Here we are in the early weeks of a new administration in Washington, DC, one that aspires to change the customary order of things. And here you are reading the new edition of BC Law Magazine, which has devoted itself to exploring Boston College Law School’s place and influence in the nation’s capital.
The timing seems perfect. It is heartening to hear about the ambitions and accomplishments of alumni across the political and professional spectrum in Washington. And they are anything but complacent about the status quo, as their ability to innovate demonstrates.
Deciding to focus on “BC in DC,” as we’re calling this project, meant sorting through our worldwide field of more than 13,000 alumni to find not only those working within the orbit of DC but also those whose vision, impact, and careers exemplify the qualities of leadership and service that BC Law prizes. The search led to a trove of candidates, several dozen of whom we interviewed.
Thus, there are stories about Ellen Huvelle ’75, a respected judge in the US District Court for DC, and Peter Zeidenberg ’75, a lawyer who defended two Chinese Americans falsely accused of spying.
In “The Influencers,” lobbyist Marc Lampkin ’91 speaks with pride of his essential role in a democracy; former DC Bar president Brigida Benitez ’93 talks about leading one of the nation’s most powerful lawyer networks; and public broadcasting vice president Lisa Lindstrom Delaney ’86 discusses advancing PBS’s educational mission.
We also spoke to lawyers who represent Fortune 500 CEOs and advocate for the underserved at the Opportunity Finance Network, and who work for the FBI, State Department, Federal Election Commission, Department, of Justice, and US House of Representatives Ethics Committee.
Our students, too, are playing their part. As interns in the Law School’s BC in DC Program, they are being mentored by alumni and getting exposure to real-time challenges at places like the White House and Human Rights First.
Which brings us, finally, to our politicians. At present there are five alumni in Congress, and we stopped for a word with them.
We even reached back in time to interview Margaret Heckler ’56, BC Law’s first woman in Congress, who also served as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Ambassador to Ireland.
She’s living proof that this BC in DC thing is built on an enduring foundation—and has a promising future.
Vicki Sanders, Editor
vicki.sanders@bc.edu
Photograph by Adam DeTour