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Preventing ecocide: How a law PhD can protect the environment

5 Minute read

Life as a graduate researcher: Michael Uche Ukponu

Nigerian lawyer Michael Uche Ukponu came to Australia to distinguish himself as an environmental law expert. Through his PhD research, he works to have serious environmental crimes – including greenhouse gas emissions – sanctionable under international criminal law.

“It's been impossible to recognise environmental crimes – ecocide – at an international stage due to a lot of factors, such as political and economic interests,” says law PhD candidate Michael Uche Ukponu.

Michael’s PhD research explores regionalism as a pathway to recognising ecocide under international criminal law. Ecocide refers to egregious and possibly irreversible damage to the environment. It is often widespread and long-lasting, such as oil spills.

Michael argues that the definition should also include greenhouse gas emissions.

“We've gotten to a point where the climate crisis is existential. And there's a role for hard law to play in ensuring environmental sustainability,” he says.

Some countries have their own serious environmental crime laws. But Michael says they aren’t enough. The difficulty is that an ecocidal act in one country can have ecocidal consequences in countries much further away.

But regional laws might create a pathway for prohibiting serious environmental crimes at an international level. For example, Europe expanded its environmental crime directive in February 2024 to include greenhouse gas emissions in its list of environmental crimes. And an African regional law has criminalised the transportation of hazardous wastes and the illicit exploitation of natural resources, which are examples of ecocide-level environmental crimes.

Choosing a PhD at the University of Melbourne

Michael moved to Australia from Nigeria in 2018 on the Australia Awards Scholarship , which is sponsored by the Australian government. He applied to complete a Master of Energy and Resources Law .

“I was amongst 22 successful applicants amongst, I think, almost 1000 applicants in Nigeria,” he says.

Michael had considered studying in Europe, but Australia attracted him as an unusual choice.

“I hear a lot of people going to the UK and the Netherlands to study, and not a lot of people going to Australia. I thought, ‘Okay. Let me see how Australia is, so that I could have a story to tell,’” he says.

The University of Melbourne was his first choice.

“I was thrilled to have the benefit of the vast experience of the lecturers here and also the very commendable facilities in study and research ,” Michael says.

Now Michael receives a Melbourne Research Scholarship to support his PhD research. It covers his tuition as well as providing him a living stipend.

Learn more about our graduate research options

How a PhD can lead to many environmental law careers

Michael believes a PhD will help distinguish him as an expert in the field.

“I've seen an emerging saturation of environmental scholars, both young and old. My perception is that you have to actually stand out or create a niche for yourself in that area to be noticed,” he says.

After graduating, he may continue to work as an environmental law academic. Another option he finds attractive is working for an international non-governmental organisation for environmental protection like the World Wildlife Fund or the International Union for Conservation of Nature .

Michael has been offered a teaching fellowship at the University of Melbourne which will help him get his academic career started.

But he may also consider returning to work as a lawyer after his PhD.

“With my law qualifications coupled with my PhD, I believe it's easier for me to break into the international space,” Michael says.

The research on regionalism as a pathway to recognising ecocide in international law is scarce, Michael reports. By the time he finishes his PhD, he will have contributed original research to an area that badly needs it.

“My satisfaction will be that even though it may not be the silver bullet, I may have at least led policymakers and legislators to the fact that regionalism can be a very useful tool to combat international environmental damage caused by anthropocentric activities,” Michael says.

What is a law PhD like?

Michael’s work mostly involves reading and writing. He plans to have published more than 15 academic articles in several areas of law by the end of 2024.

During his masters, the University of Melbourne helped him hone his writing skills through the Ian Malkin Centre for Legal Academic Skills .

“I would say the university even offers more support for PhDs in a lot of ways,” Michael says.

As a PhD candidate, Michael has greater access to academics in Melbourne Law School .

“And anything we feel we need, we can ask the relevant officers for. If it's available, they give it to us. If it's not available, they try. They go out of their way to get those appliances or facilities for us,” Michael says.

Because of his extensive reading, the law library is invaluable to Michael’s work.

“There was this book that I had been searching for, and it wasn't in the university or within the library. But they were able to purchase the book for me,” Michael says.

The University of Melbourne has also supported Michael to develop as a researcher through travel funding. In September-December 2023, Michael was a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law .

