Thomas J. Drinan Memorial Fellowship
The Fellowship Award
The Fellowship is awarded annually to a Suffolk University Law student who is interested in criminal justice and supports a 10-week summer position in a Massachusetts public office engaged in prosecution or defense of criminal cases.
Each year, some 10-20 2L applicants apply to be a Drinan Fellow. The Committee seeks to select Fellows who best represent Tom’s values, including a balanced and fair approach to justice and community service. Fellows have the opportunity for a paid summer internship in one of five offices: the US Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Federal Defender’s Office, or a District Attorney’s Office. Since 1988, Fellowships have been awarded annually, impacting 37 law students to date.
About the late Thomas J. Drinan
Tom was born in November 1948 and completed his BA at Boston College in 1973. At Suffolk University Law School, Thomas was editor of the Law Review. He graduated with his JD in 1976. He worked for his first five years as a trial lawyer for the Massachusetts Defenders Committee, then became a prosecutor with a specialization in tax cases and as an Assistant US Attorney within the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office in Boston. He died all too soon, in December 1986, at the age of 38. US Attorney Robert S. Mueller, later, director of the FBI, told The Boston Globe on December 31, 1986 that Tom Drinan was “what a prosecutor should be. He was tough, hard-nosed, fair and compassionate.”
The Annual Reception
The Thomas J. Drinan Fellowship Reception provides an opportunity for donors to the Fellowship to meet current and former Fellowship recipients. The next reception is scheduled to take place on June 11, 2026, 5-7 p.m. Details are forthcoming.
Until his passing in 2007, Father Robert F. Drinan provided keynote remarks annually. Since then, many of Tom’s judicial colleagues have keynoted the reception, including the Honorable Mark Wolf; the Honorable Robert Collings; the Honorable Marianne Bowler, JD ’76, HLLD ’94, and Former Trustee of Suffolk University; the Honorable Douglas Woodlock; the Honorable Richard Stearns, HLLD ’08; the Honorable Sydney Hanlon; and the late Honorable Edward “Ted” Harrington (who hired Tom into the US Attorney’s Office). Sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (ret.) Robert Mueller, who eulogized Tom at his funeral, spoke at the 20th Anniversary Fellowship Reception. Martha Coakley, HLLD ’09, when she was Attorney General, and the late Ralph Gants, then Chief Justice, also have presented at one of the receptions.
Drinan Committee Members
Lisa Oliver White, JD ’06, Co-Chair
Arthur E. Maravelis, JD ’93, Co-Chair
Hon. Marianne Bowler, JD ’76, HLLD ’94
Anne M. Cosco, JD ’89
Edward Crane, JD ’10
Michael D’Angelo, JD ’13
Andrea Messmer Doton, JD ’07
Diane B. Drinan
Richard J. Egan
Richard D. Glovsky
Anne C. Goldbach
Casey Groff, JD ’09
Hon. Tobin N. Harvey
Hon. Gary S. Katzmann
Michael K. Loucks
Andrea McGeehan, JD ’04
Katherine M. Potenza, JD ’08
Alan Rose
Martin R. Rosenthal
Jennifer B. Schmidt, JD ’19
Brian P. Ward, JD ’00
With special thanks to past Committee Members
John Dingee, JD ’98*
Jennifer Ferreira, JD ’90*
The Honorable Gregory C. Flynn, JD ‘77*
Dennis J. Kelly, Member Emeritus
Bruce A. Singal, Member Emeritus
*Deceased
Past Drinan Fellowship Recipients
2025 Bailey Cortright, JD ’26
2024 Dante Driscoll, JD ’25
2023 Daniel A. Wulff, JD ’24
2022 Kyra Kosh, JD ’23
2021 Emily Pina, JD ’22
2020 Brinhley Alviarez, JD ’21
2019 Hunter R. Wildrick, JD ’20
2018 Jennifer Bourne Schmidt, JD ’19
2017 Sam M. Gonyea, JD ’19
2016 Alexander McIsaac, JD ’17
2015 Erin Knight, JD ’16
2014 Courtney Beal, JD ’15
2013 Kerrie Barry, JD ’14
2012 Michael D’Angelo, JD ’13
2011 Joanne Jacquet, JD ’12
2010 Meredith L. Reeves, JD ’11
2009 Edward D. Crane, JD ’10
2008 Casey Groff, JD ’09
2007 Katherine M. Potenza, JD ’08
2006 Andrea M. Doton, JD ’07
2005 Lisa Oliver White, JD ’06
2004 Dan Tran, JD ’05
2003 Andrea L. McGeehan, JD ’04
2002 Ania M. Hopkins, JD ’03
2001 Eric N. Weber, JD ’02
2000 Megan Elise Kures, JD ’01
1999 Brian P. Ward, JD ’00
1998 Daniel P. Barry, JD ’99
1997 John L. Dingee, JD ’98*
1996 James A. Clifford, JD ’97
1995 Diane S. Byrnes, JD ’96
1994 Dorothy E. Graham, JD ’95
1993 Jacqueline L. Perczek, JD ’94
1992 Arthur E. Maravelis, JD ’93
1991 Ronald W. Thompson, JD ’92
1990 Sandra W. Magliozzi, JD ’91
1989 Jennifer R. Ferreira, JD ’90*
1988 Anne M. Cosco, JD ’89
*Deceased