Rutgers Law School hosted a special U.S. postal stamp dedication honoring a legal and civil rights pioneer. The Honorable Constance Baker Motley was the nation’s first Black female federal judge, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. She was also the first Black female state senator in New York and the first Black female Borough President of Manhattan.
Private First Class Jahvaughn Chedale Gabbidon achieved his dream of becoming a U.S. citizen after serving nearly two years in the U.S. Army. “I decided to become a [U.S.] citizen because I want to be a part of America,” the Jamaica native said.
More than 170 alumni, faculty, students, and guests gathered to honor three outstanding Rutgers Law Camden alumni at the Governor James J. Florio Scholarship Benefit and Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony. The event was renamed this year in honor of the late former governor of New Jersey and alumnus of Rutgers Law who passed away last year. More than 30 law students also attended the gala, widely known as the “DAAC,” on November 9 at The Merion in Cinnaminson.
This year’s Mary Philbrook honoree began helping others create change in public interest long before she earned her law degree at Rutgers in 2002. In 1988, Jodina Hicks created the StreetLeader program as part of her work with UrbanPromise. The teen employment and leadership initiative has resulted in employment for 2,000 Camden teens and has since been replicated in 18 cities and countries.
More than 450 runners hit the pavement in Camden for the 2023 Rutgers Law Roger S. Clark APIL 5K Run for Justice. Rutgers Law students, faculty, staff, Students Run Philly Style, and other local runners took part in the event held on April 2. The race started and ended on a windy, sunny Sunday at the newly completed Camden Athletic Complex on the Rutgers University-Camden campus. Calder Burke won the race with a time of 16.00.7. Burke is a senior at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia.
Rutgers Law is pleased to announce that Gwynne A. Wilcox, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member and Rutgers Law alumna, will deliver the Commencement address in Newark. She is the first Black woman to serve as a Board member in the history of the Agency. Sundeep Iyer, Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, will deliver the Commencement address in Camden.