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The Alumnae Network is a forum for women graduates to connect with each other, current students and the law school community. As women graduates of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, we are part of a rapidly growing and dynamic group of women who have blazed trails for later generations of women and have excelled in all areas of legal expertise. Currently, there are more than 3,300 alumnae of the school with over 100 new alumnae added to that number each year!

Bette Dodd, ‘83 and Women’s Caucus Honored at Annual Luncheon

Alumna of the Year Bette J. Dodd receiving her award from Vice Dean Paul Cox Faculty, alumni and friends gathered at the 12th Annual Outstanding Alumna of the Year Luncheon on April 8, to honor Bette J. Dodd, ‘83 for her many contributions to women in the law school community and the legal profession. Her long-time colleague and fellow alumnus, Jack Wickes, ‘75, gave a tribute to Dodd at the event which took place in the boardroom of the Indiana History Center in downtown Indianapolis. Wickes, the Managing Director at Lewis & Kappes, was instrumental in hiring Dodd at the firm in 1995.

He began his tribute by quoting Nelson Mandela, who said, “A good head and a good heart are a formidable combination.” Wickes went on to say, “Bette Dodd has a good head and a great heart.” Bette Dodd is a director with the law firm of Lewis & Kappes, P.C., where she concentrates her practice in the areas of municipal and public utility law litigation, both regulated and unregulated, local government litigation and municipal finance. She has represented municipal and not-for-profit utilities in all aspects related to utility services. She also has represented various customer classes in utility rate cases, cost of service issues and rate design issues in proceedings before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and Indiana trial and appellate courts. Dodd has defended engineers and contractors regarding the design and construction of water and wastewater facilities and municipalities regarding challenges to water, sewer and stormwater projects and rates. She also has represented municipalities in territorial disputes, including appeals at the Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court. Dodd has represented numerous entities in utility contract litigation and negotiations.

A magna cum laude graduate of the law school in 1983, she also holds a B.A. degree from IU. She has been named to the list of “Indiana Super Lawyer (Utilities)” in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. After law school, she clerked for Indiana Supreme Court Justice Donald H. Hunter, and U.S. District Court Judge, William E. Steckler (Southern District of Indiana). Before joining Lewis & Kappes in 1995, she worked at Ice Miller from 1986-1995. Dodd is admitted to the bars of Indiana; the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals (Seventh Circuit, Eleventh Circuit, Eighth Circuit); the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana.

An active member of the community, she serves as a Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Association; Chair of the Government Practice Section of the Indiana State Bar Association, and former Chair of its Utility Law Section, Electricity Division and Utility Services/Consumer Division of the Utility Law Section. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association. She is a board member, Salt Creek Services, Inc.; and a past volunteer judge for the Moot Court and Client Counseling Competitions at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

This year a special award was also given to Women’s Caucus for the work the student organization has done over the years. Vice Dean Paul Cox presented Kim Jewell, 3L evening student and current Chair of the student group, with a plaque. Jewell said, “I gratefully accept on behalf of all past and present Women’s Caucus members. Bette and her classmates’ efforts paved the way for the work that Women’s Caucus has not only done in the past, but what we continue to do in the present, and look forward to doing in the future. ”

The Alumnae Network is a forum for women graduates to connect with each other, current students and the law school community. Women graduates of IU Law - Indianapolis are a rapidly growing and dynamic group of individuals who have blazed trails for later generations of women and have excelled in all areas of legal expertise.

For more information about the Alumnae Network or to nominate someone for the Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award, please contact Angela Rager, ’99, Executive Director for the Alumnae Network at arrager@iupui.edu.

Previous Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award Recipients

2000	Virginia Dill McCarty, '50
2001	Shirley A. Shideler, '64
2002	Hon. Betty Barteau, '65
2003	Rebecca O. Kendall, '75
2004	Pamela L. Carter, '84
2005	Deborah K. Hepler, '94
2006	Susan W. Brooks, '85
2007	Susanah M. Mead, '76
2008	Sheila Suess Kennedy, '75
2009	Kristin G. Fruehwald, '75
2010	Joyce Q. Rogers, '96

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