“It was an interesting experience because it helped me to broaden my horizons. It also gave me the chance to learn about a new culture, and it helped me to develop the discipline of conducting my research in any place I find myself.”

Learn more about a PhD in law

First published on 28 May 2024.

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Lomonosov Moscow State University

Preparatory course (pre-university programme).

• Duration of study: March 2024 – July 2025.
• Holidays: July – August 2024.
• Start date: 1 March – 30 March 2024.
• Exams: June 2025.
• Tuition: $8900.
• The level of Russian: Beginner.
• Duration of study: September/October 2024 – July 2025.
• Start date: September – October.
• Tuition: $7000.
• The level of Russian: All levels.

• 1 BUSINESS SCHOOL
• 2 FACULTY OF BIOENGINEERING AND BIOINFORMATICS
• 3 FACULTY OF BIOLOGY
• 4 FACULTY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
• 5 FACULTY OF CHEMISTRY
• 6 FACULTY OF COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND CYBERNETICS
• 7 FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
• 8 FACULTY OF ECONOMICS
• 9 FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
• 10 FACULTY OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
• 11 FACULTY OF FUNDAMENTAL MEDICINE
• 12 FACULTY OF FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL ENGENEERING
• 13 FACULTY OF GEOLOGY
• 14 FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY
• 15 FACULTY OF HISTORY
• 16 FACULTY OF JOURNALISM
• 17 FACULTY OF LAW
• 18 FACULTY OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
• 19 FACULTY OF MECHANICS AND MATHEMATICS
• 20 FACULTY OF PHYSICS
• 21 FACULTY OF PHILOLOGY
• 22 FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY
• 23 FACULTY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• 24 FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY
• 25 FACULTY OF WORLD POLITICS
• 26 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INNOVATIVE BUSINESS
• 27 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION
• 28 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINIASTRATION
• 29 HIGHER SCHOOL OF MODERN SOCIAL SCIENCES
• 30 HIGHER SCHOOL OF POLICY IN CULTURE AND ADMINISTRATION IN HUMANITIES
• 31 HIGHER SCHOOL OF STATE AUDIT
• 32 HIGHER SCHOOL OF TRANSLATION/INTERPRETING
• 33 HIGHER SCHOOL OF TELEVISION STUDIES
• 34 INSTITUTE OF ASIAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES
• 35 MOSCOW SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
• 36 SOIL SCIENCE FACULTY
• Admission procedure

University of Melbourne graduate researcher awarded one of five inaugural Maitri Scholarships

A graduate researcher from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology has been awarded just one of five inaugural Maitri Scholarships for his work developing novel numerical techniques to model offshore wind foundation installations in sand.

Debiprasad Bhakta was presented with the scholarship by Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong at the launch of the Centre for Australia-India Relations in Parramatta, Sydney on 20 May.

“The Maitri program will deepen scientific and research collaboration between Australia and India.” Senator Wong told the event.

“In supporting India's brightest minds in STEM research, the Maitri Scholarships set the foundations for life-long connections for Australian and Indian leaders in new and emerging technology.”

The Maitri Scholars Program will offer annual PhD scholarships to top Indian candidates to pursue PhDs at Australian Universities. A full list of the 2023-2024 Maitri Scholars is available here .

Bryan Kohberger returns to court for Idaho murders hearing with ‘surprise witness’: Live updates

LIVE – Updated at 20:00

Bryan Kohberger returned to court this week for a hearing where his defense team questioned a Moscow Police Department detective over the handling of phone records, part of their motion to compel the prosecution to turn over additional evidence in the case.

They’re seeking material including dashcam footage related to the search warrant at Mr Kohberger’s Pennsylvania home and lab testing results.

The 29-year-old criminology PhD student is currently awaiting trial for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed on November 13, 2022, at their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.

Police linked Mr Kohberger to the murders that rocked the town of Moscow through DNA evidence, cellphone data, an eyewitness account and his white Hyundai Elantra.

However, his attorneys have tried to argue that the DNA may have been planted and that the state has not handed all the evidence for the defense to review.

Earlier this year, his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against him, citing a biased grand jury, inadmissible evidence and prosecutorial misconduct. But Judge John Judge denied the motion.

A trial date has not been set.

Who is Bryan Kohberger?

