PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW STUDENTS EARN NATIONAL SECURITY LAW CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
November 2024 — Five Penn State Dickinson Law students have earned scholarships or fellowships to attend an upcoming conference on national security law being held in Washington, D.C.
Alainah Aamir ’26, Ayesha Iqbal ’26, Divya Patel ’26, Uzoma Elekwachi ’27, and GeGe George ’27 all applied for and received financial assistance for the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security’s 34th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law conference.
The conference, taking place November 14-15, brings together senior government and military lawyers, legal professionals, scholars, and practitioners in the field of national security law. Students can network between presentations.
“I am so proud of this terrific group of students,” said Penn State Dickinson Law Associate Professor of Law Amy C. Gaudion, who teaches national security law. “Not only did they find these scholarships and fellowships, but they also showed their willingness to seek experiences beyond the walls of the classroom and to pursue opportunities that bridge the study of law and practice of law.”
Gaudion noted this is the country’s premier conference for national security lawyers, highlighting a diverse range of practice settings, viewpoints, and perspectives. “It brings together policymakers, academics, national security lawyers in the government, and national security practitioners in the private sector. It creates a space for them to consider the legal and policy authorities that govern how we defend the nation, to grapple with how these authorities work in practice, and to identify when these authorities are in need of revision or reform,” said Gaudion.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to participate in discussions on national security and apply them to my passion for protecting marginalized communities,” said George. “This experience will aid me in answering questions such as, ‘How do marginalized groups participate in the design of national security strategies, and how can their participation contribute to better community safety and national security aims?’ I am excited to bring this knowledge back to the Penn State Dickinson Law community. "
This year’s conference will focus on national security law in the era of great power competition, with keynote speakers including Mike Gallagher, former Congressman (R-WI) and former chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Admiral James Alexander “Sandy” Winnefeld, USN (ret.), chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and previously vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Jane Harman, former Congresswoman (D-CA) and current chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy.
Attending this conference allows students to learn more about topics related to their legal education as well as their personal identities. “I am drawn to national security law because it allows me to address complex legal issues where individual rights intersect with broader security interests, a balance essential to protecting both freedom and safety,” said Iqbal, president of Penn State Dickinson Law’s National Security Law Association. “Growing up in a post-9/11 era, I am motivated to advocate for fair policies that reflect my commitment to justice and bridge the unique perspectives of my Pakistani, Muslim, and American identities.”
Like Iqbal, Aamir said her background prompted her to want to attend. “Having been born and raised in Pakistan, I am very interested in viewing conversations of national security from a comparative lens,” said Aamir. “I am grateful that this conference will give me an opportunity to delve deeper into this interest.”
Elekwachi looks forward to hearing firsthand insights from national security experts at the conference. "My passion for national security lies in my longstanding dedication to service through global advocacy and foreign relations. I am thrilled to have the honor of learning from leading professionals in the field of national security alongside likeminded peers as I come closer to shaping solutions for the challenges facing our interconnected world," said Elekwachi.