But nothing has topped the day she graduated from Barnard College in 2009. Not only did she give a commencement speech, she also got a shoutout from Hillary Clinton. Besnoff had said in her speech that her mother often told her, “When I grow up, I want to be Sarah Besnoff.” When Clinton came to the podium a few minutes later, she said she felt the same way about her own daughter. “I felt a remarkable kinship with Sarah’s mother,” Clinton said. Besnoff -- and her mother -- were thrilled.
Besnoff earned a law degree and a master’s of public administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She now works as an attorney for the federal court system. Besnoff credits much of her success to the support of people she has worked with. “When I have been willing to ask for help or ask for guidance, I have been astounded by how willing people are to give it.”
Read about the Women in Government program and the rest of the honorees.