Defense demands evidence in Idaho murders case

Bryan kohberger defense grills detective over newly revealed phone records in idaho murders case, ‘when did you learn about those documents’: kohberger defense grills detective, ex-roommate of idaho murders victims reveals last text.

Everything we know about the Idaho murders

Did Idaho police delete a key piece of evidence?

What are the cellphone records prosecutors and defense are fighting over.

Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger are hoping to get their hands on a trove of key evidence they believe could support his alibi that he was out stargazing on the night of the brutal Idaho murders and so could not have been the mass killer.

Among this evidence is mystery cellphone data that law enforcement officials have admitted to only discovering now – 18 months on from the murders.

Here’s what we know so far:

Bryan Kohberger: What are the cellphone records being fought over?

ICYMI: Bryan Kohberger’s father called police on him nine years before murders

Bryan Kohberger’s father called the police on his son nine years before his son allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students in a shocking knife attack that has horrified America.

Court records, newly obtained by ABC News, reveal that Mr Kohberger was arrested and charged with stealing one of his sister Melissa’s cellphones back in 2014.

The then-19-year-old had recently left rehab for drug addiction issues and had returned to the family home in Pennsylvania.

Then, on 8 February 2014, he stole the $400 iPhone and paid a friend $20 to pick him up and take him to a local mall where he then sold it for $200.

When confronted by his father Michael over the theft, Mr Kohberger chillingly warned him “not to do anything stupid”, according to the court records. His father reported the incident to the police.

Catch up on the story here:

Bryan Kohberger’s father called police on him nine years before Idaho murders

Bryan Kohberger faces death penalty for the murders

Bryan Kohberger is facing the death penalty if convicted of the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students.

He is accused of breaking into an off-campus student home on King Road, in Moscow, and stabbing the four students to death with a large, military-style knife.

Two other female roommates lived with the three women at the property and were home at the time of the massacre but survived.

One of the survivors – Dylan Mortensen – came face to face with the masked killer, dressed in head-to-toe black and with bushy eyebrows, as he left the home in the aftermath of the murders, according to the criminal affidavit.

For more than six weeks, the college town of Moscow was plunged into fear as the accused killer remained at large with no arrests made and no suspects named.

Then, on 30 December, law enforcement suddenly swooped on Mr Kohberger’s family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania and arrested him for the quadruple murders.

He was tied to the murders through his DNA found on a knife sheath left on the bed next to Mogen’s butchered body.

The motive remains unknown and it is still unclear what connection the WSU PhD student had to the University of Idaho students – if any – prior to the murders. The murder weapon – a fixed-blade knife – has never been found.

Here’s what the site of the Idaho murders looks like now

Before yesterday’s hearing, NewsNation’s Brian Entin visited the site of the Idaho murders on King Road in Moscow, Idaho.

The property was razed on 28 December 2023 during the school’s holiday break.

Demolition began before the sun came up and within two hours, the three-story house was gone.

It marked an emotional step for the victims’ families and a close-knit community that were devastated by the brutal slayings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were stabbed to death there in November 2022.

What happened to the Idaho murders house?

An empty lot now replaces a Moscow murder house five months after demolition.

Some of America’s most notorious murders happened in private homes.

Many were demolished – some have become tourist attractions.

Andrea Cavallier reports:

Murder homes so horrific they were demolished

Goncalves family responds to Kohberger hearing

The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves expressed their frustrations with the ongoing court delays in response to Bryan Kohberger’s hearing yesterday.

They wrote on the Goncalves Family Facebook page:

“It seems as though we are not making any progress to set a trial date. Is this what justice looks like in America? What is going on? This is OBSURD!  Please pray for us.”

Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger appeared in a Latah County courtroom as part of his defense team’s efforts to compel prosecutors to reveal more of the evidence they plan to use in his upcoming trial.

The 29-year-old criminology PhD student is awaiting trial for the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed on November 13, 2022, at their off-campus house in Moscow .

Mr Kohberger’s defense team has claimed he was driving around looking at stars at the time of the murders and argue prosecutors have not handed all the evidence over for the defense to review, filing multiple motions to compel since Mr Kohberger’s arrest in late 2022 .

As Mr Kohberger looked on in silence, his public defender Anne Taylor grilled Moscow Police Detective Lawrence Mowery about a series of records related to cell phone data police plan to use in the case.

