Nov. 5, 2009

Cooley GR Students Select Professor Of The Year

Tonya Krause-Phelan

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Student Bar Association (SBA) Grand Rapids chapter has named Associate Professor Tonya Krause-Phelan as the 2009 Grand Rapids Professor of the Year.

"Perhaps Professor Krause-Phelan's greatest attributes are her passion and excitement for teaching criminal law," said John Nelson, president of the Student Bar Association at Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus. "She makes even the most mundane subject come to life and there is never a dull moment in her classes. Professor KP, as many address her, is the definition of a model teacher and professor."

Krause-Phelan, who joined Cooley in 2005, teaches criminal law and criminal procedure. She is an advisor for Cooley’s mock trial program and she coaches the national mock trial teams.

This is the first year the SBA has given the Professor of the Year award, which was created to recognize one of the many caring and helpful professors at Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus, Nelson said. The Grand Rapids SBA selected the winner by a student vote.

The SBA recognized Krause-Phelan with the award at the Grand Rapids SBA Barrister's Ball, which is attended by Cooley professors, students and Grand Rapids Bar Association members.

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation.  Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.  Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs. Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September.   Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.