Professor Mike Steenson received an honorary degree at Mitchell Hamline’s commencement on June 3. The law school’s board of trustees has approved the degree in recognition of his 50 years of service to Mitchell Hamline.
“I’m now one of you,” exclaimed Steenson to the students before him.
Steenson was 26 years old and fresh off a clerkship with U.S. District Judge Miles Lord when he was hired in 1972 as a full-time member of the William Mitchell College of Law faculty. He was originally hired to teach Torts and Federal Jurisdiction. At the time, William Mitchell was a night school with part-time students; most of the teaching was handled by part-time faculty.
“I thought I would try teaching for maybe one or two years,” said Steenson, at Saturday’s ceremony. “I just found out the job grew on me. And as my wife often reminds me, I have one of the best jobs in the world.”
No part-time night law school had ever created a student-run law review, but Steenson quickly began that project when he joined the faculty. The first edition was published in 1974; he remains faculty advisor to this day.
Steenson has taught a dozen different courses to thousands of students over the years – including Torts, which he still teaches. He is a prolific writer and scholar and a much called-upon expert on constitutional law and many aspects of Minnesota statutes and case law. He offers a popular CLE every year with Professor Mehmet Konar-Steenberg reviewing the most recent term of the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This honorary degree is just the latest way for us to thank Mike for an incredible half century of service,” said President and Dean Anthony Niedwiecki. “Mitchell Hamline wouldn’t be Mitchell Hamline without all he’s done and continues to do.
“He’s a thoughtful colleague who works as hard as anyone I’ve ever met, and we’re beyond grateful.”
During his remarks, Steenson thanked his faculty and staff colleagues, along with his family for supporting him during his time at William Mitchell and Mitchell Hamline. “Most of all, I want to thank the students. You’ve always, always been my inspiration.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to be associated with you over the years.”
Watch the presentation of the honorary degree and Steenson’s remarks below.
Mitchell Hamline faculty
The latest from Faculty in the News
Marketplace (American Public Media) May 31, 2024
WalletHub May 2, 2024
Bloomberg Law May 30, 2024
The latest faculty publications
Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 67(2) (Spring 2024) May 15, 2024
Bench & Bar of Minnesota (May-June 2024) May 20, 2024
Nevada Lawyer 32 (May 2024) May 1, 2024
The latest faculty headlines
Professor Tahdooahnippah elected chairman of the Comanche Nation
Chairman Forrest Tahdooahnippah As the weight of the ceremonial blanket settled in on Forrest Tahdooahnippah’s shoulder at his recent swearing-in ceremony, so too did the weight of responsibility. “This is a huge opportunity and a very humbling experie …
Memorial service for Larry Bakken set for May 7
Larry Bakken, a founding faculty member of Hamline University School of Law and an advocate for government service whose work and teaching brought him around the world, died Tuesday, March 19, at the age of 80. A memorial service is planned for May 7 a …
Mitchell Hamline professor and alums honored with Attorney of the Year awards
Mitchell Hamline Professor Ana Pottratz Acosta was part of a team of immigration attorneys that worked to pass legislation to allow Minnesotans to obtain drivers licenses, regardless of their immigration status. The effort was 20 years in the making an …