National Jurist - January 2008 - (Page 15) Trailblazer Karen Rothenberg, dean of Maryland Law School, is at the forefront of legal education by leading her schools commitment to helping others. of the career path that you take, everyone has this privilege of the law degree,” she said. That model of creating a program that has a teaching, scholarly and service component has been expanded into all programs at the school by putting resources aren Rothenberg grew up in the She served as president of her high school 1960s, during a time when social class and later as study body president of activism was a way of life and she Princeton University. thought she really could change the But her initial goal after college was to world. change the health care system in order to “I believed that if I participated assure that everyone had a right to medical in that process, I could make a better care. But after working for a few years in world,” Rothenberg said of her high that field after graduation, she realschool and college years. ized that attending law school Now 55 and dean of the University of would help her in getting Maryland School of Law, Rothenberg new policies adopted. That still is working to led her to enroll in the By Michelle Weyenberg fulfilling that ideal. University of Virginia In October, she School of Law. received the Dean John R. Kramer Award While working at from Equal Justice Works. The award rec- the firm Covington & ognizes her dedication to nurturing an Burling in Washington, outstanding spirit of public service at D.C., the University Maryland Law. of Maryland recruited The law school, nationally known for her into the academic its strong commitment public interest and world. She’s taught public service, requires every student to commit to helping “Growing up I always thought I others. Called the Cardin was going to be either a president Requirement (for Maryland or senator.” — Karen Rothenberg alumnus U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), the policy mandates that students participate in clini- since 1983. cal and legal theory courses that integrate At Maryland, faculty instruction with practice experi- Rothenberg founded ence. the Law and Health Care “It was very gratifying for the law Program and became an school to be commended,” Rothenberg expert on issues involving said of the award. “It’s my role to support health law and public policy. this mission.” Her research interests include Director of Pro Bono & Public Service the legal and social implications of genetInitiatives M. Teresa Schmiedeler, nomi- ic testing, women’s health, the rights of nated Rothenberg for the Kramer Award, patients and human subjects, AIDS, access praising her strong support of students to health care, the right to forego treatinterested in public service opportunities. ment and emergency care. Historically a trailblazer, Rothenberg In 1999, Rothenberg became the first graduated with the first class of women at woman to head the law school in its 185Princeton University, where she received year history. both her B.A., magna cum laude and “We have a very diverse student body,” M.P.A. from the Wilson School of Public she said. “It’s partly because we’ve created a and International Affairs in four years. reputation of trying to establish leaders of “Growing up I always thought I was public policy.” going to be either a president or senator,” Over 20 percent of students that gradushe said. ate go into public interest fields. In some ways, she fulfilled that dream: “We teach our students that regardless January 2008 THE NATIONAL JURIST 15 into their requirements and clinical programs. In 2007, Rothenberg was inducted into the Maryland Commission on Women’s Hall of Fame and twice has been named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. And she isn’t done changing the world yet. “I would like to be able to have as a legacy that we created an environment that students can choose careers based on passion and to be able to follow their passion,” she said. “I need to keep moving in that direction.”
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