I’m a Bennie

SUZANNE SPELLACY ’87

GENERAL COUNSEL, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES AND LYNX

When Suzanne Spellacy graduated from Saint Ben’s in 1987 with a degree in English, she worked as a marketing writer and designer. She even thought about going to graduate school and becoming an English professor. Eventually though, “I decided that I thought my strengths were in something that was more analytical. That’s when I chose law as a path,” she says. But her liberal arts background served as a terrific foundation for her career in law – refining the writing and critical thinking skills she says are so important. “I would say my liberal arts education helped me see connections between things that may not seem obvious, and taught me to think creatively about new challenges.” In summer 2021, Suzanne (a 1992 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School) was named general counsel for both the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. As such, she has responsibility for all legal matters including contract negotiations, corporate transactions, intellectual property, dispute resolution, employment law and league rules and regulations. “I just love being in an organization and the league that is on the leading edge in so many ways,” Suzanne says, “whether it’s social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as pioneering technologies and new experiences for our fans.” She’s especially energized by the sports industry’s growth in employing people from diverse backgrounds. “The Timberwolves and Lynx are definitely leading the way in that area,” she says, “so I’m excited to play a role in our focus on diversity and equity inclusion and to serve on our Women in Sports Leadership steering committee. “The career lesson I’ve learned over time is to choose opportunities that allow you to work with people with whom you can build trusting relationships. That is really the basis of my excitement about joining the Timberwolves and Lynx – the amazing people I’m working with every day.” First-year residence hall

Aurora Favorite class Favorite professor

Dr. Janet McNew was my favorite professor. She was my first-year seminar professor and became my adviser throughout college. She helped me understand my strengths, and she continuously encouraged me to push myself. Looking back, she was one of the most influential people in my academic career. Favorite Bennie memory

During freshman year we had just gotten back to school from a break and overnight it snowed so much we got a snow day! We all had food our parents had sent back with us, and we sat around our dorm the whole day and talked, watched daytime TV shows and ate the favorite foods everyone had brought from home.