Paula A. Franzese Excellence in Teaching Award

Professor Jennifer D. Oliva is the Director of the Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law and specializes in health law and policy, FDA law, drug policy, evidence, and complex litigation. The students selected='TRUE' Professor Oliva as the 2021 recipient of the Paula A. Franzese Excellence in Teaching Award. The award caps a years of deserved rexognition for Oliva, to whome the Board of Regents awarded tenure and promotion to full professors at its March meeting.

You have taught at schools all over the country. What drew you to Seton Hall Law?
I was drawn to Seton Hall Law for two reasons. I felt a deep connection with the students and faculty as soon as I stepped in the building and it was a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to join the Law School's nationally ranked Health Law program, which I had long respected and admired. It's an honor to be part of such a collegial, vibrant community of people who care about one another as well as advocating for a more equal system of justice for all our neighbors.

What courses do you teach, and which is your favorite?
I have taught a number of larger courses, such as Torts, Contracts, Evidence, and Food and Drug Law as well as smaller seminars, including Pandemic Law & Policy, Forensic Science and the Law, Neuroscience and the Law, and Veterans & Military Law. My favorite core course to teach is Evidence and the course that I most looking forward to teaching next year is my new seminar on Cannabis Law & Policy.

This year, you taught a course on Pandemic Law and Policy. How did COVID-19 impact your teachings?
The pandemic had a huge impact on my teaching. My teaching style involves a lot of movement throughout the classroom as well as some physical comedy to keep the students engaged. As a result, I have had to carefully think about how to adapt my teaching methods to, first, an all-online classroom and, this year, to a hybrid classroom where some of the students are in the classroom with me while others are remote. It was a huge challenge, but I must admit that the pandemic incentivized me to acquire a lot of valuable knowledge about the science of teaching across these diverse environments that I believe will serve me and my students well going forward no matter the obstacles we may face in the future.

You recently were awarded the 2021 Paula Franzese Excellence in Teaching Award at Seton Hall Law (Professor of the Year). Can you describe what receiving an award like that means to you?
The Seton Hall Law faculty takes teaching very seriously and the faculty is comprised of world class teachers. On that point alone, it is incredibly humbling to be chosen as the recipient of the Law School's annual teaching award. In addition, the award is named after a legendary teacher and personal hero of mine, Professor Paula Franzese. Teaching is my favorite part of my job and there is nothing that gives me more joy and energy than the privilege of interacting with—and learning from—the terrific and talented students at Seton Hall Law. Consequently, it is no exaggeration to say that receiving this award has been the highlight of my academic career. I could not be more grateful to the Seton Hall Law students for selecting me for this honor.

You received your BS in Computer Science Engineering/International Politics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United State Army Military Police. How have you been able to draw upon your experience as a veteran to further help students and alumni of Seton Hall Law?
With the support of Dean Boozang, our fabulous Director of Admissions, Issa DiSciullo, and our amazing Assistant Dean of Alumni & Development, Keith Cook, the Law School has created both a Military-Affiliated Task Force and a Military-Affiliated Alumni Advisory Group this year. I have had the opportunity to serve on the Task Force as well as spend time with the Advisory Group, which has provided me the opportunity to work with and hear the perspectives our military-affiliated students and our distinguished military-affiliated Seton Hall Law alums. I also have had the opportunity to work with our veteran and military-affiliated students as the faculty advisor to the Law School's Student Veteran Association.

In your own words, can you describe the Seton Hall Law community?
The Seton Hall Law community—including our faculty, staff, and alumni—is richly diverse yet strongly focused on the collective goal of ensuring that every one of our students succeeds in Law School as well as in their future careers. The fact that the community takes our “One Student at a Time” motto so seriously is what makes Seton Hall Law inspirational and unique.

Follow Professor Oliva on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdavisoliva/