Albany Law School Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter: 2016-2017

ALBANY LAW SCHOOL 2016-2017

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION NEWS EVENT SPOTLIGHT U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor receives the Kate Stoneman Award at Albany Law School on April 3, 2017.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR VISITS ALBANY LAW

IN THIS ISSUE

United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was presented with Albany Law School’s Kate Stoneman Award on Monday, April 3, following a wide-ranging, thoughtful, and at times humorous conversation with students in front of the law school community.

Event Spotlight 1 Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Visits Albany Law 3 BLSA Gala Honors Gailliard ‘07 Student Groups in Focus 4 Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) 5 Black Law Students Association (BLSA) 7 Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) 8 OUTLaw Students Association (OUTLaw) 10 Women’s Law Caucus (WLC) Student Spotlights 11 Brenda Baddam 12 Adriel Colón 13 Dena DeFazio 14 Racquel Saddler 15 Candace Williamson Diversity Employment and Career Opportunities 17 Summer Internships/Fall & Spring Internships 17 Diversity Fellowship Programs 17 Job Fairs/Law Firm Sponsored Faculty & Staff Spotlight 18 Professor Anthony Farley 19 Pershia Wilkins 20 Diversity Committee

Justice Sotomayor said she was honored to receive the award named for Kate Stoneman, the first woman admitted to the bar in New York State and Albany Law’s first female graduate, Class of 1898. The Stoneman Award is presented annually by the law school to people in the legal profession who have demonstrated a commitment to seeking change and equal opportunities for women. ”Kate Stoneman’s footsteps are ones I did follow in,” said Justice Sotomayor, a native of New York City’s Bronx borough. “But my footsteps are not ones I want you to follow. I want you to make your own along with me.”

Several former Stoneman award winners in the crowd stood to be recognized.

Justice Sotomayor was also presented with an official Albany Law School basketball.

The award ceremony capped a memorable evening in which Justice Sotomayor, walking through the aisles in the Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom, answered several students’ questions with anecdotes from her memoir, “My Beloved World,” and spoke of the responsibilities that come with being a jurist on the nation’s highest court.

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“It almost felt as if she was a family member,” thirdyear student Adriana De Leon told the Albany Times Union.

Justice Sotomayor advised students on assertiveness, understanding, and ethics. One recurring theme was the importance of passion and empathy—both on the bench and for the roles that lawyers play in our society.

“Unchecked anger is self-indulgent,” she said.

“What gets people to listen to you is your passion about an issue, not your anger.”

The discussion was moderated by Albany Law President & Dean Alicia Ouellette and Government Law Center Director Andrew Ayers, who clerked for the justice during her term on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Stoneman Award was presented by Professor Mary A. Lynch,

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the Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy, and Professor Melissa Breger.

Also during her visit, Justice Sotomayor met privately with student leaders and spent time with the faculty. She spoke briefly with a crowd in the gymnasium—where the event was being simulcast—before beginning the formal program in the moot courtroom.

Justice Sotomayor also headlined the University at Albany’s Speaker Series on April 4 at SEFCU Arena, where she discussed her memoir which recounts her inspiring journey to the federal bench. She also visited Sage College in Troy.

Justice Sotomayor is the third woman and the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She was appointed to the position by President Barack Obama in August 2009. Born in Bronx, N.Y., on

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June 25, 1954, she graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University. In 1979, she earned a J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She served as Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1979–1984. She then litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt, where she served as an associate and then partner from 1984–1992.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and she served in that role from 1992 to 1998. She served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998 to 2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed that role on August 8, 2009.

BLSA GALA HONORS GAILLIARD ‘07 PAYING IT FORWARD

GAILLIARD ‘07, BLSA HONOREE, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF LAW SCHOOL DIVERSITY Glinnesa D. Gailliard, Esq. ‘07 is nearly a decade removed from law school. But her time in the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) reverberates to this day, which is why she makes it a point to pay it forward to current BLSA students at Albany Law School.

Gailliard was among five distinguished Albany Law School graduates, professors, and community members honored for their service and commitment to diversity at the BLSA Gala on Saturday, April 22.

“I am truly honored to receive this award from the Black Law Students Association at Albany Law School,” Gailliard said. “As a past BLSA member, I understand the importance of diversity at Albany Law and the need to have people with whom I can share my experiences of being a student—a future lawyer—of color.”

“As a past BLSA member, I understand the importance of diversity at Albany Law and the need to have people with whom I can share my experiences of being a student—a future lawyer—of color.”

The gala was held to celebrate diversity, and to highlight the goals and initiatives of BLSA. Other award winners were: Hon. Christina L. Ryba ‘01, New York State Supreme Court Justice, Third Judicial District; Hon. Helena Heath, Albany City Court Judge; Nadia Castriota, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions, Albany Law School; and Donald Pritchett Jr., Executive Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management & Administration, Albany Medical College, Adjunct Professor, Albany Law School, BLSA’s faculty advisors, Professor Donna Young, Professor Christian Sundquist and Professor Anthony Farley, also received Certificates of Appreciation.

Gailliard is still in contact with many of the attorneys of color whom she met as a BLSA member. Because of BLSA’s influence on her life and career, Gailliard continues to make herself available as a resource for the organization.

“This year I celebrate my 10th year as an Albany Law School graduate and am proud to see all of the great work BLSA has done not just for the Albany

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Law School community, but for the community as a whole,” said Gailliard, who serves as a BLSA advisor.

“Glinnesa was chosen for this award because she has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the Albany Law School BLSA chapter,” said BLSA president Brianna Vaughan ‘17. “She has availed herself to be not only a great mentor for the entire executive board, but also one of our strongest alumni advocates.”

Gailliard is Legal Counsel for the Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan (CDPHP) where she concentrates in health law, insurance law, and regulatory and compliance. She is a 2003 graduate of the University at Albany and a 2007 graduate of Albany Law School. After graduation, she served as an Equal Justice Works fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and started the Foreclosure Prevention Project, the first foreclosure defense program in the Capital District. Following her tenure at LASNNY, Gailliard joined the Offices of the New York State Inspector General where she investigated workers’ compensation fraud.

