The Feerick Center for Social Justice, founded by Fordham Law Dean Emeritus John D. Feerick ’61, works with social justice groups, the public sector, and legal service organizations to respond to the needs of marginalized people, including low-income people living in New York and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
This year’s Feerick Awards & Benefit Reception featured honorees whose work has made a direct impact in the lives of others, including through their work with access to justice initiatives, children and families living in poverty, and the Fordham Law School community as a whole.
“They are an extraordinary group that reflect Fordham’s highest values,” said Fordham University President Tania Tetlow in a video message to the honorees. “They are shining models for all of us of what is best about the legal profession and legal academia. Fordham, and indeed our broader community, are better because of your work.”
This year’s honorees were:
Kimberley Chin ’97
Honorable Deborah A. Batts Life of Commitment Award
With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and advocacy, Kimberley Chin, senior program officer with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, has devoted her career to serving children, families, and diverse communities. “Every issue that I’ve worked on, from children’s health to anti-hunger policies, has been infused with a strong desire to center the needs of immigrants in that work,” said Chin in her acceptance speech.
(Left to right) Dean Emeritus John Feerick ’61, Kimberley Chin ’97, and Dora Galacatos ’96
Dean Emeritus Matthew Diller
Champion of Justice Award
Dean Emeritus Matthew Diller was recognized for his contributions to access to justice issues and social welfare law and policy, including launching the Access to Justice (A2J) Initiative at Fordham Law. Diller is also a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice and has served on the boards of The Legal Aid Society of New York, Legal Services NYC, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.
Dean Emeritus Matthew Diller
Honorable John F. Keenan ’54 (awarded posthumously)
James F. Gill Spirit of Hope Award
Judge Keenan received his J.D. from Fordham Law School in 1954. He was nominated to the federal bench in 1983 and for over 30 years presided over countless cases in the Southern District of New York. Keenan passed away at age 94, just one day before he was to accept the James F. Gill Spirit of Hope Award. He was honored by friends and colleagues who sent in messages of remembrance, including one from a former law clerk which read, “We will always count ourselves as blessed to have known [Judge Keenan’s] special magic up close. May we continue his legacy for the remainder of our days.”
Judge John F. Keenan ’54 was honored by friends and colleagues
Linda Young ’78 (awarded posthumously)
Nitza Milagros Escalera
Gail D. Hollister Dedication to Excellence Award
Linda Young practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom before coming to Fordham Law School as assistant dean of student affairs. In 1987 she joined the New York Corporation Counsel’s Appeals Division until her retirement in 2002. Her son, Mark Young ’02 accepted the award on behalf of the Young family.
Nitza Milagros Escalera became the first Afro-Latina assistant dean for student affairs at Fordham Law School in 1994 and in 2016 her portfolio was expanded to include the position of assistant dean of diversity initiatives. Since retiring she has taught as an adjunct assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Nitza Milagros Escalera
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
John M. Callagy (awarded posthumously)
Michael C. Lynch ’96
Spirit of Service Award
John M. Callagy spent 46 years at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. Callagy was active in pro bono work, including on behalf of Lambda Legal, among other organizations, and served as a trustee and on the executive committee of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund.
Michael C. Lynch is the current chair of Kelley Drye’s litigation practice and a member of its executive committee. He was previously a prosecutor in New York City, before joining Kelley Drye where he has served as an experienced litigator for more than 20 years. Lynch and the firm have been recognized for their pro bono service; just this year, Immigration Equality recognized the firm with its Safe Haven Award.
(Left to right) Dean Emeritus John D. Feerick ’61 and Michael C. Lynch ’96
Skadden Public Interest Programs
Lauren E. Aguiar
Brenna K. DeVaney
Susan B. Plum
Kathleen Rubenstein
Spirit of Service Award
Leaders of the Skadden Fellowship Program and the firm’s pro bono practice were celebrated for their contributions in funding a public interest graduate fellowship program and connecting lawyers to important public interest opportunities. The Skadden Fellowship awards two-year grants to 28 public interest attorneys annually, and the firm’s pro bono practice connects experienced lawyers with key issues affecting marginalized people. “This room is filled with former Skadden Fellows [who are]so involved with the Feerick Center, so concerned about those who have so much less than they have,” said Susan B. Plum, founding director of the Skadden Foundation. “Because we’re put on this earth, we all believe, to be role models for everybody else.”
(Left to right) Robert C. Sheehan, Susan B. Plum, Kathleen Rubenstein, Brenna K. DeVaney, and Lauren E. Aguiar
Read more about the honorees here.
