As Black History Month comes to a close, we recognize some of the current leaders from our community who are paving the way for the future.
Reginald Brewster ’50
Tuskegee Airmen consisted of pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians, navigators, and other African-American workers who were denied leadership roles in the U.S. military because of racial discrimination. Reginald Brewster, who celebrated his 100th birthday in 2018, was one of roughly 16,000 Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II. Brewster fought a war abroad and a war at home for racial equality.
Hon. Janice Mackenzie Cole ’79
Honorable Janice Mackenzie Cole, a former New York City police officer, is the first woman and first black person elected as a district court judge in the northeast region of North Carolina. She also is the first black woman appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Ben Tucker ’81
Benjamin Tucker was appointed, by President Bill Clinton, as the deputy director for operations in the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, at the U.S. DOJ in 1995. In 2009, Tucker was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed to serve the state and local affairs division within the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Currently, Tucker serves as first deputy commissioner for NYPD.
Michelle DePass ’92
Michelle DePass has a career spanning from executive director at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance to the dean for the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at the New School in NYC. Depass’ impressive career in social justice and environmental policy has led her to her current position as president and CEO of the Meyer Memorial Trust, working to make Oregon “flourishing and equitable.”
Megan Hogan ’06
Megan Hogan, experienced insurance, employment, and complex commercial litigator, has worked to implement public service into her life as a former lawyer. Currently a managing director and global head of diversity recruiting at Goldman Sachs, Hogan has received the Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Publico Award, as well as, outstanding volunteer and pro bono awards from Sanctuary for Families and the City Bar Justice Center.
Khasim Lockhart ’18
Khasim Lockhart, an associate at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, spent his time at Fordham Law leading in many areas and empowering the next generation. Lockhart, who served as president for the Black Law Students Association and associate editor for the Fordham Law Moot Court said, “to be a leader means to make everyone feel they are leaders as well.”
