
School of Law Faculty and Staff
Faculty
The faculty members at the University of St. Thomas School of Law are leaders in their fields academically, but also receive consistent praise for accessibility and teaching. Our professors influence students through the classroom, other scholars through writing in scholarly journals and books, and the law through work in the courts.
In addition to our full-time faculty, St. Thomas School of Law regularly welcomes adjunct professors from throughout the Twin Cities legal community. Our adjuncts include some of the most respected judges and lawyers in the Twin Cities who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom.
Staff
The staff at St. Thomas Law is a group of professionals dedicated to student success. Many hold advanced degrees, including several at the director level who hold J.D. degrees and have practiced law.
Find a School of Law Faculty Member

School of Law News

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St. Thomas Alumnus Helps International Company Navigate Ethics and Technology
If you are the kind of person who hears about facial recognition and imagines a dystopian, “Black Mirror”-style future, then hearing Michael Gaytko ’16, ’20 MBA, ’20 J.D., ’23 LL.M. talk about the influence of his St. Thomas education may have you feeling optimistic. Gaytko is part of the legal team at IDEMIA, the global… The post St. Thomas Alumnus Helps International Company Navigate Ethics and Technology appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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St. Thomas Faculty Share Research in Takeover of NPR’s Academic Minute
The week of Sept. 25 kicked off the University of St. Thomas takeover of NPR’s “The Academic Minute” series. The segment is a two-and-a-half-minute daily segment that features researchers from schools around the world. NPR invited five groundbreaking researchers from St. Thomas to share their findings to help listeners better understand the world. Each segment… The post St. Thomas Faculty Share Research in Takeover of NPR’s Academic Minute appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Summer Law Extern: Allison Vasilakis, Activision Blizzard, inc.
This summer 2L Allison Vasilakis made perfect use of the law school’s off-campus Legal Externship Program, accomplishing one of its intended goals for students. She was curious if compliance was an area of the law that could be a potential career path, so she accepted a position with California-based video game company Activision Blizzard on… The post Summer Law Extern: Allison Vasilakis, Activision Blizzard, inc. appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Summer Law Extern: Riley Smith, Wright County Public Defender’s Office
One of the goals of the law school’s Mentor Externship Program is to connect each law student with a practicing attorney who can give them practical advice and guidance they can use in law school and their career. In his summer position with the Wright County Public Defender’s Office, 2L Riley Smith found himself reflecting… The post Summer Law Extern: Riley Smith, Wright County Public Defender’s Office appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
Media Directory
Our faculty members are often asked to share their knowledge about the law and provide their legal perspective by members of the local and national media. We’ve created an online directory to help journalists easily find our faculty member’s areas of expertise and connect with them.
Faculty Highlights

Professor David Grenardo Wins Prestigious Warren E. Burger Prize
Read More about Professor David Grenardo Wins Prestigious Warren E. Burger Prize
St. Thomas Law Faculty Appointed to Minnesota Supreme Court
Read More about St. Thomas Law Faculty Appointed to Minnesota Supreme Court
Law Professor’s New Book Examines Religious Liberty and Polarization
Read More about Law Professor’s New Book Examines Religious Liberty and Polarization
Interim Dean
Joel A. Nichols
The University of St. Thomas School of Law is led by Interim Dean Joel A. Nichols. He received his Juris Doctor, with high honors, from Emory Law School, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Nichols earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Abilene Christian University.