Dean’s Diversity Action Council in Law School Centers on a Culture of Inclusion and More

Among the steps that the School of Law has taken to further its commitment to diversity and inclusion is launching the Dean’s Diversity Action Council in the last year.

Established in 2019, the council was formed to ensure that the law school is a welcoming and supportive environment for all. According to its mission statement, the council’s goal is “to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at the School of Law where our students of color and other historically underrepresented students flourish.”

The council also works to forge long-term, sustained progress toward justice, equity and human dignity.

“We act in accordance with our Spiritan Mission as we seek to energize our minds, hearts and spirits to overcome the affliction of discrimination and racial inequality,” said School of Law Dean April M. Barton, who is a member of the Dean’s Diversity Action Council.

In June, the council released its Promise Statement on Race & Justice, which serves as an affirmative statement against racism and a commitment to lead positive change.

“Since we started our work in 2019, we recognized that while our goal had to be long-term, sustained progress, we could not be timid when bold action was required,” said Assistant Law Professor Pablo Echeverri, who is chair of the council.

In addition to Barton and Echeverri, other members of the Dean’s Diversity Action Council are:

• Tsegaye Beru, associate director for faculty research and outreach services, DCLI and ACLL, and adjunct professor
• Aman Gebru, assistant professor of law
• Valerie J. Harper, law school registrar
• Nicola Henry-Taylor, director of diversity
• Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, associate professor of law
• Rona Kaufman, associate professor of law
• Ella Kwisnek, associate dean of students and assistant professor of legal research and writing
• Emile Loza de Siles, assistant professor of law.

The council also includes several law student affinity group leaders.

“Under Dean Barton’s leadership, the Diversity Action Council has been successfully tackling what can sometimes be challenging diversity, equity and inclusion issues,” said Bill Generett, vice president for community engagement, who is one of the campus community members that collaborated with the law school in developing the council. “The council also serves as a model for other schools and the University at large.”