To Be Continued …

As our conversation was ending, Jeff leaned forward and shared his most profound insight about law school teaching. “The best law professors are like jazz conductors,” Jeff confided. “A great law school class is jazz music at its finest.” I was duly awed. I returned my most knowing nod, while trying my best to conceal my complete lack of understanding. Having now had the privilege of spending two decades in classrooms with extraordinary USF law students, I finally know exactly what he meant.

Conducting jazz music is about facilitating improvisation. It’s about allowing individuals to interact as a group, while still being able to hear each individual player. It’s about being open to possibility. It’s about hope. Successful jazz conductors have a deep knowledge of the players and instruments, but they don’t dictate the score. They resist the urge to conduct every move, but instead instill confidence and joy in each musician. Yet the improvisation is always directed in service of the music, which is more important than any single player. A skilled jazz conductor knows how to get the musicians started, teaches them to listen to the rhythm section, and then stands back and lets them play.

Because of USF’s exceptional law students, I’ve had the honor of experiencing many unforgettable jazz moments in the classroom. Jazz conductors are only as good as their musicians. While our beloved law school has many strengths and weaknesses, I am most proud of our ability to select our students. We chose each of you, our graduates, because of your unique voice, background, perspective, and skills, and because we knew that each of you would become an exceptional attorney.

We also knew that each of you would become forever interconnected as USF alums dedicated to advancing social justice — which is our rhythm section — and working in service of the rule of law — which is our musical score. USF is among the most diverse law schools in the nation. Together, we have diversified the global legal profession. Together, we have given voice to so many people who needed to be heard. And together, my students and our alums have given me hope during so many challenging times. When the rule of law has felt inadequate for our immense social challenges, your brilliant, tireless, and skillful advocacy has kept me optimistic about our future. And you do it all with confidence and joy, eyes open to possibility. I have learned vastly more from you than you have ever learned from me, and for that I am profoundly grateful.

I am also grateful for my dear colleagues who have mentored me, supported me, and fought alongside me to preserve our core mission and values. As scholars, we have had a collective impact beyond our classroom walls. We share this mission with our committed research librarians, who fuel our work. Being a law professor is truly a labor of love.

Trombonist J.J. Johnson once said: “Jazz is restless. It won’t stay.” So I knew this day would eventually come when I would say farewell to full-time law faculty teaching. As a law professor, I have a habit of ending email exchanges with students, alums, and colleagues, with the phrase “to be continued …” That’s because I know that our collaboration will never end. That knowledge lets me move forward with a full heart, feeling that I played a very small role in launching so many incredible lawyers. I now have the ultimate privilege of standing back and listening to you play your music, which the world needs now more than ever.

Professor Michelle Travis retired in the summer of 2024.