Graduates and Friends Honor Dean Rothenberg with Public Service Fund
To honor Karen Rothenberg as she returns to the faculty after a decade of remarkable accomplishment as Dean, more than 160 individuals have contributed over $180,000 to establish the Karen H. Rothenberg Fund for Public Service.
The Fund was announced on May 7 as more than 200 Maryland Law graduates and friends gathered at Baltimore’s Center Club for "A Celebration of Leadership," an event honoring Dean Rothenberg and distinguished Law School graduates.
In presenting Dean Rothenberg with the check establishing the Fund, Paul Bekman, Chair of the Law School's Board of Visitors remarked that "as she steps down as Dean, Karen Rothenberg leaves behind a vibrant, diverse, and active law school community fully engaged in its mission of legal education, academic scholarship, and public service."
The Rothenberg Fund will provide direct support for scholarships for students committed to public service, loan repayment assistance for graduates pursuing public service careers, and grants for students engaged in projects that benefit individuals in need. "This fund will help ensure the Law School's public service work continues to be the hallmark against which all other law schools are measured," said Bekman.
Dean Rothenberg expressed her appreciation to the Fund’s supporters: "Our Law School's core traditions of leadership and public service have helped us respond to the changing needs of society. And our collective actions have had a profound effect on thousands of lives. This fund will be used to ensure that our tradition of leadership in serving communities in need, whether in Baltimore, Washington, or South Africa, will continue to grow well into the future."
At the May 7 event, Joe Hardiman ´62, former President and CEO of Nasdaq, was recognized for his professional accomplishments and service to the community with the 2009 Distinguished Graduate Award. Mr. Hardiman provided the creative impetus that led to the establishment of the Rothenberg Fund for Public Service. Juliet Choi ´03, received the Rising Star Award as a recent graduate who has distinguished herself in service to the Law School and the community
It is still possible to contribute to the Rothenberg Fund. These gifts serve as a lasting tribute to Dean Rothenberg's leadership and help ensure that the School of Law will have the requisite resources to remain a national leader in serving the needs of the public.