Daniel Cadis never imagined that a mock constitutional聽convention in 2011, coordinated by HBU Government聽Professor Dr. Chris Hammons, would lay the foundation聽for creation of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty聽which recently celebrated its grand opening in September.
What began as an academic聽initiative of the School of Humanities聽would serve as a model for educating聽and bringing greater awareness to聽America鈥檚 founding principles and聽the vision of the nation鈥檚 founding聽fathers. Political science students,聽like Cadis, who took part in the聽mock constitutional convention聽brought green tablecloths and聽quill pens to mirror the look of the聽Assembly Room in Philadelphia鈥檚聽iconic Independence Hall. They聽also immersed themselves聽in impassioned arguments聽surrounding the U.S. Constitution,聽similar to the ones that took place聽before the signing of one of the聽nation鈥檚 defining documents.
Thanks to Hammons鈥� leadership聽as, then, Dean of the School of聽Humanities, and the generosity聽of HCU鈥檚 Founding Father Dr. Stewart Morris, Sr., the聽University is now home to a new educational complex聽where a new generation of students will learn about聽America鈥檚 founding principles in the same manner as聽Cadis and his classmates did years earlier.
鈥淚n an era when constitutional rights are being eroded聽and constitutional norms challenged, it is wonderful to聽have a building in Texas that will remind us of the vision聽of the Founding Fathers of America when they signed聽the Declaration of Independence and later drafted the聽U.S. Constitution, which resulted in the formation of our聽constitutional republic,鈥� said Cadis.
A 2012 HBU Honors College graduate with a degree in聽political science and mass communication, Cadis obtained聽his juris doctor for the University of Texas School of Law聽in 2017. He now works as a corporate lawyer in the聽Austin office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, specializing in聽mergers and acquisitions for private equity clients across聽a variety of industries, including renewable and clean聽energy, infrastructure, technology and manufacturing,聽and conventional energy and oilfield services.
Cadis said he appreciates the wealth of knowledge聽he gained from Dr. Hammons, now the Director of the聽Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, and the many聽professors who invested in him ad served as invaluable聽mentors during his undergraduate聽studies.
鈥淓ducation has been the gateway聽to opportunities I could only聽have dreamed of when growing聽up, and I wouldn鈥檛 have those聽opportunities without the guidance聽and investment from teachers and聽mentors, like Dr. Hammons, who聽saw potential in me,鈥� said Cadis.
As a corporate attorney, he plans聽to continue working to provide聽positive outcomes for his clients聽while providing mentorship and聽guidance to law students and聽young attorneys and also serving聽the needs of pro bono clients.
鈥淏eing able to mentor law聽students and young attorneys is聽a highlight of my career so far,鈥澛爏aid Cadis, who makes a conscious聽effort to remain grateful for the聽opportunities he has been afforded.
鈥淭his is a small thing, but I leave a sticky note up on my聽desk that reads 鈥淭hank You.鈥� It鈥檚 a simple daily reminder聽for me to view the world through the lens of gratitude,聽even when work or life may be stressful,鈥� said Cadis.
He calls the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty聽an important reminder of 鈥渢he vision of the Founding聽Fathers of America鈥� and hopes that generations of future聽students gain a greater understanding and appreciation聽for America鈥檚 founding history and principles.
鈥淏eing able to walk in the footsteps of George聽Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander聽Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, James聽Madison, and more, will hopefully inspire future聽students to do great things on behalf of their country聽and communities, even when they are young,鈥� said聽Cadis. 鈥淛efferson was only 33 when he drafted the聽Declaration of Independence. You don鈥檛 have to wait聽until you are older to start making a positive difference聽in the lives of the people around you.鈥