Diversity Scholar Recipients

Diversity Scholar Recipients

Diversity Scholar Recipients

Overview

Encouraging diversity and inclusion within the field of ADR

The Diversity Scholarship Fund was established by the AAA-ICDR Foundation through a special gift by the American Arbitration Association. The Fund provides diverse students/professionals with up to $2,000 of financial assistance towards participation in a degree program or fellowship in alternative dispute resolution or attendance at a well-recognized conference. The mission of the Diversity Scholarship Fund is to encourage diversity and inclusion within the field of ADR by supporting the pursuit of knowledge and skill development through training experiences that encourage inclusive leadership growth in the field of ADR.

In addition to these individualized grants, the AAA-ICDR Foundation has established diversity scholarships at Howard University and North Carolina Central University, two historically Black colleges and universities that offer certificates in dispute resolution programs in their law schools.

Both scholarships involve a three-year commitment of $150,000, $50,000 annually, to award scholarships to second- or third-year law school students in certificate in dispute resolution programs. Scholarship recipients will be selected yearly, in September, by each law school.
$631K+
IN GRANTS FUNDED
The Foundation has funded $631,777 in Diversity Scholarship Grants.
$1,549
AVERAGE DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP GRANT 2023
The average Diversity Scholarship grant amount in 2023. The Average HBCU Diversity Scholarship Grant in 2023 was $16,000.
162
SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS
Since inception, the Foundation has awarded 162 Diversity Scholarships.

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

No other data found for this selected year.

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

No other data found for this selected year.

Scholar Recipient

2022 Scholarship Recipient

2021 Scholarship Recipient

2020 Scholarship Recipient

2021 Scholarships Totaled $39,605.
2020 Scholarships Totaled $12,463.
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
Sharon Price-Cates

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

Milagros Maribel Rojas Blas

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

Suzanne W. Ockleberry

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

Marjorie Vieira

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

Lauren Jones

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

Jessica Yeh

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

Edwin Roman

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

Ashley Meadows

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

Ashita Alag

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

Tara Brin

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

2022 Scholarship Recipient

2021 Scholarship Recipient

2020 Scholarship Recipient

2021 Scholarships Totaled $39,605.
2020 Scholarships Totaled $12,463.
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

Scholar

Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

South Africa

ABOUT

My name is Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu, resident of Ekuphumleni Location, Kenton-On-Sea, South Africa. I am 47 years old. I was recently graduated as Peace builder after I attended Mediator Beyond Borders International Training.
For as long as I remember, I have a passion in giving back to the community and trying to bring people together and help in conflict resolution. I am particularly excited by the opportunity I am given to be part of the congress and I know and believe that with the skills that I will learn there, they will empower me to achieve to be able to achieve my goals which is helping people to live in a non-violent community.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Kostas Aslanidis

Scholar

Kostas Aslanidis

Greece

ABOUT

My full name is Konstantinos Aslanidis, however I prefer people to simply call me Kostas. I acquired my Bachelor’s Degree in Law at Democritus University of Thrace. Consequently, I completed my Master’s Degree in Civil, Civil Procedure and Labour Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. At the same time, I interned at the legal department of one of Greece’s largest banks, Eurobank, where I focused on due diligence on arbitration clauses included in bond loan agreements and legal research on complicated legal cases we faced. It was a welcome opportunity to gain experience in the practical aspect of my studies.

In December 2021, I passed the Greek bar examination and was granted my practicing license. From that point on, I established my own private practice, where I mainly focus on mediation procedures, trying civil cases, and working with counsels to reach resolutions or settle cases. Afterwards, I decided to further develop my insight on Arbitration by applying in the LL.M. program of NYU in International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration. I am planning after competing my studies in NYU to take the New York Bar Examination.

