Background and Education
Aileen received her J.D. from Howard University Law School in 1973, having spent her third year at UCLA Law School. She became a member of the California Bar in 1974. In 1966, she graduated from Smith College where she majored in Spanish and Latin American Studies and spent her junior year abroad in Spain. As a senior, Aileen attended Clark College in Atlanta for several months on a student exchange program. She received Smith's Distinguished Alumna Award in 1993. From 7-12th grades, Aileen attended Marlborough School in Los Angeles where she was elected Student Body President and graduated in 1962. The school named her as its Woman of the Year and commencement speaker in 1987.
In 1970, Aileen married Geoffrey Cowan, a University Professor at USC, and an award-winning author, playwright, and television producer. Their early public interest work together was highlighted in the 1970 Vogue article, "The Young Good Guys." Geoff is a former dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and was named Director of the Voice of America by President Clinton for four years. He also headed the Annenberg Retreat Center at Sunnylands where President Obama convened bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping of China and King AbdullahII of Jordan. The couple have two children and 4 grandchildren.