Rolando Acosta '79CC, '82LAW – 2022 Alumni Medalists
Channel: Columbia Alumni
Date: 2022-10-06

Hon. Rolando T. Acosta ’79CC, ’82LAW is the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. Prior to joining the bench, Acosta held various posts with the Legal Aid Society, including Attorney-in-Charge of the largest civil trial office, and with the New York City Commission on Human Rights. A proud graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Law School, Justice Acosta is the recipient of Columbia University’s Medal for Excellence and Columbia Law School’s Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility. In 2008, he was inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame, having earned four straight All-Eastern League (and All-Ivy League) honors and being twice named Pitcher of the Year in leading the Lions to two Ivy League championships. Over forty years after graduating from Columbia College, Acosta still holds Columbia records for career and season victories. He has served on the Columbia Board of Trustees since 2011, where he Chairs the Public Affairs Committee and oversees Athletics. Acosta also serves on the Board of the Columbia Alumni Association, is a member of the Dean’s Council of Columbia Law School, and was the keynote speaker at Columbia College’s 2020 Class Day. Justice Acosta is husband to Dr. Vasthi Reyes Acosta (’94, ’95TC) and father to Lucas Acosta and Zila Acosta-Grimes (’11CC, ’15LAW). Zila and her husband, Brian K. Grimes, Jr. (’11CC), are parents to Brian K. Grimes III and Tomás B. Grimes, prospective students for the Columbia College classes of 2041 and 2043, respectively.