IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law receives Diversity Champion Award

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is one of 10 law schools—and the only Illinois law school—recognized for its ongoing support of the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair. The Diversity Champion Award was presented during the 10th anniversary of the conference October 24 to 25 in Houston, Texas. Marsha Ross-Jackson, assistant dean for student professional development at IIT Chicago-Kent, accepted on behalf of the law school.

Ross-Jackson oversees IIT Chicago-Kent's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Multicultural Affairs and Professional Development (ODIMA), which implements strategies, initiatives, programs and other services to celebrate and embrace diversity. ODIMA drives an inclusive culture where students, staff and faculty can contribute their diverse experiences and perspectives. The office also works with student organizations and other departments throughout the law school to facilitate a variety of annual events.

Founded in 1888, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law.

IIT Chicago-Kent's diverse community has been one of its strengths since its founding more than a century ago. Emma Baumann, the first female student, was a graduate of the class of 1891. Ida Platt, the first African-American woman admitted to the bar in Illinois and the second black woman admitted to practice law in the United States, was a graduate of the class of 1894. In 2013, IIT Chicago-Kent was honored by the Council on Legal Education for its commitment to diversity in the legal profession.

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