Two Outstanding Alumni Receive the 2025 Medal for Excellence

From left to right: Elizabeth Glazer ’86, Dean Daniel Abebe, and David J. Greenwald ’83.

Two longtime New York City leaders with strong ties to Columbia Law School received the Medal for Excellence at the 2025 Winter Luncheon, held on February 6 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

More than 300 members of the Columbia Law community gathered to celebrate the honorees and watch Daniel Abebe, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, present the Law School’s most prestigious award to Elizabeth Glazer ’86 and David J. Greenwald ’83. The Medal for Excellence is given to alumni and past or present faculty members who exemplify the character, intellect, and social and professional responsibility the Law School seeks to instill in its students.

Glazer is a criminal justice lawyer and advocate and the founder of Vital City, a journal and policy venture. She previously directed New York City’s office of criminal justice under Mayor Bill de Blasio, served as deputy secretary for public safety for New York State, and headed the organized crime and violent gangs units in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. 

Greenwald is chairman emeritus and of counsel of the law firm Fried Frank. He rejoined the firm in 2013, after nearly 20 years at Goldman Sachs, and served as chairman for 10 years until he retired in 2024. He is co-chair of the Trustees of Columbia University, and is also a leader in law, finance, and the nonprofit world. A passionate supporter of the Law School, Greenwald serves on the Dean’s Council, participated in the Deals Workshop, and co-chaired his 30th, 35th, and 40th class reunions. 

“I don't know how anyone could be here and not feel a sense of awe and inspiration,” said Dean Abebe. “There are so many reasons why I was enthusiastic about joining this extraordinary university, and seeing so many Law School alumni, faculty, students, supporters, and friends together in one room only further confirms and validates my enthusiasm.”  

Columbia Law School Association President G. Wade Leak ’89 welcomed guests to the luncheon and introduced Katrina Armstrong, interim president of Columbia University. Acknowledging the challenges facing Columbia University specifically and higher education generally, Armstrong said: “We must continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge, nurture groundbreaking discoveries in our laboratories and hospitals, and contribute to the rule of law in fostering a more just society. These are the hallmarks of our university’s mission and character, and they are what we celebrate today in honoring Elizabeth and David.”

“A Force of Nature” 

Glazer’s career in public service is “a testament to what’s possible when you combine a razor-sharp legal mind with a profound commitment to justice and fairness,” said Dean Abebe. “Liz has pursued one goal: making communities safer and stronger. She’s shown us what’s possible when we dare to think big, when we focus on evidence, and we stay committed to justice.” She is, he said, “a force of nature.”

Accepting the award, Glazer, who grew up in Morningside Heights (“always on the west side of the street”), paid tribute to her family’s three-generation association with Columbia University.  She met her husband, Bill Montgomery ’86, during her 1L year, despite their being in separate class sections due to their names falling in different halves of the alphabet. She arrived at Columbia Law after spending time in Southeast Asia working with refugees. Law school “was a revelation,” she said. “It pulled back the curtain on how the world works. Society wasn’t utter chaos, and you don’t make the rules up as you go along—today notwithstanding—and change them as you please. There was an order and a logic to it.”  

She added: “When it seems as if governance has a kind of Tom-and-Daisy philosophy—smashing up people and things—and doing that even before the law gets a chance to put its boots on, I’m particularly grateful to the Law School and particularly proud of it. I’m very proud to be in the company of all of you. What the Law School has given us is worth the world. It’s taught us how the world is structured and ordered, and it’s given us the tools to make it a better place.”

“Dedication and Drive”

A prominent leader in both the legal and philanthropic communities, a marathon runner, and a devoted New York Yankees fan, Greenwald “truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a Columbia lawyer,” Dean Abebe said. He praised Greenwald’s “dedication and drive” and cited the hallmarks of his “extraordinary career” as “hard work, leadership, and a deep commitment to serving and stewarding institutions.

Accepting the medal, Greenwald attributed much of his success to the Law School. “Columbia helped to shape who I am,” he said. “I learned how to think like a lawyer and developed critical thinking skills. … The excellent education I received laid the foundation for everything I have accomplished in my career.”

As co-chair of the Trustees of Columbia University, Greenwald also spoke about how recent events “highlight the challenges a great university faces in guaranteeing both free speech rights and a welcoming environment for all, while also ensuring that it can accomplish its academic mission.” Looking to the future, he added: “I am also proud of the progress the university is making in addressing the issues we face. We have more work to do and, as we do it, we will remain true to the mission and values that have built this great university.”

Giving back to the university and the Law School “has been deeply rewarding,” Greenwald said. Like Glazer, he noted a long history of family ties to the university and the Law School. “Supporting this institution is not just about honoring my past, it’s also about investing in the future. I believe in the transformative power of education, and it’s a privilege to play a small role in helping Columbia advance its mission.”