St. Edward’s University recently presented its 2013 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award to Katharine Baragona, Class of ’87. The following appeared in the Spring 2013 issue of St. Edward’s University Magazine:

Whether she’s building financially sustainable infrastructures in developing countries or rebuilding her parents’ home after a hurricane, Kate Baragona commits. After graduating from St. Edward’s, she went on to earn a law degree and was one of the first five American lawyers to dual qualify as a U.K. Solicitor with the Law Society of England and Wales. Baragona has worked at law firms on both sides of the Atlantic and currently works for the World Bank.

Were there any people at St. Edward’s who influenced your career path?

At St. Edward’s, I was fortunate to have Jim Koch, Joe Pluta and Ed Shirley as teachers. Their passion and expertise built the foundation of my professional pursuits. Each of them is intellectually unrestrained. They know the principles of their areas of expertise but have continued to challenge accepted “truths” in pursuit of deeper knowledge and understanding. It was this practice of the art of curiosity that spoke to me and inspired me to go find answers.