Dear Alumni and Friends:
Every law school is shaped by the people who pass through it—those who come to learn, those who come to teach, and those whose work transforms not only our academic programs but our collective purpose. This issue of Forum is a tribute to that transformative power. It is a celebration of a community shaped by service, enriched by scholarship, and driven by a shared belief in the capacity of law to better the world.
Every law school is shaped by the people who pass through it—those who come to learn, those who come to teach, and those whose work transforms not only our academic programs but our collective purpose.
We begin with a milestone that is both momentous and deeply personal: the retirement of Professor Stephen Yale-Loehr after more than thirty years of teaching, advocacy, and institution-building at Cornell Law School. It is no exaggeration to say that Steve has changed the face of immigration law—not just here at Cornell, but nationally and internationally. When he first arrived as an adjunct in 1991, the Law School offered no courses in immigration law. Over the decades, he built an entire curriculum, founded and directed our Immigration Law and Policy Program, co-directed one of the first asylum appellate clinics in the country, and launched groundbreaking initiatives like the Afghanistan Assistance Clinic and the Path2Papers project for DACA recipients.
Beyond the programs he created, Steve shaped a generation of immigration lawyers—more than 500 students in his doctrinal and clinical courses—and established Cornell Law as a national leader in immigration scholarship. His treatise, Immigration Law and Procedure, is a cornerstone in the field, cited by federal courts more than 500 times. His regular presence in the media and his testimony before Congress have consistently brought clarity and credibility to a deeply complex and polarizing topic. And his advocacy—measured, pragmatic, and principled—has always centered the dignity of immigrants and the value of inclusion.
What stands out most about Steve is the quiet integrity with which he pursued all of this work. As a teacher, colleague, and advocate, he has modeled the highest standards of legal practice. His generosity, humility, and intellectual curiosity have left an indelible mark on this institution. At a recent symposium celebrating his career, I described Steve as the “center of gravity” for immigration law at Cornell, and I meant it. Thanks to his vision and effort, we are known around the world for our contributions to immigration law and policy. That is his legacy, and we are proud to have Clinical Professors Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer, Estelle McKee, and Ian Kysel carry it forward and maintain our reputation as an immigration law powerhouse.
This commitment to experiential learning and public interest is also reflected in the remarkable growth of our Externship Program, featured in this issue. Under the leadership of Dena Bauman ’92, the program has expanded dramatically in size, scope, and reach. Students are gaining real-world experience in courtrooms, corporate offices, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. They are building legal skills and professional confidence—but just as importantly, they are learning how to sustain themselves in a demanding profession.
The program now supports placements across the country and around the world, and our students are reaping the benefits of these immersive, high-impact experiences. Many report that their externship was the most transformative part of their legal education. Dena’s approach emphasizes reflection, wellness, and self-directed growth. Her wellness exercises and individualized teaching methods help students navigate not only the technical challenges of lawyering but the emotional ones as well.
Two of our current students, Avalon Fenster ’27 and Evan Greenberg ’26, offer inspiring examples of how our students are already making a difference—both inside and outside the classroom.
Avalon, named to Forbes’ 2025 “30 Under 30” list in Education, arrived at Cornell with an already substantial platform. Through her social media presence as “Internship Girl,” she has guided hundreds of thousands of young women through the early stages of their professional lives. Now, as a 1L, she is channeling that same energy into her legal education, encouraging other young women to consider law as a path to empowerment. Her advocacy, like her education, is only just beginning.
Evan’s story begins with a cocoa stand he started at the age of five to raise money for those in need. That instinct for service has grown into a full-fledged commitment to public interest law, informed by internships in the U.S. Senate, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and a federal judge’s chambers. At Cornell, he has found the space to reflect, refine, and recommit to a career in government service. His journey reminds us of the enduring value of purpose-driven legal education.
Each of these stories illustrates a fundamental truth: Cornell Law School is a place where ambition and values intersect. It is a place where a professor can launch a movement, where a student can discover a calling, and where legal education is more than a credential—it is a platform for impact.
As we reflect on the achievements of this extraordinary community, I hope you feel the same sense of pride I do. Thank you for being part of the Cornell Law story. Together, we will continue to build on the legacy of leaders like Steve Yale-Loehr and prepare the next generation to lead with integrity, insight, and resolve.
In community,
Jens David Ohlin
Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law
law.dean@cornell.edu
