The Belva Lockwood Society
The GW Law Belva Lockwood Society is the representative organization for female alumnae and a network to promote programming that supports and strengthens GW Law alumnae.
Belva Lockwood, an alumna of the law school and women's rights activist, was one of the first female attorneys in the United States, the first woman to practice before the Supreme Court and the first woman to run for President of the United States.
For the past 20+ years, GW Law has celebrated and honored her accomplishments and those of GW Law alumnae through the Belva Lockwood Award and Luncheon, in partnership with the student group Law Association for Women.
Please contact the GW Law’s division of University Advancement to share thoughts on future programming for the Belva Lockwood Society or to become involved as a leader in this area.
- Previous Award Recipients
2024
Caroline Pham, JD '112023
Patricia Lee, JD '022019
Cathy Russell, JD '882018
Margaret Richardson, JD '682017
Peggy Cooper Cafritz, JD '712016
Carmen Ortiz, JD ’812014
Margaret Zwisler, JD '762013
Elizabeth Moler, JD '772012
Corinne Ball, JD '782011
Margaret Carlson, JD '732010
Kathryn L. Carson, JD '832009
Wilma B. Liebman, JD '742008
Chrisina Guerola Sarchio, JD '952007
Mary Helen Sears, JD '602006
Judge Joanne Fogel Alper, JD '752005
Carol Elder Bruce, JD '741995
Anne W. Branscomb, JD '62
Barbara J. Hart, JD '75
Mary L. Schapiro, JD '801993*
Rosalyn B. Bell, JD '51
Barbara M. Keenan, JD '74
Susan M. Hoffman, JD '79
Jeanette A. Michael, JD '75*The first Belva Lockwood Memorial Award Ceremony was held in 1993.
- Past Programs
NYC Breakfast with Belva, Spring 2024 – The GW Law Development and Alumni Relations Office hosted a networking breakfast in honor of the Belva Lockwood Society. Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew moderated a conversation with alumnae and celebrated the achievements of GW Law’s women graduates while fostering meaningful connections within the community.
Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2024 - The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity to honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Caroline Pham, JD '11, was selected as the 2024 honoree because she was nominated by President Biden, and confirmed by the United States Senate, to serve as a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2023 - The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity to honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. The Honorable Patricia Lee, JD '02, was selected as the 2023 honoree because she was appointed to the Nevada Supreme Court, becoming the first African American woman and the first Asian American woman to serve as a Nevada Supreme Court Justice.
Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2019 – The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity to honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Cathy Russell, JD '88, was selected as the 2019 honoree because she served eight years at the White House and U.S. Department of State where she shaped U.S. foreign policy on gender equality.
Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2015 – The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Marybeth Peters, '71, was selected as the 2015 honoree because of her long and successful career of nearly 45 years in the Copyright Office, including serving as the 11th Register of Copyrights of the United States from 1994-2011. See photos from the 2015 Belva Lockwood Luncheon.
Bike with Belva, January 30 in New York City – SoulCycle’s Director of Legal Affairs, Melissa Schoffer Farber, LLM ’06, hosted GW Law alumnae for a ride at SoulCycle’s new studio in the NYC Financial District for a morning of fitness followed by networking. Many of our alumnae know fellow GW Law alumna Belva Lockwood as one of the first women lawyers in the United States and the first to argue before the Supreme Court, but few may know that Belva herself is widely considered to be DC’s first female cyclist!
DC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2014 – Dawna Steelman, JD '09, GW Law Alumni Association Board Member and Associate at Bryan Cave LLP, led a discussion with Elizabeth Jacobs, JD '84, at the Department of Treasury, and LaDawn Naegle, JD '84, Managing Partner of the DC Office of Bryan Cave LLP, about issues affecting women in the legal industry and related professional settings.
Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2014 – The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Peggy Zwisler, '76, was selected as the 2014 honoree because of her long and successful career as a trial attorney and because of her recognized excellence in client services. See photos from the 2014 Belva Lockwood Luncheon.
NYC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2013 – GW Law Alumni Association Board Member Lisa Mednick Owen, JD '84, and the GW Law Alumni Association hosted a networking breakfast along with DC Councilmember and GW Law Professor Mary Cheh to network and discuss future opportunities for GW Law alumnae programming.
DC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2013 – Carol Elder Bruce, JD '74, and the GW Law Alumni Association hosted a networking breakfast along with Professor Emeritus Teresa Moran Schwartz, JD '71, to network and discuss future opportunities for GW Law alumnae programming.
About Belva Lockwood
Teacher, lawyer, champion of women's rights, reformer, and peacemaker, Belva Ann Lockwood is a towering figure in the history of American women. Born Belva Ann Bennett in 1830, Mrs. Lockwood began her career as a teacher. Married and widowed at an early age, she moved to Washington, D.C., in 1866 to open a private school and take charge of the Union League Hall – a center for the burgeoning suffragette movement.
Seeing the law as the most effective means to advance what would become a decades-long struggle for women's rights, Mrs. Lockwood was admitted to National University (later the George Washington University), earning a law degree in 1873. Facing stiff opposition, Mrs. Lockwood was admitted to the D.C. Bar, where she sought and won admission to practice before the Federal Court of Claims and in 1879 became the first woman in American history to argue a case before the Supreme Court.
Widening the scope of her activism, Mrs. Lockwood was the Equal Rights Party candidate for president in 1884 and 1888 and became leader of the Universal Peace Union. Carrying arguments for arbitration to several Paris conferences, Mrs. Lockwood spoke eloquently on behalf of the peaceful resolution of international disputes.
The "irrepressible" Belva Ann Lockwood died in 1917, three years before the 19th Amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote.