The University of Akron (UA) School of Law will recognize its 2023 outstanding alumni, student and faculty award recipients at the Akron Law Alumni Association (ALAA) Annual Awards event on Friday, May 12, from 7:30- 9 a.m. in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union Ballroom. Following the event, a complimentary professional conduct CLE will be offered at the School of Law’s Brennan Courtroom.
Outstanding Alumni Awards
An Outstanding Alumni Awards honoree must be a living graduate of Akron Law who has demonstrated service to the law school, the community and/or profession; possesses outstanding professional accomplishments; and consistently demonstrates professional integrity. The 2023 honorees are:
Mona Sarkar
, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
See biography
The John R. Quine Award
This award is presented annually to an adjunct professor of law who has most successfully combined a practical approach to the teaching of law with a scholarly approach to the private practice of law. The 2023 recipient is Melissa Kelly, who is an attorney in the appellate and legal issues group in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis LLP. She teaches Legal Analysis, Research and Writing.
Student Leaders Awards
- Student Bar Association President: Kyrielle Y. Williams
- Akron Law Review Editor-in Chief: Jennifer A. Cranmer
- Law Alumni Association Student Director: Abigail Burke
The Thomas G. Byers Memorial Award Faculty Practical Publication
Professor Camilla A. Hrdy
The Thomas G. Byers Memorial Award Faculty Scholarly Publication
Professor Michael Gentithes
Questions?
Contact Andreas Ellis at ellis@uakron.edu or (330) 972-5298
Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient Biographies
Mona Sarkar ’94
For over 20 years, Mona Sarkar has worked beside individuals, families and business owners to understand their unique situations and help them reach their desired goals. From individual retirement planning and multi-generational estate planning to business succession planning, her experience as an attorney, consultant and leader of a national family office has allowed her to bring a wide array of technical expertise to her clients. With her Juris Doctor, Master of Taxation and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University, she is able to holistically assist her clients in the management and implementation of their personalized financial plans.
In 2016, Sarkar joined Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated to continue her work educating and counseling individuals and business owners. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Akron Bar Association and holds the FINRA Series 7 & 66 licenses as well as her insurance license. She has served on many panels including the Ohio State Bar Association annual meeting topic of financial planning as well as The University of Akron topic of emotional intelligence.
Sarkar’s diverse background and passion to help others serves her well on the various boards she chairs. She is a proud board member of the Akron Roundtable, the American Red Cross, Summit County Historical Society, FBI Citizens Academy, Stan Hywet Advisory Council, multiple University of Akron boards and the Archbishop Hoban High School capital campaign committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Akron Class 28, where she serves as class president, and is a past board member of Women’s Leadership Council of United Way, Summa Health Systems and Child Guidance and Family Solutions. She is also former chair of the Boy Scouts of America Health care Division and chair of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign and honorary chair for Athena. She has been recognized with the Frank L. Simonetti Alumni Award from the University and the Women of Professional Excellence award from the Women’s Network. She was recognized by Baird for its Executive Council every year from 2017 through 2022.
Lewis W. Adkins, Jr. ‘92
Lewis Adkins leads Roetzel & Andress’ client relations, marketing and business development strategies in his role as shareholder-in-charge of development and practice integration. He is responsible for ensuring that the firm provides clients with a top-tier experience across all of the firm’s offices and services areas, from their first encounter through project completion.
In addition, Adkins serves as lead counsel to numerous large public and private entities throughout Ohio and Washington, D.C. He also leads a large and diverse team of attorneys and lobbyists in the public law arena as president of Roetzel Consulting Solutions. His team represents our clients' interests before state legislatures, administrative agencies, and executive branches of state governments in providing legal and political solutions to important issues.
Adkins has also acted as lead counsel for several multi-million dollar development projects. His clients include public and private entities, as well as construction companies, engineering firms, financial institutions, diversified energy companies, governmental entities, housing authorities and nonprofit organizations. Prior to assuming his current leadership role, he led the firm’s public law and finance team as practice group manager for over a decade. Additionally, he previously served as general counsel to Summit County and is currently general counsel to Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc.
Gust Callas ‘78
Gust Callas serves as coordinator for the labor and employment practice area of Black McCuskey Souers & Arbaugh Legal Professional Association. He has extensive experience in litigation and a particular specialty in the defense and counseling of clients in employment-related matters. He has successfully argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Callas received both his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the UA, both with the highest honors. Combining both degrees has assisted him in commercial litigation as well as advising several corporations as general counsel. He served as past president and board member of the UA Law Alumni Association. He is recognized by his peers as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field, having received an AV Preeminent® peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer from 2004 to 2023. Callas has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2019 - 2023 in labor law, management, labor and employment litigation, and workers’ compensation law - employers.
A member of the Stark County and Ohio State Bar associations, he has been called upon as a lecturer for continuing legal education programs and conducted training programs for businesses and trade organizations nationwide. He also serves as a mediator for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. A Canton native, Callas is active in many community and civic organizations and has served as the treasurer of the Stark County Bar Association for more than 30 years.