What are Affinity Groups?

Affinity Groups bring individuals together to create a community sharing similar interests, hobbies, goals, identities, cultures, and/or languages.

Why are Affinity Groups important in law schools?

They allow law students who share an identity—usually a marginalized identity—to gather, talk in a safe space about issues related to that identity, and transfer that discussion into action that makes for a more equitable experience.

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University has a variety of Affinity Groups on campus, including the following:

  • Black and African American
  • LGBTQ+
  • Asian
  • Latinx and Hispanic
  • Native Americans
  • Jewish

Are you a First Gen?

Please email%20Eva%20Campion, 3L, President, First Generation Society, for more information.

Law Student Affinity Groups and Leaders

Meet the student leaders and learn more about the diverse student organizations in the Duquesne Kline School of Law.

Olamide Owoeye, 3L
President
owoeyeo@duq.edu 

Black Law Students Association 2023 group photo

Black Law Student Association executive board members left to right are: Antonio Cheatom, 2L, Treasurer; Jamilah Wesley, 2L, Social Chair; Kebron Assefa, 3L, Academic Chair; Fallon Howard, 3L, Vice President, Olamide Owoeye, 3L, President; Derrick McNeely, 3L, Historian; and Michaela Smith, 2L, Secretary.

Black Law Students Association executive board members (L to R): Antonio Cheatom, 2L, Treasurer; Jamilah Wesley, 2L, Social Chair; Kebron Assefa, 3L, Academic Chair; Fallon Howard, 3L, Vice President, Olamide Owoeye, 3L, President; Derrick McNeely, 3L, Historian; and Michaela Smith, 2L, Secretary.

Learn more

Kaine Spitak, 3L
President
spitakk@duq.edu

Learn more

Rene Balderas, 3L
President               
balderasr@duq.edu

Learn more

Asian American Students Law Association members Natasha Patel, 2L, and Claire Neiberg, 2L

Asian American Students Law Association members Natasha Patel, 2L, and Claire Neiberg, 2L

Advocate and Celebrate

  • Black History Month: February 1-March 1
  • LGBTQ+ Pride Month: June 1-30
  • National Disability Employment Awareness Month: October
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15-October 15
  • National Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 1-May 31
  • Native American Heritage Month: November 1-November 30
  • Rosh Hashanah: September 25-27
  • Simchat Torah: October 16-18
  • Sukkot (First Days): October 9-11
  • Veterans Month: November
  • Women's History Month: March
  • Yom Kippur: October 4-5

Additional Resources

Kelli Ware, Vincent Johnson and Dr. Valerie Harper are pictured at a Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition event.

Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition

Kelli Ware, Vincent Johnson and Dr. Valerie Harper are pictured at the Coalition's 2L/3L Mentoring Program Kickoff event.