Bill Smith Memorial Lecture

Named after a beloved and now passed alum, Bill F. Smith (’98), the Memorial Lecture was established with the support of his family. In his brief career as an attorney, Bill Smith championed the rights of the underrepresented in the labor and employment context. At King Hall, Bill Smith was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award winner as well as an active and beloved presence at King Hall. Each year, the event honors Bill Smith’s memory by presenting cutting edge issues affecting the LGBT community and/or the disability community.

Our 2020 Bill Smith Lecture was planned to be prominent LGBTQ+ law advocate Alexander Chen. Alexander Chen is a Clinical Instructor and the Founding Director of the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic. Alexander’s work focuses on expanding the rights of LGBTQ+ people through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and direct representation at both the national and local levels. However, the event was canceled due to the pandemic. We look forward to hosting the Bill Smith Memorial Lecture again in 2021.