President Biden has announced the names of a number of individuals who will serve on the Commission on Presidential Scholars.
Among the nominees is New York attorney and former Grand Marshal of the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade, Brian O'Dwyer
The Commission on Presidential Scholars, according to a White House release, is a group of eminent private citizens appointed by the President to select and honor the Presidential Scholars.
"Commissioners are selected from across the country, representing the fields of education, medicine, law, social services, business, and other professions. The Commissioners make the final selection of the 161 Presidential Scholars. The Scholars demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts, career and technical education and an outstanding commitment to public service."
The White House release included a profile of Mr. O'Dwyer, who hails from a prominent Democratic Party-linked family and who has throughout his career been an activist on a wide range of issues, most especially immigration and Northern Ireland.
The profile stated: "Brian O’Dwyer has distinguished himself in the law and education. He is a founder of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center dedicated to providing assistance to all immigrants. His work in promoting peace in Ireland was acknowledged when he was named Grand Marshall of the New York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. A longtime advocate for equal access to higher education, he has served as Chair of the CUNY Law School Foundation, Chair of the Advisory Council of the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, and Board Member of Dublin City University Educational Trust.
"O’Dwyer has earned an AB and LLM from the George Washington University, a JD from Georgetown University, and an MA from Middlebury College. He is a member of Sigma Delta Pi national Spanish honorary and has been awarded the honorary degrees of Doctor of Philosophy from Dublin City University and Doctor of Humane Letters from Middlebury College."
The complete list as released by the White House and which includes several Irish Americans is: Margaret Aitken Haggerty, Member and Chair, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Jennifer D. Bishop, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Kenneth Vernon Brittingham, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Clifford K. Chiu, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars: Mary Quinn Delaney, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Ryan D. Easterly, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Peter Van D. Emerson, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Antonio Farias, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Neil J. Horgan, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Frank F. Islam, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Cynthia Jackson Hammond, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Dan J. Kessler, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Domenika Lynch, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Sarah McBride, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Rodin A. Mehrbani, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Brian O’Dwyer, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Stephanie Robinson, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Kurt Russell, Sr., Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Juan Antonio Sepúlveda, Jr., Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars; Terrance Blackman Stroud, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars, and Jason Sung Won Yoon, Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars.
