Brooklyn's Michael Cahill Is Tenth Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students

Brooklyn Law School, Trailblazing Judge Mary Johnson Lowe '54 Honored with Named Scholarship to Promote Student Diversity and Inclusion:

The late Mary Johnson Lowe ’54, the first Black student to serve as editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Law Review and the second Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary, has been honored with a new scholarship in her name. Funded by a pledge of $100,000 from Dean Michael T. Cahill and his wife Rosalyn Scaff, the scholarship will support Brooklyn Law School students from underrepresented groups. Cahill and Scaff's gift to the Law School recognizes Lowe’s lifelong dedication to equal justice and civil rights—in the courtroom and in the community.

“This scholarship honors a woman who made history, at Brooklyn Law School and beyond, and reaffirms a commitment to continuing our own history as a school of opportunity for people from all backgrounds, who can find a home here and thrive,” said Cahill.

“Judge Lowe was outstanding at the Law School and in her practice. In addition to serving as editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Law Review, she was president of her class, and she graduated with honors. It’s remarkable to note that she graduated from law school in the same year that the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision struck down segregation in the nation’s public schools. That context underscores how extraordinary she and her achievements were—ultimately leading to her momentous appointment as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.”

The Lowe Scholarship joins the Law School’s 26 existing diversity-scholarship and student-support funds created by supporters committed to broadening opportunities in legal education and in the profession. “This scholarship harkens back to our tradition of nurturing the talents of students like Mary Johnson Lowe, while also looking forward and promoting inclusion today and in the future,” Cahill said.

 Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• Penn State Dickinson Law Dean Danielle Conway Makes $125,000 Gift For Student Aid During COVID-19 (Aug. 5, 2020)
• Pepperdine Caruso Dean Follows Lead Of Penn State Dickinson Dean In Giving $125,000 To Help Law Students With Emergency Needs (Aug. 11, 2020)
• Deans Double As Donors (Aug. 18, 2020)
• FIU's Antony Page Is Third Law School Dean To Make Major Gift To Students During COVID-19 (Aug. 21, 2020)
• Inspired By Penn State Dickinson Dean, Faculty And Staff Give $27,000 For Law Students (Aug. 26, 2020)
• More Dean Generosity: Who Will Be Next? (Aug. 27, 2020)
• University Of Florida's Laura Rosenbury Is Fourth Law School Dean ($100,000), Neil Buchanan Is Second Tax Prof ($25,001) To Make Major Gifts To Students During COVID-19 (Sept. 2, 2020)
• Arizona State Law Faculty And Staff Have Given $5 Million For Students Over Past Decade (Sept. 15, 2020)
• Yet Another Generous Dean: Laura Rosenbury (Sept. 22, 2020)
• Miami's Tony Varona Is Fifth Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students (Oct. 6, 2020)
• Vanderbilt's Chris Guthrie Is Sixth Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students (Nov. 24, 2020)
• Akron's C.J. Peters Is Seventh Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students (Nov. 28, 2020)
• Columbia's Gillian Lester Is Eighth Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students (Dec. 23, 2020)
• Quinnipiac's Jennifer Brown Is Ninth Law School Dean To Give At Least $100,000 To Students (Mar. 24, 2021)