Kenyon Justice Project

Kenyon's Law & Society Program sponsors and hosts a unique faculty development opportunity for College faculty members seeking exposure to socio-legal literatures and who have interest in or are considering examining approaches to teaching about law and legal phenomena in their courses.

A primary goal of the seminar is to encourage structured reading and discussion among Kenyon faculty on law-related topics and to encourage the sharing of successful teaching strategies and approaches for the teaching of law in an undergraduate liberal arts context.

The Kenyon Justice Project was created to complement the John Adams Summer Scholars Program in Socio-legal Studies by allowing Kenyon faulty to sharpen their own understandings of the meanings and operation of law in society. Through this development opportunity, faculty are given exposure to issues and methodological approaches to socio-legal scholarship. By providing this forum, the Kenyon Justice Project increases the pool of available faculty to mentor Summer Legal Scholars pursuing research projects. In addition, participation in the Kenyon Justice Project may lead to an increased number of law-related course offerings at the College that will support the curricular needs of the Law &  Society Program and prepare future summer scholars for doing socio-legal research and scholarship. 

Faculty participating in the Kenyon Justice Project attended a multi-day (ranging from two to five days) seminar ordinarily held during one of the first two weeks after Commencement. Generally, the format of the seminar involves discussions around selected readings, films, and presentations. The faculty development seminar's theme or topic changes each summer, and a guest presenter or discussion leader from outside the College has been invited to participate by sharing her or his scholarship in the area. Usually, at least one of the sessions is devoted to issues of pedagogy or strategies for teaching issues related to the theme of the seminar.

Kenyon Justice Project Archive

Including seminar topics, guest discussion leaders and faculty presenters.

Jump to:

• 2011: "Exploring Law"
• 2010: "Law and Otherness"
• 2009: "Media and the Law"
• 2008: "Death by Law"
• 2007: "Teaching Law in the Liberal Arts"

"Exploring Law: Teaching Socio-legal Methodologies"

2011 seminar featuring Patricia Ewick, professor of sociology at Clark University.
Kenyon faculty discussion leaders: Jennifer Johnson, assistant professor of sociology, Nikole Hotchkiss, visiting assistant professor of legal studies and sociology, and Ric Sheffield, associate professor of legal studies and sociology | Read the "Exploring Law" seminar agenda (PDF).

"Law & Otherness: Constructions of Race and Ethnicity Under Law"

2010 seminar featuring Michelle Alexander, associate professor of law at the Ohio State University.
Kenyon faculty discussion leaders: Ivonne Garcia, assistant professor of English, Marla Kohlman, associate professor of sociology, Irene López, associate professor of psychology, and Ric Sheffield, associate professor of legal studies and sociology | Read the "Law & Otherness" seminar agenda (PDF).

"Media and the Law"

2009 seminar featuring Nancy Marder, professor of law at the Chicago-Kenyon College of Law.
Kenyon faculty discussion leaders: Don Nightingale, visiting assistant professor of philosophy, Jason Tanenbaum, visiting instructor of legal studies, and Ric Sheffield, associate professor of legal studies and sociology | Read the "Media and Law" seminar agenda (PDF).

"Death by Law"

2008 seminar featuring Annulla Linders, associate professor of sociology at the University of Cincinnati. Kenyon faculty discussion leaders: Ivonne Garcia, assistant professor of English, Allison Hurst, visiting assistant professor of legal studies and sociology, and Ric Sheffield, associate professor of legal studies and sociology. 
| Read the "Death by Law" seminar agenda (PDF).

"Teaching Law in the Liberal Arts"

2007 seminar featuring Austin Sarat, professor of jurisprudence and political science at Amherst College.
Kenyon faculty discussion leaders: Jeffrey Bowman, associate professor of history,Yang Xiao, assistant professor of philosophy, and Ric Sheffield, associate professor of legal studies and sociology | Read the "Teaching Law in Liberal Arts" seminar agenda (PDF).