Thomas Cocchi, Executive Editor
On April 8th, Professor Tracey McCants Lewis (L’00) was honored as the 2014-2015 Woman of the Year at a reception hosted by the Women’s Law Association. The event was co-sponsored by the Law Alumni Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Women in the Law Division, and the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania. Also honored as the Recent Graduate of the Year was Gabriela Steier (L’12), who was unable to be present at the reception, but sent a video expressing her gratitude for the recognition of the Women’s Law Association.
The remarks for the evening were opened by Biannely Diaz, who gave a short introduction before turning over the floor to Dean Gormley. The Dean said that the standing room crowd was an indication of just how important the women being honored that evening were, and how much their work meant to others. Dean Gormley also expressed his pride at seeing a former student of his, Professor McCants Lewis, being honored that evening.
Angela Reed Strathman then gave an overview of the awards being given that night and briefly introduced the awardees to the audience. She explained that Steier, as an adjunct professor, makes herself available to Duquesne students regardless of the fact that she lives in Washington DC. Reed Strathman then acknowledged Professor McCants Lewis’ positive role in her own law school experience and said that Professor McCants Lewis is a “huge part of the reason that the clinics are successful at Duquesne.”
Professor Jan Levine introduced the absent Gabriela Steier, whose impressive resume and accomplishments during and after law school were more than enough to fill the room. Professor Levine highlighted aspects of Steier’s law school career, but paid particular attention to the fact that she published four separate law review articles while she was in law school. On the personal side, Professor Levine talked about Steier as a great student and how he enjoyed seeing her develop as a professional and an expert in her field so soon after graduation. The video of Ms. Steier’s remarks for receiving her award was then shown, during which she thanked Professor Levine for his mentorship and thanked the Women’s Law Association for their recognition.
Leslie Britton Dozier (L’00), a close friend of Professor McCants Lewis, then spoke to introduce her friend and talk about why she deserved the Woman of the Year award. After giving those present a brief synopsis of all of the organizations and accomplishments Professor McCants Lewis had, Ms. Dozier gave a short “three things you may not know” about her friend to the education and amusement of the group gathered there. First, Ms. Dozier noted that Professor McCants Lewis does a uniquely adept impersonation of the Sesame Street character Elmo. Second, she revealed that Professor McCants Lewis career aspirations had been to become an actress if she hadn’t become a lawyer. Finally, Ms. Dozier told the group about the bartending class that she and Professor McCants Lewis had taken, and commented on which drinks the professor was skilled at making. Ms. Dozier ended by quoting Charles Darwin in saying that “a man’s friendships are one of the best measures of his worth,” and said that she felt greater for being a friend to Professor McCants Lewis.
After accepting the award, Professor McCants Lewis gave heartfelt remarks thanking the Women’s Law Association for their recognition, honoring her parents for the spirit of service that they instilled in her, and thanking all of the people present for their part in touching her life. The professor was obviously humbled by the award, explaining that she did not think of herself as equal to the group of women who are past Woman of the Year award awardees. She recited the quote that she tries to live her life by as being “service is the rent we pay for living” and said that she enjoyed being able to use her skills and abilities in performing that service. Professor McCants Lewis also asserted that she must have the best job in the world if she gets to do the work that she loves while serving others, and be rewarded on top of that with the recognition of her students and of her peers. Ending by thanking all of the people present for their part in touching her life, Professor McCants Lewis stayed behind afterwards to speak and take pictures with everyone who came to support her.
