DICKINSON LAW HOSTS THIRD CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL DIVERSITY PIPELINE PROGRAM
July 2022 — For the third consecutive year, Penn State Dickinson Law was selected by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) to host its annual Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI). This year’s virtual program was held May 23 through June 30. Funding for the program was provided through grants from CLEO and Penn State’s Equal Opportunity Planning Committee (EOPC).
The CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute is designed to introduce 40 students to the skills, knowledge, and values essential to their success in law school, including self-directed learning, legal reasoning, writing, and the Socratic method of teaching. Graduating college seniors or graduates who plan to attend law school in fall 2022 were eligible to participate.
The PLSI is sponsored by and staffed in cooperation with the host law school. Jeffrey Dodge, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services, Assistant Professor of Law, and Joseph H. Goldstein Faculty Scholar at Dickinson Law, served as PLSI Director and Kalene Faircloth, Assistant Director of Student Services, served as PLSI Assistant Director. Dickinson Law Professors Andrea Martin, Megan Riesmeyer, Maureen Edobor, and Katie Dang taught this year’s curriculum. Lucille Sherman ’24 served as technology coordinator and teaching assistant during the program, along with current students Alix Wright ’24, Talia Kowalski ’23, Won Joo ’24, and Barry Howard ‘24, who served as teaching assistants, mentors, and supporters of the students.
Dodge noted, “This program helps meet our diversity goals but also expands on our antiracist law school mission. We have CLEO past participants at the law school now as second and third year students. We will likely welcome a couple more to the 1L class this fall, too.”
During her graduation speech, CLEO Fellow Rosavida Viri-Cruz noted that “CLEO didn’t base our potential success on a standardized test strategically designed to weed us out; a standardized test that does not take into consideration all of the elements that will actually contribute to our success and effectiveness in the law profession — like our grit, our determination, our lived experiences, our resilience, our cultural diversity, and our empathy. CLEO gave us the opportunity to prove ourselves and here we are. Leveled up and ahead of the game for our first year of law school.” Viri-Cruz stated that “In spite of all the injustices that set our souls on fire, …we have to continue working to build our community. We have to map the safe routes to our destination to make it easier for likeminded people to follow. And no matter the obstacles or the miles that span the earth between us, I am grateful that we have each other. I can’t wait to see all the good we’re all about to do.” Viri -Cruz ended her speech with something that a CLEO fellow said in a chat session last week: “I hope our law schools are ready because we’re coming in HOT!"