Honorary Life Membership (Non-Alumni)
The Honorary Life Membership is awarded annually to a non-graduate. The recipient of this honor is someone who has provided an exemplary service to their profession, community, and Washburn University School of Law.
2021 Recipient
Bethany Roberts is the managing member with Barber Emerson, L.C. in Lawrence, Kansas, where she acts as a guardian ad litem, conciliator, case manager, and mediator in high-conflict domestic cases. Previously, Roberts served as the pro tem juvenile judge in Douglas County, where she handled a high-volume caseload of juvenile offender and child in need of care cases. Roberts spent many years at Kansas Legal Services in Topeka as the managing attorney and specialized in representing survivors of all ages who had experienced domestic, sexual, stalking, and dating violence. She still partners with Kansas Legal Services on pro bono and reduced-rate matters. Roberts is an adjunct professor at both Washburn University School of Law and the University of Kansas School of Law. At Washburn, she teaches topics related to child and family law, including Children in the Law and Domestic Violence. In 2017, law students honored her with Washburn's Adjunct Faculty of the Year award. Roberts frequently speaks to law students, attorneys, and judges on domestic law, guardian ad litem practices, trial skills, and ethical issues. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, Roberts previously worked as an elementary school special education teacher.
Roberts currently serves as the District 2 representative for the Kansas Bar Association board of governors and as the KBA representative to the Kansas Bar Foundation board of trustees. Roberts serves as a representative on the Kansas Judicial Council's Family Law Advisory Committee. She serves as the District J representative for Kansas Women Attorney Association and she holds a leadership position on the Judge Hugh Means Inn of Court.
2020 Recipient
Karla Whitaker served for nearly a decade as Washburn University School of Law's director of admissions, leading the school's nationwide recruiting program. She joined the law school after working on behalf of law-related associations in Kansas. She was the assistant director of the Kansas Bar Association, having also led the KBA's continuing legal education program, membership department, and media relations efforts. Karla later worked as a consultant to the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, providing advice and services in the areas of CLE and membership development. (Watch video, 7:10)
2019 Recipient
The Honorable Amy Hanley was appointed judge for the 7th Judicial District of Douglas County in 2016, following 15 years as a criminal prosecutor for the state of Kansas. She spent seven years as assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, serving as the leading prosecutor for capital crimes and high-profile cases, including murder and sexual abuse of children. She was cross-designated as a special assistant United States attorney for the specific purpose of prosecuting online crimes against children. Before joining the Kansas Office of Attorney General, Hanley tried all levels of crimes as first assistant in the Office of the Saline County Attorney. Hanley's current docket includes major civil, domestic, and criminal cases. Her courtroom highlights include State v. Kahler, a capital case in which the death penalty was imposed, and State v. Seacat, a premeditated first-degree murder trial, resulting in conviction, that was nationally televised and featured on "Dateline NBC." In 2011, she was awarded the KCDAA Associate Member Prosecutor of the Year. Hanley earned her J.D. from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Hanley is a highly sought teacher and leader in the field of trial advocacy. She speaks and instructs at more than 20 training events each year, serving as program director or lead instructor at many. Hanley is an advocate for excellence in the legal discipline, civil, and community service, and a renowned Next Generation Faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Hanley teaches trial advocacy and coaches the mock trial team for Washburn University School of Law where she serves as adjunct professor. In 2014, law students voted her Adjunct Faculty of the Year. Hanley is a volunteer for Inns of Court, the Kansas Bar Association, and the Kansas Women Attorneys Association. She also volunteers for the Lawrence Humane Society and Midwest Animal Res-Q.
2018 Recipient
Liaquat Ali Khan initially trained as a civil engineer but later switched to law, obtaining a law degree from Punjab University, Lahore. In 1976, Khan immigrated to the United States and studied law at New York University School of Law. He has authored several books, including The Extinction of Nation-States (1996), A Theory of Universal Democracy (2003), A Theory of International Terrorism (2006), and Contemporary Ijtihad: Limits and Controversies (2011). Over the years, he has written numerous law review articles and essays on Islamic law, international law, commercial law, creative writing, legal humor, jurisprudence, the U.S. Constitution, comparative constitutional law, human rights, and foreign policy. His academic writings are used as part of course materials in universities across the world.
Khan devoted much of his academic scholarship to Islamic law and conflicts involving Muslim communities. He has participated in Islamic law symposia that have contributed to ground-breaking articles on Islamic jurisprudence at the law schools of Samford University, University of St. Thomas, Barry University, Michigan State University, and Brigham Young University. Khan writes for the popular press in the United States, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. His legal and foreign affairs commentaries are published worldwide and international media, including BBC, Press TV, and NPR, seek his comments on world events. Khan’s writings are cited in various Wikipedia entries, including Sharia, Islamic democracy, nation-state, definitions of terrorism, and manual labor. In spring 2007, Khan was a resident legal scholar with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After teaching at Washburn University School of Law since 1983, he retired this summer.
