Madeleine Kurtz ’84 to Join Social Justice Initiatives

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New York, Jan. 25, 2011—Madeleine Kurtz ’84, a public interest lawyer and associate director for public interest at Seton Hall, joins Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) as Director of Public Interest Professional Development and Pro Bono Programs. She begins January 31, 2011.

“Maddie was the unanimous choice of the student and faculty/administrator advisory committees for the position and of the SJI staff,” said Ellen Chapnick, Dean for Social Justice Initiatives. “I have known and admired her for years and am very pleased that she is joining our team. She brings with her deep insight and experience in public interest practice and career counseling.”

Kurtz has led the public interest programs at two area law schools. At Seton Hall Law School, which she joined in 2008, she worked directly with students seeking opportunities in public interest law, administered the Externship program, and presented programs related to topics in public interest law and practice, including for the school’s Public Interest Scholars. As Director of Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs at Rutgers Law School—Newark, from 2004 to 2006, she coordinated all public interest activities and programs, and oversaw a speaker series.

Kurtz also has extensive hands-on civil legal services experience. She has advised Volunteers of Legal Services, a non-profit organization in New York City that develops and administers pro bono programs and was a supervising attorney and clinical law teacher with the Family Defense Clinic at New York University School of Law for 10 years.

At Columbia, Kurtz received the Jane Marks Murphy Prize for exceptional interest and proficiency in advocacy in clinical offerings and was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She earned a B.A. in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

“As one of our graduates, Maddie knows the rigor of our curriculum, the excellent preparation our students receive and the pressures they face, which will help her get a quick start in assisting students to match their talents and aspirations with organizational needs,” Dean Chapnick said.
 

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