Bryan Kohberger defense grills police over new phone records in Idaho murders case

ICYMI: Idaho supreme court denies Bryan Kohberger’s bid to toss indictment for Idaho murders

Earlier this year, the Idaho Supreme Court denied a request by Bryan Kohberger , the man charged with the 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students, for his grand jury indictment to be thrown out.

Mr Kohberger’s attorneys argued, based on their interpretation of Idaho law, that grand jurors were inaccurately told that the standard for an indictment is that there is “probable cause” of the defendant’s guilt, instead of the higher threshold of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The request was first made on 8 February for the Idaho Supreme Court to appeal Latah County District Court Judge John Judge’s decision not to toss Mr Kohberger’s grand jury indictment in the quadruple murder case.

Catch up on the details here.

Idaho supreme court denies Bryan Kohberger loses bid to toss indictment

Will the Kohberger trial put people put people in danger?

Bryan Kohberger ’s defence attorneys have warned that people’s lives may be in danger during his trial for the University of Idaho murders.

Mr Kohberger, a 29-year-old PhD criminal justice student, is accused of killing four students in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. His trial date has not yet been set.

His attorney Anne Taylor filed a motion with the prosecution on 4 April requesting that discovery requests be placed under seal because “the documents contain facts or statements that might threaten or endanger the life or safety of individuals”.

The motion warns that the full release of discovery “would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”.

Andrea Cavallier reports.

Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys warn lives may be in danger in Idaho murders trial

What’s Bryan Kohberger’s alibi claim?

Bryan Kohberger , the man charged in the deaths of four University of Idaho students in late 2022, was out for a drive the night they were killed, his attorneys said in a court filing last month that lays out more details of the alibi defense he intends to use at his trial.

Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were stabbed to death at a rental home near the university campus in Moscow , Idaho, early on Nov. 13, 2022.

Kohberger, who was then a criminal justice student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

More details below.

Man charged with 4 University of Idaho deaths was out for a drive that night, his attorneys say

ICYMI: Idaho murders victim’s family isn’t buying Bryan Kohberger’s alibi

The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four murdered University of Idaho students, have responded to suspect Bryan Kohberger’s alibi statement, saying that they now “feel even more confident in the prosecution of the Defendant”.

Mr Kohberger was on an early morning drive at the time of the killings in November 2022, according to a legal filing from his defence offered late on Wednesday.

“Mr. Kohberger was out driving in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022; as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars,” the document reads .

More details in our full story.

Idaho murders victim’s family isn’t buying Bryan Kohberger’s alibi

Key moments in the Bryan Kohberger case so far

Bryan Kohberger scored a minor win last month in the University of Idaho murders when the judge ruled that his defence attorneys will be allowed to continue conducting phone surveys of potential jurors.

Mr Kohberger has been charged with the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves after the four students were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.

A judge previously entered a not guilty plea for him, paving the way for the case to head to trial where prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty if he’s convicted.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Bryan Kohberger scores minor win in Idaho murders case

A roommate speaks out

A former roommate of the slain University of Idaho students broke her silence this month, revealing the moment she realized her friends were dead and the final text she sent to them.

Ashlin Couch told KXLY that she moved into the doomed off-campus house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in 2020, with her friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen.

She moved out in May 2022 and Xana Kernodle took over the lease.

Six months later, in the early hours of 13 November 2022, Goncalves, 21, Mogen, 21, Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death inside the student home.

Andrea Cavallier has the story.

The murder of four college students rocked the quiet town of Moscow, Idaho, and led to the arrest of prime suspect Bryan Kohberger .

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin – all students at the University of Idaho – were ambushed in their rooms and stabbed to death with a military-style knife that has yet to be found. Police were called to the gruesome scene at the off-campus residence almost eight hours after the vicious attack.

For weeks, only scant details about the carnage were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose. That changed with the December 2022 arrest of Washington State University student Mr Kohberger, whose apartment, office and family home were raided and searched for evidence.

Here are some of the key things you need to know about the case, compiled by Andrea Blanco , Rachel Sharp , and Sheila Flynn.

Defense asks about traffic cam footage

The hearing also concerned police efforts to look for evidence on Idaho transit cameras and windy.com, a weather site that temporary displays shots from state transit feeds. The detective said that while police consulted these feeds as potential sources of evidence, they didn’t retain anything of value in the case.

