Thirteenth Annual Mentor Awards

“My mentor reminded me to trust my instincts as I enter the legal profession. During the year we worked together, she made major choices concerning how to balance her family and her career. In the process she made tough decisions and took great risks. I have no doubt that taking these risks brought her some stress but also gave her great joy. She feels confident about her work and is doing what she loves. From my perspective, I can think of no better role model than my mentor, Alex West ‘99, ” said Patrick Foran ‘09, a fourth year evening student, in nominating his mentor for the annual Andrea Swanner Redding Outstanding Mentor Award. West received the award during the Spring Mentor Program Awards Reception on April 7, 2009, held at the Law School.

Matched because of Foran’s interest in learning more about Family Law and West’s practice in that field, Foran was impressed that her mentoring extended not just to advising him about Family Law practice and practice in general, but also to work/life balance issues. “As a parent and evening law student, Alex always provided a calming influence and positively reassured me throughout the year. Alex and I have a few things in common: we have children, step-children, and lead very busy lives. Alex’s experiences juggling all of these roles in addition to her professional responsibilities taught me by example. She reminded me not to forget what is important in life during the time I felt exceedingly busy.”

Foran added, “Alex has been an extraordinarily positive influence during my last year of law school and I am very grateful for her mentoring. Perhaps more than anything, I am now fortunate to have a lifelong friend and colleague.”

In addition to West’s award, the first Outstanding Mentee Award was presented to recognize a student who went above and beyond to make the mentoring experience a positive one - both for themself and for their mentor. Said Associate Dean Libby Davis ‘93, who oversees the Mentor Programs, “I think all our mentors participate in the program because they want to give something - experience, advice, the benefits of perspective - to a student. But, it is made a more enjoyable experience for the mentor when the student is actively engaged in the partnership and works to make it a productive and fun experience.”

The inaugural Outstanding Mentee Award was presented to Shara Jones ‘10, a second year student, who was mentored by Jessica Mindlin. Mindlin said, “Shara has been a very enthusiastic mentee and made great use of the connections and recommendations I was able to provide to her. It has been a privilege to be her mentor.”

Four alumni who were mentoring first year law students received First Year Partner Awards based on the heartfelt nominations of their students. Ashlee Albies ‘05, a civil rights and employee-side employment attorney at Steenson Schumann Tewksbury Creighton & Rose, mentored Alexis Loretz ‘11; Maya Crawford ‘03, the Associate Director of the Campaign for Equal Justice, mentored Lindsey Burrows ‘11; Mami Fujii ‘07, an associate attorney at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, mentored Audrey Tam ‘11; and Trung Tu ‘00, a partner at McEwen Gisvold mentored Michael Hsu ‘11.

Mentor Program Awards

Mentors who were paired with first year students are presented the First Year Partnership Program Mentoring Award. Typically, four First Year Partnership Program awards are given each year.

Upper division mentors receive the Andrea Swanner Redding Outstanding Mentor Award and it is presented to only one mentor each year, with rare exception. The award honors Andrea Swanner Redding ‘86, who died on April 5, 1996. At the time of her death she was the assistant dean for career services at the law school. Her professional affiliations included active membership and involvement in Oregon Women Lawyers, the National Association for Law Placement, the Oregon State Bar Association and the Multnomah Bar Association. During her tenure in career services, she transformed the office, adding dozens of new programs and services and involved more alumni than ever before. She was described by many as “tireless,” and her contribution to the law school was significant and cannot be adequately described.