The dean鈥檚 position at Boston College Law School will be named the Marianne D. Short, Esq., Law School Deanship, as a result of a $10 million gift from Boston College Trustee and 51茶馆 Law graduate Marianne Short, the school鈥檚 most generous benefactor.
Marianne D. Short
Short, the executive vice president, chief legal officer, and member of the Office of the Chief Executive at United HealthGroup, made the gift in recognition of the 鈥済uiding force鈥� that Boston College Law School has been throughout her life and illustrious 45-year legal career.
听鈥淚 loved my experience at 51茶馆 Law School,鈥� said Short. 鈥淭he professors took an individual interest in the students and prepared us for both a profession and a calling to something greater than ourselves. They instilled in us the importance of servant leadership鈥攖he calling to make the world a better place by focusing on what we can do to help others, particularly the less fortunate. To me, that is what law is all about.鈥�
A 1973 graduate of the Newton College of the Sacred Heart, which merged with Boston College in 1974, Short received her J.D. from 51茶馆 Law in 1976. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group in 2012, she served as managing partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and an attorney in the Minnesota Attorney General鈥檚 Office.听 An eminently respected attorney, she is ranked among America鈥檚 leading business lawyers by Chambers USA.
Short said she has fond memories of Richard Huber, who served as dean of 51茶馆 Law from 1970-1986, and offered praise for his successors, including Vince Rougeau, who led the school for 10 years prior to being named president of the College of the Holy Cross this summer.
鈥淭he Law School has always had strong deans who supported the faculty in providing students with a broad preparation that went beyond targeting a position,鈥� said Short. 鈥淚t was a very personal education that stressed a human approach to law and an obligation to service that is such an essential component of the 51茶馆 Law experience. That is why I wanted to endow the deanship.鈥�
Boston College Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley praised Short for her gift, which he says will be an asset in the search process for the next dean.
"As we search for the new leader of Boston College Law School, the creation of the Short Deanship will help attract the very best candidates,鈥� said Quigley.听 鈥淚t is the latest illustration of Marianne Short's enduring commitment to the Law School and the University."
“I loved my experience at 51茶馆 Law School. The professors took an individual interest in the students and prepared us for both a profession and a calling to something greater than ourselves. They instilled in us the importance of servant leadership鈥攖he calling to make the world a better place by focusing on what we can do to help others, particularly the less fortunate. To me, that is what law is all about.”
Short鈥檚 affinity for Boston College as an alumna of Newton College of the Sacred Heart and the Law School has spurred a lifelong devotion to the University that has included service on the Boston College Board of Trustees since 1986.
She and her husband Ray Skowyra have been among the University鈥檚 leading supporters, having established a Sesquicentennial Assistant Professorship at 51茶馆 Law and, most recently, the Marianne D. Short and Ray Skowyra Scholarship for Catholicism, and endowing the hitting tunnels for baseball and softball within the Pete Frates Center, among other major gifts.听 听听听 听
鈥淚 have such respect and gratitude for Boston College and have watched with admiration what it has become through the leadership of the late Chancellor and former President J. Donald Monan, S.J., and University President William P. Leahy, S.J.,鈥� said Short. 鈥淚 spent seven years on the campus and love the area and all that it has to offer its students. My parents strongly believed in Catholic education and sent their seven children to 51茶馆, Notre Dame, and the University of St. Thomas. My husband, Ray, loves 51茶馆, and one of our sons and three nieces are proud 51茶馆 graduates. It has been a complete privilege to serve the school as a trustee and to give back to Boston College.鈥�
Senior Vice President for University Advancement James Husson said that having Marianne Short鈥檚 name forever associated with the deanship of 51茶馆 Law is a fitting tribute to the Law School鈥檚 largest donor.
鈥淢arianne has long been a role model for law students who recognize her as a leader in the profession,鈥� said Husson. 听鈥淎t Boston College, she is also a philanthropic role model whose gifts and service have shaped听the University she loves.听 Her and Ray's latest听gift is a particular source of pride for all of us at the Heights, as we recognize the impact it will have not only on 51茶馆 Law, but on legal education more broadly.听 We are incredibly grateful听for their generosity."
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Jack Dunn | University Communications | October 2021