Grant Amount

$2,000

PROGRAM

LL.M. studies at NYU School of Law in International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration

Henry Rajoro

Scholar

Henry Rajoro

Nairobi, Kenya

ABOUT

Born and raised in Nairobi Kenya, Henry has had a most dynamic experience of Life symbolized by a region that has seen tremendous changes in one generation thanks to the digital transformation and this has translated into great opportunities for leaving a lasting impact in his Generation.

It was destiny that ultimately led Henry into walking in his purpose and impacting communities around him. What began as a passion for storytelling using the camera, opened the door for him to work with International Non-profits like Norwegian based New Life Mission Aid and Netherlands based EDUKANS. This experience is what gave him a sense of calling and purpose in the humanitarian field. After training with Mediators Beyond Borders International in Mediation and Peace Building, Henry found his niche in the broader Humanitarian Field and has since dedicated himself to pursuing this path with special focus on the incarcerated and ex-convicts, in helping them find peace with communities around them, and vice versa. With a Background in Communication and among other skills such as Cybersecurity, Henry’s Vision is to Build Communities centered on Peace and tell stories that propagate Peace and Wholeness.

Grant Amount

$1,800

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Raihal Fajru

Scholar

Raihal Fajru

Aceh Besar, Indonesia

ABOUT

Raihal Fajri is currently the Executive Director of the Katahati Institute she has been running the operations the non-profit organization since June 2013. At the end of 2007-2009, Raihal joined the Katahati Institute as Project Officer for Clearing House Policy Advocacy with the main concentration on encouraging an information Center and policy advocacy for earthquake and Tsunami victims in Aceh in 2004.

As a Project Officer, Raihal was responsible for managing information and ensuring the policy documents that were produced can be used by the Government and related parties in the process of rehabilitation and construction of Aceh in fulfilling the basic rights of Tsunami victims. Specific expertise possessed in this program is policy analysis and media analysis. Raihal was an alumnus of Mediators Beyond Borders: International Training Institute “Women in Peacebuilding, Enhancing Skills and
Practice” in 2016. After that, Raihal received the formal certificate of Mediator from the Impartial Mediator Network with Indonesia Supreme Court after mediation training in Indonesia in 2020. Raihal is also a member of Mediator's Beyond Border International and has several times been a resource person on the topic of The Role of Women in Natural Resource Mediation Processes in Indonesia, first on March 31, 2021, and second at the Kyoto Peace Conference on the same topic on October 29-30 2021. She was a resource person on the topic of Feminist Ecotheology from an Islamic perspective on October 8th, 2021 conducted by JIPC-OFM Indonesia.

Raihal was an Assessor of USAID-SEGAR Project Assessment of Incentive Mechanisms for Improved Land Management, methodologies to evaluate the environmental Performance of Local Governments, and Extension Services in Aceh from November 9, 2021, to February 28, 2022. Raihal was a participant in the 2019 Australia-ASEAN Women in Constitution-building Capacity Development Program on 25-29 November 2019 at Melbourne Law School, Australia. She has been selected to participate in this first ever Constitution Building Summer School to be hosted by the Constitution Transformation Network (CTN) at Melbourne Law School (MLS). The Summer School will bring together a small cohort of eight women with an interest in constitutions and their operation in practice, two each from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand. Raihal became a panelist representing Aceh, Indonesia in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) in New York on 13-24 March 2017. At the UN conference which is a routine agenda of UN Women every year, she presented about the role of women in Aceh's

peace with the title of presentation "Women's roles in peace building; Support for Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Aceh “. From July to November 2017 she became a member of the Banda Aceh City Medium Term Development Plan Team (RPJM) in 2017-2022. She was also responsible for the Banda Aceh City CBDIS (SIPBM Online) Program under Aceh Social Protection Program as well as the Stunting Decrease in Aceh in collaboration with UNICEF and the Katahati Institute from 2013 until 2018.

