What happens when the person who is usually giving out awards gets selected to receive one?
“It was a surprise. I don’t think of myself as a volunteer. Working with students and giving back is just what we do as attorneys. It was very kind of the Alumni Association and I am truly honored to be the recipient,” said Kim Wolf Price L’03.
Wolf Price received the 2025 Syracuse University Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is given in “the greatest expression of appreciation for alumni who have devoted themselves to long-term and consistent volunteerism and service to Syracuse University.” The Syracuse University Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Engagement presents the award annually.
Wolf Price frequently visits Dineen Hall as a guest speaker or panelist for Youth Law Day, Girls Rule the Law Day, Admitted Student Days, Orientation, and state and local bar association events.
In addition, Wolf Price often speaks with current Syracuse Law students and recent alums, hosts Syracuse University’s Pre-law Society for tours, and makes connections for other programs at Bond, Schoeneck, and King where she is the Chief Strategy Officer.
“We try to make connections at Bond with Syracuse University in many ways. Of course we are engaged at the law school, but we also have connections with Whitman, IVMF and other parts of campus as well,” she says. “The firm also hires a lot of College of Law graduates. But we don’t just work with the students we might hire. I get calls from students or young alums who have questions about their career path, want to network, and are seeking advice from me or someone else at the firm frequently.”
Being a volunteer with Syracuse University comes naturally to Wolf Price. “I am very lucky. I am the first in my family to get a bachelor’s degree (from Colgate University) and the first J.D. I got a full ride from Syracuse, and it opened entirely new career opportunities for me. I want to make sure I can pay that forward. It’s second nature to be involved in projects that affect the current law students and the undergrads,” says Wolf Price.
After graduating from Syracuse Law, Wolf Price and her husband Fred (who met on the first day of law school) ventured to New York City to start their legal careers. Later, they returned to Syracuse with Fred going to Bond as an attorney and Wolf Price landing at her alma mater in the Career Services department. She held several senior leadership roles, reaching Assistant Dean for Career Services, until returning to private practice at Bond in 2020.
One of her accomplishments at the College of Law was being the co-founder (along with Professor Lauryn Gouldin) of the Syracuse Civics Initiative. The Syracuse Civics Initiative develops community-facing civics education programming in partnership with other departments at the University, local judges and attorneys, and community organizations that support civics education.
Wolf Price has very simple advice for any alum looking to get involved with the University. “Every little bit matters. Even if it’s a mock interview with a student, you get just as much back as you have given. It strengthens our community, our institution and our profession,” she says.
“I realized how each of us can impact other people with small actions. If we take a few minutes to answer those questions that a student might have or take part in a panel discussion, speak in a class because you may have a certain knowledge base that’s helpful, you can make a big difference. It doesn’t take as much time as you think it does.”
During her comments at the Alumni Awards ceremony, she said, “This is an honor I am deeply grateful for it. I am not great at receiving awards, probably better at giving them but thank you very much I am deeply humbled.”