Chicago-Kent Wins an Outstanding Law School Diversity Outreach Award

Chicago-Kent College of Law was honored with an Outstanding Law School Diversity Outreach Award at the 15th annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair, held November 8 and 9 at Columbia Law School in New York. Assistant Dean for Student Professional Development & Diversity Marsha Ross-Jackson accepted the award on behalf of the law school.

Chicago-Kent was one of 20 law schools chosen to receive the award for their support over the past 15 years of the National Black Pre-Law Conference, which is designed to provide information, resources, and contacts for African-American law school applicants. 

“Promoting diversity among all of our constituencies and ensuring an inclusive environment are among Chicago-Kent’s critical priorities,” says Chicago-Kent Dean Anita K. Krug. “We applaud the mission and role of the National Black Pre-Law Conference and are honored to receive this award.”

In addition, Ross-Jackson was individually honored with a Legal Education Access & Diversity Champion Award for her work with the conference. Over the years, she has participated on and moderated panels at the conference and has led small-group sessions for aspiring law students about careers in labor and employment law.   

“Black attorneys represent roughly 5 percent of all attorneys in this country,” says Ross-Jackson. “This number is insufficient to address the unique needs of the black community. The National Black Pre-Law Conference is doing a great job of motivating more black people to become attorneys. This goal aligns with my personal and professional passion and efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive legal profession, which I believe is a pathway to minimizing and/or eliminating the numerous inequities plaguing the black community. Therefore, I am honored to be recognized by the NBPC as a Legal Education Access & Diversity Champion."

A member of the Chicago-Kent faculty since 2012, Ross-Jackson leads Chicago-Kent’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Multicultural Affairs and Professional Development. She is the director of the Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Program, a three-week summer program at Chicago-Kent designed to introduce students from underrepresented backgrounds to the rigors of law school, and serves as executive director of the Institute for Law and the Workplace.