Wing of new building to be named after Caspersen

Finn M.W. Caspersen ’66 and Peter Krause ’74 were honored for their service to Harvard Law School at this year’s annual fall reunions, which took place on October 24-26 at HLS. Both served as leaders of important fundraising activities for the school: Caspersen led the record-breaking Setting the Standard Fundraising Campaign, and Krause was chairman of the Harvard Law School Annual Fund for three years.

In addition to presenting Caspersen with the Harvard Law School Association Award, Dean Elena Kagan ’86 announced that the student center wing of the new Northwest Corner Building, which is currently being built on the HLS campus and is set to be finished in 2011, will be named in his honor. The wing will be home to student organizations, journals, and social activities.

“Finn has been an extraordinary leader of this Law School for many years,” said Kagan. “Finn was involved in this campaign from the vision of it, to the details of it, every day for the last eight years. He has been a rock, a source of endless strength and support and knowledge.”

The Harvard Law School Association Award is the highest honor bestowed upon HLS alumni, and it was presented to Caspersen for his superb leadership and support. The Setting the Standard Campaign, which ended on June 30, raised over $476 million for projects that were created based on a comprehensive plan developed by HLS faculty at the campaign’s outset.

In addition to his leadership of the fundraising campaign, Caspersen has been a generous supporter of HLS over the years. He has endowed two professorships—the Beneficial Professorship of law, and the Finn M.W. Caspersen and Household International Professor of Law. A room in Langdell Library bears the Caspersen name, and he is the chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board.

Peter Krause, who was also recognized at the event, led the HLS Annual Fund to its three most successful fundraising years in history—raising over $8 million each year during his tenure. Thanks to his efforts to personalize the Fund’s efforts, the level of alumni involvement was also dramatically increased. The success of the Fund over the last three years is especially impressive, since the larger Setting the Standard Campaign was going on simultaneously, Kagan noted.

“Peter is the most enthusiastic, the most hard-working, and the most optimistic person I know,” said Kagan. “His tireless efforts on behalf of this law school have meant an enormous amount to us, because the annual fund, the unrestricted giving that alumni make to this school is really what allows us to do all the little things that in the end add up to greatness.”

In addition to their support of HLS, Krause and his wife were national co-chairs of the Harvard College Parents Fund. In 2001, they were given the Albert Gordon Humanitarian Award for their commitment to the University.

The weekend also marked the official close of the Setting the Standard Campaign with a gala event on Thursday, October 23.

More information about the weekend’s events:

• Harvard Law School Celebrates Record-setting Capital Campaign
• Experts discuss striking a balance in an age of terror