Alumni Weekend 2024 Archive
October 18-20, 2024
The occasion of the Law School’s bicentennial called for an extraordinary Alumni Weekend. Capping off a year of events, Alumni Weekend 2024 brought together more than 1,400 alumni and guests on Oct. 18–20 in New Haven.
In addition to connecting with friends and hearing from distinguished alumni, the weekend was an opportunity to collectively celebrate the School’s extraordinary history. In her State of the School address, Dean Heather K. Gerken outlined how the School has been able to remain innovative throughout the years and bring in a wide-ranging, talented class of students from around the world. This year’s 1L students hail from 86 undergraduate institutions, 38 states, and 12 countries. One in four are the first in their families to attend college or come from low-income households. Roughly 15% come from families whose income falls below or just above the poverty line.
Gerken said that the number of veterans — now nearly 1 in 10 among the new class — and first-generation students has increased dramatically over the last few years, far outpacing other law schools, and credited alumni for carrying on the best traditions of the Law School and upholding its excellence through their mentorship, service, and philanthropy.
Events on Friday included a celebration of the generosity of David Nierenberg ’78 and Patricia Nierenberg and an announcement that the dean’s office would be renamed in honor of the couple. The Nierenbergs have long supported initiatives at the Law School and at Yale. Among their extensive philanthropy, the Nierenbergs gave the first gift to the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program to break down barriers to access in legal education. This year, 88 students at the Law School receive the need-based scholarship, which provides full-tuition for students with significant financial need.
On Friday evening, a deans’ panel in Woolsey Hall featured Gerken and former deans Guido Calabresi ’58, Harold Hongju Koh, and Anthony Kronman ’75.
After introductory remarks by Frank Jimenez ’91, Tali Farhadian Weinstein ’03 moderated the discussion in which each dean reflected on various aspects of their deanships as well as what they appreciate about each other, their tenure in a historical context, and their most treasured memories in the role. The evening concluded with Gerken inviting the audience to sing “Happy Birthday” to Guido — who turned 92 on Oct. 18 — as he does for every faculty member on their birthday via telephone.
Saturday’s activities started with the dean’s annual State of the School address — with Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall ’76 delivering introductory remarks — in which Gerken highlighted the Law School’s remarkable accomplishments of the last decade and emphasized the importance of continuing the School’s tradition of excellence as it looks toward the next 200 years.
Gerken reflected on Yale President Theodore Woolsey’s vision for the Law School from 1874, which he said should be a “place of instruction in all sound learning relating to the foundations of justice.”
A broad-gauged vision of legal education should bring together “the best talents of the poor as well as the rich … for the benefit of the country.” One hundred and fifty years later, Gerken said, the Law School continues to live up to Woolsey’s vision of a unique approach to legal education. She outlined the newest initiatives that build on the School’s best traditions, like the rich and wide-ranging curriculum, dozens of innovative clinical offerings, a best-in-class financial aid program, the new Center for Academic Freedom and Free Speech, and two innovative pipeline programs, Access to Law School and the Launchpad Scholars Program.
Following the State of the School address, three alumni were presented with the Award of Merit, the Yale Law School Association’s highest honor.
This year’s recipients were José A. Cabranes ’65, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit; Randall Kennedy ’82, Michael R. Klein Professor at Harvard Law School; and Barrington “Danny” Parker ’69, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
A Saturday morning panel, “Women on the Bench: A Judicial Legacy,” featured Justice Sonia Sotomayor ’79, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger ’01, Judge Pamela Harris ’90, and Judge Dabney Friedrich ’92. Leslie Gomez ’95, the president of the Yale Law School Alumni Association, gave opening remarks. On the panel, moderated by Gerken, the Judges reflected on their careers, how they’ve mentored their female colleagues, and sexism in the profession.
Guests reconvened in Woolsey Hall on Saturday afternoon to for a conversation between Gerken and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ’73. The two discussed Clinton’s work as a law student in YLS clinics, her new book Something Lost, Something Gained, her experience serving as the New York senator after 9/11, and the upcoming election.
