To all members of the Northeastern Community:

It gives me great pleasure to share news with you about two of our trustee alumnae, who are gaining much deserved recognition by virtue of their appointment to high level public service positions.

Last Friday the state legislature approved the appointment of Margot Gardener Botsford (Law ’73) as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Governor Deval Patrick will swear her into office this week. Her appointment to the highest court in the state is recognition of her dedication, intelligence, and integrity — qualities that many of us have experienced first-hand. Judge Botsford has been a staunch ally and supporter of Northeastern throughout her distinguished career. She has expressed to me her great pride in our university and the transformative role that co-op played in her life. As a member of our board of trustees, she contributes generously of her time and talent, sitting on the Executive Committee and the Academic Committee. This year, she established the Margot Botsford Cooperative Education Stipend Fund for Public Interest Law, making a significant financial commitment that will benefit students in the School of Law for years to come.

You may recall this past spring that I announced the appointment of Trustee Alumna Nonnie Burnes, Law ’78, as the Commonwealth’s Insurance Commissioner. In just a few short months in her new role, Commissioner Burnes established landmark policies to bring more affordable insurance to the state. Nonnie’s passion for Northeastern is revealed through her unyielding commitment of time and energy on our behalf. She too invested financially in our university by establishing the Burnes Scholarship for Public Interest Law. She is a true exemplar of what it means to give back, having left a thriving private sector career to serve the public as a Circuit Superior Court Judge for the past decade. Despite the demands of her new role, Nonnie continues to give countless hours to Northeastern in her role as a University Trustee and member of the Executive Committee. We are indeed grateful for her support and wish her continued success in her new position.

Both Margot and Nonnie have taken similar paths and both are driven by a commitment to public law and public service. It is remarkable that each has chosen to invest in Northeastern as a way to extend that commitment to generations of students. We are very gratified for their success and leadership. Please join me in congratulating them on their recent appointments.

Sincerely,
Joseph E. Aoun
President