VOLUNTEER SPOTLGHT Thomas D. Casey ’80 secretary, and acting assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity. During the 1990s, in what he calls his “hippie carpenter” phase, he took a break from government to work for him- self doing ifnish carpentry, renovation, and repair. But in 1999, he returned to Capitol Hill to conduct over- sight and investigations for the House of Representatives’ Committee on Resources. In 2001, he became chief coun- sel to the chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board (now the Federal Housing Finance Agency). In 2007, Casey co-founded the ifrm now known as MAXEX, described on its website as “the ifrst multi- seller, multi-buyer residential loan exchange.” Since 2014, he has been an attorney in private practice, specializing in mediation. Despite his busy professional life, Casey consistently has made his alma mater a priority. “He’s always there for Trinity,” says friend Charles Ingersoll ’83. Though the two met in college, their friendship grew atfer graduation when RECAPTURE they were both working in D.C. Casey has been active in the Trinity Club of Washington, D.C., since graduation and served as its president three times. “He’s very good at planning programs that are RIVERFRONT interesting and fun,” says Ingersoll, “like a picnic at the OF Potomac Boat Club or tours of local museums.” Y Casey is on his third term on the Trinity Alumni TES OUR C Association Executive Committee and serves as president of : O his class. Although he says he’s not wild about asking class - T A successful lawyer, entrepreneur, and mediator, Thomas mates for money, he’s also “pinch-hitting” as a class agent. PHO D. Casey ’80 says his four years at Trinity College helped set For many years, he was secretary for his class, which he the foundation for his life. particularly enjoyed. “He was just superb in this position,” “Institutions like Trinity will continue only if those who says classmate and friend Steven Stuart ’80. “He reached beneift from them give back,” he says. “The college affected out to everyone, not just his close friends, and created inter - me in a very positive way, so it’s important to me to give of esting [columns for The Trinity Reporter] that included sto - my time and resources so future generations can have the ries from many different alumni.” same experiences.” Of all of his service to Trinity, Casey is particularly proud An American studies major and lifelong history buff, to have helped orchestrate a letter-writing campaign to Casey particularly enjoyed classes with Professor of members of the Class of 2020. “It was the least we could do History and American Studies Eugene Leach, Professor of when they missed out on their graduation [due to the pan- Humanities Harold Martin, and Professor of English Paul demic].” Casey, along with David Clark ’80, gathered volun- Smith. “None of those men told me what or how to think,” teers to write personal notes of congratulations and support he says. “They showed me how to learn.” to all 504 members of the Class of 2020. Of the 88 alumni Atfer graduation, Casey worked for the Reagan-Bush who participated in the letter-writing campaign, 36 were presidential campaign and was part of the transition from the Class of 1980, more than from any other class. team for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Many of the volunteers received letters back from their stu - Development (HUD). From 1981–82, he was a special assis - dents, including Casey. tant to the secretary of HUD before enrolling at Georgetown “It is nice to know the letters meant something to the University Law Center. Atfer receiving a J.D. in 1985, he Class of 2020. My class certainly enjoyed writing to them,” returned to HUD in a series of positions, including dep - he says. uty assistant secretary for legislation, chief of staff to the —Mary Howard 8 THE TRINITY REPORTER