Professor Anthony V. Alfieri
Director, Center for Ethics & Public Service
Founder, Historic Black Church Program
aalfieri@law.miami.edu
305-284-2735
Founded in 1996, the Center for Ethics and Public Service is a law school-housed ethics education, experiential skills training, and community engagement program devoted to the values of ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. The Center’s mission is to educate law students to serve their communities as citizen lawyers.
For 27 years, the Center has served as an incubator and an accelerator for numerous public service initiatives. They include on-campus and off-campus clinics (Children and Youth Law Clinic, Community Economic Development and Design Clinic, Community Lawyering Clinic, Environmental Justice Clinic, Health Law Clinic, and Social Enterprise Clinic), programs (Brown University Institute at Brown for Environment and Society partnership, Dartmouth College Ethics Institute Internship Program, Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program, Street Law Program, and University of Miami Joint College of Arts and Sciences Program on Law, Public Policy, and Ethics), summer colloquia (University of Miami Environmental Justice, Policy, & Science), and oral histories and documentary films (Oral History and Documentary Film Project).
The Center operates three programs: the Community Equity Lab, the Black Church Program, and the Legal Profession Program. Program faculty, staff, and students collaborate with schools across the University of Miami as well as the Florida bar and bench; anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental, and public health organizations; and faith-based groups, nonprofit corporations, and civic and neighborhood associations.
The Community Equity Lab houses two projects: the Health Equity Project and the Housing and Community Equity Project.
Since 1996, Center faculty and staff have trained more than 1,428 graduate and undergraduate fellows and interns, and collaborated with more than 50,280 civic leaders in anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental justice, and public health campaigns. Center faculty also have been widely cited in law journals and in the media.
We are happy to announce that The Provost recommended the Center for Ethics and Public Service continue, with its next review during the 2025-2026 review cycle. Every five years, School-Based Centers and Institutes, must disclose their activities and undergo review by the Office of the Provost (OTP) in consultation with the Dean of their host school. The review is rigorous and thorough. In his review, the Provost noted that the Center has made notable contributions to our community. That recommendation was voted on and approved by the faculty senate. The gala is the primary fundraiser for CBA's scholarship program, which funds paid judicial and public interest legal internships for law students in South Florida. The theme for this year's gala, "Amplify: Get Up, Stand Up, Speak Up," highlighted the CBA's legal initiatives throughout the past year, recognizing scholarship recipients and celebrating individuals and organizations who partnered within and served communities on local, national, and international levels to support the Caribbean American community. "I am so pleased to accept CBA's Public Service Award on behalf of my colleagues at CEPS," said Rundlet. "It is our hope these efforts will transform the housing and redevelopment landscape in South Florida, with the ultimate beneficiaries being some of our most vulnerable Black and historically redlined communities." Founded almost 30 years ago, the Center for Ethics and Public Service is a law school-housed ethics education, experiential skills training, and community engagement program devoted to the values of ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. Its mission is to educate law students to serve their communities as citizen lawyers. The center operates three programs: the Community Equity Lab, the Black Church Program, and the Legal Profession Program. As referenced in the event program, "we explored during a program hosted by the CBA earlier this year, our ongoing Community Equity Lab project, in which fellows and interns continued to engage in case-, ordinance-, statutory-, and regulatory-based research, information-gathering, and relationship-building with neighborhood groups on the racially disparate impact and segregative effect of land use and zoning policies in the City of Miami. The work has established the factual and legal foundation for a fair housing investigation and enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The objective of the enforcement action is to reshape the City's zoning, future land use, demolition, and eviction practices that have devastated, for example, the Coconut Grove Village West community." Center Recognized with Award for Support to Caribbean American Community
Dawn King - Director of Undergraduate Studies, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society
Stina Trollbäck - Research Assistant, Climate and Development Lab
University of Miami Absess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy
University of Miami Department of Geography & Sustainable Development
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
University of Miami School of Education & Human Development
Laura Kohn-Wood - Chair and Professor, Educational and Psychological Studies
University of Miami School of Communication
Oral History Film Project
Read the Full Letters
