Alumni of the Month
May 2012: Wiley B. Rutledge Society Class Officers
Colorado Law is recognizing the contributions of five alumni that have come together to generate a culture of giving among our recent graduates. Judd Choate ('06), Meshach Rhoades ('04), Laura Sturges ('05), Kara Veitch ('00), and Paul Wisor ('05) are our Wiley B. Rutledge Society class officers.
As officers of the giving society, their end goal is to create a charitable climate at Colorado Law, where the donations of recent alumni will help fund the enrichment activities that promote dynamic learning opportunities.
Judd Choate ('06)
Judd Choate, PhD, is the Director of the Division of Election for the Colorado Department of the State, the organization that oversees the work of county election officials. He was recently elected to the executive branch of the National Association of State Election Directors. He said that outside of Colorado Law's classes, fostering contacts and opportunities, most notably his work on the Colorado Law Review, presented many opportunities that influenced his professional career.
Meshach Rhoades ('04)
Meshach Rhoades is Of Counsel in Kutak Rock's Litigation group and focuses her practice on telecommunications, regulatory, and commercial litigation. She represents telecommunications companies nationally before state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and utility commissions concerning use of the public rights-of-way, franchising, facility relocation, wholesale contracts, special construction, inter-carrier finance facilities cost, carrier management, and network maintenance, integration, and interconnection. Rhoades has represented corporations in complex commercial disputes, including intellectual property, antitrust, trade secrets, contract, labor and employment, business torts, non-compete agreements, and other general civil litigation matters.
Laura Sturges ('05)
Laura Sturges is an associate at the Denver office of Gibson Dunn. She practices in the firm's litigation department and has a substantial background of experience in many diverse areas, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, investigation and compliance initiatives, False Claims Act cases, appellate litigation, and SEC enforcement proceedings. She also represents, pro bono, asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Nepal, among others. Aside from her work at Gibson Dunn, Sturges is a member of the Colorado, Denver, and Colorado Women's Bar Associations and serves on the Law Alumni Board at Colorado Law.
Kara Veitch ('00)
As the Associate Director of the Colorado Forum, Kara Veitch provides analysis and information to more than 65 influential business leaders on the issues confronting the state, including constitutional, fiscal, and educational challenges. An advocate for non-partisan solutions to these challenges, Veitch also prepares a policy agenda that identifies the core beliefs of the organization, action items, and long-term goals. Colorado Law helped her establish a foundation in law and analysis, and build a network of high caliber attorneys who graduated from Colorado Law. She served as chair of the Colorado Law Alumni Board from 2007–08.
Paul Wisor ('05)
Paul Wisor works in Sherman & Howard's public finance department. While attending Colorado Law, Wisor was the casenote and comment editor for the University of Colorado Law Review. Since receiving his JD in 2005, Wisor has been involved in a number of professional activities and associations. He is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations; vice chairman of the board for the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center; a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Young Professionals Network; and a member of the Sudan Divestment Task Force. He served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Arthur P. Roy at the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Wiley B. Rutledge Society
The annual giving society is for alumni who contribute $100 for each year out of law school until their 10th reunion. (For example, in year one alums give $100, in year two $200, in year three $300, and so on, up until the 10th reunion.) Alumni working at a government agency or nonprofit contribute $50 for each year out of law school up until their 10th reunion. (For example, in year one alums give $50, in year two $100, in year three $150, and so on, up until the 10th reunion.)
The money from donations is allocated to student-centered causes, allowing Colorado Law to provide students with scholarship assistance, career development guidance, programming, and loan repayment assistance. The donations also support lectures, outside speakers, faculty-sponsored seminars, and alumni events.
"This society is important because Colorado Law wants to build a culture of giving, stating with our recent alums," said Ellen Goldberg, associate director of development at Colorado Law. "We want this spirit to begin right out of school." Indeed, the almost 50% of the Class of 2012 who donated their $200 refundable deposit to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program will join the Rutledge Society upon graduation.
To donate to Colorado Law, or learn more on becoming a Wiley B. Rutledge Society member, visit the website or contact the CU Foundation at 303-492-3093.