Thursday’s hearing ended without a ruling on the motion to compel, and further proceedings are scheduled for 30 May, which will feature testimony from Leah Larkin and Bicka Barlow, two DNA experts called by the defense.

Moscow Police Detective Lawrence Mowery faced tough questioning on Thursday about records suggesting he didn’t save a file as he was analyzing cell phone data related to Bryan Kohberger’s location during the 2022 murders.

The defense this could mean key pieces of evidence may have been deleted or made inaccessible, but the detective pushed back against this framing.

“I didn’t delete anything,” he said.

Rather, he said during his testimony, he briefly used a police system called CASTViz to make a data analysis of Mr Kohberger’s phone records to be presented to a grand jury in the case in 2023.

Even though he didn’t save his work on the analysis he eventually presented to the grand jury, he continued, all the underlying evidence records were still being retained, meaning the purported evidence agianst Mr Kohberger could be fed back into the program and re-analyzed at any time.

Bryan Kohberger ‘s defense team extensively questioned Moscow Police Detective Lawrence Mowery on Thursday as part of their effort to scrutinize cell phone evidence police believe ties the student to the location of the 2022 murders.

In one exchange, one of Mr Kohberger’s lawyers asked Detective Mowery about documentation related to the findings from two search warrants for the defendant’s cell phone information, one covering a 48-hour period and another for a longer sequence of time.

The detective revealed that he had come across the documentation about this information yesterday, as he prepared for today’s hearing.

The defense is hoping to make the case there’s additional evidence it should have access to, and paint prosecutors as being witholding of key information.

WATCH LIVE: Moscow officer testifies at Bryan Kohberger hearing

Moscow Police Det. Lawrence Mowery is on the stand at Bryan Kohberger’s pre-trial hearing.

The defense is attempting to get the prosecution to turn over more evidence related to DNA and cell phone tower data that they believe supports their clients alibi.

Hearing set to begin shortly

The hearing in Bryan Koberger’s case is set to begin shortly.

Kohberger’s defense will present witnesses to testify about the cell phone data they believe will corroborate with their client’s alibi.

Audio is expected to be available on Judge John Judge’s YouTube page.

It will begin at 2:30pm PT/ 5:30pm ET.

What to expect at Bryan Kohberger’s hearing today

Kohberger’s defense is asking the state to hand over evidence they believe will support their client’s alibi that he was driving around and stargazing on the night of the murders.

The evidence reportedly includes dashcam footage, video and audio recordings of a white sedan at the crime scene, and lab testing results – information police used to arrest Kohberger seven weeks after the murders.

Timeline of the Idaho murders case

On November 2022, four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death at a rental house in Moscow, in a case that shocked the small college town and drew media attention from across the world.

For nearly seven weeks there appeared to be no suspect in the case. Then, on 30 December 2022, Bryan Kohberger – a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University (WSU) – was arrested and charged with their murders.

In August, Mr Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, postponing the proceedings indefinitely.

Here’s a timeline of the case so far:

Timeline of the Idaho college murders

WATCH: Former roommate of murdered University of Idaho students reveals last text

Bryan Kohberger became a household name across America when police swooped on his parents’ home in December and arrested him for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students.

The former PhD criminology student at Washington State University is accused of stabbing to death Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus student rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November.

With the 29-year-old now facing the death penalty in the case, The Independent asks: Who really is Bryan Kohberger?

For weeks, only scant details about the carnage were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose.

That changed with the December 2022 arrest of Washington State University student Mr Kohberger, whose apartment, office and family home were raided and searched for evidence.

While more information has become public through the release of search warrants and arrest records in recent months, a gag order in the case remains in place and most aspects of the probe and its findings are still a mystery.

Here’s everything we know so far:

Ashlin Couch, a former roommate of the slain University of Idaho students, revealed the moment she realized her friends were dead and the final text she sent to them.

She moved into the doomed off-campus house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in 2020, with her friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. Six months after she moved out in 2022, her roommates were slaughtered.

“I remember, I think, getting a second alert or I had been driving home and I texted like our group of friends, and I just had said, ‘Has anyone heard from Maddie?’ And I remember, like my last text message to her was like, ‘Are you okay?’” she said.

“And I felt it like right then and there, I kind of just knew that something was wrong.”

