Dear Fordham Law Community, 

I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break. Native American Heritage Month is observed every November to call attention to the culture, traditions, and achievements of our nation’s original inhabitants and of their descendants. I’m excited to share that Fordham Law will be offering a new course in the spring titled “American Indian Law,” which will examine the legal relationship between American Indian nations and the United States including implications for states and individual citizens.

Finally, as we prepare for the last few weeks of the fall semester, I wish our student body all the best with their final exams. I also hope you have a restful holiday season filled with peace, and a happy new year.

Be well,

Kamille Dean
Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Office of Student Affairs

Please note: The DEI newsletter will go on hiatus during the winter break.

Judge Felipe N. Torres ’26 Honored for His Trailblazing Career as a Lawyer, Legislator, and Jurist

Judge Analisa Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York spoke about the life and influence of her grandfather, Judge Felipe N. Torres ’26, as he was inducted into Fordham Law’s Alumni of Distinction. She was also joined by Tanya K. Hernández, Archibald R. Murray Professor of Law, for a fireside chat. Learn more about Torres and view more photos from the event.

Veterans Day Spotlight

In celebration of Veterans Day (Nov. 11), meet two of our esteemed REAL Scholars who served in the military: U.S. Army Veteran Andrew King ’24 and U.S. Marine Veteran Shervin Shahnazi ’26. Learn more about Andrew and his time at Fordham Law School as well as Shervin and his decision to apply to law school.

At Networking Event, Students Explore Diversity Initiatives Offered By Employers

On Nov. 15, attorneys, recruiters, and diversity professionals—including alums who graduated from Fordham Law—highlighted the programs that their organizations are offering to support diversity and inclusion within their ranks and in the legal community at a networking reception that drew hundreds of Fordham Law students. View more photos.

2023 Fordham-Stein Prize Presented to Civil Rights Leader Sherrilyn Ifill

A renowned and legendary civil rights lawyer in the country, Sherrilyn Ifill was honored for her trailblazing work as the recipient of the Fordham-Stein Prize on Nov. 2. Read more.

College Students Learn More About Law School

On Nov. 18, local college freshmen and sophomores met with Fordham Law faculty and staff to learn more about law school and the application process while participating in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)’s “Road to Law School” seminar.

CLEO plays an integral role in the Law School’s Increasing Diversity in Education and the Law (IDEAL) pipeline program, which seeks to engage diverse college students who are interested in pursuing a law degree or who have an interest in the law.

November is Transgender Awareness Month

Fordham Law’s Advocates for Trans* Law Students (ATLS) is an official student affiliate of the LGBTQ+ Bar and was the first trans law student group in the nation, according to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. During Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-19), ATLS Co-Founder August Naston ’25 spoke about the group’s mission and goals and of the week’s importance leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20). Read more.

August was also profiled by the LGBTQ+ Bar. Read more.

Fordham Law Moot Court Board Hosts 39th Annual New York Metropolitan MENTOR Moot Court Competition

This month, Fordham Law hosted the early elimination rounds of the 39th Annual Metropolitan MENTOR Moot Court Competition. Teams from nearly 35 participating public high schools, across the five boroughs of New York City, presented an oral argument before the fictitious Supreme Court composed of Fordham Law Moot Court Board members, alumni, and other legal practitioners who were once MENTOR competitors themselves.

The MENTOR Competition will continue in December, where students from four semi-finalist high schools will present oral arguments to a bench of federal judges at the U.S. Thurgood Marshall Courthouse.

The Important Role Lawyers Play

On Nov. 8, Adjunct Prof. Sylvia Fung Chin ’77 was honored at the Museum of Chinese in America’s 2023 Legacy Awards Gala as a “pioneering figure” in the legal field. Learn more about her journey and contributions to the profession by watching this video.

Eric L. Muller joined the Center on Asian Americans and the Law and the Stein Center for Law and Ethics on Oct. 18 to discuss his book, Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe, which explores the legal battles of the Japanese-American attorneys working within concentration camps during World War II. Judge Denny Chin ’78, co-director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law, reviewed Muller’s book for the New York Law Journal.

Save the Date for Racial Solidarity Network Training

The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division for Student Affairs invites all members of the Fordham community to register for the Racial Solidarity Network. Hosted every semester, this interactive workshop brings students, faculty, and staff together to explore a variety of concepts connected back to race, ethnicity, and allyship.

The next workshop will be offered in a two-day format on Feb. 21 and 28, 2024 at the Lincoln Center campus.

Have a news story or photos you’d like to submit for consideration? Connect with us!

Email Erin DeGregorio