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Program on Law & Government

Senior Affiliates in Law & Government

Louis Caldera

Louis Caldera

Louis Caldera previously served as President and Professor of Law at the University of New Mexico. Following his service in the United States Army, he has extensive public sector expertise in elected and appointed positions as a California legislator, Secretary of the Army during the Clinton administration (the first Latino in that role), and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office in the Obama administration. Most recently, Caldera served as Professor of Leadership at The George Washington University and Senior Fellow at the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, where he founded the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a nationwide coalition of higher education leaders focusing on highlighting the importance of immigrants to higher education and the need for common sense immigration reform. Caldera is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. His accolades include receiving the American Heritage Award from the American Immigration Council and the Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Department of Defense.

Bettina Poirier

Bettina Poirier

Bettina Poirier is currently Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at 51²è¹ÝWCL, where she teaches courses in legislation and in the externship program. She previously served as staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the first woman to hold this position in the committee's history. Previously, she was legislative assistant and senior counsel to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and minority counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee under Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI). Poirier was previously honored by the Department of Justice for her work on environment and public lands issues and by the Children’s Environmental Health Network for her work protecting children from environmental toxins. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Steven Shapiro

Steven Shapiro

Steven Shapiro is Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Law Program and Adjunct Professor of Law at 51²è¹ÝWCL, where he teaches courses in Construction Law and Contract Drafting. An engineer and lawyer, Shapiro has also authored several books on real estate and construction law. He has served as Chair of the Program on Law and Government Advisory Committee on Government Contracts and was recently honored by the faculty for his outstanding teaching. Shapiro earned his B.A., J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from Georgetown University and his M.S. in Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Law and Government Highlights

  • 36
    Co-Curricular events
  • 1600 +
    Attendees at Law and Government Events
  • 30
    Alumni Featured
  • 85
    Guest Speakers Welcomed to Campus
  • 150 +
    Externship Opportunities