Law School Commencement Speakers
2025 Commencement Speaker
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch
On May 18, 2025, Boston University School of Law will hold its Commencement Ceremony to commemorate the Class of 2025.
Boston University School of Law is honored to announce that Loretta Elizabeth Lynch will deliver the 2025 Commencement address.
Loretta E. Lynch served as the 83rd Attorney General of the United States from 2015 to 2017 after being appointed by President Barack Obama. Ms. Lynch was the first Black woman to serve as the US Attorney General, the highest-ranking lawyer in the federal government and the head of the Department of Justice. Ms. Lynch’s legal career has included both private law practice and public service, including three presidential appointments.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Lynch worked for six years as a litigation associate at Cahill Gordon in New York City. In 1990, she became an assistant US Attorney at the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, focusing on drug and violent-crime prosecution. She was later promoted to deputy chief of general crimes, chief of the Long Island division, and chief assistant to the US Attorney, before being named US Attorney by President Bill Clinton in 1999. In 2002, she returned to private practice, where she focused on commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and corporate compliance as a partner at Hogan Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) in Washington, DC, until President Obama called upon her to return once again as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. She served in that capacity until her nomination to succeed Eric Holder as US Attorney General in 2014.
As Attorney General, Ms. Lynch oversaw more than 100,000 employees across numerous agencies and offices, including the 93 US Attorneys; major investigative agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the US Marshals Service; the Bureau of Prisons; the National Security Division; and the Office of the Solicitor General, among others. As the nation’s highest law enforcer, she prioritized safeguarding national security, protecting consumer rights, reducing violence, advancing civil rights, reforming the criminal justice system, and building the public’s trust with law enforcement. She introduced policies to strengthen the background check system for gun purchases and worked towards reducing recidivism and reforming federal sentencing policies.
Ms. Lynch is currently a partner in the Paul, Weiss Litigation Department where she advises clients on government and internal investigations and on high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters.
In 2020, Ms. Lynch was awarded a New York City National Organization for Women of Power and Influence Award. In 2021, she received a New York Law Journal Distinguished Leaders Award and the New York State Bar Association’s Robert L. Haig Award for distinguished public service. She has also been named one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” and has been recognized by Chambers in the Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (New York) category. Ms. Lynch received her JD and her BA in American Literature from Harvard University.
Student Speakers
Gabriela Forero Murra
LLM Student Speaker
Gabriela Forero Murra is graduating from Boston University School of Law with an LLM in American Law and a concentration in International Business. She has earned distinction as a Dean’s Scholar, was a finalist in the LLM Moot Court Competition, and received the LLM Pro Bono Award. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Gabriela earned her LLB with a minor in Journalism from Universidad de los Andes, where she served as editor-in-chief of the legal news section and participated in human rights research initiatives.
Before pursuing her LLM, Gabriela worked as an associate attorney at Cuatrecasas, representing international clients in arbitration, antitrust, and litigation matters. During her time at BU, she served as a research assistant and engaged in pro bono work at the Pioneer Public Interest Law Center, furthering her commitment to public interest work and litigation. Gabriela is admitted to practice law in Colombia and will sit for the New York Bar Exam in July 2025. She looks forward to continuing her career at the intersection of international practice and public interest advocacy.
Gissela Moya
JD Student Speaker
Gissela Moya is a proud Honduran immigrant raised in Southern California. She began her higher education journey at Chaffey College before transferring to UC Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Motivated by a passion for the intersection of law and technology, Gissela moved to the East Coast to pursue her legal education at BU Law.
During her time at BU Law, Gissela served as co-president of the Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) and gained hands-on legal experience through the BU/MIT Student Innovations Law Clinic and the Antiracism and Community Lawyering Practicum. Gissela was one of eight students selected for the inaugural BU ASPIRE Scholars cohort and also participated in the HNBA/VIA Intellectual Property Law Institute in Washington, D.C., last summer. This spring, Gissela received the Judge Margaret R. Guzman Community Impact Award. Beyond her academic and leadership roles, Gissela has always remained committed to uplifting others by mentoring prospective law students. She is looking forward to using the knowledge and skills she has gained at BU Law as she begins her legal career in California this fall.