José A. Olivieri '78

2000 Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service

José A. Olivieri '78 is no stranger to service. He served on the boards of a long list of organizations that all strive to make the greater Milwaukee community a better place to work and live. He brings vision and leadership to the many organizations with which he is associated. His countless hours of dedicated service truly have had an impact on Milwaukee.  

He is a recipient of the Future Milwaukee Community Service Award, Posner Pro Bono Award, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Civic Alliance Special Service Award, and the Todd Wehr Award from the Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives.

Olivieri also served on Carroll’s Public Administration Advisory Council, active with student organizations and gave the 1998 commencement address. Of his board commitments, he has served with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Library, Latino Arts, Milwaukee Urban League, Milwaukee Community Service Corps, La Casa de Esperanza, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Hispanic Economic Enterprises, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, and United Community Center. He was instrumental in the growth of the UCC and was a leader in the joining of the United Community Center and the Bruce Guadalupe Community School under one roof.   

Professionally, José is a partner with the Milwaukee law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP concentrating his practice on employment relations and immigration law. He is known in both his professional life and as a volunteer as an individual who serves with a strong sense of justice and fairness, and with compassion for the underserved and marginalized.  

Olivieri is native of Puerto Rico and as a student was a member of the Latin American Student Organization and Student Senate. He graduated Carroll in 1978 with a major in political science. He and his wife, Jeanne (Nikolai) Olivieri '79, currently live in Milwaukee.