Gailliard is a native of Albany. She currently volunteers her time as a board member of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Services, Inc., whose mission is to provide quality health care to low- and no-income residents in the Capital District. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Mu Omega chapter where she serves as the Assistant Secretary and Connection Chairman. Gailliard serves on the board of the Albany Law School National Alumni Association and is a member of the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association, serving as a member of the House of Delegates and on the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.

She lives in Albany with her daughter, Alexis.

Diversity in the student body is supported by a number of student groups, which are funded through the Student Bar Association.

Each of these groups are central to diversity initiatives both on and off campus.

STUDENT GROUPS IN FOCUS

We are happy to feature the following groups in this issue of the Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter: APALSA, BLSA, LALSA, OUTLaw and WLC.

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (APALSA) OVERVIEW APALSA represents and articulates the needs of Asian Pacific American law students at Albany Law School and the surrounding area before the school administration and the legal community through support, advocacy, and professional development.

From left to right: Marina Chu, Anthony Badia and Liangyu (Harrison) Fu

MISSION Dedicated to assisting its members in achieving their goals during law school, the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) encourages student involvement with issues touching the legal profession, the law school and the Asian and Pacific communities. Activities range from academic, professional and cultural events to social support.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

OFFICERS (2016-2017) President Liangyu (Harrison) Fu ’18 Vice-President Daniel Lei ’18 Treasurer Marina Chu ‘19

ADVISOR Pershia Wilkins Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Assistant Director of Admissions

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EVENTS FALL 2016 Dec. Albany Law School Schaffer Law Library Holiday Display SPRING 2017 Feb. 1 Lunar New Year Celebration - Breakfast Feast Apr. 13 Unity Cabaret May Schaffer Law Library Display for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (BLSA) MISSION

BACKGROUND

The mission of BLSA is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

In 1968, Algernon Johnson (“AJ”) Cooper, former mayor of Prichard, Alabama, founded the first Black American Law Students Association (“BALSA”) at the New York University Law School. In 1983, BALSA revised its name, and the word “American” was deleted to encompass all Blacks, including those not of American nationality. Later, the word “National” was added to reflect the organization’s national expansion, which now includes representation in the law schools of nearly every state in the nation and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Today, National Black Law Students Association (“NBLSA”), is a national organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of Black law students to effectuate change in the legal community. As one of the largest student-run organizations of its kind in the United States for Black law students, NBLSA has thousands of members across America and is also comprised of more than 200 chapters and affiliates from six countries. NBLSA is organized into six regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southern, Midwest, Southwest and Western Region. With its headquarters located in Washington, D.C.,

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) articulates and promotes the professional needs and goals of black law students. We strive to provide a comfortable environment and support system where students can share ideas, help each other during their law school experience, and ensure that our voice is heard on the law school campus. The main focus of BLSA is to promote the success of people of color in the legal community, on the law school campus, and in society as a whole.

Our organization works to instill in black law students, and all students of color, a greater awareness of their role as lawyers in the community. BLSA is committed to fostering and encouraging professional excellence among black attorneys and the American legal profession as a whole. Members also work to encourage law schools, legal fraternities, and associations to use their expertise and influence to bring about change in the legal system in order to make it responsive to the needs of the black community. Like many student groups on campus, we serve as a social support system as well as a political machine that seeks to continue dialog on issues revolving around race and the law and to prevent and fight racism in all sectors of society.

NBLSA encourages the development of talented and socially conscious lawyers of tomorrow. Each year, the organization holds an annual convention to engage in legal activism to prepare new generations of Black lawyers to effectuate change, and hosts multiple moot court competitions. The Albany Law School BLSA Chapter is an extension of NBLSA, and belongs to the NEBLSA region, which encompasses Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey (northern), New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Albany Law School’s BLSA Chapter is an active chapter in the Northeastern Black Law Student Association’s region (NEBLSA). As an active chapter we do community service, host events, panels and discussions, as well as foster open dialogs between students of color and faculty and staff about issues that affect students of color. We strive for academic excellence and we create a safe space for all students on campus. BLSA is one of the most active groups on Albany Law School’s campus, hosting a myriad of events to discuss social justice, racial inequality and police brutality.

Sydney Taylor (Public Relations), Brianna Vaughan (President), Racquel Saddler (Regional Rep), Oreoluwa Senbore (Treasurer), Rachel Arnaud (Secretary). BLSA Gala 5

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OFFICERS (2016-2017) President Brianna A. Vaughan Secretary Rachel Arnaud Treasurer Oreoluwa Senebore

“Our organization works to instill in black law students, and all students of color, a greater awareness of their role as lawyers in the community. BLSA is committed to fostering and encouraging professional excellence among black attorneys and the American legal profession as a whole.”

Public Relations Sydney Taylor

EVENTS

Regional Representative and President Elect Racquel Saddler

ADVISORS Prof. Christian Sundquist Prof. Donna Young Prof. Anthony Farley Nadia Castriota Assistant Dean & Director of Admissions Donald Pritchett Executive Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management & Administration at Albany Medical College

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FALL 2016 9/28 10/26 10/26 11/12

BLSA Fall Fest: Courtyard Black Solidarity Day Tabling Know Your Rights Panel First Annual BLSA Conference, Embracing our Legacy, Pursuing Racial Justice and Lasting Social Action

SPRING 2017 1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1/23 Healing Moments 2/2 – 2/22 BLSA Movie Month 2/19 A Letter from the Black Law Students Association on Solidarity 4/7 BLSA Potluck 4/22 BLSA Gala

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LATIN AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (LALSA) MISSION

WHAT WE DO

LALSA is committed to the professional development of Latin American students at Albany Law School. Our mission is to cultivate professional and social competence through academic support, networking opportunities, community outreach, and career counseling activities. We encourage each student’s growth and advancement as dynamic leaders and attorneys by supporting opportunities for Latin American law students to establish relationships within the legal community. In the interest of fostering better community integration and relations as well as preservation of unique traditions, we seek to develop and provide a network for the Latino community as well as for others interested. We welcome all Albany Law School students, faculty, and alumni to participate in our group.

The Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) at Albany Law School is committed to three main goals: increasing awareness of legal issues relating to Latin American communities through events and meetings; promoting diversity at Albany Law School through events targeted to all students; and providing various types of support to help the development of Latin American students at Albany Law School and in the Albany legal community.

PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION The purpose of this organization is to help foster the academic, social, and professional growth of its members by increasing awareness and understanding of contemporary Latin American issues, both legal and non-legal.

This organization shall adhere to the philosophy that diversity will always enlarge our understanding of the different values that need to be understood as we enter the global economy; that unity should be embraced so that we may assist the less fortunate members of our Latin American community; and that leadership will take on many forms, and ultimately is a very individualistic decision based on no arbitrary set definition.

This organization shall strive to promote professional and ethical conduct of our members and shall strive at all times to strengthen our own personal values despite what we may see or encounter.

SUMMARY

EVENTS FALL 2016 9/14 LALSA General Interest Meeting 10/14 Hispanic Heritage Month: Albany City Hall 10/25 LALSA Heritage Dinner and Panel Discussion, Diversity and Inclusion, Getting the Best and Brightest from Various Backgrounds 11/09 CDBHBA Networking & Informational Event 12/13 CDBHBA Holiday Party

The organization aims to support diversity in the legal profession and justice for all communities.

SPRING 2017 2/2 Statement of Solidarity from Albany Law School Students 3/31 Albany County Bar Diversity

Happy Hour 4/3 Visit from U.S. Supreme Court

Justice Sonia Sotomayor 4/5 Peru Fundraiser hosted by LALSA:

East Foyer, 10am – 1pm 4/12 LALSA General Meeting & Elections 4/13 Campus Cabaret –

A united event co-sponsored with

IALSA, APALSA, OUTLaw, &

International Law Society.

LALSA prides itself in being one of the most inclusive and active affinity groups at Albany Law School. Through multiple cultural social events, we aim to and increase support for our members and all those who identify as diverse. Our events allow us to share our vibrant and unique cultures with our fellow classmates and invite our classmates to do the same. LALSA is committed to promoting diversity in the Albany Law School community.

OFFICERS (2016-2017) President Brenda Baddam Vice President Adriel Colon Secretary Efrain Vera

Efrain Vera, Justin Reyes, Brenda Baddam, Maria Morrissey, and Adriel Colon.

In the background: Racquel Saddler and Professor Donna Young.

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Treasurer Andrew Rivera Social Chairs Maria Morrissey Justin Reyes Advisor Prof. Christian Sundquist

OUTLAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (OUTLAW)

MISSION

DESCRIPTION

OUTLaw at Albany Law School’s mission is to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), and allied law students. To meet this mission, OUTLaw is organized to promote five main goals:

OUTLaw is a group whose membership, meetings, activities and services are open to all students enrolled at Albany Law School. Members should be supportive individuals who are sensitive and respectful to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition, active participation in the organization’s endeavors is expected, and is an important prerequisite to educating the Albany Law School community about these issues. OUTLaw does not discriminate in membership or officer positions on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Educate the Albany Law School community about issues effecting the LGBTQ+ and allied law student community and the greater Capital Region LGBTQ+ community.

1. Create a social atmosphere for LGBTQ+ and allied law students to meet and connect.

2. Create a supportive, diverse, and inclusive law school environment which is aware of the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

3. Encourage diversity and inclusion within incoming Albany Law School classes.

4. Promote queer visibility on the Albany Law School campus and within the legal community at large.

OUTLaw is organized for the purpose of educating the Albany Law School community about issues relating to LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ law students and their supporters.

OFFICERS (2016-2017) President Dena DeFazio Vice President Frankie Nichols Secretary Maria Morrissey Treasurer Olivia Pedersen 1L Representative Francesca McGuire Advisor Prof. Rosemary Queenan

Front row: Dena DeFazio, President; Maria Morrissey; Secretary. Second row: Frankie Nichols, Vice President; Olivia Pedersen, Treasurer; Associate Dean Rosemary Queenan, Faculty Advisor.

Not pictured: Francesca McGuire , 1L Representative

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AWARDS OUTLaw Awarded 2017 LGBT Community Advocacy Award by In Our Own Voices This July, Albany Law School’s LGBT Pro Bono Project and OUTLaw will be presented with the LGBT Community Advocacy Award by In Our Own Voices. Desiree Santos ‘17 will receive the award on behalf of the LGBT Pro Bono Project and Dena DeFazio ‘18 will receive the award on behalf of OUTLaw. In Our Own Voices is a capital region organization focused on serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of color community. The organization’s advocacy awards are given annually to individuals or organizations that are committed to creating change in LGBT people of color communities. The LGBT Community Advocacy Award is given to an individual or organization that has visible evidence and direct impact on the elimination of oppression and marginalization in LGBT people of color communities. Santos and DeFazio will receive their respective awards at In Our Own Voice’s annual celebration, Jazz in July.

DeFazio ‘18 Chosen as National LGBT Bar Association Law Student Congress Regional Chair In November of 2016, OUTLaw President, Dena DeFazio ‘18, was selected to serve as the 2016-2017 Northern Regional Chair of the National LGBT Bar Association’s Law Student Congress.

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EVENTS

FALL 2016 – PROFESSIONAL 10/11 The Bathroom Wars: West Wing, 6:30 - 8:30pm SPRING 2017 – PROFESSIONAL 1/30 The State of LGBT Rights in 2017: DAMC, 5:30pm 2/16 Pro Bono LGBT Rights Project Law Day Series: DAMC, 6pm 2/16 Legal Issues Facing LGBT Older Adults (click here) 3/23 LGBT Law Series: DAMC, 6-7pm 3/23 Legal Issues Facing Transgender Individuals (click here) 3/27 Running with Pride: DAMC, 6-9pm 4/12 Working Under Trump FALL 2016 – SOCIAL 9/24 In Our Own Voices’ Gayly Bowls 10/13 Semi-Annual Karaoke Night 10/31 OUTlaw Trick or Treat Street 11/16 Post-Election Supportive Discussion SPRING 2017 – SOCIAL 1/1 Bi-weekly Informal Lunch Discussion 2/16 Semi-Annual Karaoke Night

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WOMEN’S LAW CAUCUS (WLC) MISSION The Albany Law School Women’s Law Caucus is a forum for both women and men to discuss contemporary feminist issues. The Women’s Law Caucus endeavors to raise the consciousness of the Albany Law School community regarding current legal, political, and socioeconomic issues affecting women. The Women’s Law Caucus is both a resource and support network for women and men in the legal community.