In the weekend’s grand finale event, John Mulaney, the comedian and son of Charles Mulaney ’74 and Ellen Mulaney ’74, moderated a “Conversation on Textualist Approaches of Constitutional Interpretation” with Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science Akhil Reed Amar ’84 and former Acting Solicitor General of the United States Neal Katyal ’95. Mulaney’s parents, who were celebrating their 50th Reunion, each gave introductory remarks.
Individual class activities and dinners followed the Woolsey Hall events. The weekend concluded on Sunday with an all-alumni farewell brunch in the Derald H. Ruttenberg Dining Hall of Sterling Law Building.
Video of 2024 Award of Merit Presentation
READ MORE: Award of Merit honorees
Reunion Volunteers
Class of 1964
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: John K. Aurell, Edward L. Barlow (Co-Chair), Frank C. Damrell, Stephen Fraidin, Paul Grossman, Charles R. Halpern, Gary W. Hart, Robert H. Horowitz, Alan D. Jacobson (Co-Chair), Howard J. Kaslow, John A. Koskinen (Co-Chair), John W. Lyon, Joseph D. Mandel, Luis Schuchinski, Alan G. Schwartz, Alan H. Silberman, Peter L. Strauss
Class of 1969
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: James R. Doty, Richard D. Marks, John M. McDonough, John L. Oberdorfer, David C. Oxman, Barrington D. Parker, David N. Rosen, Leslie E. Shaw (Co-Chair), Lee B. Spencer, Benjamin F. Stapleton, James S. Stokes, Edward L. Strohbehn (Co-Chair), William W. Taylor (Co-Chair), Kirk Wickersham
Class of 1974
Reunion Social Committee Chairs: Marc Heilweil (Chair), Joan G. Wexler (Chair)
Class of 1974
Reunion Gift Committee Chairs and Members: Carl E. Anduri, Dominic J. Campisi, Beverly W. Cutler, Richard F. Czaja, Nelson G. Dong, Patricia Geoghegan (Co-Chair), Wayne G. Hawley, David R. Jones, Randall K. Kau, Norma B. Levy, Siri S. Marshall (Co-Chair), Charles W. Mulaney (Co-Chair), Ellen S. Mulaney, Russell K. Osgood, John T. Sefton, Frank J. Silvestri, Arthur B. Spitzer (Co-Chair), Frank G. Washington, Francis M. Wikstrom, James F. Wood
Class of 1979
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Sheldon S. Adler, Michael J. Album, Rudolph F. Aragon, Susan L. Hoffman (Co-Chair), Bruce Kraus, John J. Kulewicz (Co-Chair), Thomas S. Leatherbury (Co-Chair), Paul M. Smith, David J. Wohlberg
Class of 1984
Reunion Committee Chairs: Thomas H. Glocer (Co-Chair), Cornelius J. Grealy (Co-Chair), Martin J. Newhouse (Co-Chair), Alysa C. Rollock (Co-Chair), Bruce A. Wessel (Co-Chair)
Class of 1989
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Peter E. Fisch (Co-Chair), David R. Fontaine, Peter T. Gelfman, Martin W. Korman, Felicia F. Norwood, Michael S. Solender (Co-Chair), Roslyn Tom
Class of 1994
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Christine M. Adams (Co-Chair), Ethan A. Balogh, Jacqueline Becerra (Co-Chair), Carmine D. Boccuzzi, Subodh Chandra (Co-Chair), Trish Diak (Co-Chair), Jonathan A. Doft (Co-Chair), Phyllis G. Epps, Eleanor B. Lacey, Linda M. Ricci (Co-Chair), Ethan Schwartz, Sabrina M. Smith
Class of 1999
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Joshua P. Galper (Co-Chair), Harry Jho, David B. Lat (Co-Chair), Michelle S. Riley, Jessica S. Sager (Co-Chair), James M. Smyth, Gary A. Stewart, Mark N. Templeton (Co-Chair)
Class of 2004
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Oluwaseun O. Ajayi (Co-Chair), Jenny R. Chou, Kelly P. Dunbar, Rebecca G. Ebinger (Co-Chair), Chandler B. Evans, David P. Evans, Lily M. Fan, Patrick W. Price, Lisa H. Rubin, Sarah R. Varet (Co-Chair), Stephen I. Vladeck, Greta L. Wick
Class of 2009
Reunion Committee Chairs: Yahonnes S. Cleary (Co-Chair), Jessica M. Karbowski Weare (Co-Chair), Joshua C. Lee (Co-Chair), Ilya O. Podolyako (Co-Chair), William K. Spearman (Co-Chair), Andrew Verstein (Co-Chair), Victoria L. Weatherford (Co-Chair)
Class of 2014
Reunion Committee Chair and Members: Lukman S. Azeez, Elena Cima (Chair), Halley W. Josephs
Class of 2019
Reunion Committee Chairs and Members: Vigjilenca Abazi, Gurjot Kaur (Co-Chair), Phillip Z. Yao (Co-Chair), Xiuyi Zheng
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 18, 2024
11:30 a.m.
