The third-year student has made her mark on the Francis King Carey School of Law through her academic pursuits and leadership roles.
Every fall, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) commemorates our rich history and celebrates the future we’re building together during Founders Week, which this year runs Oct. 20-23. Among the highlights is recognizing the extraordinary work of UMB’s faculty, staff, and students with five awards, each signifying outstanding accomplishment in one facet of our mission. Leading up to Founders Week, we will highlight the award winners every Wednesday on The Elm. For more information on UMB’s annual celebration and associated events, please check out the Founders Week website. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
With a passion for social justice and public interest law, Danielle Basdekis arrived at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2023 to pursue a Juris Doctor degree and hit the ground running. In two years, she has distinguished herself as a student, scholar, and leader, with her contributions significantly enriching the law school and advancing the mission of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).
“After working in various public interest spaces as an undergraduate — including hate crime and policy research, at a civil rights law firm, and in an immigration clinic — I realized the importance of the legal field and lawyering,” said Basdekis, who double-majored in political science and women’s studies at Florida State University. “Maryland Carey Law stands out as a leading public interest law school and continually reaffirms its commitment to public interest lawyering through its various initiatives. The school has opened the door to more opportunities than I even imagined, and it has certainly prepared me to be a better advocate for my future clients.”
In her first year, Basdekis joined the Student Bar Association (SBA) Executive Council, which acts as the student government for the school, and played a key role in organizing events associated with her first-year class. She served as SBA’s executive vice president in Year 2 and is currently the executive president, presiding over the Executive Council, helping to interpret the SBA constitution and bylaws, and setting the agenda for the group’s meetings.
Basdekis also is a member of the board of the Maryland Public Interest Law Project (MPILP), a student-run nonprofit that provides summer funding for students who want to engage in unpaid public interest internships. She has been the group’s public relations chair, president, and is serving as treasurer in the 2025-26 academic year.
“I am very proud of my work on the Maryland Public Interest Law Project board,” she said. “We hold an annual auction to raise money for students’ otherwise unpaid public service internships. This past year was our 37th year as a nonprofit, and we raised $24,000 at an auction for these student grants. As someone who has interests across various fields in the public interest sector, being a part of helping my peers pursue public interest careers is so important to me.”
Last spring, Basdekis worked as a graduate student consultant with the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia Law School in New York, taking courses focused on education law and working on a project to support a citywide multilingualism program.
Over the past two years, she has served as an intern for the Baltimore firm Nathans & Ripke; the Baltimore City Public Schools’ Office of the Legal Counsel; Judge Kathryn Grill Graeff of the Appellate Court of Maryland; and FreeState Justice, a Baltimore nonprofit that provides legal services to low-income LGBTQ+ Marylanders.
She has been an editor for the Maryland Law Review and a research assistant to Paula Monopoli, JD, contributing to the Distinguished University Professor’s scholarship on constitutional law and feminist theories. She also received a Rose Zetzer Fellowship, which is awarded to students who demonstrate a strong intellectual interest and commitment to women and leadership issues.
“Danielle’s unwavering commitment to MPILP’s mission and her ongoing efforts to support public interest law are truly commendable,” said Erica Smith, JD, LLM, associate dean for student services, Maryland Carey Law, who nominated Basdekis for the Student of the Year honor. “Her involvement in such activities not only benefits the community but also sets a shining example for her peers. Her dedication to serving the community is evident in her consistent pursuit of justice, equity, and meaningful change through public service.
“Throughout her time at Maryland Carey Law, Danielle has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to advocating for student concerns and fostering opportunities for UMB’s law students,” Smith added. “Her academic achievements are impressive, and her passion for public interest legal work is commendable. Danielle has tirelessly worked to support at-risk and needy communities, making a tangible difference through her efforts.”
Deborah Thompson Eisenberg, JD, professor and vice dean, Maryland Carey Law, described Basdekis’ participation in a wide range of activities at the law school as “meaningful and deep.”
“She truly cares about making Maryland Carey Law a stronger, thriving community and has clearly committed herself to doing that in various ways,” Eisenberg said. “We are a better law school because of Danielle, and I’m especially excited that she is serving as the Student Bar Association president this academic year.
“What has impressed me the most about Danielle is her approach to leadership,” Eisenberg added. “Whether she is working with other students or raising an issue with the law school administration, she is professional, collaborative, thoughtful, and kind.”
Basdekis said the feeling of community at Maryland Carey Law motivates her to give back to her fellow students and the law school through her numerous extracurricular activities.
“I care deeply about our law school community,” she said. “Another reason I decided to attend Maryland Carey Law is because of the emphasis on community that really felt different than other schools. I wanted to continue that emphasis on the importance of community and collaboration in the law school setting through mentorship and providing students with an opportunity to connect.”
Basdekis, who will be a clerk for Justice Angela Eaves on the Supreme Court of Maryland after graduating next spring, said she was “overwhelmed” by the Student of the Year honor.
“I am really appreciative to Dean Smith for her nomination and our partnership these past two years in my capacity on the SBA Executive Board,” Basdekis said. “The UMB community is made up of various phenomenal future professionals, and I truly cannot wrap my head around being singled out with this award.”
Eisenberg said it’s fitting that Basdekis is being honored by UMB.
“Danielle exemplifies the University’s core values through her leadership, advocacy, and academic study,” Eisenberg said. “While she does not seek the limelight, I am glad that we are shining a light on her as UMB’s Student of the Year.”