WLC Board Tess McLaughlin, Allison Bartlett, Charlotte Rehfuss, Alycia DeMilio, Michelle Hutchins, Professor Mary Lynch

OVERVIEW The Albany Law School Women’s Law Caucus seeks to promote social justice and equality for women in the legal field and the community as a whole. We strive to provide more opportunities for women entering the legal field and partner with local organizations seeking to empower women throughout the capital region. Albany Law is proud to be Kate Stoneman’s alma mater and the Women’s Law Caucus seeks to continue to honor her legacy as a forerunner for women in the legal field.

Women’s March Back: Martha Mahoney, Amanda Whitfield, Gloria Sprague, Mary Ann Krisa, Julie Bentzen Front: Damara Fredette, Delaney Rives, Olivia Gallagher, Elizabeth Murad, Joni Zucker

OFFICERS (2016-2017) 3L Chair Tess McLaughlin 2L Chair Charlotte Rehfuss Event Coordinator Allison Bartlett Secretary Alycia Demilio Treasurer Olivia Pedersen

ADVISOR

Prof. Mary Lynch

EVENTS FALL 2016 9/21 Women in the Law, Part I: DAMC 10/13 Annual Domestic Violence Vigil: West Foyer SPRING 2017 1/21 Women’s March on Washington: West Capitol Park, Albany 3/1 Speed Networking with the Capital District Women’s Bar Association: Career Center 4/3 Justice Sonia Sotomayor awarded Kate Stoneman Award: DAMC 4/11 The Hunting Ground Screening & Discussion: Room 200 & West Foyer 4/26 Capital Region’s 36th Annual Take Back the Night Rally: SUNY Albany PHILANTHROPIC Fall ‘16 Participation with Strong Through Every Mile Running Program Nov. ‘16 Annual Clothing Drive to benefit capital region domestic violence shelters

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

BRENDA BADDAM

As Sotomayor Judicial Intern, Baddam ‘17 Meets a Role Model, Learns Lessons in Mentorship Brenda Baddam ‘17 will be the first person to tell you that connections matter. After all, that’s what helped her land an unbelievable opportunity to meet U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Brenda Baddam ‘17 and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

“Don’t limit yourself. One of

Baddam was among a select group of law students accepted to the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program — named for the Supreme Court justice and her mother — this past summer.

You can draw a line from Baddam’s on-campus participation to her internship: as president of the Latin American Law Students Association, Baddam was able to network with Betty Lugo ‘84, founding partner of Pacheco & Lugo PLLC in New York City and president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

Lugo encouraged her to try for the internship and helped ensure her application would be seen.

the things that the Sotomayor

The rest was up to Baddam.

internship taught me is that you

“The process was intense,” she said. “There were two rounds of panel interviews, each with one judge and the rest were clerks. They asked tough questions but we also had some great back-andforth.”

can do anything.”

“Don’t limit yourself. One of the things that the Sotomayor internship taught me is that you can do anything.”

Thankfully the suspense only lasted a few days.

Baddam interviewed in downtown New York City on a Thursday. That Sunday night, back in Albany, she got the call.

“I cried a little bit,” Baddam said. “I really look up to Justice Sotomayor. She’s an amazing woman.”

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Baddam was placed with Hon. Ramon Reyes, a federal magistrate judge in the Eastern District of New York. She took part in weekly brown-bag lunches with members of the Eastern District, observed settlement conferences and arraignments, and completed writing assignments for the judge’s civil and criminal cases. “Let me tell you, he was amazing,” Baddam said of Judge Reyes. “The best part was being able to talk to him one-on-one. It was great because he was so open with his interns.

He told you exactly what he needed, and gave us real feedback on our writing.”

One of the biggest thrills was being able to introduce herself to Justice Sotomayor, who established the judicial internship program to empower students from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds. Like Justice Sotomayor, the first Supreme Court justice of Hispanic heritage, Baddam grew up in an inner-city environment.

A photo of the two together now hangs on the wall at Baddam’s grandparents’ house.

“You look up to this person and you think, ‘How would I ever be able to meet her?’ “ said Baddam, whose grandfather left Cuba for the United States in 1959. “I’m from Miami. I was raised by my mother and grandparents. I don’t come from a really good neighborhood. I don’t have that kind of background.

So to be able to say I met Justice Sotomayor, that was a huge thing for me.”

Baddam recalled Justice Sotomayor as straightforward in her discussion with the interns, giving them advice on how to take advantage of mutually beneficial relationships, both long- and short-term. “She was very open about everything,”

Baddam said. “Justice Sotomayor believes in bringing up people from our community, and she strongly believes in mentorship.”

Now a 3L, Baddam said the experience helped her focus on her career path. She wants to help people from minority backgrounds and their communities — though perhaps not the way you would expect.

“When people think of public service, they usually think of defense and defendants, where you’re helping one person,” she said. “I want to work in prosecution, which can spark change on a larger scale. You get to not only help victims, but you get to help the way your city, or your town, looks at the law. For example, I’m really tough on domestic violence and human trafficking. Those are sore spots for me. The way that a prosecutor’s office uses its discretion really shapes the way an area views and takes on those crimes. You’re helping victims. It’s personal to me. I want to help people who really, truly need help.”

Baddam graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor’s in Criminology. She has passed the February New York bar exam as a Pro Bono Scholar, and is interning at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany in a department that focuses on drug trafficking.

At Albany Law, Baddam still serves as president of the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) and is editor-in-chief of the Government Law Review. She has been encouraged by the increased interest in, and participation at, LALSA multicultural events across the entire student body, and the rapid growth of the Government Law Review, which has been able to triple its membership and double its article output under her leadership.

“Albany has been good to me,” said Baddam, who also works as a translator for the Immigration Law Clinic. “I’ve gotten opportunities that honestly I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I’ve been able to use my Spanish-speaking skills in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.”

“I am also grateful for the support I have received from my husband and my father in Venezuela,” she added.

Her advice to law students: use connections wisely — and don’t let fear stand in the way of seizing an opportunity.

