Media, Law & Policy

College of Law to Honor Five Distinguished Alumni, Faculty

Monday, October 12, 2015, By Robert Conrad

The College of Law will holdLaw Alumni Weekend, Oct. 23-24, in conjunction with 鶹ƵUniversity Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. The celebration includes the inaugural 鶹ƵLaw Honors Award Ceremony and reception on Friday, and a pre-game tailgate before the 鶹Ƶvs. Pittsburgh football game Saturday. Events are open to all College of Law alumni, with special recognition for class years ending in 0 and 5.

鶹ƵCollege of Law Dineen Hall

Dineen Hall

The 鶹ƵLaw Honors Award Ceremony on Oct. 23 will honor Professors Emeriti Richard Ellison and Robert Rabin for their distinguished careers and years of service at the College of Law. Ellison joined the 鶹ƵLaw faculty in 1970 and taught contracts, constitutional law, family law and health law, and directed and taught a European traveling class in “Comparative Health Law and Policy.” A faculty member since 1971, Rabin is the editor of the American Bar Association’s The Labor Lawyer and taught courses in labor law, public law processes, contracts, conflict resolution, law firm and employment discrimination.

In addition, the College of Law and the Law Alumni Association will present the inaugural class of 鶹ƵLaw Alumni Honorees. The Law Honors Award Program was established this year to celebrate “distinguished achievements in any field of endeavor” by members of the College of Law family—alumni, current and former faculty and staff, students and parents—for service ‎to the College of Law, the legal profession, the University or the world ‎at large.‎ Reflecting the mission of the College of Law to educate the whole law student, achievements to be honored may be of any kind, and are not limited just to a recipient’s professional life and work.

The 2015 鶹ƵLaw Honorees are:

  • Vincent H. Cohen Jr. ’92, L’95, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
  • Louise E. Dembeck L’65, founder, CEO, arbitrator and mediator AIMAC Center for Dispute Resolution, New York City
  • Susan R. Horn L’74, president and CEO of Hiscock Legal Aid Society of Syracuse
  • Joanne M. Mahoney WHIT ’87, L’90, county executive, Onondaga County
  • David P. Weber L’98, partner, Goodwin Weber PLLC, Washington, D.C.

“We are thrilled to honor these distinguished alumni for their accomplishments. Our alumni comprise the largest asset of the College of Law. I am repeatedly awed by the amazing people within our community, and the things that our alumni do,” says Sarah Oliker L’03, assistant general counsel, ConMed, and president of the Law Alumni Association. “The 鶹ƵLaw Honors are a means to highlight the special accomplishments of just a few of our talented alumni. I am delighted to be able to spotlight these remarkable individuals, who exemplify the mission of the College of Law and the value of a 鶹ƵLaw education.”

To find out more about the Law Alumni Weekend celebration or to register for the events, visit or call 315-443-9533.