Notre Dame Law School hosts annual Rev. David T. Link Public Interest Banquet

Notre Dame Law School hosted the third Rev. David T. Link Public Interest Banquet. The annual banquet is organized by the Law School’s Public Interest Leadership Council (PILC), a student group composed of the leaders of our public interest student organizations, to honor Rev. David T. Link and his dedication to being a servant to humanity, God, and the Notre Dame Law School community.

The Law School honored Professor Michael Jenuwine and alumna Gaëlle Colas ‘17 J.D. both of whom have embodied the legacy of Father Link through their commitment to public interest work. Professor Michael Jenuwine received the South Bend Community Award, and Gaëlle Colas received the Rev. David T. Link Impact Award.

Fr. Link lived an exemplary life of service. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School, he served as dean of Notre Dame Law School for an impressive 24 years, making him the longest-serving law school dean in history at the time. Although he has since been surpassed, Dean Cole aptly remarked, “No one can surpass that man in character." Following the passing of his wife, Barbara, Father Link stepped down as dean and entered the seminary. He was ordained in 2008 in the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, dedicating the remainder of his life to ministering to inmates and prisoners.

Fr. Link coined the Law School’s phrase “a different kind of lawyer” to inspire students to see the legal profession as a means of serving others and making a positive impact in the world. His legacy is one of compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to others.

Dean G. Marcus Cole opened the evening by sharing both his professional and personal relationship with Father Link. He shared that they first met in 1997 when Fr. Link sought to recruit him to teach at Notre Dame Law School. Although Dean Cole went on to teach at Stanford Law School, their friendship continued, even as Fr. Link stepped down as dean and devoted the later years of his life to working in Northern Indiana’s prisons.

Dean Cole also shared an anecdote about his return to Notre Dame in 2019. When he arrived, he ran into Fr. Link and hoped to reconnect. However, whenever Cole reached out to arrange a meeting, Fr. Link would reply, “I’m sorry, I’m working that day.” Cole recounted Fr. Link’s words: “I work in a prison; they don’t get a day off, so I don’t take a day off.” This dedication to his work and to serving others defined Fr. Link’s character.

Concluding his remarks, Dean Cole expressed, “I want to honor him with my life, but I also want to honor him with this dinner tonight. I know that all of you who dedicate yourselves to public service and public interest are carrying on the legacy he began here.”

Community Award

The South Bend Community Award was presented to Professor Michael Jenuwine, recognizing his steadfast advocacy for disadvantaged and marginalized community members, as well as his commitment to upholding the dignity of the vulnerable. Licensed as both an attorney and a clinical psychologist, Professor Jenuwine directs the Applied Mediation Clinic, where he supervises students engaged in civil and domestic mediation cases across Indiana and Michigan. The Applied Mediation Clinic is the oldest continuously running legal clinic at Notre Dame and has helped individuals resolve over two thousand disputes since 2007. In his acceptance speech, he expressed the fulfillment he derives from his pro bono work, noting that while it may often be difficult, it remains the most meaningful aspect of his career. “I’m sincerely blessed to be able to do this work and to be at an institution where the Catholic mission is the cornerstone of what we do.” He also provides pro bono representation in guardianship, disability, and child protection court cases, training students who assist him in working with clients on these matters. Jenuwine praised the dedication of Notre Dame students who actively engage in public service through the clinic, embodying the values of compassion and commitment to justice.

In addition to teaching courses on professional responsibility, mediation, and mental health law, Jenuwine has served on the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners since 2017, with research focused on family law, child advocacy, and interdisciplinary legal practice. Professor Jenuwine reflected on his experiences in the Applied Mediation Clinic, sharing a particularly inspiring moment when, despite classes at the law school being canceled due to heavy snow, his students working with him in the clinic still made the effort to drive through harrowing conditions to conduct their scheduled mediations at a clinic office located thirty miles from campus in southwest Michigan. Their unwavering commitment to serving others, even under challenging conditions, exemplifies the resilience and compassion central to their education.

Impact Award

The Rev. David T. Link Impact Award was presented to Gaëlle Colas, a 2017 ND Law graduate, in recognition of her commitment to upholding Father Link’s legacy of advocating for justice. Gaëlle earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University before pursuing her law degree at Notre Dame. Since graduating, Gaëlle has worked as an attorney with the Migrant Farmworker Project at Florida Rural Legal Services, focusing on wage and hour law, employment discrimination, farmworker and migrant housing, and transportation safety. In 2024, she represented the Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor for failing to enforce essential farmworker protections.

Colas entered Notre Dame Law School with a clear vision of her purpose: to serve the public interest, particularly in advocating for farmers facing legal challenges—struggles she had witnessed firsthand growing up in the farming town of Immokalee, Florida. She shared that her application to Notre Dame Law School reflected this genuine commitment, revealing that she wasn’t motivated by the prospect of a lucrative paycheck but rather by a desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need. She initially did not expect to be admitted, but when she received her acceptance, she explained that Notre Dame was clearly dedicated to nurturing “a different kind of lawyer.” This realization affirmed that the school was the right environment for her to deepen her passion for public service and develop the skills necessary to advocate effectively for those who often face overwhelming legal difficulties. Through her journey, Gaëlle exemplified the values of compassion and commitment to justice that are central to Father Link’s legacy.

The Public Interest Leadership Council co-chairs for the event were—Noah Austin, Morgan Hall, Carolina Salinas, and Megan Sarsfield. The Council was integral to the evening’s success, selecting the award winners, crafting the program, and serving as masters of ceremony by introducing the honorees.