Dean's Diversity Action Council

The Dean's Diversity Action Council was formed in 2019 to ensure that Duquesne University School of Law is a welcoming and supportive environment for all. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at the School of Law where our students of color and other historically underrepresented students flourish. We aim to create long-term, sustained progress toward justice, equity, and human dignity. We act in accordance with our Spiritan Mission as we seek to energize our minds, hearts and spirits to overcome the affliction of discrimination and racial inequality.

Promise Statement on Race & Justice

This Promise Statement is an affirmative statement against racism and a commitment to lead positive change. It re-affirms our Spiritan Mission and comes from a place of dignity, respect, and love for all. The statement calls us to speak with clarity around the harms of racism, and to be actively involved as faculty (on and off campus) in efforts to promote justice, equity, and human dignity.

Reflections from the Dean's Diversity Action Council

During the 2020-2021 Academic Year, the Dean's Diversity Action Council met monthly and were joined by the leaders of SBA and our student affinity groups. Each meeting began with a reflection, prayer, or poem by one of our Council members or students to ground us in our work together. We have compiled these reflections to share with our community, because they powerfully represent the challenges we face, the courage we seek, and our hope for a brighter future.

As always, we aim to create long-term, sustained progress toward justice, equity, and human dignity.

Dean April Mara Barton
April, 2021

Council Members

	April M. Barton Dean and Professor of Law lawdean@duq.edu		Ella Kwisnek Associate Dean of Students and Assistant Professor of Legal Research & Writing kwisnek@duq.edu
	Tsegaye Beru Associate Director for Faculty Research & Outreach Services, DCLI & ACLL, Adjunct Professor beru@duq.edu		Emile Loza de Siles Assistant Professor of Law lozae@duq.edu
	Aman Gebru Assistant Professor of Law gebrua@duq.edu		Marissa Meredith Assistant Professor of Law meredithm1@duq.edu
	Valerie J. Harper School of Law Registrar harper@duq.edu		Grace Orsatti Director of the Externship Program, Pro Bono Program and Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Education orsattig@duq.edu
	Nicola Henry-Taylor Director of Diversity henrytaylorn@duq.edu		John Rago Associate Professor of Law ragoj@duq.edu
	Jalila Jefferson-Bullock Associate Professor of Law jeffersonbulloj@duq.edu		Carrie Samarin Executive Assistant to the Dean samarinc@duq.edu
	Rona Kaufman Associate Professor of Law kitchenr@duq.edu		Kaitlin Yacob Associate Director of Admissions yacobk@duq.edu

Student Affinity Group Leaders: 2020-2021

Antonio Bonnetty bonnettya@duq.edu 2D Senator, Student Bar Association
Ell Connally connallye@duq.edu 3D Vice President, Student Bar Association
Kallie Crawford crawfordk@duq.edu 3D American Bar Association Representative, Student Bar Association
Shreya Desai desais@duq.edu 3D President, First Generation Society & Public Interest Law Association
Rosemari Fassette fassetter@duq.edu 3D President, Education Initiative for Individual Diversity
Kayla Ford fordk1@duq.edu 2E Senator, Student Bar Association
Jake Harrison harrisonj2@duq.edu 3D Vice President, Jewish Law Students Association
Alexandria Iwanenko iwanenkoa@duq.edu 3D Vice President, Hispanic American Bar Association
Lexi Jones jonesa17@duq.edu 3D President, Women's Law Association
Benjamin Kahn kahnb@duq.edu 3D President, Jewish Law Students Association
Jacob Mazur mazurj1@duq.edu 3D Vice President, Education Initiative for Individual Diversity
Madison Miranda mirandam@duq.edu 3D President, Hispanic American Bar Association
Brianna Schmid schmidb@duq.edu 2D Senator, Student Bar Association
Sarah Thomas thomass9@duq.edu 2D Senator, Student Bar Association
Jonathan Veres veresj1@duq.edu 3D President, Student Bar Association
Ariel Wetzel wetzela1@duq.edu 3D Vice President, Black Law Student Association
Dominique Wiggins wigginsd@duq.edu 3D President, Black Law Student Association