The Honorable William “Mo” Cowan ’94 to Deliver Northeastern Law Commencement Address
04.24.24 — The Honorable William “Mo” Cowan ’94 will deliver Northeastern University School of Law’s commencement address on Friday, May 10, 2024. In 2013, Cowan represented Massachusetts in the 113th Congress when then-Governor Deval L. Patrick appointed him to serve upon the resignation of Senator John F. Kerry. Cowan is a leader in public service as well as in law and business. He currently serves as chief legal and external affairs officer for Devoted Health, overseeing all legal and public affairs for this tech-enabled growth healthcare company.
“From his days as a student to his service in the Massachusetts Governor’s Office to serving as a United States senator to his leadership in law and business, Mo Cowan has been the embodiment of this law school’s entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to social justice and public service, and passion for innovation,” said Dean James Hackney. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to Northeastern and eager to hear his advice and wisdom as our commencement speaker.”
Prior to joining Devoted Health, Cowan served as president of global government affairs and policy for General Electric, and leader of the global conglomerates national executive teams in Europe and Canada, advising the company’s corporate and portfolio business leadership on policy issues and serving as GE’s primary interlocutor for policy makers, government officials and key political stakeholders globally. Cowan previously served as vice president, litigation and legal policy, for GE, overseeing litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations and compliance, globally.
Before joining GE, Cowan held leadership roles (president and CEO, May 2016-March 2017; SVP and COO, November 2013-April 2016) with ML Strategies, a government relations and consulting group based in Boston and Washington, DC, and served as a partner at Mintz Levin, a national law firm. In 2013, he served as a fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics.
Prior to his Senate appointment, Cowan served then-Governor Patrick in a variety of leadership positions, including chief legal counsel, chief of staff and senior advisor. He is also a member of the US Association of Former Members of Congress and has served on governance and advisory boards for Massachusetts General Hospital, Duke University, MassChallenge, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Eastern Bank Corporation, Stackwell Capital and Mass General Brigham. Cowan is also a founding member of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund.
Cowan is a graduate of Duke University and Northeastern University School of Law. He holds honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Newbury College and Bridgewater State University.
For those family members and friends who are unable to attend commencement, the School of Law is pleased to offer a live video stream of the ceremony beginning at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Northeastern Law Commencement Speakers:
HON. DAVID SUTHERLAND NELSON, 1976
HON. HUGH H. BOWNES, 1977
HON. MARGARET A. BURNHAM, 1978
THOMAS J. O’TOOLE, 1978
HON. A. LEON HIGGINBOTHAM JR., 1979
PAUL BREST, 1980
HON. BENJAMIN KAPLAN, 1981
HON. DAVID L. BAZELON, 1982
HON. RAMSEY CLARK, 1983
HON. SHIRLEY ANITA ST. HILL CHISHOLM, 1984
ARTHUR KINOY, 1985
HELEN CALDICOTT, 1986
ANTHONY LEWIS, 1987
JOHN G. HEALEY, 1988
ELAINE JONES, 1989
FAYE WATTLETON, 1990
DERRICK BELL, 1991
NINA TOTENBERG, 1992
HON. BARNEY FRANK, 1993
LANI GUINIER, 1994
NAT HENTOFF, 1995
HON. A. LEON HIGGINBOTHAM JR., 1996
PATRICIA J. WILLIAMS, 1997
HON. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, 1998
HON. NANCY GERTNER, 1999
SISTER HELEN PREJEAN, CSJ, 2000
NATHANIEL RAPHAEL JONES, 2001
DEVAL L. PATRICK, 2002
HON. MARGARET HILARY MARSHALL, 2003
STEPHEN B. BRIGHT, 2004
JULIUS L. CHAMBERS, 2005
HON. CHIEF JUSTICE PIUS NKONZO LANGA, 2006
HON. NONNIE S. BURNES, 2007
HON. STEPHEN G. BREYER, 2008
STEPHEN HOWES OLESKEY, 2009
HAROLD HONGJU KOH, 2010
RASHIDA MANJOO, 2011
JACQUELINE A. BERRIEN, 2012
HON. MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, 2013
RANDALL L. KENNEDY, 2014
MAURA HEALEY, 2015
TRACEY L. MCCAIN, 2016
CECILE RICHARDS, 2017
RICHARD W. PAINTER, 2018
JUDY PERRY MARTINEZ, 2019
NABIHA SYED, 2021
HON. VICTORIA A. ROBERTS, 2022
COREY E. THOMAS, 2023
About Northeastern University School of Law
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,100 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu.