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IU McKinney School of Law Dean Karen E. Bravo presented Anne Slaughter Andrew, ’83, with an Indiana University Bicentennial Medal during a virtual event on September 11.

The occasion was an introduction to her lecture, “Mapping an Optimistic Climate Future,” sponsored by the IU McKinney Program in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. The lecture was a Zoom webinar that attracted more than 200 attendees—including Andrew’s husband and children, who were able to watch the medal presentation remotely.

The presentation was a surprise, leaving Andrew “surprised and deeply honored,” she said. “I am such a proud graduate of IU McKinney law school and have valued the long relationships and legal education that prepared me and certainly have served me well.”

The Bicentennial Medal is awarded to organizations and individuals who, through their personal, professional, artistic, or philanthropic efforts, have broadened the reach of Indiana University around the state, nation, and world.

The medals themselves are made from materials salvaged from the old bells which hung in the Student Building on the IU Bloomington campus, giving recipients a lasting piece of IU history.

Andrew is former U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica, appointed by President Barack Obama as the first woman to serve in that post, from 2009-2013. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an environmental and energy lawyer and was an IU McKinney adjunct professor. In recent years, she has carved out a career as a social entrepreneur, investing, advising, and advocating clean energy and sustainable development.

Andrew opened her lecture noting that when she chose the title of her talk more than six months ago, she had no idea what it would mean to look to an optimistic future during the COVID-19 pandemic and forest fires that are blazing across the U.S. west coast states, causing planned energy outages to minimize the danger to residents and their homes.

“No doubt climate impact is here and now,” she said.