John Marshall faculty, staff, students and loved ones of Benjamin Liu filled the Arthur J. Goldberg Memorial Courtroom Feb. 26, to celebrate the beloved professor who died in December. Colleagues and former students shared memories of Liu, who joined John Marshall’s faculty in 2011 after practicing in intellectual property law.
Professor Kim D. Chanbonpin called her friend and colleague “kind and enthusiastic,” recalling how Liu delayed his own fun at a school holiday party to work on course plans.
“Ben was a dedicated teacher, constantly innovating,” Chanbonpin said. She read testimonials from colleagues outside of John Marshall, who praised Liu for being “an example of what collegiality should be.”
Third-year student and SBA President Raymond Rushing shared condolences on behalf of John Marshall’s student body. Rushing commended Liu for the time he took to mentor students, even those who weren’t pursuing an IP focus. “Professor Liu got it,” Rushing said.
“He understood what being an attorney meant. He understood what being a law professor meant,” Rushing added. “He was the epitome of what a law professor should be.”
