Albany Law School to Receive CLEO EDGE Award for Promoting Equality

Albany Law School has been named a recipient of the Council on Legal Education Diversity, Inc.'s Greater Equality Award.

CLEO, which is celebrating a half-century of working to increase the number of lawyers from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, will recognize Albany Law School and others for outstanding contributions to equality in the legal profession at an awards gala Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C.

"We are indebted to these 50 egalitarians—outstanding individuals and organizations—that have demonstrated their commitment to the equality of all people and, in so doing, helped advance our society," CLEO CEO Cassandra Sneed Ogden said in a statement.

"Albany Law School is honored by this recognition and proud to support the mission of CLEO," said Alicia Ouellette, President and Dean. "Recruiting, educating, and understanding the needs of students from all backgrounds enriches not only our law school, but the profession as a whole."

This year's gala theme is "The CLEO EDGE:  50 Years of Championing Education, Diversity, and Greater Equality." Honorees were previously announced for the categories of Education and Diversity. Pershia Wilkins, Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Assistant Director of Admissions, will accept the Greater Equality Award on behalf of Albany Law School.

Albany Law School is committed to providing a supportive environment for its growing multicultural population. The school has welcomed increasingly diverse entering classes, whose members are encouraged to explore myriad opportunities, including thriving peer-run organizations for black, Muslim, Latin American, and Asian and Pacific law students. Other initiatives include the Albany County Bar Association Diversity Internship Program, which has connected hundreds of multicultural students at Albany Law School with paid internships at law firms in the Capital Region.

In October, the Albany Law School named Troy Riddle as its new Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, a position created to further promote a campus-wide culture of inclusion among the students, faculty, and staff.