Butler Snow is proud to announce that attorney Dawn Bookhardt has been selected as a 2025 honoree for the prestigious Oakwood Honors Program at Oakwood University College (OUC). The Oakwood Honors 2025 Program will take place at Oakwood University College’s campus, celebrating this year’s class of changemakers, visionaries and outstanding alumni. Dawn was recognized at the “Alumni Homecoming” ceremony on Friday, April 18, 2025. Dawn’s selection is a testament to her outstanding legal career, her commitment to civic engagement and her continued efforts to mentor and uplift the next generation of leaders.
The Oakwood Honors Program annually recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact through leadership, professional excellence and community service.
Dawn is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group and serves on the firm’s Inclusivity Committee. She has extensive experience in start-up finance and has served as counsel to various developers and local governments for mixed-use and mixed-finance developments. Dawn has long been recognized for her work in complex public-private partnerships, municipal financing and educational leadership. Her recognition by OUC reflects not only her legal acumen but also her deep-rooted dedication to service and education.
Dawn has been previously selected as a recipient of the Urban League of Denver Chairman’s Award, has been named one of Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Top 25 Most Powerful Women and is the proud recipient of the Women’s Chamber Legacy Award. She has also previously been recognized as one of Urban Spectrum Magazine’s Timeless Legends and is the magazine’s cover story for the May 2024 edition. She received the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Business Advisory Council National Leadership Award and the Girl Scouts’ Women of Excellence Award. She has also received the Mayor of Denver’s “Coin to the City” for Community service in Denver, Colorado, among other recognitions.
She is active in community and professional organizations, currently serving as the Chair of the General Law and Diversity Committee of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and Immediate Past Chairman of the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation Board of Directors, kickstarting the University’s five-year, $100 million capital campaign which has raised over $77 million in its third year of operation. She also serves on the Board of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and is an active member of Colorado Black Women for Political Action and the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce. Dawn also serves on the Facilities Committee of the Central States Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.
Dawn earned her bachelor’s degree from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver. She is admitted to practice law in the state of Colorado.
