The Armenian Bar Association has named its inaugural legal scholar award, “The Ann M. Lousin Scholar of Law Award,” in honor of Professor Ann M. Lousin of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Lousin, who was also the first recipient of the award, was presented with the honor at the Armenian Bar Association 27th Annual Meeting held in Chicago on May 21.
The Armenian Bar Association was formed in 1989 to provide an arena for lawyers of Armenian heritage to come together socially and professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian community. Lousin has been a member of the Armenian Bar Association since it was founded 27 years ago. In that time, she has served as a member of the board of governors, chair of the board, secretary of the board and chair of the Genocide Research Project Committee. In 2009, the association presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to her service with the Armenian Bar Association, Lousin has served on several nonprofit boards and governmental commissions, including a term as chairman of the Illinois State Civil Service Commission. She is active in the commercial law committees of the American and Chicago Bar Associations (CBA) and has been the chair of the CBA Constitutional Law Committee.
Lousin is a constitutional law expert. She was a research assistant at the 1969-1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention. She also served as staff assistant to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, including a term as Parliamentarian of the House. She now lectures and consults on the Illinois Constitution, general public law issues and commercial law in the U.S. and abroad. In 2009 she was elected a member of the American Law Institute.
Lousin joined the John Marshall faculty in 1975. She teaches Sales Transactions and Illinois Constitutional Law. Lousin received her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College and her law degree from The University of Chicago. Between college and law school, Lousin studied political science at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.