Story Archive

An expert in criminal justice policy and a recipient of Columbia Law’s 2025 Medal for Excellence, Glazer has devoted her career to the city she calls home. 

The co-chair of the Trustees of Columbia University, and chairman emeritus and of counsel of the law firm Fried Frank, is a recipient of Columbia Law’s 2025 Medal for Excellence.

Rolando T. Acosta ’82 and Alia Tutor ’00 receive the Law School’s highest honor at the annual Winter Luncheon.

Tutor, whose leadership gift to the reimagining of the Law Library represents the largest single commitment in the Law School’s history, supports nonprofit organizations and institutions where she believes she can make a significant difference. She is one of this year’s Medal for Excellence recipients. 

After serving for a quarter century as an innovative and community-minded trial and appellate judge, Acosta, one of this year’s Medal for Excellence recipients, remains deeply committed to judicial independence and community service.

Ellen V. Futter ’74 and Brad Smith ’84 are honored by Dean Gillian Lester as “empathic, smart, sensitive leaders” working to advance the public good.

As vice chair and president of Microsoft, Smith navigates the often choppy waters “where technology and society meet.” He will receive the 2022 Columbia Law Medal for Excellence on October 28.

As the longtime president of the American Museum of Natural History and former president of Barnard College, Futter, one of this year’s Medal for Excellence recipients, has devoted her career to expanding and burnishing the reputations of two of New York City’s most prominent institutions.

The Medal for Excellence winner and member of the Dean’s Council dies at 91.

Since 1964, Columbia Law School’s most prestigious award, the Medal for Excellence, has been presented at the annual Winter Luncheon to alumni and past or present faculty members who exemplify the qualities of character, intellect, and social and professional responsibility that the Law School seeks to instill in its students.​