In Memoriam: Betsy Levin
Longtime ALI Council member Betsy Levin passed away on July 4, 2024, at the age of 88. She is survived by her cherished siblings, Larry (Rita) Levin and Sarah "Sally" Cooper Levin; and adored nieces, Leah Levin, Kendra Levin and Karen Levy. Betsy was predeceased by her dear sister, Alexandra "Lexie" Cohen; and loving parents, Alexandra and M. Jastrow Levin.
Betsy was elected to the ALI in 1978 and to the ALI Council in 1983, taking emeritus status in 2007. She attended Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a B.A. with Honors in Geology, after which she went to work at the Geological Survey in Washington. While in Washington, she decided to enroll in law school to focus on civil rights issues. She first went to George Washington University in the evening, before transferring to Yale where she obtained her LLB in 1966. Betsy then clerked for Judge Simon Sobeloff on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit before becoming a White House Fellow, where she was an assistant to Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, Ambassador to the United Nations.
Her impressive legal career spanned more than three decades, including serving as the Director of Education Studies at the Urban Institute in Washington and holding a tenured professorship at Duke Law School where she taught constitution law. During President Jimmy Carter’s administration, Betsy served as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education. In 1981, she became Dean at the University of Colorado School of Law until 1987 when she left to become Executive Director of the Association of American Law Schools.
Betsy’s legacy extends far beyond her professional achievements. She will be remembered for her intellect, her empathy and her unyielding belief in the power of education to transform lives. Her greatest joy in her career was the opportunity to teach and mentor her students, helping shape the next generation of legal minds. In addition to her extensive professional career, Betsy was passionate about civil rights, travel, hiking, and theater.
