Commencement 2009: 25th Year of Public Interest Graduates

June 15, 2009

"There is no greater good than coming together as a community with a common mission of service," begins Dean Michelle J. Anderson in her welcoming remarks to the 124 students of the Class of 2009. This year's ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of CUNY Law's commitment to graduating the greatest group of public interest lawyers in the nation.

Graduates, along with family, friends and alumni, enjoyed a spirited commencement address by Haywood Burns Chair Margaret Montoya who spoke of the legacy of the late Dean Burns and how his words and actions underscore each student's experience as they advance in dedication to public service. They also enjoyed student speaker Allie Robbins talk about her experiences as a CUNY Law student.

This year the law school honored a number of public service lawyers, such as Director and Founder of the Human Rights Watch's Children's Rights Division Lois Whitman, Executive Director and Program Director of the Chinese Staff & Workers' Association Wing S. Lam, and New York County Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan.

Special recognition was also given to CUNY Law's own Legal Research Coordinator and Associate Law Librarian Professor Sarah Valentine and Information Technology Special Projects Coordinator Daniel Chan.

View Photo Slideshow & Video Highlights »