Bob Martin, per usual, did a terrific job of introducing a guest speaker. This week it was the Dean of the University of Maine School of Law, Danielle Conway. Dean Conway, we learned from Bob has a fascinating history. She is not your typical academician, steeped in the learned books of her vocation and seldom outside the walls of the institution. Our Dean began her career and studies in the Armed Forces and found her way into the JAG. Undoubtedly, her service to our nation was the stimulus that brought her to the more traditional and formal study of law, but not on a direct path. She commenced her formal studies at NYU Stern School of Business where some spark was ignited and brought her to the Howard School of Law and went on to garner her LL.M degree from the George Washington School of Law. To state the obvious, Dean Conway is a remarkably diverse individual of proven credentials and accomplishments, but never comes across in the stilted manner of an academician of renown. It’s worthy of note that our Dean is the first black female to hold the post.
 
Dean Conway is remarkably current in all fashion. She was quick to mention 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' and the need to get with it and get on social media. She comes across, despite her title and credentials, as eminently approachable. As she discussed 'The School' it seems that such accessibility is an essential part of her vision for the role of the institution. It is important to point out that she set many of us clear on the misconception that 'The Maine School of Law' is part of USM. It is only sharing the campus and is a stand-alone institution which enjoys a close relationship with USM.
 
It's refreshing to learn that the focus of the School of Law, under the guidance of Dean Conway, is to provide a public service as it develops fresh legal minds. It is the desire of the Dean that her graduates will appreciate and embrace her vision of service. She accepts that her noble intent of service poses somewhat of a challenge, since the lure and burden of debt can be distracting. However, this lady is not going to be deterred and has plans to create programs that will serve the economically disadvantaged who are too often unable to find, nor afford, the services needed to attain justice. 
 
In that regard she begs for our assistance to help institute the tri-partite mission of:
  1. Defending the Constitution
  2. Defending the rule of law
  3. Defend the impoverished and needy
The Dean feels that we have an extraordinary 'Bar and Bench' in the State of Maine and we have to take advantage of that asset. We have to recognize the limiting implications of both poverty and geography within the state and deal with them head on.She is creating an army of legal experts prepared to go out and serve.
 
On top of it all, she recognizes Rotary as a bastion of community service which parallels her commitments and is thinking about joining. Now, wouldn’t that be a striking verdict in our favor?!
 
(Photo at right: President Bowen Depke and Dean Conway.)
 
 
 
 
(Photo at left: State Representative and Portland Rotarian Eric Jorgensen and Dean Conway.)