Most CMC alumni can point to certain aspects of their college experience—whether a favorite professor or a late-night discussion in Wohlford—that alters their world-view. But even before Julie T. Spellman '89 arrived at CMC, the College had already changed the course of her life.

Spellman, a senior in high school, met CMC Trustee Howard Marguleas P'87 at a banquet for Irvine Company scholarship recipients. Spellman knew she wanted to study international relations at CMC, but it was Marguleas who suggested Chinese as the foreign language arm of her major.

By the time she turned 19, Spellman had studied Chinese language at Pomona College, and Chinese culture at CMC. Then came the real-world experience: Encouraged by Arthur L. Rosenbaum, associate professor of history, Spellman boarded a plane to study in Taiwan and China. "Neither my parents nor any of my extended family had traveled—no one even owned a passport," Spellman recalls. "The idea that a young girl from Orange County who could barely go to college could study abroad was tremendous."

The first alumna elected as a regular trustee, Spellman hopes to use her role to open as many borders—both international and virtual—for current students, as CMC did for her.

A Stone Scholar at Columbia Law School, where she received the Dawson Prize and the Prize for International Law, Spellman is a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where her work includes mergers and acquisitions, securities, and banking matters, primarily for private equity funds. Prior to returning to the firm's New York headquarters last year, she helped lead the firm's Hong Kong office. While in China, she was also a visiting professor for the graduate law program at Peking University in Beijing, where she taught U.S. corporate governance and securities law.

"I'm an independent thinker," she says. "I like to take on new challenges. When I decided to study Chinese, everyone else was studying Japanese; I wanted to set the trend, not follow it. CMC takes someone like me—who likes to be tested—and presents many chances to pursue new things and learn real-world skills."

"Julie has very strong opinions, that are well thought out and grounded in fact," says Rosenbaum, Spellman's former professor. "I think she'll make a splendid trustee. Not only is it an honor for her, but it is also a true benefit for CMC."

"I don't think of myself as a female trustee, but a trustee," Spellman says. "But I appreciate that women in many fields, including the law, sometimes face higher hurdles and different challenges than men today. Having that understanding, I can be helpful in developing and consulting on certain types of programs. My role," she says, "is to bring a good perspective to the development of the College."

Rosenbaum thinks the appointment was a wise one, echoing Spellman's points of difference, and touting her ability to work with those of different backgrounds and perspectives. "In China, you could see how well she works with people from different cultural backgrounds. People genuinely like her," he says.

With Susan Matteson King '85, Spellman has turned her attention to CMC's New York alumni chapter. Still in the beginning stages of revitalization, the chapter plans to assist the College with pre- and post-admission activities, offer development opportunities, create a regional Parents' Club, and support area alumni. "We hope the New York chapter will be the model for the way an alumni association outside of California can interact with the College to support its objectives and alumni."

Spellman's appointment to the Board of Trustees accompanies three themes that have played dominant roles in shaping her life decisions: dreaming big, continually learning, and committing to community service. Those themes, she says, helped guide her back to serve her alma mater. "I believe strongly that everyone should participate in community service," she says. "As a sophomore, I volunteered at a center for children with learning disabilities, and while studying in China I volunteered to teach English."

But her dedication to community service doesn't start and end with CMC.

Throughout her career, with the support of her law firm, Spellman has continued to pay homage to the values her parents handed down to their children. As an associate, Julie led an adopt-a-library project at her firm and was a member of the Disability Rights Task Force of the New York Lawyers for Public Interest.

"In my pro-bono legal work for the Disabilities Task Force, I have represented individuals with disabilities in their citizenship hearings and worked on a project to promote the hiring of individuals with disabilities." Additionally, Spellman sits on the board of a foundation started by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office that offers an alternative program for mothers convicted of nonviolent crimes.

"With Julie, it's not just a feel-good project," notes Rosenbaum. "She wants everything she does to have meaning and purpose and to make a change—this is also true in her role as a trustee. She's not someone who just shuffles paper; she doesn't do things for status. She's very much an individual working hard to help make CMC a better place."

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Spellman spoke at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum as part of the UNOVA President's Leaders Forum in September 2003