ACTEC Elects 34 New Fellows to The College
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – April 2, 2025: The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Board of Regents convened at the College’s 2025 Annual Meeting in La Quinta, California, to consider nominations for a new class of ACTEC Fellows. The College is pleased to announce that 34 individuals were selected: 26 fellows, one academician, three fiduciary advisors, two international fellows from Canada, one international fellow from Japan and Russell N. JamesIIIProfessor of Philanthropic Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, was elected as an honorary fellow.
President of ACTEC Peter S. Gordon says: “On behalf of ACTEC, I welcome these experienced trust and estate attorneys to the University and look forward to their contributions. I am honored to welcome Professor Russell N. James, III as an Honorary Fellow. His expertise and commitment to charitable financial planning is an invaluable asset to the trust and estate profession.”
To be nominated and selected as an ACTEC Fellow, an attorney must have ten years of experience in the active practice of trust and estate law, either as a trust advisor with a fiduciary services firm or a combination thereof. Attorneys and law professors are selected for fellowship based on their outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and significant contributions to the field through lecturing, writing, teaching, and participation in bar leadership or legislative activities with the goal of improving and reforming wills, trusts, and tax laws and procedures and creating greater awareness of the rules of professional responsibility.
The following 34 people were selected as New Fellows:
ACTEC interns
- Jessica Baumgarten BaggenstosPortland, OR
- Jack K. BeckettAnnapolis, MD
- Jeffrey S. BillingsMilwaukee, WI
- Laurel RS BlairCharleston, SC
- AshleyL. the casePhoenix, AZ
- Michael T. ClearGreenwich, CT
- Brett E. EbertLincoln, NE
- Matthew B. EdwardsGreenville, SC
- Christina Goshaw HinkleDurham, NC
- Vincent G. CalafatBillings, MT
- Kurt KawafuchiHonolulu, HI
- Kimberly J. KirkCharlotte, NC
- Darren J. LaytonTucson, AZ
- Amy LonerganBoston, MA
- Justin T. ManninoBaton Rouge, LA
- Micah J. NicholsCarmel, IN
- Amy C. O’HaraRye Brook, NY
- Nathan R. Olansen, Virginia Beach, VA
- Matthew OwensSan Diego, CA
- Jason S. ScottAustin, TX
- Alison ShermanBurlington, VT
- Laura Lynn ThomasColumbia, MD
- Amy S. UfbergPhiladelphia, PA
- Jennifer L. VanderVeenMishawaka, IN
- Daniel C. VermillionHonolulu, HI
- Alison WardenSeattle, WA
Academic classmate
Fiduciary Counsel Fellows
International Scholars
Honorary member
Honorary member
Russell N. James, III
Professor of Charitable Financial Planning at Texas Tech University
As a Distinguished Professor in the School of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, Professor James has made pioneering contributions to the field of charitable estate planning through his extensive research, numerous publications, and dedicated teaching. His work has been instrumental in shaping the way professionals understand and implement charitable giving strategies. Professor James holds a JD, Ph.D. and holds the CFP® designation, emphasizing his comprehensive expertise in law, economics and financial planning. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Missouri.
His academic career culminated in his graduation cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Law, where he was a faculty member. Missouri Law Opinionand obtaining a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the same institution, with a thesis on charitable giving. In his role at Texas Tech University, Professor James directs the on-campus and online graduate programs in charitable financial planning. He has also contributed his knowledge as an adjunct professor at Texas Tech University School of Law, teaching Charitable Gift Planning. His dedication to education is evident in the recognitions he has received, including being named 2022 Teacher of the Year in the School of Personal Financial Planning. He has authored more than 150 publications in academic journals, conference proceedings and books, and has appeared in national outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York TimesCNN and Chronicle of philanthropy.
About American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Founded in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national nonprofit association of approximately 2,400 attorneys and law professors from the United States and abroad. ACTEC Fellows are elected by their peers based on professional reputation and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration and related practice areas. The College’s mission includes improving and reforming laws and procedures and standards of professional practice. ACTEC frequently provides technical commentary on legislation and regulations, but does not take a position on policy or political objectives.
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