Exonian Profiles
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As an attorney in the Office of Legislative Counsel on the Navajo Reservation in breathtaking Window Rock, Arizona, Lucy Rain Ferguson Simpson ’89 provides legal advice to the twelve standing committees of the Navajo Nation Council—the equivalent of the U.S. Congress. “I act almost like a translator, bringing the complex legal world into perspective, such that the average Navajo elder can understand the issues,” says Simpson. “I try to bring the Anglo world, from which I received my formal education, and the traditional Navajo world from which I was raised, into an arena within which both worlds can exist with mutual respect and understanding.” The ability to listen to and appreciate ideas, opinions and perspectives of both the Anglo and Navajo worlds, and choosing what is most valuable from each, is imperative to Simpson’s success in the Navajo community. Her time around the Harkness table at Exeter, it would seem, listening, learning and developing a discerning ear, serves her well in her current position. The daughter of Dr. Bruce Ferguson, a ’59 graduate of Exeter and currently a physician in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Lorene Ferguson, a Navajo Indian, licensed attorney, and currently a Tribal Judge for the Navajo Nation, Simpson spent a good part of her youth on the Reservation. “I always wanted to come back and work on the Reservation,” says Simpson. “It was important for me to not only work here, but also to live here. I have a moral responsibility to the Navajo Reservation. The Tribe has invested a lot in me—giving me scholarships to attend Exeter, Stanford and University of Colorado Law School—and now I want to give something back to the community.” Simpson describes her job in the Office of Legislative Counsel as multifaceted, encompassing everything from drafting legislation and advising Counsel delegates on legal matters, to investigating “white collar crime” by tribal officials. She recently drafted tribal legislation that will go to the Arizona legislature and Attorney General Janet Reno regarding the proposed redistricting of Arizona for the state legislature and congress, to make sure that Navajo Nation is adequately represented. “I like working on a local level, being ‘in the loop,’ and seeing the impact of my work on the community,” says Simpson. Recently married to Robert Simpson, a competitive saddle bronc rider on the rodeo circuit, and expecting her first child in January, Simpson also enjoys the more laid-back lifestyle on the Navajo Reservation. “I like being around my family and working normal hours. If I were at a law firm, I’d be working at least 60 hours per week. Here, I leave the office by 5:00.” —Bill Ewing |
