June 29, 2022

Cathy Kirkland BA ’75, MAT ’83, JD ’87

2021
Pioneer Alumni Leadership Award

Watch the Alumni Honors Celebration 2022!

Cathy built her career in the legal world, and she finished her work as an administrative law judge, retiring in 2012. Cathy’s engagement with L&C has remained strong, including as former president of the Philanthropy Council, former member of the CAS Board of Alumni, and current vice president and president-elect of the law school’s Board of Alumni.

Cathy has earned a BA in sociology and education, an MAT with a focus on U.S. history, and a JD—all from Lewis & Clark.

During her third year at the law school, Cathy performed an externship in the Oregon Supreme Court and published a study of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1987. She was a founding member of a support group called Mothers-in-Law, served as orientation director, and was inducted into the Cornelius Society by the law faculty.

After Lewis & Clark, Cathy served as a judicial clerk in the Multnomah County Circuit Court. She worked as corporate counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance from 1989 through 1999, and finished her career as an administrative law judge, retiring in 2012.

Cathy’s engagement with the institution has remained strong over the years, including as former president of the Philanthropy Council, former member of the Board of Alumni for the College of Arts and Sciences, and current vice president and president-elect of the Board of Alumni for the law school. Cathy has four children and five grandchildren.