Dr. Kyle C. Kopko, director of the pre-law program and assistant professor of political science, was recently named the newsletter editor for the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA).
Kopko was honored to be named to this prestigious position. In a recent interview, he explained the process of election for the organization. “I was nominated for my position, which is very humbling,” Kopko stated. He explained why being elected was so significant given the process. “I was elected to a two-year term,” Kopko said. “You can be reelected to a second two-year term but after that you have to run for a cabinet position, such as president or treasurer, to receive an additional two years.” Members can serve a maximum of six years with the organization. The only notable requirement is that you must be a pre-law advisor with an institution, just like Kopko is for Elizabethtown College.
NAPLA is the oldest and largest pre-law professional organization. The organization stretches from West Virginia to Maine and has influence nationwide. According to the College’s website, NAPLA has approximately 400 members, which include undergraduate pre-law advisors from colleges in the northeast and throughout the nation. The website also said representatives from most ABA-approved law schools in the country are members as well.
The organization strives to aid pre-law undergraduate students and institutions in the admissions process in hopes of generating law -related careers. Another goal they have is to improve the skills of pre-law advisors. NAPLA is dedicated to developing the communication with all law-related outlets. According to the website, this includes the pre-law advisors themselves, law schools’ admission officers and other law-related organizations.
NAPLA communicates with law-related outlets by keeping members and related affiliations up-to-date on the most recent practices and other significant changes in law. This is done at their annual conference, additional seminars and regional meetings. This year’s conference is a three-day event running from Tuesday, June 18 until Friday, June 21. It will be held in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
In his work with the organization, Kopko’s main responsibility will be newsletter editor. He was asked how this recognition could affect his future, both at Etown and in the long run. “I’m not exactly sure how this will affect me, but it sure will help the students,” he stated.
He knows that his work with NAPLA will open many doors for the Etown pre-law program, which is something he is very excited about. “I will come into contact with pre-law advisors from all over the east coast and many others in the nation,” Kopko explained. “I have the ability to call up a law school and ask their admissions office to look out for this applicant,” Kopko said. “If I have faith in a student’s ability, I can feel comfortable communicating that with these schools without hesitation.” Kopko knows that this will help Etown’s program, the same one he graduated from in 2005, grow in time.
“We’re looking at restructuring the program,” he said. “I’m expecting to learn a lot and transfer that knowledge over to my students.” With the change in classes there’s going to be some good changes going through the program in the future. “We have some really great law students,” Kopko stated, “and they all work very hard.” Kopko is confident that this is a good step forward for Etown as well.
Kopko has made great gains since receiving his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 2010. His teaching and areas of research include American politics, judicial politics, constitutional law, election law, political psychology and religion and politics. Kopko has had various works published, including two in 2012. He is also looking forward to his upcoming presentation in January 2013. He will be accompanied by Dean of Faculty E. Fletcher McClellan, senior Jillian Casey, and senior Julia Ward.