As part of the law school’s year-long 125th anniversary celebration, three USC Gould alumnae joined Dean Franita Tolson for a conversation about trailblazing women in law school leadership on March 31. Lisa Kloppenberg (JD 1987), Professor of Law and Dean Emerita at Santa Clara Law School and previously Acting President and Provost of Santa Clara University; LaVonda Reed (JD 1997), Dean of University of Baltimore School of Law; and Brietta Clark (JD 1999), Dean of Loyola Law School, discussed their journeys to leadership, as well as the challenging and rewarding aspects of their complex roles.
Ninth Circuit Senior Judge and former Gould Dean Dorothy W. Nelson delivered a special message, to accept the USC Gould 125th Anniversary Luminary Award, in honor of her leadership, service and courage in lighting new paths for others to follow.
USC Gould Womxn of Color Collective co-presidents and 2Ls Lauren Richardson and Nandita Raghavan introduced the three distinguished alumnae speakers, and announced the Luminary Award. In their remarks, the student leaders highlighted Judge Nelson’s legacy as the nation’s first woman Dean of an ABA-accredited law school, as well as pioneering mediation and arbitration education in the 1950s.
In addition, three past law school deans – USC Provost Andrew Guzman, Professor Bob Rasmussen and Professor Ed McCaffery – also took part in the program. They presented USC Gould with an official Certificate of Congratulations from the Los Angeles City Council and Certificate of Recognition from the L.A. Mayor’s Office.
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