Faculty Arrivals

Professor Francis X. Shen rejoined the faculty at Minnesota Law as a professor of law and the Solly Robbins Distinguished Research Scholar. He is the co-chair of the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences, a faculty member in the University’s Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and director of the Shen Neurolaw Lab. Before returning to Minnesota Law, Shen was a faculty member at Harvard Medical School in the Center for Bioethics and at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry. He is the co-author of four books, including the first Law and Neuroscience casebook (Aspen, with Jones and Schall). In 2021, he was awarded the Early Career Scholars Medal by the American Law Institute (ALI), one of two medals awarded every other year. In announcing the award, the ALI recognized Shen as “a pioneer in establishing the interdisciplinary field of law and neuroscience.” He teaches Criminal Law, Evidence, Introduction to American Law, Law & Neuroscience, Law & Artificial Intelligence, and Education Law. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), multiple foundations, and private philanthropy. He currently co-leads two NIH BRAIN Initiative grants, one on portable MRI and one on community engagement in neuroimaging research. He is also the founding director of the Dana Foundation Career Network on Neuroscience & Society. Shen earned a B.A. in economics and English from the University of Chicago, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a Ph.D. in government and social policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Staff Arrivals

Adam Lacock joined Minnesota Law as the chief financial officer in January. He was formerly the senior finance director with TPT-Twin Cities PBS, where he worked for the last eight years leading financial planning and analysis, driving operational efficiency, and developing financial processes. He previously worked for Target in various finance management roles, and he is the former chair, treasurer, and member of the board for Cornerstone Advocacy Services, a domestic violence prevention non-profit in the West Metro. Adam holds an MBA from Drake University.

Joy Mbithe Musyimi joined Minnesota Law this academic year as the assistant director of Student Affairs. Before joining the Law School, she was a sexual violence coordinator for Iusroon, a local grassroots organization that advocates for social change for Somali women. She earned a master’s in human rights from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and was a practicing attorney in Nairobi, Kenya. She graduated from Moi University School of Law with her LL.B. and holds a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

Teddy Wolfe is the operations associate for Minnesota Law’s Office of Advancement. He previously taught history at the middle school and high school level in Bloomington, Minnesota, and worked for The Blake School in Minneapolis where he provided integrated classroom technology and event support. He has a B.A. in History and Education from Carleton College.

Staff Promotions

Lizzy Beghelli was promoted to senior director of alumni relations and annual giving at the Law School. She was previously the director of alumni relations and annual giving. Beghelli leads the alumni relations and annual giving team and has implemented several initiatives during her time at Minnesota Law. She expanded the alumni reunion and annual giving program, initiated the Student Philanthropy Board, developed Spring Alumni Week and Gopher Gratitude Day, and expanded affinity programming including the GOLD Council and international alumni programming. She has a B.A. in Public Relations with a minor in Journalism from the University of Northwestern and an M.A. in Italian Studies from The Ohio State University. 

Monica Wittstock was promoted to director of communications at Minnesota Law. She previously served as interim director of communications and associate director of communications for the Law School. She serves as editor-in-chief of Minnesota Law magazine, leads the communications and events team, directs external and internal communications, and oversees public relations for the Law School. She has a B.A. from the University of Minnesota in Multidisciplinary Studies and an M.A. in Strategic Communications from the University of Minnesota.