The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School mourns the loss of Sarah Best L’21, who was among those who perished on the tragic American Airlines flight in Washington, D.C.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Sarah Best, a beloved member of our law school community,” said Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law Sophia Z. Lee. “Sarah was a brilliant, kind, and compassionate soul who touched the lives of so many. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and loved ones during this tragic time. As we grieve together, we hold close the memory of Sarah and the light she brought into our lives.”
An outstanding student who graduated summa cum laude, Best was also deeply engaged in various organizations and student groups across Penn Carey Law.
She served as the Academic Chair for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, a Senior Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, a Representative for the Equal Justice Foundation Board, and a member of First Generation Professionals. Additionally, Best was a winner of the 2021 Keedy Cup, the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s intramural moot court tournament, where she was named Best Oralist.
“Sarah was certainly a brilliant student, but she was also a wonderful friend and leader,” said Felicia Lin, Vice Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students. “She was always looking for ways to help others, to serve her community, and to live a life of purpose. This is an unimaginable loss, but we are all better for having known Sarah.”
A Clarksville, Tennessee native, Best graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a dual degree in Neuroscience and Classical Languages. Prior to attending Penn Carey Law, she worked for five years as a high school math teacher in Memphis and Nashville public schools, and as an instructional coach for Teach for America and the Nashville Teacher Residency.
Best’s passion for education continued throughout her time at the Law School, where she worked with the litigation team for the Glen Mills Schools class action lawsuit during an externship program with the Education Law Center.
After graduating from Penn Carey Law, Best clerked for Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Judge Paul S. Diamond on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Judge John P. Cronan on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She joined Wilkinson Stekloff LLP as an Associate last fall.
“Sarah was an extraordinary person from whom it was a joy to learn,” said David E. Kaufman & Leopold C. Glass Professor of Law Catherine Struve. “The paper she wrote for our seminar showed both her analytical brilliance and her commitment to equal justice: she deftly and insightfully untangled a messy area of doctrine concerning the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s ‘three-strikes’ barrier to suits by incarcerated people. Sarah was an experienced teacher herself, and she generously gave me a tip on teaching by Zoom that I still use frequently today. Sarah was also a person of unwavering integrity who could be relied upon to handle a challenging situation with grace, fortitude, and consideration for others.”
Original source can be found here.