Villanova Law Commencement

I returned from Oklahoma in time to attend Villanova Law's commencement on Friday. One of the highlights was an elegant and self-reflective commencement speech by US Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire (Villanova Law Class of 1993 and pictured here with Father Peter Donohue, OSA, President of Villanova). Senator Ayotte discussed her career path from a case as a court-appointed defense lawyer to becoming a homicide prosecutor, New Hampshire Attorney General (where she successfully argued Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood at the US Supreme Court), and US Senator. To a class entering a tough job market, Senator Ayotte's message about persistence and overcoming challenges in a legal career was pitch-perfect. Senator Ayotte joined the graduates and their families at the reception afterwards and showed why she won 60% of the vote in last year's New Hampshire Senate race. (Next year's Republican presidential nominee should take note when selecting a running mate.) Other highlights included seeing my former student Megan Schmid, an Air Force officer from Nebraska who gave birth during law school, walk across the stage with her daughter and graduate summa cum laude as she prepares to head off to the Air Force JAG Corps, and visiting with Timothy O'Meara, the Provost of Notre Dame during my time as an undergraduate there, whose grandson (Timothy O'Meara Bransfield) was in the graduating class. Congratulations to the Villanova Law Class of 2011!