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UH LAW CENTER 2L NGUEPDO SELECTED AS FIRST

AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF HOUSTON LAW REVIEW

econd-year University of Houston Dean Leonard M. Baynes. “Charisma
SLaw Center student Charisma Ricksy is highly qualified for the position. She
Nguepdo was named the Houston Law graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Penn
Review’s editor-in-chief, the first person State University majoring in African-
of African descent to earn that position. American Studies and Criminology. She
“I recognize that my election as the first then received her masters of science
Black editor-in-chief means that I have from Johns Hopkins University School of
now opened a door for other students of Education. Before becoming a UH Law
color to dream a little bigger,” Nguepdo Center student, she taught for several
said. “My hope is that through my hard years through Teach For America in
work on behalf of the Houston Law Cleveland, Ohio and also taught at prep
Review, students who may have otherwise schools in Baton Rouge, La., did education
doubted their ability to join the Law advocacy work, and provided professional
Review will think twice about what is development to other teachers.
possible for them.” Nguepdo also was the 2020-2021
Founded in 1963, the Houston Law Review president of the Black Law Students
is a legal journal published by University Charisma Ricksy Nguepdo is a member of Association (BLSA), dedicated to
of Houston Law Center, providing a the University of Houston Law Center’s promoting the aspirations and needs of
chance for students to improve their Class of 2022, and current editor-in- Black law students and influencing the
legal research and writing skills and offer chief of the Houston Law Review. legal community.
judges and scholars a forum for new legal ‘“My love of community, and my belief
arguments. It has more than 1,000 esteemed in giving back to my community, is what
alumni members, ranging from judges who served or have served motived me to join BLSA,” Nguepdo said.
on U.S. District Courts and the Texas Supreme Court to renowned She and her brother were raised by a single mother in East Harlem in
practitioners and general counsel in Fortune 500 companies. New York.
“I am very proud of the Houston Law Review for making an historic “Although my childhood was not easy, I would not change it for the
appointment of Charisma Nguepdo as its editor-in-chief,” said
world because it has shaped who I am today,” Nguepdo said. ^

UHLC’S PRE-LAW PIPELINE PROGRAM EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP
WITH BECK REDDEN

wo participants in the University of Houston Law Center’s very excited about this new development in our partnership and the
TPre-Law Pipeline Program were recipients of scholarships from impact that scholarships like these can and will have on our students.
Houston-based appellate and trial firm Beck Redden LLP. We look forward to celebrating Alexis’ and Avyan’s achievements in
“I am delighted about this partnership between the Law Center and the near future.
the prestigious Beck Redden Law Firm to support two of the talented “Beck Redden LLP is proud to expand its support of the University
UHLC Pre-Law Pipeline Program scholars,” said Dean Leonard M. of Houston Law Center Pre-Law Pipeline Program by awarding two
Baynes. “Beck Redden’s support helps to make the journey to law scholarships to Avyan Mejdeen and Alexis Austin-Gant,” the firm said
school more affordable for these pre-law students and serves as a in a statement.
model for law firms, corporations, and others who are committed to “These newly appointed UHLC Pipeline Program Beck Redden
expanding diversity in the legal profession.” Scholars are remarkable women. Avyan aspires to become an attorney
Alexis Austin-Gant is a University of Houston student who will who specializes in international human rights and civil rights law
receive a Bachelor of Education in 2022. Avyan Medjeen is political while Alexis seeks to become an advocate for children in the adoption
science major at Concordia College in Minnesota and will graduate system. They will receive The Princeton Review’s LSAT Ultimate
in 2022. preparation course, study materials customized for the scholars, and
“Beck Redden has been a continued supporter of the UHLC Pre-Law LSAT/CAS fee registration for the law school admissions test.” ^
Pipeline Program,” said Program Director Kristen Guiseppi. “We are

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