Registration Room Open
Room 122, Sterling Law Building
12:30 p.m.
All Alumni Welcome Luncheon: Celebrating the Generosity of David ’75 BA, ’78 JD & Patricia Nierenberg
The Courtyard, Sterling Law Building
2:00 p.m.
Paskus Danziger Rare Book Room Open House
Lillian Goldman Law Library, Level 2, Yale Law School
2:30 p.m.
Twitter Transaction - Just Say Yes with Martin Korman ‘89
Levinson Auditorium, Sterling Law Building
Introduction by Stephen Fraidin '64
3:30 p.m.
Free time: Coffee in the Courtyard
The Courtyard, Sterling Law Building
4:30 p.m.
50th Reunion Reception
The Presidents Room, The Schwarzman Center
5:30 p.m.
Yale Law School Deans' Panel featuring Dean Heather K. Gerken, Guido Calabresi ’58, Harold Hongju Koh, Anthony Kronman ’75, moderated by Tali Farhadian Weinstein '03
Woolsey Hall Auditorium
Introduction by Frank Jimenez '91
6:45 p.m.
Bicentennial Celebration Dinner
Commons, Schwarzman Center
9:30 p.m.
Student and Alumni Affinity Group After Party
Schwarzman Center Underground & Well
Saturday, October 19, 2024
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast Connections with Yale Law School Students
Derald H. Ruttenberg Dining Hall, Yale Law School
Alumni Breakfast
Alumni Reading Room, Sterling Law Building
Registration Room Open
Room 122, Sterling Law Building
8:30 a.m.
Health Law and Policy Alumni Breakfast
Room 120, Sterling Law Building
10:00 a.m.
State of the School and Presentation of 2024 Award of Merit
Levinson Auditorium, Sterling Law Building
Recognizing Judge José Cabranes ’65, Professor Randall “Randy” Kennedy ’82, and Judge Barrington “Danny” Parker ’69
Introduction by Margaret Marshall '76
11:15 a.m.
Women on the Bench: A Judicial Legacy with Justice Sonia Sotomayor ‘79, Justice Leondra Kruger ’01, Judge Pamela Harris ’90, and Judge Dabney Friedrich '92
Woolsey Hall Auditorium
Introduction by Leslie Gomez '95
12:15 p.m.
All Alumni Luncheon
Commons, Schwarzman Center
2:00 p.m.
A Conversation with Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ’73 and Dean Heather K. Gerken
Woolsey Hall Auditorium
Introduction by Richard Lucas '90
3:00 p.m.
Liman Center Reception
Guido Calabresi Faculty Lounge, Sterling Law Building, Yale Law School
3:30 p.m.
Conversation on Textualist Approaches of Constitutional Interpretation featuring John Mulaney, Akhil Amar '84, and Neal Katyal ’95
Woolsey Hall Auditorium
Introduction by Charles '74 and Ellen '74 Mulaney
4:45 p.m.
Individual Class Activities
6:30 p.m.
2004 Reception and Dinner for LL.M., J.S.D., and M.S.L.s who graduated in 2004
The Elm City Club
6:45 p.m.
Individual Class Dinners
9:30 p.m.
After Party hosted by Yale Law School
Olives and Oil
After Party hosted by Yale Law School
Omni New Haven Hotel
Sunday, October 20, 2024
9:30 a.m.
Registration Room Open
Room 122, Sterling Law Building
10:00 a.m.
All Alumni Farewell Brunch
Derald H. Ruttenberg Dining Hall, Sterling Law Building