“Don’t limit yourself,” she said. “One of the things that the Sotomayor internship taught me is that you can do anything. You can come from nothing and do anything you want.”

ADRIEL COLÓN

Colón ’18 Takes Leadership Roles While Honing Policy, Advocacy Skills Adriel Colón ’18 is involved with a number of organizations both on and off campus. But there are common threads that bind his interests: access, opportunity, advocacy, empowerment, and diversity.

It’s a mindset that was borne of his family’s experiences in Puerto Rico, cemented by his own journey after college, and affirmed in his decision to attend Albany Law School.

“I’m Puerto Rican. Women in rural Puerto Rico don’t have many opportunities or access. My mother escaped that, pursued her education, and my father was very supportive. So we always grew up with that understanding that there is inequity, and that female leadership, or diverse leadership, comes with it a different perspective. Embracing that is really important,” Colón said. “At Albany Law School I saw very accomplished women in leadership. That was really important to me.”

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Colón graduated from the University at Albany in 2010. He developed a passion for health policy while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in economics, as the Affordable Care Act was coming into law. His next step—law school—was put on hold while his wife studied for her master’s degree and enrolled in medical school. They lived in Kansas City for a time and then rural Tennessee, where some locals suffered from insufficient access to basic resources.

“Tennessee was so rural that some people didn’t have running water,” he said. “You don’t realize how much poverty there is in the United States until you live in these rural areas. You would see people who had conditions that went untreated. These people were feeling the economic hurt.”

Colón jumped right in at Albany Law. In his first year he formed the Student Lawyers Guild, an organization with 41 members and a leadership

“I see the profession not just as the letters that you get when you graduate and pass the bar; I see it as a lifelong commitment to sharing the skills that you develop in this institution.”

structure that includes members of various other student groups, including the Albany Law Review, OUTLaw, and the Latin American Law Students Association. They have held legal observer trainings and a voter registration drive, sent members to public interest law retreats, and are active in student politics.

“My interest is in ensuring that students have access to the mentorship that an actual bar association can deliver with practicing attorneys,” said Colón, who lobbied the association to add an active law student to its board. “It’s a unique position with a well-connected bar association in the Albany area.

I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

“The Student Lawyers Guild is dedicated to ensuring that students’ rights are protected, students have a voice for expressing their opinions, and that they feel safe expressing those opinions,” Colón said.

“It’s about teaching students how to be effective advocates, effective protectors of constitutional rights, and organizing in a way so that they can represent the things they care about efficiently.”

Colón was also a Government Law Center Fellow, interned at the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Administrative Hearings— “They liked my work, so they hired me as a legal assistant for the remainder of the year”—and participated in the Health Law Clinic.

In his 2L year he served as vice president of the Latin American Law Students Association and was recently named its next president.

Off campus, Colón was elected in December 2016 as a board member of the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association.

DENA DeFAZIO

“The state agency was a great experience, but in the clinic I was able to act as an attorney and an advocate,” he said. “My proudest moment was a semester-long case in which we defended a woman who was going to be evicted, which would have been fatal to her benefits. The stakes were really high. We discovered an important procedural issue and totally defeated the eviction—and the loss of her benefits—that way. Learning those

As a future attorney, Colón sees a path to helping the underserved. He envisions himself working for a state agency determining health policy, or for a senator who is making those decisions which could affect underrepresented communities.

“When you have a lot, you should be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But there is the price tag of having those resources—making sure that those who do not have access can pull themselves up,” Colon said. “My mother’s experience, what she taught us, and then my wife’s experience going through her professional degree, have really shown why that’s so important, particularly for women, Latinos, and underrepresented minority groups. That’s really fundamental to me. I see the profession not just as the letters that you get when you graduate and pass the bar; I see it as a lifelong commitment to sharing the skills that you develop in this institution.”

DeFazio ‘18 Helps Lead Gender Neutral Bathroom Initiative DeFazio ‘18 Pursuing Her Law Degree While Advocating for the LGBTQ+ Community Dena DeFazio ‘18 decided to come to Albany Law from Niagara Falls, N.Y., in part after participating in LGBT Law Day on Albany Law’s campus in 2015.

DeFazio felt a sense of community after attending what was considered the first day of its kind in the country. Taking part in the event also helped solidify her choice to join the Albany Law School community the following year.

Now, in her second year, DeFazio is the president of OUTLaw, which is a community of students dedicated to the inclusion and support of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer)

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practical skills—dotting the I’s, crossing the T’s—in Professor [Joe] Connors’ clinic was really valuable.”

Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

law students. They put on various educational and social events that range from educational events and panels, informal discussions, and an annual karaoke night.

Recently OUTLaw at Albany Law helped implement a gender neutral bathroom on the main floor of the 1928 Building. While there are gender neutral bathrooms on the upper floors of the building, it was important to the group to have one that is central and easily accessible, so that it is available during various community events and meetings.

This was a project that both DeFazio and OUTLaw’s executive board wanted, given the intersection between social issues and the laws behind them.

“The Law Student Congress is the only national LGBTQ+ law students organization in the country,” said DeFazio, who chairs the Northern Regional Section.

“We asked for the bathroom last spring and the school was supportive. They agreed right away. The bathroom was an example of how Albany Law not only has nondiscriminatory policies but they match them with their actions. Being an ally is an action, not an identity. They’re proving to be an ally with support like this,” said DeFazio.

“I believe diversity and inclusion in the law school community is important. Diversity brings new perspectives and it benefits organizations, as well as disenfranchised communities, to include diverse groups of people,” said DeFazio. “The world is changing and the legal field needs to change along with it to be more encompassing of different types of people. Members of the LGTBQ community are at a higher risk for poverty, suicide, substance abuse, and mental health conditions, which are experiences that don’t always correlate with career success or law school. This is all the more reason to better support LGBTQ+ people and encourage them to take professional paths.”

One of the ways DeFazio works to support and encourage marginalized groups is through volunteering with youth at the Pride Center of the Capital Region in Albany. She learned of this opportunity when she attended the first LGBT Law Day back in 2015. She takes time each month to talk with 12- to 18-year-old youths to encourage them to strive for success despite feeling disenfranchised.

