Page 34 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center
P. 34

DIVERSITY

                    &
        INCLUSION                      UH LAW CENTER NAMED DIVERSITY CHAMPION

                                       BY INSIGHT INTO DIVERSITY MAGAZINE





          he University of Houston Law Center has                                     HEED Award recipients are selected on the
        Treceived the distinction of Diversity                                          basis of an extensive application, detailing
        Champion by INSIGHT Into Diversity                                               demographics of the faculty and student
        Magazine. The Law Center is the only                                              body, recruitment practices, mentoring
        law school in the country to receive                                                 and resource programs, community
        the recognition.                                                                       outreach and other efforts designed
        According to the publication,                                                           to increase diversity.
        “Diversity Champions exemplify                                                           The Law Center’s award-
        an unyielding commitment to                                                              winning Pre-Law Pipeline
        diversity and inclusion throughout                                                       Program was among the
        their campus communities, across                                                         initiatives cited by the
        academic programs, and at the                                                            magazine. The program
        highest administrative levels.”                                                          prepares undergraduates who
        Additionally, the Law Center has                                                         are first-generation, low-
        received the 2021 Higher Education                                                       income or members of groups
        Excellence in Diversity (HEED)                                                           underrepresented in the legal
        Award for the sixth straight year.                                                       profession for a career in law.
        As a recipient of the annual HEED                    20 21                             The initiative recently completed its
        Award — a national honor recognizing U.S.                                            seventh year of programming.
        colleges and universities that demonstrate an                           “We continue to use the HEED award application as
        outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion —                  a way to assess the Law Center’s DEI practices and take
        the Law Center will be featured in the October 2021 issue of     stock of our accomplishments,” said Pipeline Program Director
        INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-  Kristen Guiseppi. “We remain steadfast in our efforts to promote
        focused publication in higher education.                    and support diversity, equity, and inclusion. Many, many thanks to
        “It is an honor to receive the very prestigious HEED Award for the   INSIGHT Into Diversity for continuously recognizing our efforts
        sixth year in a row and now for the first time being named a Diversity   and initiatives.”
        Champion, the only law school in the nation with that designation,”   “It is an honor for Insight Into Diversity to acknowledge the Law
        said Dean Leonard M. Baynes. “Many thanks to the hard work and   Center’s diversity efforts for the sixth time,” added Professor
        dedication of our faculty, staff and alumni who helped us achieve this   Meredith J. Duncan, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
        recognition. The Law Center’s mission has always been clear. We   and Metropolitan Programs, who oversees the program. “We are
        have historically provided opportunities for many first-generation   delighted to be recognized, not only for what we are doing here at the
        college students. Our faculty teach students to be successful lawyers   Law Center, but also for our deliberate efforts toward diversifying the
        and instill confidence in the students despite societal barriers that   legal profession as a whole through our Pre-Law Pipeline Programs.”
        they may face.                                              The Pre-Law Pipeline Program is just one of many efforts at the Law
        “The Law Center’s mission remains the same irrespective of the   Center that promotes diversity, civil rights and social justice. The
        complexion or background of our students. The only difference is   Law Center also has a Diversity, Racial Justice, and Human Rights
        that we have adapted our programming to meet the needs of these   Initiative, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and offers
        diverse students to ensure that they continue to be successful.”  courses and clinical work for students that promote diversity and
                                                                    service to underserved communities who need legal representation. ^















        34                                                                                                        Briefcase 2021
   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39