Early Bird

Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship welcomes local, national luminaries

The event’s 40th anniversary features Phoebe Haddon, legal trailblazer, acclaimed academic and niece of Rachel B. Noel.

By Lindsey Coulter

February 25, 2021

To mark the 40^th anniversary of the Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship, Metropolitan State University of Denver will bring together seven notable activists and academics for a powerful conversation on hope and healing.

The Hon. Wellington E. Webb; Hon. Wilma J. Webb; Melissa Harris-Perry, Ph.D.; Aishah Shahidah Simmons; Philip Hart, Ph.D.; and Judi Hampton, who each embody a different facet of Noel’s legacy of academic leadership, activism and social justice, will return to the campus together with 2021 Professor Phoebe A. Haddon, J.D., legal trailblazer, acclaimed academic and niece of Rachel B. Noel.

“MSU Denver is incredibly fortunate to welcome these leaders at this pivotal moment in the history of our nation and community as well as for social justice and higher education,” said Michael Benitez, Ph.D., vice president for Diversity and Inclusion. “To bring Phoebe Haddon, who has such a deep personal connection to Rachel B. Noel, into this conversation is especially meaningful.”

Haddon has served as chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden, where she now teaches. She is the recipient of the 2019 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of American Law Schools and the 2019 Smith College Medal. In 2015, she received the Trailblazer Award from the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and was honored by the National Jurist as one of the 25 Most Influential People in Legal Education. In 2011, she received the Great Teacher Award from the Society of American Law Teachers. Haddon holds a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Duquesne University School of Law in 1977. She received a bachelor’s degree from Smith College in 1972 and served as vice chair of the Smith College Board of Trustees until 2009.

Tuesday

Rachel B. Noel Professorship Lecture and Awards Event

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Guest emcee Tamara Banks
• Featured speaker Phoebe A. Haddon

RSVP today.

Wednesday

Hope and Healing Panel of Equals

5-6:30 p.m.

Featuring Noel Professors past and present

• Phoebe A. Haddon
• Philip Hart
• Aishah Shahidah Simmons
• Wilma J. Webb
• Wellington E. Webb
• Melissa Harris-Perry
• Judi Hampton

RSVP today.

Since 1981, the Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship has fostered multiculturalism, diversity and academic excellence by inviting renowned scholars and artists to MSU Denver to conduct classes, seminars, performances and lectures for Roadrunners and the larger Denver community.

Learn more.