Ex-roommate of Idaho murders victims breaks silence to reveal last text to friends

Bryan Kohberger’s attorney Anne Taylor says state prosecutors are withholding evidence the defense team should be privy to, according to several motions that have been filed.

The decision came after Kohberger’s defense team requested the new evidence relating to the probable cause affidavit used in his arrest, according to The Idaho Statesman.

This evidence includes cell phone tower data, a video of a vehicle seen near the 1122 King Road home and information relating to a driving test.

“The state knows full well what they have and what they’re withholding from us,” Ms Taylor said at a hearing earlier this month. “We don’t know what they’re going to show, but we know they exist.”

Bryan Kohberger returns to court today

The 29-year-old criminology PhD student is back in court today for a hearing where his defense team is expected to call a witness on their motion to compel the prosecution to turn over some evidence in the case.

Kohberger is currently awaiting trial for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed on November 13, 2022, at their off-campus house in Moscow.

The hearing is set for 2:30pm PT/5:30pm ET.

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Dental Grads: Tell Them UMB Sent You

May 21, 2024    |   By Laura Lee

A sense of accomplishment, gratitude, and a commitment to compassionate patient care filled the air at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry's (UMSOD) Honors Convocation on May 17. Held at the Hippodrome Theatre, the ceremony celebrated the hard work and dedication of the newest class of dental and dental hygiene graduates.

School of Dentistry graduates read the Convocation Oath.

With the notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” filling the room, family and friends clutched colorful bouquets as they craned their necks trying to catch a glimpse of their graduate processing down the aisle robed in the lilac and black academic regalia of the dental profession.

University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS , conferred the degrees and praised the graduates' accomplishments. “I know you are each very proud of each other, and the faculty and staff are very proud of you,” Jarrell said. “But there’s a whole lot of other people in this room that are even more proud of your accomplishments,” he said, motioning to the packed theater.

Samantha Vernet beamed while extolling her cousin Laurie France , who was one of four graduates to complete the Clinical Dental Hygiene Leader dual BS/MS degree.

“It’s been a testament of her perseverance and endurance,” Vernet said. “There were some tough times and some good times, so seeing her being able to finish is really awesome.”

(See photo gallery below.)

During welcoming remarks, UMSOD Dean Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, praised the Class of 2024’s technical skills while emphasizing the importance of connecting with patients. “It is of utmost importance to strive for excellence in your clinical work,” he said. “But it is equally important to learn to treat patients with empathy and compassion.”

UMSOD graduates learn to work with patients by serving the oral health needs of Baltimore and other Maryland communities. During the last fiscal year, faculty, staff, and students provided clinical care — on and off campus — for more than 21,500 patients.

The dental hygiene graduates were recognized first, with Suzanne Burgee, RDH, BS, MS , clinical instructor and academic director of the Dental Hygiene Program, commending their diverse backgrounds and their dedication to improving access to oral health care. “This exceptional group has representation from Vietnam, Egypt, Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, Brazil, Italy, Haiti, and China,” Burgee said.

Julia Boras , president of the dental hygiene Class of 2024, encouraged her classmates to prioritize the human connection in their practice. “We must remember that we’re not merely treating teeth. We are caring for individuals, each with their unique fears and aspirations and needs,” Boras said.

During the doctoral hooding ceremony, Justin Tabatabai, DDS , president of the dental Class of 2024, reflected on the ups and downs of the four-year journey, which started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was all worth it, because here we are today at the end of our wild ride,” he said. “Soon-to-be dentists graduating from the world's first dental college.”

In all, 140 graduates walked across the Hippodrome stage eager to take the next step toward a fulfilling career improving lives through oral health.  

In her closing remarks, Burgee left the graduates with a powerful call to action: “I ask you to be creative, be ethical, and be kind. Work together with other professionals outside of oral health to close the gaps in our health care systems so no one is left behind. Now it’s your turn to go make the world a better place. And tell them UMB sent you. Congratulations.”

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland. 620 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201 | 410-706-3100 © 2023-2024 University of Maryland, Baltimore. All rights reserved.

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Bridgit Mendler Officially Graduates Harvard Law School and Her Future's Bright

Former disney channel star bridgit mendler is one step closer to becoming a lawyer following her 2024 graduation from harvard law school. what, like it's hard.

As Harvard Law School graduate Elle Woods famously said, "We did it!"

