Fitts honored for distinguished service

Tulane University President Mike Fitts received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society at an awards ceremony on Nov. 13. Fitts is a former dean of the Penn Law School.

He was recognized for his “extraordinary service” to the law school. “The Penn law community was truly privileged to have you as a faculty member and dean for more than two decades, and your leadership and vision transformed the Law School into the premier provider of a cross-disciplinary legal education that it is today,” said Laura Christa, president of the law alumni society, in a letter to Fitts.

Christa commended Fitts for his countless contributions to the institution"s physical and academic development, and his personal touch and accessibility to members of the faculty, staff, students and alumni, which sustained and reinforced Penn Law School"s reputation for collegiality and collaboration.

Fitts joined Tulane University in July 2014 as the university"s 15th president. An official inauguration is planned for March 17, 2016.

“For years it"s been part of my job to help celebrate award recipients, so it feels strange and humbling to be on the receiving side of an award like this,” Fitts said. “It is incredibly gratifying, though, to receive this recognition from the University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society. I"m honored and touched by this gesture to acknowledge my longtime work at Penn.”