Join us for two Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) events taking place on Thursday, April 22. These events are free and open to all. Registration is required.

Event #1: Moderated Panel with Dean Ferguson, Dr. Deo, and Dean Wadhia
Thursday, April 22
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ET

This panel, moderated by Penn State Law in University Park DEI Associate Dean Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, will focus on "Addressing Injustice in the Legal Academy." A conversation will take place with Dr. Meera Deo, author of Unequal Profession, Director of the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE), Professor of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and the William H. Neukom Fellows Research Chair in Diversity and Law at the American Bar Foundation, and Dr. Wende' Ferguson, Penn State Law in University Park Assistant Dean for Student Services.

The conversation will focus on Dr. Deo’s book, Unequal Profession: Race and Gender in Legal Academia, which is the first formal empirical study to investigate raceXgender challenges and opportunities facing law professors in their personal and professional lives, as well as, Dr. Ferguson’s doctoral dissertation, “A Different World: Understanding the Experiences of Black Female Law Students,” which examines the experiences of Black female law students and how they perceive the campus climate and institutional support.

Event #2: 2021 Annual Diversity Banquet: WE ARE Still Speaking
Thursday, April 22
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET

Student Bar Association and the Law and Equity Committee of Penn State Law proudly present the 2021 Annual Diversity Banquet: WE ARE Still Speaking!

This year’s theme is perseverance and intersectionality.

Upheld no matter what, perseverance is defined as continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. It is easy to be complacent, to accept what we've been given, to try and make the best of things as they are - but at the Banquet, we acknowledge those who have committed to pushing past these limitations and helping others do the same. From the cries of “no justice, no peace” that echoed the streets around the globe, to communities refusing to be silenced by the stigma of a virus – the message was loud and clear – they spoke up and are still speaking. We have the honor of recognizing members of our own community who embody and epitomize this resiliency. At the 2021 Annual Diversity Banquet, we will celebrate their voices for they still have so much left to say – at Penn State Law, WE ARE still speaking.

Our 2021 Alumni Award recipient is Class of 2014 alumna Doyinsola Aribo, who will be delivering remarks as the Keynote Speaker. Doyinsola Aribo is an Associate Attorney at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernstein & Loewy LLP. In her practice, she advises corporate and individual clients on employment and family-based immigrant and nonimmigrant matters, including H and L visas, PERM labor certification and immigrant visas. Doyinsola also serves as the Recruitment subcommittee lead in the Fragomen Boston’s Office Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee.

As a first-generation Nigerian immigrant herself, Doyinsola is invested in ensuring immigrants have equitable access to legal services. To that end, she is an active volunteer with the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project and Project Citizenship, both Boston based organizations that provide pro bono support to immigrant communities.

At the Banquet, we will also be celebrating students, student organizations, faculty, and staff in the way they too have embodied perseverance and service to the Penn State Law community.

Register