KU Law News
July 4, 2008
KU Law mourns death of student Jana Mackey
Jana MackeyThe University of Kansas School of Law community is mourning the loss of Jana Mackey, a second-year law student and ardent advocate for women’s rights.
"Jana was well-loved by all of us. She was a smart, engaging woman whose warm personality and quick smile endeared her to all who knew her,” said Gail Agrawal, dean of the law school. “As a second-year law student, she was already a committed, skilled advocate, focusing her considerable talents on women’s issues, including the rights of rape victims and domestic abuse survivors.”
Jana was found dead inside an off-campus home on Thursday, July 3.
Counselors from KU's Counseling and Psychological Services will be available to talk with law school students, faculty and staff at Green Hall. The school will plan to come together as a community to share grief and celebrate Jana’s life.
A champion of women’s rights, Jana applied to law school in hopes of becoming an even more effective advocate. While pursuing an undergraduate education in music and theater at KU, she took a women’s studies course that altered her path. Before long she had changed her major and started volunteering at agencies that served rape victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Jana was a lobbyist for women’s rights organizations in Kansas and was active in state and national political campaigns.
She started law school in the fall of 2007. She received the J. Frank & Carolyn Henry Shinkle Memorial Scholarship, the Willard G. Widder Scholarship, and a Public Interest scholarship. She was enrolled this summer in the Paul E. Wilson Defender Project, representing state and federal prisoners in appellate and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts.
Elizabeth Cateforis, clinical associate professor and supervising attorney for the Defender Project, said Jana was vibrant and had a lovely sense of humor. Her self-discipline, confidence and ability to work both independently and as part of a team were serving her well in the project, Cateforis said.
Jana will be greatly missed, Dean Agrawal said: “Hers was a life of great promise. Our condolences go out to her family in this time of shared deep sorrow."