“The world is changing and the legal field needs to change along with it to be more encompassing of different types of people.”

“Change starts from the ground up, so my goal in working with these young people is to show them they can be who they want, whoever that is. It’s important for me to tell them my story so they can hear from someone who has overcome obstacles and been successful,” said DeFazio. “Hopefully this inspires them to do the same.”

DeFazio also spent her fall semester working at the Government Law Center performing research

RACQUEL SADDLER Racquel Saddler ‘18 has quite the resume for someone fresh out of undergrad, having interned at the White House, Brooklyn’s King’s County District Attorney’s Office, and for state senators Velmanette Montgomery and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the leader of New York’s Democratic Conference.

But Saddler, who began charting her path into government and politics as a high school student at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens, faced a crossroads when deciding her next move after the University at Albany.

“I was teetering back and forth between law school and a more traditional graduate program,” said Saddler, who majored in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. Ultimately she chose to pursue a law degree — and with that settled, she had yet another big decision to make.

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and writing assignments related to business and business law, another area that interests her. One of the Government Law Center’s newest projects is called “Corporation in a Box,” which serves as a guide for individuals in the Capital Region to start a business. DeFazio worked on research for this project and was able to present her materials.

DeFazio also began a new role as the Northern Regional Chair of the LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s Law Student Congress in November. She applied and was selected to the Northern Regional Chair to represent Albany and other law schools with LGBTQ+ student groups. “The National LGBT Bar Association is for lawyers, judges, law students, and other LGBTQ organizations focused around the LGBTQ community. The Law Student Congress is the only national LGBTQ law students organization in the country,” said DeFazio. This association connects groups, like OUTLaw, between law schools. The LGBT Bar Association works on new projects to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community has a voice, and their diversity is celebrated and included in institutions like law schools.

DeFazio went to SUNY Brockport for her undergraduate degree and came into law school with a master’s degree in social work from University of Buffalo.

From the White House to Albany Law, Saddler ‘18 Charts Her Own Political Path “It was either between Albany, New York City or Washington, D.C.,” she said. “Since I was a kid, I’ve been coming to Albany for the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. My mom, who went to UAlbany, was heavily involved in politics here, so I knew that I wanted to position myself in a place where I could prosper the most. I knew that if I stayed here, I could take part in a lot of the great opportunities that the Capital Region has to offer.”

She applied to Albany Law School after learning of its SUNY Legal Fellowship, which grants all accepted and enrolled SUNY graduates an annual scholarship of around $17,000. Albany Law was already on her short list because of its location, and the program was a factor that helped seal the deal.

“If you’re graduating from the University at Albany and government is your passion, if you want to be a voice to the voiceless, then yes, absolutely, the SUNY Legal Fellowship is something to weigh

Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

Albany Law in your favor,” Saddler said. “It’s a great school. I love it here.”

capital as part of the law school’s Semester in Washington program.

On top of the typical first-year course load, Saddler has been busy as one of the law school’s inaugural Government Law Center Fellows. As a GLC Fellow, Saddler was given an outside mentor who has been advising her on how to position herself for her future career. She was also invited to sit in on her mentor’s meetings with lobbyists, elected officials and staffers. Earlier this semester, Saddler coauthored an analysis on raising the age of criminal responsibility – an issue that could be debated this legislative session – for the Warren M. Anderson Breakfast Series at the State Capitol.

Saddler was originally slated to work for Congressman Joseph Crowley. Then, on her first day in D.C., she received an offer to intern at the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

Of course, she jumped at the chance.

“It was really interesting to see the things we researched and the things that we wrote about come to life,” she said. “Sheriff Craig Apple was there, and a mother, Paige Pierce, who is the head of Families Together in New York State, a group that is fighting to raise the age. It was great to see the different viewpoints.”

It was the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Saddler. As a student at UAlbany, she landed an internship in the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo and assisted with the State of the State address in 2014. From there she went straight to the nation’s

CANDACE WILLIAMSON

“We were facilitating an open dialogue between the president and the people,” Saddler said of her experience working for President Barack Obama.

“We would collect different letters. [Some of those] would go into memos, which would be sent to the president to make him aware of what’s going on, what his people are thinking.”

Saddler credited her mentors at UAlbany — Dr. JoAnne Malatesta, Professor Sam NeJame, Professor Bruce Gyory and Professor Michael Malbin — for steering her toward those opportunities and laying a foundation for a career in law and government.

“I want to get into political consulting. Hopefully one day I can be a political analyst,” she said. “Actually, Professor Gyory really opened my eyes to voting trends, and how you can truly analyze and predict elections successfully based on a knowledge of the demographics of the voters. Taking that class with

Saddler, who served many roles with the UAlbany Student Association and once helped register more than 300 people to vote by organizing a rally on campus, said students should take advantage of the many resources available at the University at Albany.

“You can really make a name for yourself, network with the right players, and align yourself with the key people to make a difference in the community and your future.”

“I want to get into political consulting. Hopefully one day I can be a political analyst...Professor Gyory really opened my eyes to voting trends, and how you can truly analyze and predict elections successfully based on a knowledge of the demographics of the voters. Taking that class with him really helped to shape my thinking in terms of looking at every election differently and gauging how people vote and why people vote.”

Williamson ’18 Motivated by Stoneman Scholarship to Knock Down ‘Gender and Ethnic Obstacles’ For Candace Williamson ’18, being selected for the Kate Stoneman Scholarship is a tremendous source of pride and motivation.

fraction of such an impact on the legal profession, by knocking down gender and ethnic obstacles as Stoneman did.”

Kate Stoneman was the first woman to graduate from Albany Law School in 1898. After being rejected from admittance to the Bar due to her gender, she petitioned the legislature to allow women to practice as lawyers and was admitted in 1886, paving the way for all women attorneys in New York State. The Stoneman scholarship is awarded to a student who embodies the pioneering spirit of Kate Stoneman.

On April 3, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the keynote speaker and award recipient at a special Stoneman Day event on campus that was attended by Williamson and other Albany Law School community members.

“Women are underrepresented in law firms and practices, and this honors the underdog in the legal community,” Williamson said. “It is nice to see Kate Stoneman’s legacy go on each year through this scholarship. I could only hope to leave just a

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him really helped to shape my thinking in terms of looking at every election differently and gauging how people vote and why people vote.”

Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

“It was inspiring to listen to Justice Sotomayor speak. She gave me the extra push to finish the semester and my time at Albany Law strong,” said Williamson. “Even when she ran out of time after her keynote speech she stayed longer to interact with the students. She walked up and down the aisles of the DAMC auditorium, answering questions and taking pictures with students. She even went into the overflow room to talk to people.

She was humble and gracious with her time. She exuded the confidence and strength that they say Kate Stoneman demonstrated. You can tell from her courtroom decisions that she is an advocate for bringing justice to people and doing what is right.”

After the event, Williamson attended a dinner at the Fort Orange Club, where she dined with Albany Law School President and Dean Alicia Ouellette and New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the 2016 Stoneman Award recipient.

“It was really nice. We had a private dining area and talked about everything. It was a highlight of the year to sit and talk with such powerful women,” said Williamson.

Williamson interned this spring at the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo ’82. Her job in the Governor’s Counsel’s office was a cross between law firm and government work—the experience gave her confidence to say that it is the type of work she wants to do in the future.

“The days never felt boring. Everyone there wears different hats so I gained experience doing a lot of different things. There was a political undertone to the legal matters. It was an interesting time to be in that office,” Williamson said.

Williamson worked heavily on the governor’s clemency project. The governor is the only person in the state who can commute or pardon incarcerated individuals, and Williamson was on the panel that helped present the pardon cases. She also wrote memos for some hot-topic legislative issues, including bathroom laws.

Williamson is from Queens, N.Y. and is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

“Women are underrepresented in law firms and practices, and this honors the underdog in the legal community,” Williamson said. “It is nice to see Kate Stoneman’s legacy go on each year through this scholarship. I could only hope to leave just a fraction of such an impact on the legal profession, by knocking down gender and ethnic obstacles as Stoneman did.”

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Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

DIVERSITY EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Listed below are a sampling of the diversity employment opportunities posted for Albany Law School students during the past year.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

FALL & SPRING INTERNSHIPS

LAW FIRM SPONSORED

Kenneth G. Standard Diversity Internship Program New York State Bar Association - Corporate Counsel Section. The 2017 employers include: Chubb Group, ConEdison, PepsiCo, Saleforce.com and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Diversity Internship Program, Albany County Bar Association (ACBA)

1L Diversity Scholarship Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (New York, NY)

Barclay Damon LLP Diversity Mentor Program

1L Diversity Scholarship Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (Seattle, WA)

DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

2017 Diversity Summer Fellowship in Health Law The New York Bar Foundation 2017 Dr. M. L. “Hank” Henry, Jr. Judicial Fellowship Program

2017 Diversity Scholar Program Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. & Eversource Energy (Hartford, CT)

Summer 2017 - Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Minority Fellowship The New York Bar Foundation

2017 Harrity & Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Harrity & Harrity, LLP (Fairfax, VA)

Community Development Project, Urban Justice Center Transactional Fellowship The Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Summer 2017 Judicial Internship Program 2017 Summer Intern Program (1L) National LGBT Bar Association.

2017 Summer Microsoft Legal Internship for a Law Student with a Disability American Bar Association - Commission on Disability Rights Diversity Initiatives Summer 2017 Summer Internship Law School Admission Council LCC Minority Outreach Program, AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee Rochester Legal Diversity Clerkship Program (1L) Monroe County Bar Association Summer 2017 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program Judicial Intern Opportunity Program - American Bar Association USDOT Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation.

2017 Diversity Scholarship Program Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP (Rochester, NY)

Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization

2017 Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Diversity Scholarship (1L) Harter Secrest & Emery LLP (Rochester, NY)

JOB FAIRS

2017 PNC & Reed Smith 1L LCLD Summer Internship (Pittsburgh, PA)

2017 HNBA/Microsoft Intellectual Property Law Institute

2017 Reed Smith 1L LCLD Summer Internship (Chicago, IL)

2017 Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair

Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship and Summer Associate Position, Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC (Birmingham, AL)

2017 LGBT Legal Career Fair LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York Annual NLLSA Conference National Latina/o Law Student Association

Cole Schotz Diversity Scholarship Program Cole Schotz PC (Hackensack, NJ)

National Black Prosecutors Association Job Fair

Diversity Scholars Program Latham & Watkins LLP

NEBLSA Job Fair, Northeast Region National Black Law Students Association

Diversity Scholars Program Milbank (New York, NY)

The Future Latino Leaders Law Camp Hispanic National Bar Association

Hinckley Allen Scholarship Program (Summer, 1L), Hinckley Allen (Boston, MA) Shumaker Diversity Scholarship & Summer Associate Program Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (Toledo, OH) The M. Catherine Richardson Clerkship Program, (Summer, 1L), Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC (Syracuse, NY & Buffalo, NY)

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Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

FACULTY AND STAFF SPOTLIGHTS

“I have the great luck of welcoming each class of new members,” American Law Institute president Roberta Cooper Ramo said in a statement. “Each group of lawyers, accomplished in their own fields and professions, brings new experience and new perspectives to our work of clarifying the law.”

Professor Farley’s work was recently cited in the New York Times as inspiration to artist M. Lamar, whose show “Destruction” has hit stages from the United Kingdom to New York City.

The American Law Institute — whose work has affected courts, legislatures, and academia — has four members from Albany Law School: President & Dean Alicia Ouellette, Professor Ira Bloom, Professor Farley, and Professor Michael Hutter.

PROFESSOR ANTHONY PAUL FARLEY James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor Jurisprudence Professor Anthony Paul Farley, the James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at Albany Law School, has been named a member of the influential American Law Institute.

The institute announced its newly elected class — comprising 60 highly regarded judges, lawyers, and law professors — on January 9. Drawing from their areas of expertise, ALI’s members work to modernize, improve, and influence development of the law, and collaborate with distinguished colleagues to contribute to the public good.

Professor Farley specializes in Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure and Legal Theory. His scholarship inspired “Destruction,” a theater production by artist M. Lamar which has hit stages from the United Kingdom to New York City. Professor Farley was cited by M. Lamar in a recent profile in the New York Times. He also appeared in the short film “Slavery in Effect,” a dialogue among scholars at Harvard University’s conference entitled “The Scope of Slavery: Enduring Geographies of American Bondage.”

