members on the faculty. We
who perhaps has scored very high on their LSAT or any other had to teach every course amongst us, and that meant we were assigned
introductory test they’re required to take. I lean toward hard- maybe five or six courses. We taught them in various semesters.
working students and encourage them more than others.” Needless to say, that was a pretty arduous job.”
After completing his undergraduate education at Penn State, Britton Britton currently teaches Admiralty, Alternative Dispute Resolution,
earned his LL.B. from Southern Methodist University in 1951. He was Arbitration and Securities Regulation. With decades of experience in
practicing as an associate attorney for the now-defunct law firm Butler, legal education, he said he still gains knowledge through interactions in
Binion, Rice, Cook & Knapp, when then-Dean A.A. White hired him as the classroom.
an adjunct professor. “I enjoy all my classes,” Britton said. “It’s fulfilling to me because I’m
“I hadn’t thought about teaching too much until I did, and I kind always learning something new that the students bring to me. Either
of liked it,” Britton said. “So, I stayed and taught here, and it’s been a they’re employed in the area, or make a connection to something that is
long time.” germane to a case we’re discussing. I’ve learned some very important,
Britton served as an assistant professor from 1958 to 1960 and an significant information.”

6 Briefcase 2017