John D. Feerick is a law professor who heads up Fordham Law School's Center for Social Justice and Dispute Resolution, which provides students with hands-on clinical programs devoted to issues of poverty. He was previously chairman of the New York State Commission on Public Integrity.

Responding to a State Department invitation, Feerick was awarded a government grant to gather 22 Northern Irish community leaders, 11 Catholic and 11 Protestant, and teach them mediation skills, working on creating peace from the street level up.

In 1999, Feerick was awarded the gold medal of the American Irish Historical Society for his work.

Feerick received an undergraduate degree from Fordham and graduated from Fordham Law School in 1961. He practiced at the New York law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom for 21 years, and went on to serve as dean of Fordham Law for 20 years.

Feerick, whose parents were both natives of Co. Mayo but met in New York, is married with six children and 11 grandchildren. He is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in New York.

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