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).
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 Center operates three programs: the Community Equity Lab, the Historic 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 1,382 graduate and undergraduate fellows and interns, and collaborated with more than 48,081 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.
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
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
lmadigan@law.miami.edu
305-284-9185
Program Coordinator
gdaniels@law.miami.edu
305-284-3934
1311 Miller Drive, Room G287
Coral Gables, FL 33146-8087
Phone 305-284-3934
Fax: 305-284-1588
Galen Daniels; gdaniels@law.miami.edu