On March 16, Brian O'Dwyer, CCAS BA '66, LAW LLM '76, will lead approximately 150,000 people through the streets of New York City.
“This is something you always hope for and never expect,” says O’Dwyer, of being named the 2019 grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Parade, which is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. What began in 1762, to honor St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York), brings around 2 million onlookers today.
Given O’Dwyer’s commitment and contribution to the Irish community over the decades, and that the parade committee was looking for a grand marshal who’s an immigrant rights advocate, he’s a perfect fit.
Growing up in a political NYC family — his father was a civil rights activist and president of New York City council, and his uncle was mayor of New York City – O’Dwyer wanted to be in Washington, D.C., which led him to GW for a bachelor’s in Spanish-American literature. He then spent a year in Mexico before getting a master’s in Spanish-American literature at Middlebury College in Madrid. But the family law business beckoned him, so he got his juris doctorate from Georgetown University — followed by another GW degree, this time a master of laws.
“For the vast majority of my career, I’ve practiced litigation, personal injury and labor law at the family law firm,” he says. But advocacy and politics, especially as they relate to the Irish community, immigration issues as a whole, and education, have also been driving forces in his life.
In the early 1980s, after decades of political unrest in Ireland, when many Irish immigrants were coming to the U.S. — undocumented with no place to go and no support — O’Dwyer founded the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, the largest Irish immigrant center in the U.S.
“Since then, we’ve grown to two centers, and we’ve gone around the city, helping immigrants in many ways,” he explains, by assisting undocumented immigrants who are victims of crimes, helping undocumented immigrants access education, and through immigration reform.
O’Dwyer was known for his advocacy work in Irish immigrant causes, and ultimately advised the White House, during Bill Clinton’s presidency, on Irish issues, including the Northern Ireland peace process. He also accompanied President Clinton on his three trips to Ireland. Years later, when Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state, O’Dwyer accompanied her on almost all of her Ireland trips. He continues to escort many U.S. officials there today.
Over the years, O’Dwyer has garnered numerous awards and accolades for his work promoting immigrant and human rights, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which recognized his advocacy for immigrants of all backgrounds. He’s also held various roles, including commissioner of the United States National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and chairman and counselor to the Asociación Tepeyac, which provides services and support services to the Mexican community in NYC.
He is also a former educator, having taught Spanish at GW and Malcolm King College in New York. “I have always been a great believer in education – in particular, access to education,” he says.
Of all the causes he’s championed over the years, he’s most proud of helping undocumented immigrants gain access to education through NYC’s public university system in the 1980s. “Knowing that I’ve helped change the lives of hundreds if not thousands of young people, that’s the most satisfying thing I’ve done.”
Despite all this, O’Dwyer still has numerous other volunteer commitments, including with his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, and GW; he served on the board of advisors for the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), and he's established a lecture series in his father's name within the school. So it’s a good thing he wasn’t named grand marshal before this year, as this responsibility involves a hefty time commitment beyond the parade festivities. O’Dwyer recently reduced some responsibilities at his law firm, freeing up some time.
“At the time [the grand marshal] is announced, you are the ‘unofficial, official’ leader of the community. You are encouraged, if not expected, to attend many functions between January 1 and March 17,” he says, adding that by the day of the parade, he’ll likely have gone to 50 or 60 functions, ranging from meetings, parties, dinners, and dances.
So, what will he do with the “extra time” after his grand marshal responsibilities end?
He plans to continue addressing immigrant access to education, and he’d like to do more work with the Greek life at GW.
“I got so much from GW,” he says, adding that GW was where he met his wife of 51 years, and that life in Kappa Sigma taught him about interpersonal relationships and leadership. “GW gave me the capacity to dream and the tools to fulfill that dream. I urge everybody at GW to make full use of where you’re at – that’s the uniqueness of GW. Get engaged in the community and in organizations.”
-Christine Cole