Transformative Student Experiences: Spotlight on the Impact of the Class of 1978/George Ludcke Fellowship (2008-2023)

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Class of 1978/George Ludcke Summer Fellowship, this session will reflect on the origins and impetus for creating this important program at the HRC, and the positive impact it has had on our students and the organizations they serve. Past recipients will share their fellowship experience and how it shaped their professional paths, and we will introduce the recipient of the 2023 George Ludcke/Class of 1978 Fellowship.

For this session, we will be joined by the following panelists:

Judge LaJune Thomas Lange ‘78 (ret.), Fourth Judicial District Court, Minnesota; Honorary Consul of South Africa in Minnesota; President, International Leadership Institute. The Honorable LaJune Thomas Lange began her legal career with the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office as a trial lawyer until appointed by the governor to the trial court. Judge Lange served as a Fourth Judicial District Court Judge for the State of Minnesota handling complex civil and criminal cases until her recent retirement.

Rebecca Rosefelt ‘19, Staff Attorney, Global Labor Justice, 2017 Class of 1978/George Ludcke Recipient. Prior to joining Global Labor Justice, Rebecca focused on garment worker rights with Justice in Fashion, and now sits on its Board of Directors. Rebecca's policy interests in worker rights stems from her time working in NYC’s garment industry. 

Christian Purnell ‘24, 2023 Class of 1978/George Ludcke Human Rights Fellow. Christian is currently a Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality staff member, and will work at Portland’s Metropolitan Public Defender’s Parent Child Advocacy Division.

This session is part of the Human Rights Center Day programming for Minnesota Law Spring Alumni Week. More information on the full program of events can be found here.