2017 Recipient
Thomas J. Romig became Dean of Washburn Law in 2007 and announced recently this would be his final academic year as Dean. During his tenure, he established three joint degree programs with other schools within Washburn, expanded the summer study abroad program and an agriculture law program. The School has been recognized nationally for its legal writing program, practical training, and trial advocacy program. He graduated with honors from Santa Clara University School of Law (California). During his prestigious military career, he served four years as the 36th Judge Advocate General of the Army, supervising 9,000 personnel across 22 countries. He served as Chief of Army Civil Law and Litigation and Chief of Military Law and Operations. The Kansas Bar Association awarded Romig the Courageous Attorney Award in 2009 for his time as Judge Advocate General of the Army for positions against interrogation methods in violation of the Geneva Conventions and Uniform Code of Military Justice. His military service has earned him numerous decorations and badges.
2016 Recipients
After graduating from Washburn University with a degree in history in 1971, Cynthia Heath taught and coached at Topeka West High School, Topeka, Kansas. She earned a master's degree from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, and a juris doctor from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. After working at a St. Louis law firm, Heath went to work for Emerson Electric, where she serves as vice president for executive compensation. She met her late husband, David Heath, BA '70 and JD '76, at Washburn. They were long-time supporters of Washburn Law, and she has continued this support. Heath has served as a Washburn University Foundation Trustee since 2007 and as a director since 2009. She currently serves as the chair of the Trustees. She also chaired the Washburn Women's Venture Partners from 2008 to 2015. She received the Alumni Association's 2013 Monroe Award and was inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 2013.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, the Honorable Edward Larson graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1960, after which he practiced law and served as a municipal judge in Hays, Kansas. In 1987, he was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals and then tapped for the Kansas Supreme Court in 1995. He retired in 2002. Larson has worked with Washburn Law's Oil and Gas Law Center for Excellence since its inception. He has taught in the Mineral Title Examination course for many years. He has, and continues, to mentor Washburn Law graduates and has served in many capacities with Washburn Law faculty on numerous professional board and committees.
2015 Recipient
David J. Rebein is founder and partner of Rebein Bangerter Rebein. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Washburn University in 1977. While at Washburn, Rebein was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Rebein earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas Law School in 1980.
Rebein is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a past president of the Kansas Bar Association and past president of the Legacy for Justice Foundation. Rebein is current treasurer of the Kansas Association for Justice. He is admitted to the Kansas and Florida bars.
Rebein received the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association for continuous longstanding service on behalf of the legal profession.
Rebein has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers for his work as a trial lawyer.
With more than 30 years experience, Rebein has tried hundreds of cases and represented Fortune 500 Companies as well as individuals in commercial and personal injury cases. He is at home in both Federal and state courts. Rebein sums up his work in saying, "I walk into a tragedy and try to make sense of what happened. I personally investigate the case and if I take it, I give it everything I've got."
2013 Recipient
Professor Gregory J. Pease graduated cum laude from Wichita State University with bachelor's degrees in English and psychology in 1964. He studied philosophy at the University of Illinois before entering law school. He received his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1970, and upon graduation served as a law clerk to the Honorable Oliver Seth, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to joining the Washburn Law faculty, he taught at the Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law in Ada, Ohio. At ONU, he was an assistant dean and also the faculty advisor for the law review.
Professor Pease taught at Washburn Law for 37 years and served as a member of the Admissions Committee for many years. He has been a repeated recipient of the William O. Douglas Professor of the Year teaching award presented at spring commencement for the law school. He authored chapter 59 of the 2000 Supplement for Vernon’s Kansas Statutes Annotated, and his teaching responsibilities have included Decedents’ Estates, Trusts and Future Interests, Property I, and Law and Literature. He retired from the faculty of Washburn Law after the 2013 spring semester.
Professor Pease will now have more time to enjoy hunting, fishing, music, and reading. With his retirement, he will be able to enjoy the 4G's — gardening, guitar, grandkids (he and his wife, Joan, have two children and four grandchildren) and golf. He has fond memories of playing golf with Professors Ray Spring and John Kuether. The one thing he will probably miss the most in retirement from the law school is Linda "Cricket" Elrod's chocolate chip cookies.
B.A., Wichita State University, 1964
J.D., University of New Mexico, 1970
2012 Recipient
Elizabeth A. (Betty) Fischer has served in a variety of capacities since earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from Mount St. Scholastica College (now Benedictine College) in Atchison, Kansas. From 1965 to 1967, she was a social worker for Catholic Social Services in Lincoln, Nebraska. From 1971 to 1974, Fischer served as assistant alumni director at Benedictine College until her family moved to southern Germany where her husband taught English in university preparatory schools. Upon returning to Atchison, she taught English as a Second Language and later was an activities director at a nursing home. She also was the office manager for Legal Services of Northeast Kansas.
