John F. Emerson

I was unfairly denied the right to defend my thesis for a second master's degree. With no idea how to fight a major collegiate institution, an attorney friend of mine recommended John for his excellent knowledge of academic law. (I didn't even know this was a type of law!) Having never been in this s...ituation before, I assumed a couple of phone calls would suffice. But John took the time to meet with me on several occasions to get every detail correct. Going over my situation again and again, I explained a year of events that he became so familiar with it was like he was there. Every written word of my appeal was considered and designed to relay the proper information without wasteful or emotional detail. I was fighting with my heart and all the work I had put into my thesis, but John was fighting with his head the way the Dean would think and decide. I think John and I both teared up a bit when my appeal was granted and I was allowed another year to finish my thesis. What happened to me was unfair and the most frustrating part was that no one would listen to me. I was just another student to them. But John made them listen and react. Thanks to him I'm going to finish that second master's degree. I owe him more than I could ever give.