Prof. Suzanne Thorpe (’89) Receives President's Service Award

Suzanne Thorpe (’89), professor of legal research instruction at the Law School, has been named a recipient of the University of Minnesota 2015 President's Award for Outstanding Service. The award, established in 1997 to honor those whose service to the University community has "gone well beyond the regular duties of a faculty or staff member," is presented to approximately 12 individuals each year.

"This is a wonderful honor," Thorpe said. "I am so grateful to the individuals who nominated and selected me for this distinguished award."

Professor Thorpe—who plans to retire in August of this year—first began working at the Law Library in 1987, during her 2L year at the Law School. Today, as associate director for faculty, research, and instructional services, she oversees all public and faculty services offered by the Law Library. She teaches in the 1L legal research program each year and has frequently taught advanced legal research courses as well. She works closely with the editors and staffs of the Law School's five student-edited journals and with students in the numerous moot court programs. Thorpe has also been responsible for collecting Scandinavian legal materials for the Law Library, for analyzing curricular trends in the 209 other ABA-accredited law schools, and for representing the Law School in the University Faculty Senate, among many other teaching and research activities. She is the author of Minnesota Legal Research (Carolina Academic Press, 2010), along with numerous book chapters, journal articles, and other publications.

"Throughout her career, Suzanne has been at the heart of the Law School's intellectual life," said Professor Joan S. Howland, associate dean for information and technology and director of the Law Library. "She has served and led with commitment, self-motivation, vision, and integrity. She has been a wise counselor, mentor, and role model for generations of students. Her career exemplifies 'service beyond self' and sets the standard of excellence for everyone associated with the University."

Suzanne Thorpe