Diversity Scholar Recipients
Diversity Scholar Recipients
Encouraging diversity and inclusion within the field of ADR
INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Fund provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 to students or professionals. This support can be used towards:
· Degree program or fellowship in alternative dispute resolution
· Conference or training program in alternative dispute resolution
The goal is to empower diverse leaders and professionals in ADR by helping them access education and training opportunities that advance their careers and enhance inclusivity within the field.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS AT HBCUs
The AAA-ICDR Foundation partners with law schools at two historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) – Howard University and North Carolina Central University – that offer certificates in dispute resolution. Key details include:
· $50,000 awarded annually to each law school.
· Scholarships specifically for second- and third-year law students pursuing certificates in dispute resolution.
· Recipients are selected each year in September by the respective law schools
Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients
Scholar Recipient
2023 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
2021 Scholarship Recipients
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Scholar
Sharon Price-Cates
New Jersey
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
AAA Fundamentals and Best Practices and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service - Becoming a Labor Arbitrator
Scholar
Milagros Maribel Rojas Blas
Peru
SCHOOL
My career goals include:
• To collaborate with and support other initiatives that deal with diversity and inclusion towards making international arbitration equitable for all participants
• Gain experience in both international arbitration and general litigation
• Advance the interests of woman practitioners and promote the diversity in international dispute resolution
• To support in the writing of academic articles related to international arbitration and information
• To promote the publication of articles aimed at discussing problems and challenges about systemic discrimination in international arbitration
GRANT AMOUNT
$390
PROGRAM
Arbanza School of Arbitration - Investment Arbitration Course
Scholar
Suzanne W. Ockleberry
Georgia
SCHOOL
Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations
My career goal is to be one of the best arbitrators/neutrals in the field, become a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators and eventually teach courses on labor/employment at the college level. I decided to become an arbitrator due to my experience and keen interest in labor/employment matters as well as the lack of diversity (Females/African Americans) in the field.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
Three courses at Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations
Scholar
Marjorie Vieira
Brazil
SCHOOL
Humboldt University of Berlin
My career goal is to become a lawyer specialized in international dispute resolution in order to act as counsel, mediator and arbitrator in international disputes. I also plan to pursue a PhD to become a university professor in the IDR field.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
LLM program at Humboldt University of Berlin
Scholar
Lauren Jones
New York
SCHOOL
I would like to ultimately have my own ADR practice covering all the ADR disciplines or work in an ADR capacity with a corporation.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,995
PROGRAM
Virtual Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Class
Scholar
Jessica Yeh
California
SCHOOL
I wish to be a full time Arbitrator and Mediator. I eventually hope to create more community programs in ADR that will be accessible to underserved and differently-abled communities that do not have widespread access to arbitration or mediation as a means to solve their disputes as an alternative to traditional litigation.
GRANT AMOUNT
$475
PROGRAM
ABA Dispute Resolution Arbitration Training Conference
Scholar
Edwin Roman
California
SCHOOL
American University Washington College of Law
Chiefly, my goal is to become a high-caliber expert in International Arbitration and Mediation in Mexico. Likewise, at the same time, I am going to study some subjects in order to sit to the New York Bar, so this LLM program will help me to understand the common law and see the differences with the civil law.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
LL.M. in International Arbitration and Business Law at American University Washington College of Law
Scholar
Ashley Meadows
New York
SCHOOL
Pepperdine School of Law
To become a member of the arbitration roster for FINRA and AAA.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
LLM in Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine School of Law
Scholar
Ashita Alag
India
SCHOOL
Harvard Law School
After my LL.M., I intend to work at an international law firm to gain additional arbitration experience before returning to India to start my career as an arbitration practitioner. While working as an arbitration practitioner I want to push for inclusion of more women, especially women from my region and community to have access to the arbitration profession. In the long run I also want to build on the research done for my dissertation titled “Third Party Funding in International Commercial Arbitration” and author a book on the subject.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
PROGRAM
LLM Program at Harvard Law School
Scholar
Tara Brin
Michigan
SCHOOL
I use my mediation training on a daily basis as a Civil Rights Investigator for the City of Detroit and general civil volunteer mediator for the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center. I hope to further my career in public service and volunteering with goals of criminal justice reform, enhanced communication opportunities between parties, and deterrence of escalation in cases through mediation. At the City of Detroit Civil Rights Department, I hope to expand mediation opportunities to residents and employees of the City prior to becoming part of the legal system. I aspire to become a full time mediator in the public sector
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,095
PROGRAM
Domestic Relations Mediation Training and Domestic Violence Screening Training through Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center
Scholar Recipient
2023 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
2021 Scholarship Recipients
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Scholar
Oluyemisi Faderin
Ontario, Canada
School
College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers
I am a Registered Social Worker with a master’s in social work. I have over 14 years of experience in mental health. I am a member of the College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers, the Ontario Association of Social Workers. I have extensive experience in working with various age groups and settings. I provide counselling, consultation, in-service training and psychotherapy to adults (18+), seniors and working professionals.
I am a daughter, mother of two lovely children, and a sister who identifies within the BIPOC community. I am fluent in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin.
GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
Program
Riverdale Mediation
Scholar
Annanya Chaturvedi
Houston, Texas
School
University of Houston Law Center
An immigrant from India. Annanya is a second year law student at the University of Houston Law Center. She is a member of her school’s ADR team and the winner of this year’s intrateam competition. Annanya is interested in exploring alternates to traditional forms of litigation in an effort to provide clients with the best possible solution to their unique situations.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Asia A. Skyers
North Carolina
School
North Carolina Central University School of Law
Asia A. Skyers was born and raised in Connecticut and currently resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Quinnipiac University in 2016 and a master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 2019. She is currently a Third-Year Law Student at North Carolina Central University School of Law where she is a joint-degree student earning a master’s degree in Information Systems in conjunction with the School of Library Sciences at NCCU. In addition to the JD/MIS program, she is a student earning a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution at North Carolina Central University School of Law. Asia has distinguished herself as a student and, as a result, has been named a 2022-2023 recipient of an AAA-ICDR Foundation Scholarship as well as a 2021-2022 recipient of an Intel Social Justice and Racial Equity (ISJRE) Scholarship. Upon graduation and licensure, Asia plans to practice as a litigator and use the knowledge and skills she has gained to provide the best solutions for her clients both inside and outside the courtroom.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Bamisope Adeyanju
New York
School
University at Buffalo (UB) Law School
Bamisope Adeyanju is a 3L at the University at Buffalo (UB) Law School where she serves as an international trade law research assistant for Professor Meredith Lewis. Bami is also the Vice President of the International Law Students Association at UB Law School and was recently appointed as a member of the university-wide International Students Advisory Board.
Prior to her decision to obtain a U.S. law degree, Bami earned an LL.M degree from Columbia Law School, where she served as an editor of the American Review of International Arbitration Journal and worked with the Human Rights Clinic to advance the rights of U.S. communities to adequate and affordable sanitation. Before Columbia Law, Bami earned an LL.B degree from Nigeria and had a stint representing individual and corporate clients in complex commercial transactions and disputes using ADR mechanisms – arbitration, litigation, mediation, and negotiation. She later worked as an NGO legal advisor representing Nigerians in public interest and anti-corruption litigation. Having worked at the intersection of business and human rights, Bami continues to utilize her knowledge in these fields to create sustainable positive change.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Catherine Lynch
Philadelphia
School
Drexel Kline School of Law
Catherine Lynch is a first-generation law student and currently 3L at the Drexel Kline School of Law. She looks forward to learning about alternative dispute resolution careers and hopes to one day be involved.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Constanza Mayz
Alabama
School
University of Alabama School of Law
Constanza Mayz is a 3L at the University of Alabama School of Law interested in arbitration and cross-border disputes. She is a member of various arbitration and international law societies such as the Young-ITA (Institute for Transnational Arbitration), AtlAS (Atlanta International Arbitration Society), and is currently serving as secretary of Alabama Law’s ILSA (International Law Student Association) chapter. After graduation she hopes to develop a career in arbitration.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Damilola Adebayo
Nigeria
School
Howard University School of law
Damilola Adebayo is an aspiring lawyer from Nigeria. She is a 3L at Howard University School of law with an undergraduate degree in Finance. She hopes to transition her career into Tax and ADR. She currently works for the World Bank Group learning the intersection between international organizations and dispute resolution/litigation. She is dedicated to learning and uplifting others especially marginalized women across the globe.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Jamonica Warren
New York
School
SUNY Purchase
Jamonica Warren is from Brewster, New York and attended SUNY Purchase where she received a B.A. in Political Science Magna Cum Laude and a MusB in Instrumental Performance:French Horn Magna Cum Laude. Jamonica Warren is a second year law student at Texas A&M University School of Law. She plans to sit for the Bar in July 2024. Jamonica has pursued studies related to dispute resolution and estate planning. Jamonica hopes to work in the entertainment field advocating for artists.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Jessica Gardner
Maryland
School
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Jessica Gardner is a 3L student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Before law school, Jessica attended University of Maryland, College Park and obtained a Bachelor of Art in Communications. Jessica is from Baltimore, Maryland and hopes to practice in the DC/Maryland area upon graduation . She is a member of the Women’s Bar Association, Business Law Association, Rose Zetzer Fellowship, and Leaders and Scholars program at the University of Maryland Carey Law. Jessica is also set to complete the Dispute Resolution Track at Maryland Carey Law. As part of this track, she has received a certificate for completing over 40 hours of mediation training and has conducted mediations as part of the University of Maryland Mediation Clinic in partnership with the District Court of Baltimore City.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit
Scholar
Joshua Caleb Cavazos
Texas
School
St. Mary's School of Law
Hi, my name is Joshua Caleb Cavazos but everyone calls me Josh so y’all may as well. I was born and raised in a small rural town in Texas and currently attend St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, Texas as a 3L. My hobbies are watching anime, playing Nintendo games (especially party games like Mario party), and playing board/card games. My favorite food is sushi and I enjoy drinking wine. I'm actually studying to become a Certified Sommelier (just for fun, not as a job) so I know a lot about wine and I'm expected to take my Sommelier exam in early January.
GRANT AMOUNT
$1,300
Program
AAA Diverse Student Summit