Pitt Law Professor Greer Donley was presented with the Iris Marion Young Award for Political Engagement on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at a special ceremony in Alumni Hall on the University of Pittsburgh campus. The Iris Marion Young Awards for Political Engagement to honor those who work to promote justice in the University, at the local or national level, or across the globe.
The award honors those who work to promote justice in the University, at the local or national level, or across the globe and is presented by the Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies Program and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Donley is a tireless advocate for reproductive rights. Over the past year, she has used her voice and skills to mitigate the damage caused by the demise of Roe V. Wade. In multiple op-eds in the New York Times and other venues, she has used her legal expertise to educate the public about the steps their public officials could take to help protect reproductive healthcare. She worked with federal and state officials to help formulate reproductive policy in the wake of Roe, and her contributions led to the formulation of the first abortion-shield law in the country. This model became the basis for similar legislation in six states and protective executive orders issued by at least ten governors around the country.