Diversity at Fordham Law

“While we acknowledge the work thus far, we have a long way to go. One area I am particularly concerned with is increasing diversity generally and, in particular, in the number of Black students who enroll at Fordham Law. I see it as a moral imperative that our school reflect the diversity of our city.”

“Less than four percent of attorneys are Black, so chances are a Black attorney like myself won’t have a mentor who looks like me, and chances are my mentee won’t look like me. Cross-cultural mentoring lets people be effective mentors for someone from another background, and this helps with retention because many African-Americans don't feel at home in the legal industry.”

“One of the points the Black Lives Matter movement has made—and others fighting racism for decades have made—is how important it is for white people to take responsibility for their education about the ways racism plays out and is experienced. Being part of the larger culture means white people must be conscious and work hard to undo— and not perpetuate—either individual racism or structural racism.”

“I'm confident that institutions can improve and evolve over time, and I’m happy there are now action plans around diversity and inclusion at Fordham Law. For the efforts to succeed, however, they must be immersive. You have to be able to feel the culture of diversity and inclusivity the moment you walk through the doors.”

“Ultimately, it is up to each member of the Fordham Law community, including the administration, faculty, staff, and students, to actively engage in anti-racism work and make an impact both inside and outside of the Law School.”