On May 11, 2019, Johanna Leblanc, LLM '18, presented a commencement keynote for Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) in Daytona, FL. Ms. Leblanc was also awarded an honorary doctorate from B-CU during the commencement.
An alumna of the B-CU political science program, she urged students to fill their lives with successes and accomplishments they would be proud to show to others and contemplate how their life's work could contribute to the advancement of humanity.
"I urged graduates to consider the following: 'Think of the degrees you are receiving today as an empty jump drive. You have the power to fill it up with whatever you wish. You can fill it with pictures, dissatisfactions, success - anything you want. Is your jump drive going to have clutter or files to advance humanity? If you were to lose your jump drive 10 years from now, what would people find on it?'" Ms. Leblanc said.
She also shared with students about her passion for advancing and uplifting the Republic of Haiti, reminding the students of their role as global citizens.
"I shared Haiti's history not because it is my history as a Haitian-American woman, but because it is the history of all of us, regardless of your race or national origin," Ms. Leblanc said. "Haiti's history is a testament to what's possible when members of a nation are willing to work together for a greater good and fight against oppression."
Additional to a bachelor of arts degree from B-CU and master of laws degree from GW Law, Ms. Leblanc also holds a master of science degree from Florida A&M University and a juris doctor degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Currently, she serves as the Senior Advisor to both Haiti's Ambassador to the United States and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We are so proud of Johanna and her many accomplishments. Her selection as commencement speaker is a great honor and an opportunity she earned from all her hard work and successes," Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Lisa M. Schenck said. "The graduating students were given the opportunity to learn about her experiences and values, and receive sage advice from one of their own."
During her time at GW Law, Ms. Leblanc received the Lifetime Trailblazer Award for Driving Change and Innovation from the Association of Haitian Professionals (AHP) in Washington, DC, and was named to Mayor Bowser's Commission on African Affairs. Through her work, she has advocated for better environmental policies, raised awareness to housing issues impacting immigrants, and worked on women's rights issues both internationally and locally.