On Friday, April 17th, 2009, Albany Law’s Chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) held its inaugural Alumni Banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn. It was a great success! With a welcome address by our President & Dean Thomas Guernsey, with faculty members: Professor Kathe Klare, and Faculty Advisor to BLSA Professor Donna Young, Professor Peter Halewood, Professor David Pratt, and Professor C. Benjie Louis, staff members and 18 alumni (including U.S. District Court Judge, The Honorable Randolph Treece, ‘76 and Albany City Court Judge, The Honorable Helena Heath-Roland) joining the festivities. The keynote speaker and honoree was Barbara Cottrell ‘84. Ms. Cottrell is currently the Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. In her address to a group of over 50 attendees, Ms. Cottrell stressed the importance of networking and reaching out to our close knit alumni community to seek advice, assistance with job search, and mentorship throughout law school and beyond. She discussed how networking in law school lead to her career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
After the keynote address, Phillip McKie, ‘10, President of the Albany Law’s Chapter of BLSA presented an alumni award to John Higgins, Esq. ’89, Counsel of Nixon Peabody LLP’s Albany Office. John, a graduate from Albany Law School, former adjunct professor and the current President of the Capital District Black & Hispanic Bar Association (CDBHBA), has continually worked closely with BLSA and the Albany Law community. John was very moved by this award, which was named in his honor for future BLSA Banquets.
The Opening Reception was sponsored by: Nixon Peabody, LLP, the Diversity Office, and John Higgins, Esq.
To view the Banquet’s Program, Click here For Flier, Click here
and BLSA 2008-2009 newsletter, Click here Photo gallery below:
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- 2008-2009 E-Board Members: Destini, Nicholas, Akilah and President Phillip McKie, ‘10
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- Alumni and students at dinner
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- Akilah Rawlins, ‘09 introduces keynote speaker Barbara Cottrell, ‘84
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- Director of Diversity, Pershia Wilkins visits with alumna Dionne Wheatley, ‘94
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- John Higgins, Esq., ‘89 is joined by students and staff
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- Judge Helena Heath-Roland, Professor C. Benjie Louis and alumni enjoys dinner
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- Director of Diversity Pershia Wilkins catches up with Jeanique Greene, ‘03 and Teneka Frost, ‘02
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- Dean Tom Guernsey visits with Keynote Speaker Barbara Cottrell, ‘84 and her sister, Donrita Cottrell, ‘88
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- BLSA Faculty Advisor Professor Donna Young catches up with former student, now NYS Liquor Authority Commissioner Jeanique Greene, ‘03
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- Omar Stewart, ‘11, Regina Long, ‘98, Keynote Speaker Barbara Cottrell, Esq. ‘84 and Phillip McKie, ‘10
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- 2008-2009 BLSA Members
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- Albany Law students enjoy Banquet
