Eleanor Holmes Norton LL.B., M.A.

1979 Solomon Carter Fuller Award Recipient

Lecture Title: Affirmative Action

Since 1991, Congresswoman Norton has been the congressional delegate representing the District of Columbia. Prior to this role, she made history as the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Her academic achievements include earning an LL.B. and an M.A. in American Studies from Yale University in 1964. She began her career as a clerk for Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., and later served as the assistant legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Congresswoman Norton's commitment to civil rights activism dates back to her involvement in the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer. She went on to lead the New York Human Rights Commission before being appointed by President Carter to chair the EEOC in 1977. After her tenure at the EEOC, she joined the faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, where she attained tenure as a professor.

Throughout her illustrious career, Congresswoman Norton has been a staunch advocate for feminist causes and a tireless champion of human and civil rights. In her current role as the congressional delegate for the District of Columbia, she has prioritized advocating for increased representation for D.C. citizens and spearheading economic development initiatives in the region. Notably, she holds the position of Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, in addition to serving on various other committees. In recognition of her tireless advocacy, she was honored with the APA’s Solomon Carter Fuller Award in 1979.