Fordham Law School’s programming focused on cultivating students’ professional skills are being strengthened and expanded thanks to a new center founded by David M. Tanen ’96.
“I like to think that Fordham produces some of the best lawyers in New York City and around the country,” said Tanen, who established the Center with a generous gift. “We work hard and do a great job, and I want to make sure that the Law School not only continues to produce high-quality, exceptional professional leaders in the field, but also provides a nurturing, healthful environment in which to learn.”
The Tanen Leadership Center brings together a range of Law School initiatives focused on the student experience. These include the House System, which fosters community and inclusion for first-year students, and the Office of Professionalism, which oversees professional identity formation for students and conducts initiatives designed to help students develop the social, emotional, and cultural competencies necessary to deliver outstanding legal representation and lead satisfying lives in the profession. In addition, the Center will support and enhance student affairs, legal writing, fundamental lawyering skills, career planning, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
David Tanen, second from left, is joined at the celebration by his sons Jack (left) and Noah (right), and his parents, Madeline and Michael Tanen.
“This initiative marks an important step in the Law School’s mission to create a community of compassionate and highly capable lawyers who make a difference for the profession, society, and world,” said Fordham Law Dean Joseph Landau. “The Center could not have been possible without the generous contributions of David Tanen, whose vision and dedication to Fordham Law School over the years has helped grow many important programs.”
“The Tanen Leadership Center enhances our commitment to professionalism and community building at Fordham Law,” added Maya FitzGerald, director of professionalism. “Through initiatives like the House System, the Center provides students with various opportunities to develop essential leadership and professional skills while building meaningful relationships with peers and mentors.” Linda Sugin, faculty director and founder of the Office of Professionalism, summed up Tanen’s impact, “Dave Tanen’s commitment to the development of students has been transformational for the Law School. The Office of Professionalism would not exist without his support.”
Tanen is a co-founder and partner of the venture capital firm Two River, a member of the Law School’s Dean’s Planning Council, and a trustee of Fordham University. He has provided critical philanthropic support for a range of initiatives, including the Increasing Diversity in Education and the Law (IDEAL) program, the Realizing Excellence and Access in the Law (REAL) Scholars program, and the professionalism fellows program. This year, Fordham Law’s first floor atrium was renamed the Tanen Atrium in recognition of his philanthropy.
“Going into law school, we had all heard about how cutthroat and competitive law school was. Everyone had seen the film The Paper Chase (1973) or read One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School (1977) by Scott Turow about how people would tear cases out of books in the library so that you couldn’t study them,” Tanen said. “But I had the exact opposite experience at Fordham. It was an incredibly cooperative, communal, engaging experience. The students and faculty were always willing to help out and provide additional assistance, guidance, or direction where needed. That, in part, helped direct me and guided me into wanting to give back to the school that gave so much to me.”
