Penn State Law celebrates 11th annual diversity banquet

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – On Friday, March 29, the Penn State Law in University Park Student Bar Association (SBA) Law and Equity Committee hosted the 11th annual Diversity Banquet at the Graduate Hotel in downtown State College. The evening, a celebration of the diverse community at Penn State Law and all of its accomplishments, featured dinner, awards, a keynote address, and a photobooth.

Following an introduction by SBA Law and Equity Committee co-chairs Brooke Benjamin and Dani MacMurrough, Penn State Law and School of International Affairs Interim Dean, Maureen B. Cavanaugh Distinguished Faculty Scholar, and Professor of Law Victor Romero offered opening remarks to kick off the evening.

“Law school can make all of us feel like we don’t belong,” he said. “But tonight is a celebration, and you all belong.”

The keynote speaker, Shamsiddin “Pop” Little, a 2020 graduate of Penn State Law and current assistant dean of admissions at Rutgers Law School, explained the importance of diversity in the legal field, and how through his role in law school admissions, he hopes to help advance it. He charged all of the students in the room to continue to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

“Diversity in the law is important because law is important,” he said. “Diversity in the law has the power to change the law.”

Little offered further advice, too. “Continue to push diversity forward. Recognize the privilege of being here. Look back and pull others forward. Help to create a society that benefits from the diversity around us.”

Little was awarded the 2024 Alumni Equity Award. Other award winners of the evening, selected for their dedication to the student community and continued efforts to embody the shared mission of the SBA Law and Equity Committee, included:

• Assistant Professor of Law Jacob Schuman, Faculty Equity Award;
• Associate Director for Student Services Marcus Englert, Staff Equity Award;
• Dani MacMurrough, Student Equity Award;
• Aura Karina Cardona Vargas, LL.M. Equity Award;
• Jordan Brown, 3L Equity Award;
• Caroline Webb, 3L Equity Award;
• Outlaw, Student Organization Equity Award;
• Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Student Organization Equity Award; and
• Black Law Students Association, Student Organization Equity Award.

To close out the evening of powerful messages, third-year law student Daijah Blackburn offered words of encouragement to remember going forward.

 “The skin you are in and the adversity you face because of it, place you on a unique trajectory to use your gifts and your talents to change the world! So boldly lift your head up and fight that good fight with strength and dignity. Because whether you realize it or not, someone needs to see you conquer in the way only you can. Even if that someone is yourself. And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.”