Michigan Law is proud to recognize the 2024 recipients of the Fiske Fellowship: Kacyn Fujii, ’22, Alexander Nye, ’24, and Deborah Won, ’21. For more than two decades, the Fiske Fellowship has annually recognized up to four Michigan Law graduates who serve as government lawyers by providing stipends and debt repayment assistance.
Established by Robert B. Fiske, ’55, the three-year fellowship prepares and encourages law students to pursue government service positions. Fiske is a senior counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where he first worked after graduating from Michigan Law. His desire to support government lawyers through the fellowship stems from the four years in which he left private practice to serve as a US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Each Fiske Fellow receives a $10,000 first-year cash stipend and debt repayment assistance, which is used to cover all required loan payments, not merely those pertaining to the cost of law school education. Fellowship eligibility is open to third-year Law School students, recent graduates serving in clerkships, and those in their first year of post-graduate government employment (not including clerkships).
Since 2001, 81 Michigan Law graduates have received Fiske Fellowships.
“This Fiske Fellowship program, which provides immense financial support for alums pursuing government work, is an amazing opportunity for our students,” said Emily Bretz, ’11, public interest director for Michigan Law’s Office of Career Planning.
“It can be financially difficult to start your career in public service, and this program allows new lawyers to gain immediate experience as public servants. New fellows also join an impressive network of alums who are all doing incredible work throughout this country. The fellowship is a unique and special opportunity that I know my students feel lucky to have.”
Fiske, who met this year’s fellows at a dinner in Washington, DC, on October 10, said, “This program enables highly qualified Michigan Law School graduates to pursue their desired careers in government service and, in doing so, gives the government the benefit of a regular flow of extremely motivated and talented young lawyers.”
Meet this year’s fellows
Kacyn Fujii, ’22
Kacyn Fujii, ’22, who served as a law clerk to the Hon. Mark Bennett on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Hon. Judith E. Levy on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, joined the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Tax Division as an honors attorney.
She works as a trial attorney to help enforce US tax law through civil litigation in federal courts.
“When I was a summer intern at the California DOJ, I saw just how big of an impact the government has on society,” said Fujii.
“I feel fortunate and honored to have been selected as a Fiske Fellow, and I plan to continue building upon my knowledge and skills in civil litigation so that I can positively impact my community.”
Alexander Nye, ’24
Alexander Nye, ’24, joined the Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors bank regulation and policy group as a first-year legal attorney.
He previously worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and, most recently, the Federal Reserve Board.
Nye looks forward to further understanding the financial institutions law, how adjudications work, and writing regulations.
By the end of his fellowship, he plans to step into the field of international bank regulation and policy.
“Receiving this fellowship feels less about me and more about continuing the long tradition of Michigan grads doing great work at the Federal Reserve,” said Nye.
“I’ve had a long-term goal of working in public service, but thanks to the Fiske Fellowship, I’m able to pursue it now.”
Deborah Won, ’21
Deborah Won, ’21, will join the US DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch in Washington, DC, through the Honors Program.
She previously served as a law clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and, most recently, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
As the former co-chair of Michigan Law’s Organization of Public Interest Students, she is eager to use her lawyering skills to protect vulnerable individuals and consumers—while gaining practical experience building cases and initiating investigations.
“I’ve always been interested in the DOJ Honors Program, even before starting law school,” said Won.
“I had mentors who loved being career public servants and recommended the honors program. They are why I was interested in becoming a lawyer, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to pursue a career in government service.”
