New York lawyer honored as 2021 Yale Medalist

Ralph Dawson (New York) has been selected as the recipient of the Yale Medal, the highest award presented by the Yale Alumni Association. Since 1952, the Yale Medal has been awarded to recognize and honor outstanding individual service to the university. Dawson was selected based on his many significant accomplishments throughout his time during and after Yale in which he continues to support and demonstrate the university's ideals as a dedicated mentor.

In announcing the award, the Alumni Association declared Dawson "a seminal figure in Yale's history." As a first-year student, Dawson teamed with upperclassmen to organize Yale's groundbreaking symposium, "Black Studies in the University." He played a significant role in broadening the academic curriculum by helping to create Yale's African American Studies major and department, the first at a major American university.

He also became a key member in, and the leader of the Black Student Alliance at Yale (BSAY), working with the organization's leadership to successfully push for the creation of the Afro-American Cultural Center (the House), and lobbying the university to allow women as undergraduates, which occurred for the first time in 1969.

As leader of the BSAY during the 1970 May Day demonstrations occasioned by a famous murder trial of Black Panther Party leaders and anti-Viet Nam war demonstrations in New Haven, he was recognized by the Yale Administration as a key student leader who assisted in maintaining calm and order on campus.

Dawson has remained active in his involvement with the university. He has organized mini-reunions for Black alumni, stayed active in Class of 1971 events and participates in alumni panels to inform admitted students about the benefits of attending Yale. Dawson has also raised money and awareness for the landmark renovation of the House and has been a regular contributor at House events.

Dawson has had a long career with Norton Rose Fulbright, and is well known and regarded in New York legal circles. He is also well known in national Democratic Party political circles. Dawson served for 12 years on the Democratic National Committee. In 2008, as one of the party's so-called Super Delegates, he negotiated a key compromise between the Obama and Clinton supporters on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, which compromise resolved a hotly disputed contest as to the number of delegates to be seated at the convention from Florida and Michigan, which had held primary contests that did not comply with party rules. At a nationally televised hearing, Dawson then made the motion approved by the Committee to resolve the matter, ultimately resulting in a non-confrontational determination of the Democratic Party nomination.

Dawson previously served as the firm's Co-Chief Diversity Officer, responsible for providing leadership in internal and external diversity and inclusion activities.

Dawson will be honored with four other esteemed recipients of the Yale Medal in a special ceremony held virtually later this year.