Jan Abbott Receives John Marshall Award
Jan Abbott received the John Marshall Award during the Law School's graduation ceremony on May 16. The award honors a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated "character, leadership, and a spirit of selfless service to the Law School community."
Abbott serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Law School's Journal Center and in that capacity works with the student editors and staff of the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, the William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, and the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law. Dean Davison Douglas noted that while she is an unsung hero, working behind the scenes, her talents have not gone unnoticed.
Douglas quoted one nominator who wrote that Abbott "... embodies selfless service. She works nights and weekends to ensure that the specialty law journals at the law school produce issues of the highest quality. I honestly do not know what the journals would do without Jan and her always-willing, can-do attitude. Her service is invaluable."
The award honors the example of John Marshall (1755-1835), who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States. Marshall was among the first students to study law under the tutelage of George Wythe at William & Mary.