Page 29 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

ROBERTS ’06 SUCCEEDS WRIGHT ’98 AS PRESIDENT OF UH LAW

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, 2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED

he UH Law Alumni Association law student who knew nothing about practicing law and knew
Twelcomed Alex B. Roberts ’06 very little about the city of Houston,” Roberts said. “I was aided
as its new president for the 2021- tremendously by law professors like Lonny Hoffman, John Mixon,
2022 term during a virtual annual Craig Joyce and Robert Ragazzo. I was also aided by many alums like
meeting held in May. Roberts, a Judge Gray Miller and Judge Jeff Brown. One of the strongest assets
partner at Beck Redden, replaces of this school is the alumni network and the willingness to sit and
Victor Wright ’98, director of global listen to students.
labor and employment at KBR. “The time is right to emphasize mentorship. Coming out COVID,
“We thank Victor for working so many lawyers and law students have suffered because they have
tirelessly for the Law Center and lacked the in-person connection we have benefitted from. There
the Law Alumni Association for is a year missing in many people’s lives; they will greatly benefit
the two years he’s been at the helm, from mentorship.”
UH Law Alumni and well before that during his term In addition to Roberts and Wright, serving as ex officio (immediate
Association President of service on the board,” Roberts past president), officers include:
Alex B. Roberts ’06 said. “Victor has been a great leader • Kris Thomas ’83 – President-Elect
and has met the challenges of the
pandemic. Some of the wonderful things he accomplished in that • Kate Blaine ’03 – Vice-President
time were expanding mentoring programs by making more mentors • Michelle Gray ’11 – Secretary
available to law students and new graduates.
“Victor increased our effort at diversity and inclusion across the Directors include:
alumni spectrum. He has increased alumni engagement, volunteerism, • Rehan Alimohammad ’01 • Judge Ravi K. Sandill ’01
expanded alumni outreach into new regions of the country. And of
course under his watch we have supported the Dean ably in getting • Jeff Andrews ’05 • Robert Sergesketter ’95
this new building built. • Alison Chen ’03 • Harve Truskett ’08
Roberts said he hopes to continue Wright’s work in encouraging • Yvonne Ho ’06 • Richard Whiteley ’99
alumni to become mentors and to pursue opportunities to
be mentored. • Kimberly D. Levi ’93 • Staci Wilson ’09 ^
“When I was at the Law Center I was a young, naive first-generation • Brian Melton ’99

UHLC GRADUATE JUAN VASQUEZ ’77 RELAYS TRIALS AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FIRST HISPANIC TAX COURT JUDGE

IN NEW BIOGRAPHY

niversity of Houston Law Center alumnus and adjunct professor “Having my biography published makes me humble and reflect
UJuan F. Vasquez vividly conveys his trials of discrimination, my accomplishments,” Vasquez stated. “It encourages me to do
poverty and manual labor in a biography that has been published by more outreach to all students to inspire them that they too can
the American Bar Association. achieve the American dream through determination, hard work
“From the Texas Cotton Fields to the United States Tax Court: The and perseverance.
Life Journey of Juan F. Vasquez” acknowledges the adversity and “Being part of this class has given me the opportunity to give back
challenges faced on Vasquez’s trek to becoming the first Hispanic to the University. I have hired some of my students as law clerks,
judge on the U.S. Tax Court. interns and externs for my chambers at the United States Tax Court
Written by his wife, Mary Theresa Vasquez, and Anthony Head, it in Washington, D.C.”
spans his childhood in San Antonio, where he was born to a working- He has taught Tax Controversy and Litigation at the Law Center in
class family and raised by his grandparents, to the challenges faced collaboration with his son, Juan Vasquez, Jr., a 2001 graduate of the
as he pursued a career in law, emphasizing the importance of family, Law Center and a partner at Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston office,
community and opportunity. since 2008. ^

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