Louis Ferrand
For Louis Ferrand '64, there’s no such thing as a typical day at the office. As Director of the Office of General Legal Services and Deputy General Counsel for Legal Services for the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ferrand juggles many duties, yet still finds significant time to perform community service.
Explaining the organization for which he works, Ferrand compares the Office of General Legal Services to “a small public law firm, only international.” Having worked in sectors both public and private, he has served as a chief litigator and legal advisor on a wide range of issues, including civil rights, labor relations, corporate contracts, equal opportunity employment, and public international law. Through these duties, Ferrand serves OAS priorities, which include defending democracy, strengthening defense, and protecting human rights in member states. The organization’s efforts to aid election processes in Haiti demand much of Ferrand’s time. Registering the country’s 4.4 million voters and setting up the necessary infrastructure for the election is a massive undertaking, but one which Ferrand finds rewarding. One of the best aspects of working for the OAS is “contributing to projects that help the development of member states,” he says.
Clearly, Ferrand must have followed an illustrious career path to be where he his today, but when one inquires about his tremendous professional success, Ferrand’s humility shows. “I don’t really think of what I do in terms of accomplishments,” he says, focusing instead on serving others. Ferrand’s extensive pro bono work with the Inter-American Bar Association (IABA), Federal Bar Association (FBA), and several other organizations has had local, national and international impact. Still, the humble Alma alum won’t readily acknowledge his achievements, instead expressing how he feels “lucky” and “blessed” with a job he enjoys every day and through which he is able to serve the public good both within the U.S. and internationally.
While he downplays them, Ferrand’s professional accomplishments are staggering. From 1995 until June 2004 he served as the Secretary General of the IABA. A former member of the IABA’s Executive Committee, Ferrand is now a member of the organization’s governing council. He is also highly active in the FBA, having held several positions with the institution, including his enduring role on the Board of Directors of the FBA’s District of Columbia Chapter. A member of the District of Columbia and Michigan Bar Associations allowing him to practice law in the United States Supreme Court, and the 5th, 11th, and D.C. Circuits of the United States Court of Appeals, the Rockford, MI native is always in the public eye.
Like many involved in philanthropy, Ferrand learned the importance of service at a young age. His parents’ volunteerism taught Ferrand that “it’s important to know who you are, to look in the mirror and be proud of what you see.” In his position of influence, Ferrand has had great opportunity to help others, a fortune for which he is thankful.
Ferrand’s professional and pro bono efforts have been recognized with several awards, including a Special Commemoration for Outstanding Service from the U.S. Department of Justice and multiple awards from the Department of Labor. Most recently, the Alma alumnus was honored by the Young Lawyers and Law Students section of the IABA. The group recognized Ferrand’s outstanding achievements and continuous efforts to promote education for young lawyers by creating an annual scholarship in his name — a “tremendous honor” which was “completely unexpected.”
Reflecting on his career, Ferrand notes that often, luck has to do with being prepared. He believes the key to success is to “develop yourself in areas you’re interested in, and doors will open for you.” The value of hard work has always been prominent in the Ferrand household, where Louis and his wife Mary Braseth Ferrand raised their three children. As a result, they expect the children to continue the Ferrand legacy of achievement.
Ferrand’s own career path took a few interesting turns since he started at Alma. A 1962 Alma summer service program in Jamaica sparked Ferrand’s interest in the Peace Corps, which he would later join. After finishing his undergraduate degree in psychology, he completed two years of law school. Concerned about “what was lacking in future leaders,” he and a friend put their skills to work establishing a nonprofit organization in New York. Then, leaving the States and law school behind for a time, Ferrand was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, where he worked with coffee producers to set up a fair trade marketing cooperative. Upon returning to the U.S., he became involved in the Grand Rapids Community Action Program, later returning to law school at the University of Michigan, where he received his Juris Doctor degree.
Considering the various capacities in which Ferrand now serves, one can easily understand why his schedule may be one of the busiest in the nation’s capital. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of his position is simply trying to handle the incredible workload that comes across his desk. The sheer volume of cases and inquiries makes it “very difficult to give timely, good responses,” but Ferrand’s dedication helps make this possible. Despite the demands of his career, Ferrand is able to make tremendous contributions through community service, impacting local and distant regions through his desire to serve.
–Kelly O’Connor '05
