A virtual celebration on October 17-18, 2020
On October 17–18, 2020, Yale Law School alumni gathered virtually as part of Connect.Celebrate 2020 in lieu of a traditional Alumni Weekend.
Class-specific meetings for classes ending in 0s and 5s included happy hours, discussions, and celebrations. Meeting topics were as varied as our alumni community: The class of 1965 discussed “Women Students at YLS: Then and Now”; the class of 2015’s event featured Kristine Beckerle ’15, talking about her human rights work in Yemen, and Matt Blumenthal ’15, discussing his work in the Connecticut Legislature; and the class of 1990 each gave two-minute memoirs about life since the last Alumni Weekend.
The weekend gave all alumni the chance to hear the latest news from Dean Heather K. Gerken in a conversation with alumna Rhonda Joy McLean ’83. Graduates also gathered to watch a video, titled “The Joy of the Journey,” which was full of stories and memories of the living current and former deans of the School. (View on The Courtyard.)
Reunion Co-Chairs
1960
Reunion Social Committee: Thomas H. Baer, Steve Mann
Gift Committee: Thomas H. Baer, Steve Mann
1965
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: John E. Sands
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Joan M. Hall, Daniel Marcus
1970
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Phil Fox, John J. Gearen, Margaret R. Loss
1975
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Elliot H. Brown, Scott Killingsworth
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: John T. Adney, John M. Barkett, Steven Brill, James D. Miller, Judith A. Miller
1980
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Vicki Cundiff, Ken Roth
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Craig B. Brod, Vicki Cundiff, James W. Loss, David M. Zornow
1985
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Elizabeth H. Esty, John R. Firestone, Steven J. McDonald, Eugene B. Sperling
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Stephen M. Cutler, Peter R. Ezersky, Gary K. Silberberg
1990
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Barratt-Brown, Jeb Boasberg, Adrienne O. McNamara, Thomas McNamara, Sushma Soni
Gift Committee Co-Chairs:Nancy E. Field, Nancy L. Kestenbaum, Richard M. Lucas
1995
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Tanya Acker, Swati Agrawal, Phillip A. Escoriaza
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Tanya Acker, Victoria Fishman Maroulis, Arrie R. Park, Michael T. Reynolds
2000
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Carla Cartwright, Matt Parlow
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Avi L. Kumin, Jonathan B. Pitt
2005
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, Lara T. Kayayan
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Anastasia Boyko, C. Randall Minor
2010
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Marcie Cleary, Mirra O. Levitt
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Justin Zaremby, Aaron S. J. Zelinsky
2015
Reunion Social Co-Chairs: Matthew Halgren, Karlanna M. Lewis, Jennifer McTiernan
Gift Committee Co-Chairs: Damiano Canapa, Kwon Young Jin
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 16
7:00 PM-8:00 PM ET
1965 Class Happy Hour
Join your classmates for a conversation with Linda Greenhouse ’78 M.S.L. as she shares insights on her life as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist covering the Supreme Court, as an op-ed columnist, and as a YLS faculty member. There will be ample time for Q&A with Linda and for conversing and reconnecting with classmates.
Saturday, October 17
10:00 AM-10:30 AM ET
Take a Tour of The Courtyard
Have you heard about The Courtyard, but you're still wondering how you can be a part of this new online community? Come for a guided tour of this exciting resource for connecting with YLS alumni and students.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET
From the Desk of the Dean
All YLS alumni are invited to join Rhonda Joy McLean ’83, Honorary Member of the YLSA Executive Committee, and Dean Heather K. Gerken for a live conversation about the latest news and updates from Yale Law School.
1:30 PM-2:00 PM ET
The Joy of the Journey: Our Deans Celebrate Yale Law School
Join us for a special commemorative moment as we reminisce and reflect on this current season in light of this institution’s storied history. Heather K. Gerken, Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law, along with former deans Judge Guido Calabresi '58, Sterling Professor Emeritus of Law and Professorial Lecturer in Law; Anthony T. Kronman '75, Sterling Professor of Law; Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law; and Robert C. Post '77, Sterling Professor of Law at Yale Law School will share fond memories and words of inspiration drawn from many collective years of leadership at Yale Law School.
4:15 PM-6:15 PM ET
1980 Class Celebration
Reconnect and reminisce with your classmates. This session will include time for group discussion as well as smaller breakout groups for more interactive conversation on a variety of topics. Dean Heather K. Gerken will make a guest appearance for the first 15 minutes of the event, so don't be late!
