A Toast to Fiske
In celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary, past and current Fiske Fellows gathered in Washington, D.C., on June 16 to toast the program’s benefactor, Bob Fiske, JD ’55, HLLD ’97, over dinner at the Dolley Madison House. Fiske, a senior counsel in the litigation department of Davis Polk & Wardwell—the firm he joined in 1955—has also had a full and distinguished career in public service. He served as independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation and as assistant U.S. attorney and U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He served and continues to serve on numerous appointed judicial commissions, including, recently, the seven-member Judicial Compensation Commission established by the New York legislature to determine the compensation of New York State judges for the next four years.
Fiske created the fellowship program believing that having a government service experience early in a professional career is a fulfilling path to pursue, and desiring to help Michigan Law graduates have that experience. Three Fiske Fellows are named annually. Fellows receive debt repayment assistance for three years on all educational loans and a first-year stipend.
“Each year, I am enormously impressed with the quality of the Fellows—their intellectual achievements, their dedication, and their clear promise of making significant contributions to public service,” says Fiske. “It has been my pleasure to see their careers grow and flourish, and it was wonderful to be with them again for the program’s 10th anniversary.”
In appreciation, the Fellows made a collective gift in Fiske’s honor to the summer fellowship program at Michigan Law and presented him with the University of Michigan seal, signed by all. In his toast, Ryan Danks, ’02, paid tribute to Fiske’s public service career and thanked him on behalf of all the Fellows.
Statements written for the occasion reflect the Fellows’ passion for their work and their appreciation of Fiske’s generosity. Maggie Smith, ’07, wrote, “I am extremely grateful to Mr. Fiske for putting this position within my reach,” echoing the words of other Fellows who said they could not have followed their chosen career paths without the support of the fellowship program.
“I am particularly honored to receive the support of Robert Fiske,” wrote Dana Kaersvang, ’06, “whose work in both government and the private sector demonstrates his success in living his values through his legal career.”