"The Peter Palermo Fellowship has given me the flexibility to engage in essential and much-needed community work with CEPS while alleviating the financial burden of being a law student. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to my community as a CEPS fellow with the help of our donors!" "Being a David P. Catsman Fellow has been the most gratifying experience during my time inlaw school. Not only have I gained significant professional development in programming, law practice management, and community lawyering, it has also been an absolute pleasure working with this team. This experience has set a standard for collaborative, impactful, and encouraging work environments, which is truly invaluable as I move forward in my career." "I have been a CEPS Mandel Fellow in the Legal Profession Program since the summer after 1L year and it has been one of the most impactful experiences in law school. As a first generation law student, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to spend time connecting students to the broader legal community. Helping organize events and programming that expose students to the different pathways, nuances and ethical considerations of the legal profession has been both rewarding for me and beneficial for my peers. I am thrilled to be part of an important program and amazing team." "Being a CEPS Steven Chaykin Fellow immersed in the realms of health and housing equity in underserved communities signifies an invaluable opportunity to effect positive change at the intersection of law and social justice. The financial support we receive from generous donors not only acknowledges the importance of the work, but also enables me to dedicate focused time and effort to making an impact. My role as a CEPS Steven Chaykin Fellow has shaped me into a more effective advocate and supports my goal of becoming a legal professional committed to promoting equity and justice. Thank you!" "Thus far, there has been no experience comparable to being a William M. Hoeveler Fellow. The Center creates such a unique and comprehensive educational environment for its fellows. A laboratory for leadership development and professional growth. I am grateful for this opportunity and the donors making this possible." "CEPS was one of the biggest highlights of my law school experience. It challenged my ideas of justice and how the legal field fits into the fight for a more just world -- lessons I carry with me in my work every single day"Current Student Testimonials
Valerie Caso-Veras, 2L
Janeal Fordham, 2L
Brandi Griffin, 3L
Emma Page, 2L
Omarley Spence, 2LAlumni Testimonials
Ben Brooks
Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
Nejla Calvo
Tenant's Rights Unit Staff Attorney, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
"I owe a great part of my professional success and career satisfaction to the CEPS, as the hands-on clinical experience proved to be an invaluable step in securing my first job out of UM Law and has made giving back to the community a priority in my professional life."
Daniel M. Whyte
Senior Director of Business and Legal Affairs, Claro Video, Inc.
"Through my involvement with the Center for Ethics & Public Service, I learned the importance of public service and mentoring and gained a broader perspective and more balanced viewpoint. I think that I am more compassionate and well-rounded lawyer because of my participation."
Christina Pacheco
Assistant Attorney General, Florida Office of the Attorney General
"I stay grounded by continuing to service on the CEPS Advisory Board and outside counsel for Greater St. Paul AME, supporting all the great work the students are doing."
D. Porpoise Evans
Partner, Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albrights
"As for the Center, it was one of the highlights of my law school experience. It revealed the impact that this profession can have when a group of talented, motivated, and genuinely good people offer their time and talents to the community. This lesson has stayed with me and affected my pro bono efforts throughout my career."
Ron Tomassi
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLp
"CEPS gave me an opportunity to explore legal employment first-hand and hear about the experiences of others. This was BEYOND valuable, in terms of deciding which path of public service would be best for me, and I am forever grateful!"
Rob Collins
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence
"The Center was the ONLY part of my entire law school experience, with the exception of the LitSkills course, that gave me real life experience and the opportunity to work with (and deal with) real clients, with real issures that we could actually help. The Center was definitely a contributor to my confidence and ability to practice immediately after law school."
Jennifer C. Pratt
Pratt Law
"CEPS taught me how to make my practice more client-oriented, appreciate and develop diverse teams, and support social jusitce work by partnering with local organizations and the organizers that make them run and carry out the vision of the people.":
Quinn Smith
Managing Partner, GST LLP
"My experience at CEPS highlighted the various legal career paths available within the public sector, and the importance of individual public service in creating the change we wish to see in the world."
Monik Williams
Federal Attorney
Department of Health & Human Services
"The Center does great work and is a wonderful way for students to learn while helping others."
Patrick R. Sullivan
Partner, Lubell Rosen
Director, Center for Ethics & Public Service
Founder, Historic Black Church Program
aalfieri@law.miami.edu
305-284-2735
Sr. Program Manager
keshamerritt@law.miami.edu
305-284-9185
Program Coordinator
cdc206@law.miami.edu
305-284-3934
1311 Miller Drive, Room G287
Coral Gables, FL 33146-8087
Phone 305-284-3934
Fax: 305-284-1588