Dean Jayne Kacer, in her role as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration and “mother hen” at the law school, has spent years counseling students—sometimes with “tough love,” but always with a smile and a big bowl of candy. Her attentiveness and guidance over the years has brought a sense of ease to the typical nail-biting, caffeine-laden law student. It is clear to everyone that Dean Kacer legitimately cares about each student as evidenced by her active involvement in their lives even after graduation. She will make herself available to any student or alumni for any reason. It is no surprise then that our graduates never, ever forget her and often add her on Facebook just to say “hi”.

“Dean Kacer was that one thing about law school that wasn’t stressful or scary or awful,” said Fowler School of Law graduate Rebecca Kipper (’13) half-jokingly. On August 3, 2013, Dean Kacer had the distinct pleasure of marrying Rebecca and her long-time girlfriend, Alex, at Rebecca’s special request.

“Performing the marriage ceremony for Rebecca and Alex was particularly meaningful for me. Both had served in the military for a number of years, and both had been deployed at least twice,” said Dean Kacer. “Their ceremony took place about one month after the Supreme Court ruled on DOMA and Proposition 8. As a result, not only would the state of California recognize their marriage but their marriage also would be recognized by the country both of them have so proudly and honorably served,” she added.

For Rebecca and Alex, it was more than just marriage or a change in the law. It was also a celebration of their life in California and a chance to say goodbye to all of their friends before they moved to West Virginia for work.

“Dean Kacer helped both of us out so much with my deployment and having to take a leave of absence, and she stayed in touch that whole year,” said Rebecca. “Alex and I wanted Dean Kacer to officiate because we wanted the person taking on such an instrumental role in our wedding, and our lives, to be someone we knew and trusted and respected. We wanted it to be personal.”

Dean Kacer also officiated the weddings of Manuel Mendoza (’09) to Jesse Griggs in 2010, Julie Sarto (’10) to Michael Ritchie in 2011, and Kandis Burns (’12) to Leah Summers in July 2013. Kandis mentioned that the decision to have Dean Kacer officiate their wedding was an easy one. “By the time I had graduated from Chapman Law, I’d come to consider Jayne as a friend. My wife also likes and respects Jayne tremendously,” said Kandis.

“It is an honor to be asked by our graduates to be part of one of the most important days of their lives,” said Dean Kacer. “I make each ceremony unique—I have never performed the same ceremony twice.”

“Having Dean Kacer officiate was like having the best of Chapman close a door on one phase of our lives and help us open the door to the next phase,” said Rebecca. “It just goes to show that Chapman’s Fowler School of Law is really a family. I’ve felt that way since day one.”

 

Update: Since this story was published it has been featured in the National Law Journal, National Jurist, PreLaw Magazine, and Above the Law.