Pamela J. Bernard - 2004
Pamela J. Bernard has spent her entire professional career in the General Counsel’s office at the University of Florida. She first joined the Office in 1982 as Assistant to the University Attorney, and was appointed General Counsel in 1987 and Vice President and General Counsel in 2001. Ms. Bernard received her B.A. from the University of Florida and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law.
Ms. Bernard’s involvement in NACUA spans nearly the same 22 years, when she first volunteered to be on the Committee on Membership. Since then, she has served on virtually every NACUA committee, chairing the Committees on Membership, Site Selection, Arrangements for the Annual Conference, Member Services, Program for the Annual Conference, Nominations, and Honors and Awards. She also served as Vice Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee and has spoken many times at Annual Conferences and CLE Workshops.
Ms. Bernard was first elected to the NACUA Board of Directors in 1989 as a member-at-large. In 1997, she was elected Second Vice President of the Association, and successively served as First Vice President in 1998-1999; President-Elect in 1999-2000; and as the 40th President of the Association in 2000-2001.
While serving as President-Elect and President, Ms. Bernard helped to guide NACUA to advance its strategic thinking in a significant way. Her leadership, resolve and commitment ultimately led to significant changes in the Association’s approach to corporate governance, leadership succession, and continued enhancement of member services through desktop delivery of electronic legal resources. She effectively led NACUA into the 21st Century.
Ms. Bernard has been a mentor and counselor to many of her NACUA colleagues. She has never missed an opportunity to welcome a new member or to make a current member feel valued and important. All who have had the pleasure of working with her would agree that she exemplifies the essence of our profession and of what NACUA represents – collegiality, civility, inclusiveness and respect. For these reasons, NACUA takes pride in presenting to Pamela Bernard the Distinguished Service Award for 2004.