Professor Farley was the James & Mary Lassiter Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law and the Andrew Jefferson Endowed Chair in Trial Advocacy at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2014-2015, the Haywood Burns Chair in Civil Rights at CUNY School of Law in 2006, and a tenured professor at Boston College Law School, where he taught for 16 years. Prior to entering academia, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Before serving as a federal prosecutor, he practiced law as

a Corporate/Securities Associate with Shearman & Sterling in NYC. Professor Farley’s work has appeared in chapter form in Bandung Global History and International Law: Critical Pasts and Pending Futures (Eslava et al. eds., Cambridge University Press: forthcoming); Hip Hop and the Law (Bridgewater et al. eds., Carolina Academic Press: 2015); After the Storm: Black Intellectuals Explore the Meaning of Hurricane Katrina (Troutt ed., The New Press: 2007); Cultural Analysis, Cultural Studies & the Law (Sarat & Simon eds., Duke University Press: 2003); Crossroads, Directions & a New Critical Race Theory (Valdes et al. eds., Temple University Press: 2002); Black Men on Race, Gender & Sexuality (Carbado ed., NYU Press: 1999); and Urgent Times: Policing and Rights in Inner-City Communities (Meares & Kahan eds., Beacon: 1999). His writings have appeared in numerous academic journals, including the Yale Journal of Law & Humanities, the NYU Review of Law & Social Change, the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, the Michigan Journal of Race & Law, Law & Literature, UCLA’s Chicano Latino Law Review, the Berkeley Journal of African American Law & Policy, the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, and the Columbia Journal of Race & Law. He has presented recent work at Harvard University, Yale Law School, Howard Law School, the University of Kentucky College of Law, University of Minnesota, the University of California at Davis, York University (Toronto, Canada), the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, and elsewhere.

Professor Farley served a three-year term on the Executive Committee of the Minorities Section of the Association of American Law Schools. He has previously served on the Board of Governors of the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT).

He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia.

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Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

Pershia Wilkins, the Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Assistant Director of Admissions, has been the lead staff member supporting diversity pipeline initiatives, which bring young people to the law school experience early on in their academic career.

Here are two of the most recent groups that Pershia has helped host on campus:

On February 21, 2017, nearly 60 Local high school students from the Capital District Black and Latino Achievers Program, YMCA, Glenmont Job Corp and children of Albany Law School’s students, staff and faculty spent the day with us to explore the possibility of a legal profession, as part of our Youth Law Day series. The goal of the Youth Law Day (YLD) program is to help local student envision law school as a realistic opportunity and giving students a sense of the law school experience, while reducing the mystery or sense of unattainability that might be associated with it.

PERSHIA WILKINS Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Assistant Director of Admissions

The centerpiece of the day was an interactive classroom experience taught by our distinguished Professor Anthony Farley and mock trials coached by our faculty. The high school students work closely with law students as defense and prosecutorial attorneys and judges. Youth Law Day (YLD) is a cosponsored by the NYS Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and LSAC Discover Law. On April 8, 2017, twenty one students from the University at Albany visited Albany Law School as part of the 2nd Annual Theodore T. Jones Undergraduate Intercultural Moot Court Competition to present legal arguments on behalf of their client, in front of panel of local practicing attorneys and judges. The case focused on family law issues related to parental rights. he competition is named after Judge Theodore Jones, who served on the state’s highest Court, the New York Court of Appeals, to honor his dedication to pipeline and other diversity initiatives. The competition is part of a collaborative moot court project developed

by Albany Law and University at Albany as part of its affiliation and was funded by the University at Albany and Albany Law School Venture Fund.

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Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

The Capital Region New Visions Law & Government program, coordinated by Albany Law School alumni Richard Bader, Esq. is a competitive, rigorous, immersion-based program located in downtown Albany. Its students are academically outstanding and each has expressed a thoughtful commitment to the post-secondary pursuit of a career in the field of law, political science or criminal justice. New Visions Law & Government students take an integrated four (4) credit curriculum of advanced coursework in Political Science through University at Albany (A.P. U.S. Government & Politics), Law, English, and Economics for college and high school credit and are placed in government and private internships.

The program places students in a governmental setting where they actively participate in a wide variety of operations such as the Office of the Attorney General, the New York State Legislature, various federal, state and city courts as well as special interest and lobbying groups and private law firms. There is a working relationship with Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, the area’s premier and largest law firm, and with bi-annual private visits to Albany Law School where they meet with Admissions staff, law students and alumni, meet with our faculty during a mock law class. In addition, these local high school students are provided with technology training on WESTLAW®, word processing, Internet research, mediation, civil and criminal litigation, and legislative procedures.

To learn more and/or volunteer as a mentor to these high school students, please contact Pershia at: pwilk@albanylaw.edu

DIVERSITY COMMITTEE This issue of the newsletter is brought to you by Professor Antony Haynes, Chair of the Diversity Committee.

Albany Law School’s Diversity Committee is comprised of members of the faculty, staff and students. Diversity at Albany Law School encompasses understanding that each of us is unique and accepting and respecting our differences.

Among these differences are race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, national origin, alienage, immigration and citizenship status, marital status, military or veteran status, age, disability, religion, creed, and political ideology.

The committee will identify opportunities to explore our differences in an inviting, inclusive and intellectual environment, where we seek to understand each other, move beyond simple tolerance, and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity

ANTONY HAYNES

Diversity Committee Chair, Associate Dean, and Assistant Professor

ahayn@albanylaw.edu (518) 445-2321

DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 2016-2017 Faculty Joe Buffington Stephen Clark Antony Haynes Rosemary Queenan Sarah Rogerson Alex Seita

ALBANY LAW SCHOOL 80 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208-3494 Phone 518-445-2311 www.albanylaw.edu © 2017 Albany Law School 501(c) Not-for-Profit.

All rights reserved.

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Albany Law School • Fall 2016-Spring 2017 Diversity Newsletter • www.albanylaw.edu/diversity

Staff Sherri Donnelly Colleen O’Byrne Pershia M. Wilkins Students Brianna Vaughan ‘17 Frankie Nichols ‘18