Meet Janet

Helping People Thrive in School, Work & Life

Wellness & Justice Leader, Inclusion & Belonging Collaborator, Legal Educator, Consultant, Media Host

Janet taught law for 25 years. She served on the law faculty at Washburn Law from 2004 until spring 2022, when she was awarded the title of Professor Emerita.  At Washburn Law Janet directed the Small Business and Nonprofit Law Clinic, taught Nonprofit Law, Race & the Law, Entrepreneurial Law, and Property Law, and helped to lead the law school’s Third Year Anywhere externship program.

Janet believes that a focus on wellness should be an integral part of the legal profession. As a leader in law school and lawyer wellness, Janet has developed a signature program called Well-Law, which helps law students and lawyers develop tools to manage the stresses inherent in law school and law practice.

Janet as a voice for wellness as justice

Janet believes that wellness and justice are intertwined. As a voice for wellness as justice, Janet held daily Meditations for the Racial Justice Journey on Facebook Live from June 1 - 30, 2020. She started the mediations after the killing of George Floyd in order to create a time of refuge and renewal for people working for racial justice. These meditations are a rest stop on the journey for racial justice or on any life's journey. Check them out on Janet's YouTube page.

Janet works, teaches and speaks internationally

Janet’s international work includes her position as a Well-being, Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the University of Groningen, Faculty of Law.  During the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 academic years, Janet was a visiting professor with the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, where she taught leadership courses at the Honours College; gave numerous presentations on well-being for PhD students and supervisors; and gave presentations on the intersection of well-being, diversity, and belonging.  During their first year in the Netherlands, Janet and her family had the fun experience of being featured on House Hunters International.

In addition to her time in Groningen, Janet has taught law courses and given presentations in Tbilisi, Georgia and Budapest, Hungary and she taught in Washburn Law’s summer law program in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Janet counsels nonprofits on best practices for board governance

 Janet has been in the nonprofit sector for 25+ years as a nonprofit executive, educator, lawyer, and consultant. Through her legal clinic, she supervised students in forming and representing nonprofit organizations. She is a frequent speaker in the area of nonprofit governance and well-being for nonprofit workers.

Janet is a media professional

For more than eight seasons, Janet was the host of the PBS series, I’ve Got Issues, on KTWU-TV in Kansas. The community affairs show covers a wealth of topics such as politics, health, education, and more.  Janet continues to collaborate with KTWU on wellness topics.

Education

Juris Doctor

Janet is a proud graduate of Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC. She practiced law in Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC before directing a nonprofit organization that provided transitional housing, case management, and job training and placement services to homeless and at-risk families. Janet started her teaching career as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and then completed a clinical fellowship at the University of Baltimore School of Law before joining Washburn Law School.

Bachelors Degree, Politcal Science

Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

Certified Yoga Instructor, Wellness Coach & Intuitive Reiki Guide

After years of a casual yoga practice, Janet began to study yoga seriously as a way to manage her chronic pain. Through her yoga practice, Janet has experienced a healing journey that continues today. On the mat Janet is both student and teacher. Her practice provides an ongoing landscape of learning about patience, strength, surrender, fear, compassion, and ultimately, self-love. In her teaching she meets each student where they are and she has a passion for making yoga accessible to people regardless of age, lack of income, race, gender, or ability.

Janet is a certified yoga teacher (RYT 200-hour) and a certified wellness coach (IAWP). She received Angel Reiki certification under the direction of Julie Jancius. She is currently completing yoga therapy teacher training and expects to receive her certification in 2023.

JANET IN ACTION

Connect with Janet