The University of New Mexico School of Law recently received the American Bar Association's Henry J. Ramsey Award for Diversity. The competition attracted nominations from 20 top law schools.
The nation's largest attorney's group recognized a concerted effort by UNM faculty and students to address diversity through its programs and activities during the 2003-04 academic year. UNM also earned the honor in 2002.
“Diversity [at UNM's School of Law] is not limited to the traditional categories often touted by reference to statistics, but is instead defined by the members of our community as including everything from race, ethnicity, age, religious beliefs, careers, political ideals, sexual orientation, experience, undergraduate and graduate work, hobbies, family living arrangements, and general life experiences,” wrote UNM law students in their nomination.
“Furthermore, our school's value for diversity can be seen by simply looking around the school,” the students wrote. “This past year, former family law attorney and clinical law professor, Suellyn Scarnecchia, became the first female dean of our law school since its inception; the “New Mexico Law Review” had its first Native American editor-in-chief in its 34 year history; two highly-impressive women of color – the only two who ran – vied for the position of Student Bar Association president; and the dean of our Clinical Law Program is a Hispanic professor.”
A special awards reception was held this year to recognize the 20 nominees and the American Bar Association president who focused on diversity during his term.
“This award is a huge accomplishment ,” said Cydni Sanchez, ABA representative and president of the UNM Student Bar Association, who along with Brenna Clani, 15th circuit governor for the ABA Law Student Division, was in Atlanta to accept the nomination. “The UNM School of Law is different than most law schools because we are already diverse and in the process of learning how to create programs and activities to celebrate and explore it.
“It was amazing for Brenna and I to be there,” Sanchez said. “We put so much work into the nomination and we are extremely proud of the law school's diversity programming. It is also fitting that Brenna, a female Native American and student leader, and I, a female Hispanic and law school leader were on hand to accept it.”
The annual award recognizes a law school that promotes diversity in legal education and the legal profession and works toward eliminating bias in law schools, in the legal profession and justice system.
Contact: Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, (505) 277-5915