African-American law students from around the country gathered in Denver, Colo. during the last weekend in March for the annual convention of the National Black Law Students Association, or NBLSA.

But while the event was held in the Rockies, much of the planning for it was done right here in Gainesville — by the UF law student who serves as head of the organization.

“I’ve had a busy year, and planning this convention was a large part of that,” said Chris Chestnut (3L), chairman of NBLSA.

Chestnut was elected to head the organization at last year’s convention. He is the first student from Florida to be elected head of NBLSA, an organization dedicated to articulating and promoting the needs of black law students.

Since Chestnut took the reins, membership in NBLSA has grown by 33 percent, and participation in the organization’s trial competitions has increased by 50 percent.

Chestnut says the boom in membership is due in large part to the intense travel schedule that he and other NBLSA leaders maintained over the last 12 months.

“I’ve talked to people at law schools all over the country in the past year,” Chestnut said.

A growing Web presence also helped. Chestnut says a recently-created blog has boosted visits to the BLSA website, which now gets around 10,000 hits per month.

Chestnut’s term ends in May, but another UF student is set to take up an important position in the organization. Camille Warren (1L) was elected NBLSA treasurer at the Denver convention.

Warren, who worked as a financial analyst before coming to law school, said she plans to restructure the organization’s finances. She wants to split NBLSA into two entities, a 501(c)3 agency and a for-profit group. She said the move would allow the organization to wield more political influence.

“As a 501(c)3, we aren’t allowed to lobby Congress on issues like police brutality, the death penalty and mandatory sentencing — things that are important to our members,” Warren said.

Chestnut said the whole law school profits from UF’s prominent role in NBLSA.

“It increases the university’s notoriety,” he said.“Everywhere I go, I tell people I’m from the University of Florida. That can be a real rainmaker for UF.”

Two alumni of the Levin College of Law are giving the law school a record sum to endow a professorship in corporate law.

John (JD 73) and Mary Lou (JD 80) Dasburg are giving $1.5 million — the largest sum the school has ever received for a professorship.

“This professorship will help us recruit and retain the very best faculty, which is vitally important to our future quality,” said Dean Robert Jerry. “It will also support an area of great curricular importance — corporate law, in both its national and international dimensions.”

The gift comes as UF begins its Faculty Challenge, a university-wide campaign to raise $150 million to give faculty the tools they need to enhance classroom instruction and conduct world-class research.

The Dasburgs’ gift will be matched with $250,000 from a special fund set up through the Faculty Challenge initiative, and also is eligible for matching funds from the State of Florida Major Gifts Trust Fund.

The professorship will be called the John H. and Mary Lou Dasburg Professorship Fund. Income from the fund will support a faculty member in the area of corporate law, including national and international law relating to business and business transactions.

“This significant show of financial support by the Dasburgs further highlights their long-term commitment to higher education,” said UF President Bernie Machen.

The Dasburgs are among the law school’s most prominent alumni. John Dasburg is chairman, president, CEO and co-owner of ASTAR Air Cargo, Inc., in Miami — though he is perhaps best known to UF faculty and staff as a former member of the university’s Board of Trustees and current vice-chair of the Florida Board of Governors.

Dasburg also has headed some of the nation’s best-known corporations. He has served as president of Marriott Lodging Group, CEO of Northwest Airlines, and president, chairman and CEO of Burger King Corp.

“John Dasburg has had a very successful career in the top levels of national and international business, and he understands the advantages of having a law degree in the business world,” Dean Jerry said. “It’s particularly fitting that the Dasburgs would choose to focus their efforts on corporate law.”