Petal Modeste

Petal Modeste

Petal Modeste is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs Administration at Columbia Law School. In this capacity, she oversees the law school’s student-facing offices, including Career Services and Professional Development, Graduate Legal Studies, the Executive LL.M. Program, Registration Services, Social Justice Initiatives, the Office of Judicial Clerkships, and Student Services. Prior to assuming this role, Petal served as Dean of the Office of Career Services and Professional Development at Columbia Law School.

Petal began her legal career as an associate in the Finance Group at Shearman & Sterling, LLP where she represented lenders, borrowers, and underwriters in sophisticated financing transactions. Prior to joining Columbia Law School, she served as Senior Director and Strategic Advisor for Legal Recruiting at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Petal is the creator of the podcast Parenting for the Future. The podcast features conversations with thought leaders, creative thinkers, and experts across a broad range of disciplines, as well as with parents and children. These conversations provide the inspiration, knowledge, and tools parents need to raise their children to thrive, find their unique voices, and use those voices to lead positive change in the unprecedented world in which they will come of age.

Petal received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education, cum laude, from Andrews University; her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Howard University School of Law; and her MBA from Columbia Business School. She is married with two daughters and she and her family split their time between New York, Trinidad & Tobago, and Belgium.