Mitchell Hamline School of Law

News and Events | Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Doug Blanke

Joelle Lester named executive director of Public Health Law Center

Posted: December 16, 2022
The Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law is pleased to announce the hiring of Joelle Lester as its next executive director. For the past five years, Lester has served as the center’s director of commercial tobacco control programs. She succeeds founder Doug Blanke, who retired in June 2022. Her first day …

Joelle Lester named executive director of Public Health Law Center

Jon Lee is interim leader of Public Health Law Center

Posted: September 22, 2022
The Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline is now under the interim leadership of Jon Lee, who had been the organization’s director of operations. As interim executive director, Lee will provide a stable bridge to the center’s new leadership while a national search is being conducted. The center hopes to announce its new leader …

Jon Lee is interim leader of Public Health Law Center

Doug Blanke, longtime head of Public Health Law Center, to retire

Posted: May 9, 2022
After 22 years at the helm of the Public Health Law Center, Executive Director Doug Blanke has announced his retirement, effective June 30.  Doug’s achievements in public health policy, legislative advocacy, and consumer protection, span four decades on the local, state, national, and international stages. A former Minnesota Assistant Attorney General, Doug played a key …

Doug Blanke, longtime head of Public Health Law Center, to retire

Public Health Law Center celebrates victory against menthol

Posted: April 1, 2022
The Public Health Law Center (PHLC) at Mitchell Hamline celebrated a key victory in 2021 in its long-running battle to snuff out the sale of menthol cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in April 2021 it would issue rules that ban menthol cigarettes and all flavors including menthol in cigars. The move was …

Public Health Law Center celebrates victory against menthol