Elizabeth (Liz) Bermingham Lacy ’66 Receives 2016 Alumna Achievement Award

June 6, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The Alumna Achievement Award, awarded annually by the Alumnae Association of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, honors an alumna of the Catholic women’s college who is outstanding in her personal and professional accomplishments and is a recognized leader in her field of endeavor. The honoree exemplifies the standards, ideals, and mission of the College in its commitment to the value of a Christian liberal arts education.

This year’s recipient is Elizabeth (Liz) Bermingham Lacy ’66 of Richmond, Virginia. The award recognizes her as a highly respected and esteemed jurist who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the John Marshall Scholars Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. The award was announced Saturday, June 4, at the Reunion Banquet held on campus.

In her nomination letter, Linda Kawecki ’79 wrote, “Liz has a very impressive resume, but what impresses me most about her is that her resume is not simply a piece of paper with a long list of jobs, awards, and volunteer positions. She cares more about doing the work than getting the acknowledgement. Her professional and volunteer involvement are things that she cares deeply about and she always gives 100 percent when she takes on a task.”

Lacy received her bachelor of arts in history and went on to the University of Texas Law School where she earned her doctor of law degree in 1969. After serving as a staff attorney for the Texas Legislative Council for three years, she held prestigious positions in the Texas State Attorney General’s Office and the Virginia Office of the Attorney General before her appointment and subsequent election as a judge in the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

In 1989 she became the first woman justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia when she was appointed and elected for a 12-year term. After serving out her term and earning her L.L.M. at the University of Virginia School of Law, she was re-elected for another term in 2001 and transitioned to the role of Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2007.

Lacy has received numerous awards, including the Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Bar Association, the Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award from the John Marshal American Inn of Court, and the Award of Distinction from the Virginia Women Attorneys Association. She has received four honorary degrees from academic institutions including Saint Mary’s College, was inducted into the Virginia Women’s Hall of Fame in 1992, and was a 2008 Virginia Women in History honoree. Lacy has served on dozens of boards and committees across the country and holds an impressive list of lectures and presentations.

In addition to her remarkable professional achievements, Lacy has made service to her alma mater a priority. She became a member of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors in 2005 and served as president from 2008 to 2010, during which time she also served on the Board of Trustees. Lacy encouraged the Alumnae Association Board of Directors to explore new ways to connect alumnae with each other and the College, which led to several new programs including Welcome Home Tailgate, Spiritual Reflections, and One Book, One Saint Mary’s.

Despite her busy schedule, Lacy is also a devoted and proud wife, mother, and grandmother. According to her award citation, one alumna recalled Lacy knitting a baby blanket for an expected grandchild during an Alumnae Association Board meeting.

About Saint Mary's College: Celebrating over 175 years of empowering women to make a difference in the world, Saint Mary’s College is recognized as a pioneer and continued force in the education of women. A Catholic, liberal arts institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, the College offers more than 50 undergraduate academic programs and also offers co-educational master’s degrees.