And in the case of  Bridgit Mendler , she did it and so much more: The  Good Luck Charlie  alum has officially graduated with her law degree from Harvard.

In a video  shared to social media May 23 , the 31-year-old could be seen walking across the stage to collect her diploma and shake hands with the Harvard faculty. But Bridgit wasn't up there alone, as she was joined by her 4-year-old son—who she adopted in 2022—with the duo pausing to pose for a quick photo before walking off stage.

The "Ready or Not" singer  surprised fans earlier this year  when she revealed she'd not only adopted her son, but that she'd also said goodbye to Hollywood, instead launching her own tech startup with husband  Griffin Cleverly . And proving she can do it all, Bridgit shared she simultaneously was on her way to getting both a law degree from Harvard and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

However,  she later had to press pause on the PhD . 

"The PhD is something I started working towards in 2020," she explained in a March post on  X , "and I pursued it jointly with my law degree but when I moved to California last summer and decided that for family reasons we would stay on the west coast, it had to go on pause." 

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The Disney Channel alum explained that completing her degree is now "up to the administration and my principal investigator and what they think is appropriate."

But Bridgit understands that, as a parent, sometimes difficult decisions need to be made in order to maintain a work/life balance.

"I enjoy pushing the boundary of the possible and saying yes to more things," she continued, "but also it is important to flex the muscle of prioritization and discernment. For myself I've found that learning when to say no or not right now can be more of a skill than saying yes."

As for her other venture, Bridgit is currently serving as the CEO of Northwood Space, while Griffin—who she married in 2019—acts as CTO. The startup aims to build ground satellite stations to help send and receive data from space, acting as a "data highway" between the two.

"Space is getting easier along so many different dimensions," she told  CNBC  in February about her company's goals, "but still the actual exercise of sending data to and from space is difficult."

Bridgit wasn't the only star to celebrate a graduation in 2024. Keep reading to see who else collected a diploma this year.

Ella Stiller

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor ’s daughter graduated with a BFA in acting from The Juilliard School in New York City.

“I couldn’t be happier to be done or prouder to have survived or more grateful to my family for the unwavering support that got me there and through," the 22-year-old wrote on Instagram May 25. "I have a degree in playing pretend!!! Yay!!!”

Jennifer Gates

Jennifer Gates , the eldest daughter of Bill Gates and ex-wife Melinda French Gates , graduated from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Following her special day, the Microsoft founder shared a touching message to celebrate her achievement. 

"From pre-K to MD," Bill wrote in a May 15 Instagram post . "I'm so proud to officially call you Dr. Gates."

Ivey Watson

Jamie Lynn Spears ' youngest daughter Ivey Watson , who she shares with husband Jamie Watson , graduated from kindergarten. The little one proudly held her diploma in front of her older sister Maddie Watson , who Jamie Lynn shares with ex Casey Aldridge .

Karma Bridges

Ludacris ' daughter graduated from Spelman College with a degree in Documentary Filmmaking in May 2024, according to Essence . The singer said he was a " #prouddaddy " over her achievement. 

“I want to make movie and film content that helps shape and change the social and political landscape,” Karma said in a statement to the Ludacris Foundation. “Tell stories that are meaningful and thought provoking. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling due to its ability to heal, inspire, educate, create empathy, and ultimately catalyze positive change in the world.”

Massai Zhivago Dorsey II

Nia Long and Massai Z. Dorsey 's oldest son received his degree from New York University.

"Oh my baby," the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress wrote on Instagram May 20. "I’m so proud of you! Let’s get it!"

Jace Caussin

Jana Kramer 's son Jace—who she shares with ex Mike Caussin —said goodbye to Pre-K and celebrated the milestone at a mini prom.

Heather Dubrow Reveals Terry's New Mounjaro-Inspired Career Move

Trista sutter breaks silence about absence and returns to ryan & kids.

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I quit my Ph.D. program to be a wife and mother at 23. It's not what I expected for my post-college life, but I'm happier.

• After college, I ennrolled in a Ph.D. program I wasn't actually interested in. 
• I eventually dropped out of the program so that I could focus on my husband and being a mother. 
• I am now pregnant, and I'm so happy with my decision.

In high school, I knew college would be an important step toward success and a career. Nonetheless, my deeper desires involved finding "the one" — friends-to-lovers style.

I had a full scholarship to the college of my dreams, but I quickly shifted focus from my studies to my personal development. I wanted to know more about myself than my classes.

