Earlier this summer, Professor Emerita Sarah H. Duggin announced the renaming of the Compliance, Investigations, and Corporate Responsibility (CICR) program to the Corporate Responsibility and Compliance (CRC) program. This change streamlines the program title and leads with the overarching theme of corporate responsibility.
In addition, Professor Duggin shared that she will be stepping down as Director of the CRC program. Dean Stephen C. Payne has appointed CRC’s Associate Director John Polanin, Jr. '83 as the new Director. Polanin, a distinguished professional in the compliance field, brings a wealth of experience and currently teaches CRC’s core course, Compliance, Ethics, and Corporate Responsibility. Before returning to Catholic Law, John practiced law in Maryland and DC, worked for the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and held senior legal and compliance roles for global financial institutions in New York City, Sydney, Australia and Dublin, Ireland. In addition to his J.D. from Catholic Law, John earned his B.A. from Harvard and his LL.M. from Georgetown.
When asked about the appointment, Director Polanin shared, “It’s an honor to lead the CRC program, and I’m grateful to Dean Payne and Professor Duggin for this unique opportunity. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with our students as they prepare to enter the challenging and rewarding fields of corporate responsibility and compliance, which have become so vital for our economy, our markets and increasingly for society at large.”
Reflecting on her tenure, Professor Emerita Sarah Duggin remarked, “The opportunity to bring Catholic Law’s Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Program (CRC) to life brought many challenges but even greater joys. I am thankful to all of those—administrators, faculty, staff, and students—who helped establish the program, and I am especially grateful to the alumni who gave generously of their time and financial support to help design and fund CRC. I am so very proud of our certificate holders and the important work they are doing in their legal careers, and I am delighted that John Polanin is CRC’s new Director. John is a wonderful leader who cares deeply about our students. I am confident that the future holds great things for the Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Program.”
This transition marks an exciting new chapter for the CRC program, building on its strong foundation and continuing its mission to prepare students for impactful careers in compliance and corporate responsibility. As another sign of the program’s continued growth, the new CRC Alumni Group was formed in April 2025, creating a dedicated network to support and connect CRC graduates as they advance in their careers.