FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: David Tanenhaus

One of Boyd's most esteemed scholars is David Tanenhaus. Professor Tanenhaus is a distinguished historian of juvenile justice who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. Tanenhaus started teaching in the History Department at UNLV in 1997, and is presently the Chair of that department. Shortly after the William S. Boyd School of Law was launched, Tanenhaus was named the James E. Rogers Professor of History and Law. His administrative responsibilities and scholarship straddles the history and law schools, although dazzles in both departments is a more accurate descriptor.

Professor Tanenhaus's forthcoming book is titled Juvenile Justice in Global Perspective. The book is now in print production at NYU Press. Tanenhaus is a co-editor with two other distinguished professors: Franklin E. Zimring of the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, and Maximo Langer of the UCLA School of Law. The book is truly global in its perspective; borrowing from the publisher's announcement, this book offers “original contributions from some of the world's leading voices ... [in] countries from Western Europe, to the former Soviet Union, to rising powers like China, India, and countries in Latin America.”

Several years ago, in an op-ed piece for The New York Times, Professor Tanenhaus articulated “the enduring idea that children are different.” Tanenhaus's earlier books and articles have probed the history of that idea -- as well as the consequences of that idea, including our nation's creation of a separate juvenile justice system. In his most recent book, Tanenhaus and others take a comparative look at the differential treatment of children. The book describes juvenile justice systems in the developed and developing world, with the goal of promoting a richer understanding of problems and possible solutions.

Professor Tanenhaus is a model scholar and faculty colleague. He is also a first-rate teacher. As one of our student colleagues reported anonymously on a website that purports to rate professors, Tanenhaus's was the "[b]est class I took during law school! Excellent, excellent teacher. He is kind and engaging."

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Izaac Rowe

It's a bit of an understatement, but Izaac Rowe has put together a seriously formidable leadership portfolio in his time at Boyd. Rowe is president of the Student Bar Association (SBA). Last year, he was SBA vice president for the part-time division; he also held SBA class representative positions in each of his first two years of study. That's a lot, but we're really just getting started with the rundown, folks.

In the 2013-14 academic year, Rowe served as governor of the American Bar Association Law Student Division 14th Circuit, which encompasses nine law schools in Nevada and Northern California. He also held the positions of vice president of the UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association and director of the National Black Law Student Association Desert Sub-Region. And here's perhaps the coup de grâce -- Rowe currently is the (THE, as in the one and only in our great nation) law student member of the American Bar Association Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. 

Through it all, Rowe has maintained an even temperament and sense of perspective. Having a family and a full-time job has helped in that regard, no doubt. Rowe and his wife, Kelly, have been married seven years and have two beautiful children: Kian, 5, and Colton, 5 months. While moving steadily through his J.D. program by evening, Rowe has spent his days working diligently as an information technology professional for the State of Nevada Department of Child and Family Services. 

Says Rowe of this law school experience: "My time at the William S. Boyd School of Law has been priceless. I have learned not only about the law, but about the community as well. Boyd fosters a strong community both in the legal world and within itself."

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Kathia Pereira '03

Kathia Pereira '03 of Las Vegas is a partner at Pereira Immigration Law Group and practices exclusively in the areas of immigration and nationality law. Pereira started her career at Boyd's immigration clinic with the guidance of Professors David Thronson, and Raquel Aldana, who instilled in her the love for public service and showed her the basics of what became her calling in life. After graduation, Pereira started her solo practice with the support of her mentor, Professor Leticia Saucedo.

Pereira works daily to help undocumented immigrants become legal residents and legal residents become U.S. citizens. As part of her work, Pereira helps immigrants obtain legal status through their family members; visas for victims of domestic violence; U visas (for victims of certain serious crimes); deferred status; temporary protected status; and other means to reside and work in the United States.

A native Spanish speaker, Pereira works to educate the immigrant community about our current immigration laws and their consequences. For more than 10 years, Pereira has held educational segments on Hispanic TV, print media, radio, the web and is a frequent invited speaker at immigration events.

A champion of immigrant education, she is also a member of the national committee on the unauthorized practice of law for AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association); works with several immigrant nonprofits such as the Citizenship Project and Hermandad Mexicana; and is a board member of the African Community Center.

Pereira is the proud wife of Master baker Carlos Pereira and the happy mother of Daniel (14), Nicholas (11), Alberto (10) and Karla (2) -- the best achievements of her career.