5:15 PM-7:15 PM ET
1960: All-Alumni Discussion with Anthony T. Kronman '75 and Ari Melber
The Class of 1960 invites all alumni and faculty/staff to join a discussion with Anthony T. Kronman '75, Sterling Professor of Law and former Dean at YLS, and Ari Melber, MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent. In his book The Assault on American Excellence, which is both timely and controversial, Kronman argues that a university has a unique educational role; rules and actions that may be acceptable outside it have no place within its walls. He deplores campus speech restrictions, asserts that "diversity" requirements on campus have eroded the educational objectives of the university in a way affirmative action (which he supports) would not have, and regrets the haste to remove campus memorials or change the names of buildings, which are deemed offensive. If you have not read this book, please find a more detailed description here.
The all-alumni discussion will be one hour commencing at 5:15. Following that, the remainder of the time will be devoted to conversations with just the Class of 1960.
7:00 PM-9:00 PM ET
1965 Class Discussion: "Women Students at YLS: Then and Now"
Join your classmates for an evening of memories, updates, and conversation. Dean Heather K. Gerken will join to connect with your class for the first 15 minutes. Then Noah Messing ’00, your late classmate Arnold’s son and a YLS lecturer, will spend 15 minutes recalling his dad’s stories, his own experience, and the exciting things he’s doing with his students that weren’t on anyone’s horizons in 1965.
The evening’s highlight will be a panel discussion with your classmates Frances Enseki Francis, Nina Gershon, and Joan Hall and recent alumna Jessie Garland '19, moderated by Kate Stith, Lafayette S. Foster Professor of Law at YLS, addressing what it was like to be a woman at Yale Law School in 1965, what it’s like now, and how that experience has affected and may affect the practice of law. An "after-party" of socializing will end the event.
7:30 PM-9:00 PM ET
2010 Class Celebration
Join your classmates for an opportunity to converse and reconnect. Happy hour will include a visit from Dean Heather K. Gerken (first 15 minutes), do-you-remember trivia and small group break-out reunions. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Sunday, October 18
10:00 AM-10:30 AM ET
Take a Tour of The Courtyard
Have you heard about The Courtyard, but you're still wondering how you can be a part of this new online community? Come for a guided tour of this exciting resource for connecting with YLS alumni and students.
2:00 PM-4:00 PM ET
1990 Class Celebration
Join your classmates for an opportunity to reconnect. All members of the class are invited to share two-minute memoirs about life since the last reunion. Be sure to log in on time as Dean Heather K. Gerken will be joining for the first 15 minutes of this private class event.
4:30 PM-6:00 PM ET
2000 Class Celebration
Bring your favorite cocktail recipe and join your classmates for an opportunity to converse and reconnect. This event will feature group conversation as well as more interactive discussion in smaller break-out groups. Dean Heather K. Gerken will join for the first 15 minutes to personally connect with the class, so be sure to log in on time!
5:00 PM-7:00 PM ET
1985 Class Celebration
Join your classmates for an engaging opportunity to reminisce and reconnect. The event will feature group conversation as well as more interactive discussion in smaller break out groups. Be sure to log in on time as Dean Heather K. Gerken will be joining for the first 15 minutes to connect with your class.
5:30 PM-7:30 PM ET
2005 Class Celebration
Join your classmates for a 15-minute address by Dean Heather Gerken, followed by a 15-minute conversation and Q&A with Justice Gabriel P. Sanchez '05, who will share insights on life as a judge in California's First Appellate District. After these two presentations, you and your classmates will have ample time to chat and reconnect as a class.
6:30 PM-8:00 PM ET
2015 Class Celebration
Join your classmates for this private class discussion with Kristine Beckerle '15, who will speak to the human rights accountability work she has been doing in Yemen, and Matt Blumenthal '15, who will share thoughts from his work in the Connecticut legislature. It's the perfect opportunity to converse and reconnect since our time together at YLS. Be sure to join on time as Dean Heather Gerken will be attending for the first 15 minutes of the event to catch up with your class.
8:00 PM-10:00 PM ET
1995: Our Class Celebration Is On!
Enjoy your favorite beverage while reconnecting with your classmates at this Virtual Happy Hour. Dean Heather K. Gerken will also make a guest appearance during the first 15 minutes, so be sure to join on time!
1970 - No Class Event
The Class of 1970 Social Chairs have decided to postpone any class gathering until we can gather in-person next fall. We look forward to seeing you on November 5-7, 2021 for a wonderful celebration. In the meantime, if you would like to help organize a virtual event for your class, please contact us at alumni.law@yale.edu
1975 - No Class Event
The Class of 1975 Social Chairs have decided to postpone any class gathering until we can gather in-person next fall. We look forward to seeing you on October 22-24, 2021 for a wonderful celebration. In the meantime, if you would like to help organize a virtual event for your class, please contact us at alumni.law@yale.edu.