And that's what I did. I created a podcast with my friends. I fell in love with my best friend and got my friends-to-lovers romance. We even got married in college. I also discovered my passion for mental health.

But by the end of my senior year, reality started to set in. I became so fearful of graduation because I had no job prospects or future plans. I suddenly realized I would become a stay-at-home wife , and that terrified me even more.

To avoid that, I desperately searched for a career and enrolled in a graduate program I wasn't interested in.

I quickly lost interest in my Ph.D. program

I was among a small number of students who were able to get into a Ph.D. program directly from undergrad.

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I was an academic in training, which meant having two part-time jobs, doing side research projects, and attending class. I saw my husband less, but he supported the sacrifice as long as I got what I wanted. I started working at 8 a.m. and finished around 7 p.m. I worked on the weekends, too.

The Pinterest-inspired home I hoped to have would have required my creativity and time, both of which are limited resources when you're running the career race. So, we kept the white walls, with no time to hang the framed pictures of our wedding day .

I started therapy during this time, and I was forced to address the fear and anxiety that had pushed me to jump head-first into a career I wasn't sure about. Toward the end of my first semester , I knew this career was not for me. I wasn't able to invest in my marriage. I wasn't able to write creatively on topics that mattered. I wasn't becoming who I wanted to be.

So, I left the program, prompting everyone in my life to wonder why I would leave a school that would earn me the highest degree you can get in academics.

I chose to be a wife and mother instead

After leaving my program, I felt relief, then sadness, and then relief again. Undergrad was about becoming myself, but graduate school showed me the realities of unbecoming — unbecoming a perfectionist, unbecoming a planner, and unbecoming a high-achiever . The pain of unbecoming had given me the freedom to change.

When I let go of grinding toward a career, I learned about my desire to be a mother. I wanted to share the beauties of the world with someone else, someone I created. Now, I'm pregnant .

When I let go of the negative connotations of being a stay-at-home wife, I realized my desire to make my home into a creative and comfortable space. So, I created it. When I let go of the fear of being a wife, I saw my husband as a compassionate, servant, and loving person who needed it in return. Now, I give love freely. When I let go of the fear of people seeing me as wasted potential, I found writing again. So, I write.

This is not what I expected for my post-graduation life , but my life is both better and different than my expectations.

In the year after graduation, I've learned that becoming's shadow is unbecoming. They exist together. The becoming is full of excitement and hope. The unbecoming is full of pain, truth, and even fear. But there's hope on the horizon.

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Doctor of Laws (DH-LLD)

Higher Doctorate Year: 2022

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Melbourne Law School Office for Research 185 Pelham Street The University of Melbourne VIC 3010 Australia

Telephone: + 61 3 8344 8946

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Web: law.unimelb.edu.au/study/graduate-research-degrees

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The Doctor of Laws (LLD) is the highest qualification available by examination at Melbourne Law School. The work submitted for examination must be of such standard that it makes a substantial and original contribution to legal scholarship and gives the candidate authoritative standing in the candidate's field of study.

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Last updated: 12 November 2022

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Law First in Family Travel Grant

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Up to $5,000

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Graduate coursework, Graduate research

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Domestic students

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Current study

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The First in Family Travel Grant is supported by the Melbourne Law School Highest Priorities - First in the Family Fund and is offered to students who are enrolled with the Melbourne Law School, are undertaking overseas study, are first in their family to access tertiary study and are experiencing financial need.

This award provides a one-off payment of $5000.

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Eligibility.

To be considered for this award, you must:

• be enrolled in a coursework or research degree with the Melbourne Law School
• be undertaking an approved overseas subject
• be first in your family to attend higher education
• not have previously received a Law First In Family Travel Grant or Law First in Family Bursary

Selection criteria

This award is offered to eligible students who are ranked highest by the selection panel based on their financial need using the approved University Student Financial Assessment process and their personal statement.

The award cannot be deferred. In addiiton, students must:

• undertake the approved overseas study for which the grant was awarded
• agree to the University sharing their name and course details with the donor of their scholarship and provide a note of appreciation or a brief report on the benefits of the scholarship if requested

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You must complete the Student Financial Assessment Form and submit an application including:

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• statutory declaration confirming you are first in your family to attend higher education
• details about your overseas study

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.

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