March 2020: Dierdra Howard '98

3/1/2021

For Dierdra “DeeDee” Howard ’98 success is all about personal relationships. From the teachers at Laurel who inspired confidence and direction, to being an active member of Delta Sigma Theta and her work as a Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration, she believes, “Individuals who are successful yet cannot develop good working relationships are only performing 50% of their job.” DeeDee works every day to leave a positive imprint, focusing on overcoming hurdles and then eliminating them for those after her. She wears many different hats as Chief Administrative Law Judge—from managing other judges and overseeing budgets to fielding legal inquiries and conducting hearings—but the skills that guide her are always compassion and humility. Read on to hear more about DeeDee’s journey from art major to judge and beyond!

If you could describe your Laurel experience as the title of a book, what would it be?

Michelle Obama’s Becoming would be the most appropriate title. Laurel provided me with an unparalleled foundation, but I did not truly hit my academic stride until college and law school. My experience at Laurel was the beginning, it was not my peak and for that, I am thankful. I was able to excel in college and law school in large part due to the discipline, high performance standards and academic perseverance I experienced at Laurel.

What was the most memorable moment from your time at Laurel?

While I have many dear and memorable moments from my time at Laurel, what is most meaningful to me are the people I was fortunate enough to encounter. Teachers like Ms. Terri Garfinkel and Dr. Mary Annable truly changed the trajectory of my life. They provided me with confidence and direction. They reinforced that I was smart, capable and special. Dr. Annable was the first teacher who highlighted my writing skills and impressed upon me that writing needed to be a significant part of my life. I will never forget receiving a standing ovation following my Senior Speech and seeing Ms. Garfinkel standing in the back of the Chapel, still cheering me on so many years later. These memories are incomparable.

What were your interests as a Laurel student and how did they prompt your decision to attend Goucher College to study art history and studio art?

Creating has always been a part of my life. I remember the moment I realized that my creativity may be something unique. One afternoon, my Lower School art teacher, Miss Heacock, brought a large pile of yarns and fabrics to my Second Grade classroom. Everyone was excited, wondering what they were for, but Miss Heacock presented them to me. She told me she wanted to give them to a student that she knew would know how to turn them into something beautiful. The art and art history classes I was exposed to at Laurel certainly propelled me to select a creative major in college. It also helped that I knew entering college that I likely wanted to attend law school, so I could select a major that I truly enjoyed, rather than having to select a major based upon a specific set of prerequisites.

How did becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority impact your life and experiences?

I cannot say enough about my beloved sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Delta Sigma Theta was founded in 1913 at Howard University by 22 collegiate women. The founders were dedicated to public service, with their first public act being participation in the Woman’s Suffrage March in Washington, DC. What many individuals may not know about predominately African American sororities and fraternities, referred to as the Divine Nine, is that participation does not end upon college graduation. Divine Nine sororities and fraternities, such as Delta Sigma Theta, have active graduate chapters that continue to be an influence in public service locally, nationally and globally. As a Delta, I have registered individuals to vote, mentored young people, raised funds for college scholarships, worked with teen mothers to finish school and begin their careers and contributed to many global humanitarian causes. My membership in Delta has been one of my most enriching personal experiences and has reinforced a spirit of sisterhood and female empowerment that I developed during my years at Laurel.

After undergrad, you studied international law at McGill University before earning your JD from the University of Akron School of Law. What prompted your pivot from the art field to law? Is there anything from your art background that informs your law practice?
I was fortunate to have wonderful role models growing up. Both of my parents were attorneys and I was able to see how truly creative and diverse the legal field could be. As lawyers, we paint with our words, we create with our actions and we perform in trial. Having parents who were attorneys was also helpful in informing my college decisions. My father majored in mechanical engineering, while my mother majored in education. Both became lawyers, so I was aware I had freedom when selecting my undergraduate course of study. I feel that my art and art history background is incredibly helpful in my career. Prior to becoming a judge, I spent many years as a civil litigator. When you are drafting briefs and motions and developing trial strategies, you are starting from nothing. What you want does not exist except in your mind and you have to make it real. The approach of creating something tangible from an idea is the same whether it is creating a sculpture or an appellate brief. The feeling is the exact same for me.

As a lawyer, you have worked for a wide range of organizations—from Judicial Clerk for the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals to Assistant Law Director for City of Cleveland Heights to Deputy General Counsel for the US Armed Forces Retirement Home. What have you found are the most valuable skills everyone should develop no matter their field?

