Law Professors Karen Sandrik and Peter Molk received university awards at the Willamette University convocation ceremony yesterday. Sandrik was given the Jerry E. Hudson Award for Excellence in Teaching and Molk was honored with the Robert L. Misner Award for Law Faculty Scholarship.
Sandrik was tenured and promoted to associate professor of law in June 2017. She teaches contracts, intellectual property law, and secured transactions, among other courses. Her research focuses on the intersection between commercial and intellectual property law.
“Karen is a star in the classroom, known for her energy and innovation,” said Willamette Law Dean Curtis Bridgeman. “She is fantastic outside the classroom, as well, where she is extremely generous with her time, both to help students with class material and to mentor them on their careers.”
Molk is an assistant professor of law whose research studies issues of business law and organizational choice, as well as insurance law. He teaches contracts, business associations, securities regulation, and insurance. Bridgeman noted that Molk continues to build a remarkable record of scholarly achievement.
“In three years at Willamette, Peter has already published five full-length, solo-authored articles in very good law reviews, plus two co-authored articles and three shorter pieces,” Bridgeman said. “It is exciting to see Peter following in the great tradition of excellence in faculty scholarship here at Willamette.”
In 2016, Professor Jeffrey Dobbins received the Hudson Award, and the Misner Award went to Professor Symeon Symeonides. Both are Law faculty members.
About Willamette University College of Law
Opened in 1883, Willamette University College of Law is the first law school in the Pacific Northwest. The college has a long tradition at the forefront of legal education and is committed to the advancement of knowledge through excellent teaching, scholarship and mentorship. Leading faculty, thriving externship and clinical law programs, ample practical skills courses and a proactive career placement office prepare Willamette law students for today's legal job market. According to statistics compiled by the American Bar Association, Willamette ranks first in the Pacific Northwest for job placement for full-time, long-term, JD-preferred/JD-required jobs for the class of 2014 and first in Oregon for the classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Located across the street from the state capitol complex and the Oregon Supreme Court, the college specializes in law and government, law and business, and dispute resolution.