Diversity and Inclusion Celebration Honors Akshay Verma J.D. ’06 and Legal Education Access Pipeline, Inc.

On February 16, the Santa Clara Law community gathered for the 17th annual Diversity and Inclusion Celebration, which recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and directly supports the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights scholarship for students. Santa Clara Law is one of the nation’s most diverse law schools, and this event receives substantial support from law firms and organizations across the country.

“Our diversity is, and always will be, one of our greatest distinctive strengths,” said Dean Michael Kaufman. “Our commitment to an inclusive learning environment is comprehensive—reflected in the strong moral leadership, by our diverse and engaged faculty members, supportive student services, vibrant student organizations, and our network of alumni and friends,” he said. “At this event, we lift up exemplars of moral beauty, people and organizations who have selflessly promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion in our law schools, our profession, and our communities.”

This year, Akshay Verma J.D. ’06 received the Social Justice and Human Rights Award, and the Organization of the Year Award went to Legal Education Access Pipeline, Inc. (LEAP).

During his remarks, Verma stressed the importance of intention in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. “Sometimes the work feels endless; sometimes the progress seems stagnant; and at times it even feels like we go backwards,” he said. “But recognition like this means the world, and it keeps the fire burning.”

Over the past 20 years, Verma has dedicated his professional career to raising awareness of and championing diversity and inclusion issues. Reflecting on his work at Meta, he remarked that what was most meaningful was the time he spent talking through things like goals, metrics, levers, and recognition—areas where there was not going to be a significant impact without intention.

Cindy Lopez, LEAP’s founder and director, accepted the Organization of the Year Award. A recently retired California Deputy Attorney General and Loyola Law School alumna, Lopez founded LEAP after personally observing an acute need to build access to law school education for groups that are underrepresented in the legal profession in Southern California. Lopez drew on her wealth of leadership experience in the legal arena and in the nonprofit college access field to develop and expand the LEAP programs. Santa Clara Law is the Northern California LEAP partner.

Sr. Assistant Dean Nicole Maxwell recognized the many Santa Clara law student organizations (LSOs), which she called “a direct reflection of the cultures of the student body and the strengths we celebrate.” Representatives from a number of Santa Clara Law’s LSOs were in attendance: Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Vietnamese American Law Students, Equality Santa Clara, Women & Law, Middle East North African Law Student Association, Filipino American Law Society, and Latinx Law Student Association.

Deborah Marson, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Iron Mountain—the event’s title sponsor— addressed the attendees in a pre-recorded video message. “Organizations across the globe are acknowledging the pressing need to give unwavering attention to a problem that’s lingered far too long: systemic racism,” she said. She also reminded Santa Clara Law students that they will “have the chance to facilitate action, endorse change, and break down silos to help organizations reach their potential in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.”