Brian O'Dwyer
Encyclopedia
Brian O'Dwyer is currently an American lobbyist and lawyer
, son of Paul O'Dwyer
and nephew of Mayor William O'Dwyer
. He is married to the former Marianna MacWilliam, Associate Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York
. O'Dwyer was recently appointed the Commissioner of the United States National Commission of UNESCO
by Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton.
. He attended the High School of Music and Art. Lawyer studied Spanish at the National University of Mexico and graduated from George Washington University
with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1966. He obtaining a Master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College
, Madrid
, and graduated with his Juris Doctor
degree from Georgetown University Law Center
. Later, he returned to GWU, to obtain a master's in law
from the George Washington University Law School.
O'Dwyer is a member of the Sigma Delta Pi
National Spanish Honorary Society, as well as member and past International President of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
, was a founder.
"stalwart." He considers the Democratic Party the party for the "poor and dispossessed."
Immigration
is high on his list for lobbying. He has received special citations from Governor Mario Cuomo
at the New York City Council
for his work with immigrant groups. O'Dwyer has been guest of honor and award recipient by the Irish Immigration Reform Movement; an award recipient of the Brehon Law Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernians
and was selected Chief Brehon of the Coney Island
Irish Fair. He was the Grand Marshall of the 1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade, in Rockaway, N.Y.
O'Dwyer has been cited for his efforts on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico
by the Governor of Puerto Rico
and was made Honorary Grand Marshall of the Puerto Rican Parade in 1993. He has been chosen by "Irish America" magazine on numerous occasion as a member of the "Top 100" Irish in the United States. O'Dwyer is a recipient of the Ellis Island
Medal of Honor Award and the Outreach Project Annual Service Award 1994.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, son of Paul O'Dwyer
Paul O'Dwyer
Paul O'Dwyer was an American politician and lawyer, brother of Mayor William O'Dwyer and father to New York City lawyer Brian O'Dwyer .-Life:...
and nephew of Mayor William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.-Biography:O'Dwyer was born in County Mayo, Ireland and migrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood...
. He is married to the former Marianna MacWilliam, Associate Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
. O'Dwyer was recently appointed the Commissioner of the United States National Commission of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
by Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Hillary Clinton.
Early years and education
O'Dwyer was born on October 10, 1945 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended the High School of Music and Art. Lawyer studied Spanish at the National University of Mexico and graduated from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1966. He obtaining a Master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and graduated with his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. Later, he returned to GWU, to obtain a master's in law
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from the George Washington University Law School.
O'Dwyer is a member of the Sigma Delta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society , was established on November 14, 1919, at the University of California at Berkeley. Its insignia is the royal seal of Fernando and Isabel, representing Castille, León and Aragón...
National Spanish Honorary Society, as well as member and past International President of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Work
O'Dwyer is senior partner at O'Dwyer & Bernstien, a century-old litigation firm, focusing on personal injury and accident law, labor relations, employee benefits and general litigation. He oversees 18 attorneys in the firm, of which his father, Paul O'DwyerPaul O'Dwyer
Paul O'Dwyer was an American politician and lawyer, brother of Mayor William O'Dwyer and father to New York City lawyer Brian O'Dwyer .-Life:...
, was a founder.
Lobbyist/causes
O'Dwyer is known as a Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
"stalwart." He considers the Democratic Party the party for the "poor and dispossessed."
Immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
is high on his list for lobbying. He has received special citations from Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
at the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
for his work with immigrant groups. O'Dwyer has been guest of honor and award recipient by the Irish Immigration Reform Movement; an award recipient of the Brehon Law Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
and was selected Chief Brehon of the Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
Irish Fair. He was the Grand Marshall of the 1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade, in Rockaway, N.Y.
O'Dwyer has been cited for his efforts on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
by the Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
and was made Honorary Grand Marshall of the Puerto Rican Parade in 1993. He has been chosen by "Irish America" magazine on numerous occasion as a member of the "Top 100" Irish in the United States. O'Dwyer is a recipient of the Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
Medal of Honor Award and the Outreach Project Annual Service Award 1994.