New Appointments Announced for Career Services and Development

Over the last year, Patricia S. Weiss, Arthur F. Fama, Jr., and Leslie D. Thrope have been appointed to leadership positions in the Office of Development and Office of Career Services. Dean David Rudenstine, in noting how the Cardozo community will benefit from these new hires, said, “Pat, Arthur, and Leslie bring expertise to their respective jobs and dedication to the Law School. Their energy and team spirit are qualities that help make Cardozo a productive and positive place for students, alumni, and friends.”

Patricia Weiss

Patricia Weiss was promoted to director of development after one year as associate director. In making the announcement, Dan Forman, vice president of development at Yeshiva University, said, “Pat has demonstrated strong leadership skills, creativity, successful fundraising results, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.” She led successful fundraising drives at Riverdale Country School, where she was president of the Parents Association and a member of the Riverdale board of trustees. Patricia has a strong background as a communications specialist, having worked at Brooklyn Law School in public relations, managing media relations, and overseeing most of their program publications and school magazine. Additionally, she has been a writer and editor for various other ventures, was a teacher for many years, and currently runs her own business tutoring high school students in the independent school community. Patricia holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.A. from Columbia University, and an M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.

Arthur Fama

Arthur Fama assumed the leadership of the Office of Career Services last February following a long career as counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP where he specialized in complex litigation. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University and a J.D. from Fordham Law School. He clerked for US District Judge Inzer B. Wyatt of the Southern District, after which he served as an attorney at the New York State Commission on Government Integrity. Throughout his career, Mr. Fama has devoted substantial time and energy to pro bono activities. He was an interim program director and teacher at the New York Civil Rights Coalition, served as a volunteer at a women’s shelter, helped prepare and serve meals for the needy, and has been active in bar associations. In commenting on his new job, Arthur said, “In nearly 20 years of practice, I rarely witnessed the level of commitment and determination that appears to be endemic to the Cardozo student body.”

In addition to several new career counselors, Leslie Thrope has joined the Office of Career Services as director of the Center for Public Service Law. She will oversee this critical program that initiates and coordinates public service programming and assists students and alumni in obtaining internships as well as summer and full-time employment with judges, government agencies, and public service organizations. She has extensive experience in the public sector, where she was a family law attorney at the Building Service 32B-J Legal Services Fund, representing union members and their dependents. She was a legal intern to US district court magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis and also worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A. and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Leslie is a graduate of Antioch College and holds a J.D. from City University of New York Law School.