Compassion, humility and grace. While I pride myself on being able to obtain results, what I am most proud of in my professional career are the relationships I have developed, the people I have helped and the mentorship I have given and been so fortunate to receive. I have always said that individuals who are successful yet cannot develop good working relationships are only performing 50% of their job and in my book, 50% is a failing grade. Obtaining results is simply not enough. You need to leave a positive imprint and do your best to encourage, support and uplift those around you. You need to ask yourself, “What can I do to make spaces better than I found them and who am I going to bring along with me?” This is particularly essential in leadership positions.

Can you tell us about a challenge you’ve faced and what you learned from it?

Many of the professional environments I have encountered throughout my career have been overwhelmingly male and in most cases, I was the only person of color. I learned to look at these environments as an opportunity to make an impression. When you are the only one in the room or at the table who looks like you, people remember you and they remember what you say. While I have faced hurdles based upon my age, gender and race, I never allowed them to stop me. My focus shifts away from the unfairness of the hurdle to how I am going to overcome it and once I do, how I am going to eliminate it for the next person.

Now, after working as an attorney for many years, you’ve become a Chief Administrative Law Judge. What has been the biggest surprise in transitioning from working as an attorney to a judge?

Judges can never be sick! While I say this mostly in jest and am certainly a proponent of self-care, the work of a judge is constant motion. When I am not engaging in my management duties, I am reviewing briefs, evaluating evidence, issuing subpoenas, conducting hearings and editing final decisions. As a litigator I was used to a similar cycle of work, but as a judge you feel a broader responsibility to all parties involved. You are so invested in helping others and ensuring that your hearings proceed, that you put in extra hours and are not stopped by obstacles that may have previously hindered your work. I have put in more hours as a judge than any position I have held previously, but it simply does not feel like work because it is so rewarding.

How would you describe a typical day at your job?

During a typical day, I wear many different hats. As the Chief Judge for my office, I am responsible for overall office management. I directly supervise six administrative law judges, so I spend a significant portion of my day fielding their legal inquiries and addressing any issues that they may be experiencing with their cases or hearings. Additionally, I directly supervise the office management team, so I am involved in day-to day office operational matters, which include anything from managing our budget, to paying our government contractors to ensuring we meet agency goals. In addition to my management duties, I also have my own cases that I preside over. I spend a typical day reviewing cases, while at least once a week I conduct hearings.

How has Covid-19 impacted your work and the Social Security Administration as a whole?

I was appointed as the Chief Judge for my office during the very beginning of the pandemic. I was coming from another office, so I was not even familiar with my staff before I began my duties. However, technology has been key. We were able to shift in-person hearings and hearing office operations to telephone hearings in a matter of days. As an agency, we are now conducting video hearings from our homes and I conduct all of my management meetings using video technology, which has facilitated me getting to know my staff on a more personal level. With technological advancements, we have not missed a step in our normal operation and have even been able to reach a broader group of individuals.

How do you practice self-care? Do you have any book or movie recommendations you are currently enjoying? Any hobbies you enjoy?

While I do work quite a few extra hours, I also create very solid boundaries in my life. Self-care is essential for me, whether that be travel, exercise or a good Netflix binge. Once I leave work for the day, it is left there. I do not check my work email or take non-emergency work calls in my off time and my staff understands and respects this as I respect it for them. I take this same approach with weekends and vacations. I also create boundaries regarding who and what I allow in my life. I have a very close group of friends who are amazing and supportive. I simply do not have the energy for toxic or draining relationships. I have curated my social media so that I only engage with individuals who are positive and uplifting. I also value my time with my family and my partner and prioritize that over invitations that feel more obligatory than energizing.

This is a powerful moment in history, both for our country and for Laurel School. As Laurel amplifies its diversity and equity work, recommitting to establishing and sustaining just systems, what makes you most proud of the School’s growth and where do you see the biggest opportunity for improvement?

I am proud that Laurel is acknowledging this significant time. It is an opportunity for real dialogue and growth. The biggest opportunity for improvement is actively cultivating diversity. While in Kindergarten at Laurel, I asked our then Head of School why there were no African American teachers at Laurel. She had no answer for me. I was five years old and could see there was a problem. Creating an environment that fosters diversity is an absolute action; it is not a theory or an idea. For it to happen, you have to actively recruit the right people, you have to actively listen to the needs of your students, you have to actively accept the experiences of BIPOCs as truth and you have to actively check your own implicit biases time and time again. This is not easy work, nor should it be. However, I believe with real commitment and actual action, it is achievable.

What makes you proud to be a Laurel alum?

The legacy of a Laurel girl makes me proud. Laurel girls are bright, independent thinkers who are encouraged to be creative and limitless. My parents always told me I could do and be anything and thankfully, I believed them. Laurel in large part reinforced that.

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