The Intersection and Impact of Biology and Law: Judge Reba Page Shares Her Nonlinear Career Path with UofL Students

Oct. 24, 2024

By Stephanie Godward, Communications and Marketing Director, College of Arts & Sciences

During a small lunch on campus Oct. 17, Reba A. Page, 2024 Alumni Fellow from the College of Arts & Sciences, shared insights with UofL students from biology, political science, and Brandeis Law School. A few of the law students had studied philosophy in their undergraduate years, making for a rich discussion across disciplines; a perfect highlight of the blend of experiences offered by the College of Arts & Sciences.

As she reflected on her career, Judge Page emphasized the sometimes unpredictable yet fulfilling nature of her own journey. “My path was non-linear, but well-formed,” she told the students, encouraging them to embrace every turn their careers might take. She further inspired them with her belief in the value of every experience: “No experience is ever wasted. Even if it’s a negative experience, disappointments will take you further and faster to where you need to be.”

Opening the floor for discussion, she invited the students to engage with their own paths: “I have had the most unexpected, perfect-for-me, fabulous career. How can I help you on your journey?” Her message was clear: persistence and discernment are key. “You must put up with a lot when you have to, and blow the whistle when you must.”

Judge Page earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1971, her Juris Doctorate in 1976, and her Master of Science in Biology in 1983—all from the University of Louisville. A former member of the UofL Law Alumni Council, she went on to earn her Master of Arts in Judicial Studies in 2011 and her Doctor of Philosophy in Judicial Studies in 2017 from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Throughout her interdisciplinary career, Judge Page served as Chief Administrative Judge for the Corps of Engineers Board of Contract Appeals and was appointed to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in 2000. Her earlier roles included Division Counsel and Division Trial Attorney for the Corps of Engineers Ohio River Division, as well as Deputy Commissioner for the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.

Among her many accolades, Page is a two-time recipient of the Department of Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award and has received the Superior Civilian Service Award, the Commanders Award, and the E. Manning Seltzer Award. She was one of the first lawyers to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Judicial Studies, and her work on law and diversity in the U.S. continues to influence both academic and judicial spheres. She lives in McLean, Virginia, with her husband, Behram Shroff, and their son Stuart and his family.