The 151st Commencement of the George Washington University Law School was held on Sunday, May 20, 2018. Events took place throughout the weekend and ranged from the Dean's Reception at the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the University Commencement on the National Mall and the GW Law Diploma Ceremony. Read more about the highlights below.
Awards and Honors
The Law School Diploma Ceremony, which was held in the Smith Center, honored the Class of 2018. Senior Associate Dean Roger A. Fairfax, Jr. announced the commencement. Dean and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law Blake D. Morant gave a welcome address to family members, friends, and members of the law school community.
Sean Winker, President of the GW Law Student Bar Association, presented five awards to faculty and staff. Dean Fairfax received the Distinguished Associate Dean Award in recognition of his teaching, scholarship, and service. The Distinguished Faculty Service Award, voted on by the graduating class, was received by Emily Hammond, Glen Earl Weston Research Professor. Bobby Walis received the Distinguished Staff Award. The Michael D. Cooley Memorial Award was presented to graduate Antionette Carradine. Megan Gabrielson, also a graduate, received the Student Bar Association Distinguished Service Award. Dean Morant presented the Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Service Award to Gregory E. Maggs, for his teaching and service to the law school. He was appointed a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in February; Judge Maggs was a member of the full-time faculty of GW Law from 1993 until his judicial appointment.
Prior to the ceremony address, Dean Morant conferred emeritus status to Professor W. Burlette Carter and Phyllis Goldfarb, Jacob Burns Foundation Professor of Clinical Law and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.
diZerega Lecture
Keith Enright, JD '00, Director of Google's Global Privacy Legal Team, delivered the diZerega Lecture and Commencement Address and spoke about his career path journey. Prior to becoming a law student, Mr. Enright did not have a clear idea of what he wanted to do with a law degree; however, he said,"something about GW spoke to me, so I found myself here, just like many of you, in Washington, D.C., with surprisingly little by way of a plan for the future."
During his time at GW, Mr. Enright worked as a research assistant to Professors Jeffrey Rosen and Dawn Nunziato, finding his niche in privacy and cyberlaw. Mr. Enright set up a small consulting practice with one of his classmates and then held positions at different startups as chief privacy officer or general counsel. He explained that he was unsure about his future because his career thus far had been "a series of serendipitous accidents...played out according to some grand prescient design."
Mr. Enright eventually found opportunities at Macy's and Bloomingdale's and became their first chief privacy officer. "That might have been the job I retired from. I loved the business. I felt like I was part of something iconic," he said. But years later, Mr. Enright had an ultimate moment of "professional serendipity" when he was contacted by Google. At the time, they had asked him to be considered for a new role they were creating, leading a privacy organization. Mr Enright's background in law, commerce, information management, and online advertising seemed like a potential fit.
"At that time, Google's interview process was pretty legendary. It felt like an awe-inspiring privilege to me" he said. His opening discussions with the company began in October of 2010 and after several months of interviews, he was offered the position in March of 2011.
At Google, Mr. Enright looks after a growing team of lawyers that spans much of the globe. His team advises Google's diverse portfolio of products and services on privacy and data protection. In this role, Mr. Enright has learned to ask many questions, keep an open mind, and seek out people who disagree with him. "Working at Google humbles me, every day, in so many ways," he said. "But there will be disagreements, and I learn to approach them with humility and respect. Mine is a practice area where the law is evolving in rapid, but tectonic, shifts."
Mr. Enright shared that he is profoundly grateful that his life has fashioned him into a "Google-shaped lawyer." He hopes that his story inspires students to approach their careers with passion, humility, and gratitude, "as these are the things that have really allowed me to make the most of my journey so far."
Mr. Enright gave students a few final words of advice to take away: "Appreciate the remarkable people you'll meet along your journey. They are what make it all worthwhile, in my experience," he said. "I charge you all to take the power of your law degrees and be so much more than the lawyers others have imagined you will be."
Following the address, the graduates approached the stage to receive his or her diploma from Dean Morant.
Commencement Weekend Photos