Fischer's career at Washburn University School of Law began in 1986 when she became law clinic coordinator. She was appointed assistant to the dean for Dean James Concannon in 1995. In May 2006 the position changed to director, Administrative Services. Fischer was responsible for personnel, student accommodations, budget, facilities, and finance for the law school and student organizations. To facilitate student accommodations, she encouraged faculty to adopt a computer software solution for exams that is now being used by most students. She has served on several law school committees, including commencement, strategic planning, and the strategic planning facilities subcommittee. Fischer was a member of several Washburn campus committees and served as the law school representative to staff council. She served on the board of the National Network of Law School Officers from 1999 to 2004 and in various other capacities until 2010. She retired from Washburn Law in June 2010 and subsequently received the "Eminentes Universitatis" designation from Washburn University.
In the early 1990s, Fischer was named to the board of Mount St. Scholastica Academy, of which she served for 10 years. She co-founded the Atchison Farmers' Market, with Washburn Law alumna Joan Adam, in 1998, and continues to serve on its board. Fischer and her husband grow chemical-free produce, which they sell at the market. She is married to Gunther Fischer, is the mother of five children and has four grandchildren.
2011 Recipient
Kathleen Sebelius has served in public office for more than two decades, inheriting her father's desire to give back to others through a vocation in public service.
Sebelius won election as the 44th governor of Kansas in November 2002, becoming the first daughter of a U.S. governor (John Gilligan, Ohio, 1971-75) to serve in that same capacity. Three years into her initial term, TIME magazine named Sebelius to its list of "America's Five Best Governors." She was re-elected governor in 2006 and served until her appointment as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in April 2009.
She served two terms as Kansas Insurance Commissioner between 1995 and 2003, and during that time was named one of Governing magazine's "Public Officials of the Year" and one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare" by Modern Healthcare Magazine.
She began her career in public service as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives serving from 1987 to 1995. Before that, Sebelius worked as an aide with the Kansas Department of Corrections and was director of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. She received a bachelor's degree in political science from Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C., and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas.
She is married to Gary Sebelius, a U.S. magistrate judge.
2010 Recipient
While in law school, Professor John E. Christensen was associate editor of the Utah Bar Journal and clerked for Justice J. Allan Crockett of the Utah Supreme Court. Prior to joining Washburn, he was an instructor and professional law librarian at The University of Texas at Austin.
Christensen has been the Washburn Law Library Director for the past 31 years. He has overseen development of the library's collection and services in an era of rapid technological development. The library has developed a reputation for excellence in utilizing technology. Examples include the first web-based law library catalog and WashLaw legal research portal. The National Jurist, a magazine for law students, ranked Washburn's law library in the top 20% of ABA-accredited United States law school libraries, 2000, 2004, and 2010.
Christensen recently completed service as President of the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries. He initiated and maintains the LawLibDir discussion list for law school library directors in the United States. Christensen served on the technology committee of the ABA's Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and is a site evaluator. In addition, he is a frequent CLE presenter on legal research resources on the Web.
Christensen teaches specialized legal research, law and religion, and law practice technologies courses. He is faculty adviser to the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. He serves on the law school's strategic planning committee and chairs the facilities committee.
BA, Brigham Young University, 1971
JD, University of Utah, 1975
MLS, University of California, Berkeley, 1976
Washburn Law Library Director and
Professor of Law
2009 Recipient
Sheila Reynolds majored in Oriental Languages and East Asian Studies in college and was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Harvard University from 1966-67, studying Chinese literature. She returned to Kansas for her J.D., was admitted to practice law in Kansas and Missouri in 1971, and worked as a legal services staff lawyer in both states.
Reynolds has been on the Washburn Law faculty for 30 years. This past academic year, she was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in addition to having this responsibility from 1985-91. She has supervised students in family law cases in the Law Clinic for 28 years, and taught Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice, Research and Writing, and family law courses.
In 2008, Dean Reynolds received the Robert Gernon Award for Outstanding Service to Continuing Legal Education in Kansas. In 2007, the Kansas Bar Association (KBA) presented her with a Pro Bono Certifi cate for legal representation of indigent persons without charge, and in 1999 she received the KBA's Outstanding Service Award.
BA, University of Kansas, 1966
JD, University of Kansas, 1971
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor of Law
2008 Recipient
Nancy G. Maxwell holds a B.A. and J.D. from the University of North Dakota and an LL.M. in law teaching from Harvard. She has been teaching at Washburn University School of Law for the past 28 years. Prior to that she was a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of North Dakota. Professor Maxwell currently teaches Family Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Family Law Seminar, and Criminal Law. During the Centennial Celebration, she and her partner, Terry Curry, endowed a scholarship fund for students interested in family law or nondiscrimination law. In addition, in April 2007 they hosted a law school alumni "house concert" to raise scholarship funds for students from diverse backgrounds. One of the highlights of Professor Maxwell's long tenure at Washburn has been the honor of serving with the officers of the Washburn Law Alumni Association when she and Bernie Bianchino '74 co-chaired the Dean's Search Committee in the fall of 2006. In addition to her other responsibilities, she is the Director of International Legal Programs at the law school and a member of the Family Law Advisory Committee of the Kansas Judicial Council.