In 2007, Raihal received training as a Trainer in the Training of Gender Sensitive Active Non- Violence Trainer and was followed up in the 2008 WPP Desk Asia Cochin, India. In addition to training for nonviolence activists, Raihal also received leadership training in the Vital Voices of Asia: Women's Leadership and Training Summit in September 2010 in New Delhi, India, after this Training, Raihal became a member of the Women Democracy Network. In 2010-2012, Raihal became the Program Manager of the Katahati Institute, which is responsible for ensuring that aspects of program planning and implementation run optimally. One of the major programs that were successfully implemented was Aceh Democracy Design. Rachel was responsible for compiling program planning to obtain funding support from the TIFA Foundation to design the Aceh Democracy Development based on the roadmap of the experience of Aceh's civil society, community organizations and the private sector. She is one of the drafting teams in the process of Compiling Academic Papers on the Management of Public Information Disclosure in Aceh to encourage the management of public information disclosure in Aceh in June-December 2017. She was the Manager of the Socialization Program for Handling the Inheritance Law of Tsunami Victims based on Law no. 48 of 2007 which is tasked with increasing understanding in managing inheritance rights and inheritance, especially in terms of managing and accessing tsunami victims' accounts to heirs in 2008. In the same year, she managed the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Transition process in realizing a comprehensive and sustainable Aceh Development whose task is to encourage multi-stakeholder synergies in the Aceh transition process to map the post-BRR NAD-Nias rehabilitation and reconstruction agenda as well as input for the end of BRR's tenure and the sustainability of rehabilitation and reconstruction for the Aceh Government. To ensure the involvement of women in the policy formulation process related to environmental issues, she started by becoming a researcher in the Beusaboh Pakat Working Group (WGBP) in Aceh Tengah and Bener Meriah was responsible for Gender Scanning Mainstreaming who was tasked with conducting initial scanning on the mechanism of socialization of Gender Mainstreaming in the Sarak Opat structure in Central Aceh and Bener Meriah districts in collaboration with the Aceh Police and IOM. Then at the end of 2017, she was involved in the process of women's dialogue on natural resource management in Quezon City, Philippines with the theme Resister Dialogue Resister's Dialogue on land, life, and rights. This dialogue forum was attended by women representatives of six ASEAN countries consisting of Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia plus India. The recommendations for this dialogue forum were then submitted to the representatives of their respective countries at the ASEAN Ministerial level meeting which took place at the same time. In addition, she also became a member of the Women's Earth Alliance (WEA) Indonesia in 2019 and became a mentor to facilitate WEA members the following year. WEA catalyses women-led, grassroots solutions to protect our environment and strengthen communities from the inside out.

Grant Amount

$1,800

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Vaiba Kebeh Flomo

Scholar

Vaiba Kebeh Flomo

Liberia

ABOUT

Creating community means a lot to my career goals. I want work through young people to create a community free from corruption, drugs, SGBV, and gender inequality. to see a community with high integrity, self-reliance and hardworking people.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Abiola Funmilayo Faleye

Scholar

Abiola Funmilayo Faleye

Nigeria

ABOUT

Abiola Funmilayo Faleye is from Nigeria, a seasoned legal practitioner of over 18 years, a certified Mediator and a Peace building Advocate expert with special interest in WPS, Peace education, Community peace building and conflict resolution. She has niche in family mediation and Restorative Practice. She is Passionate about building peaceful communities and using her expertise in this field as social change mechanism. She has over 18 years of experience as a legal practitioner both in the judiciary and private practice and have spent the last six years as a peace builder and good governance advocate in both conflict and post conflict zones. She has volunteered and still volunteering with many organizations locally and regionally especially in community peace building. She is deeply involved in women empowerment and gender equality advocacy. She has gone for several trainings both at home and abroad to deepen her knowledge and understanding in peace building. She facilitated several capacity building sessions spanning over several areas of peace building. She is a member of several

organizations and initiatives on and also co- founded a network of Women Mediators (WiMNet) to bring women in this field to visibility in Africa.

Grant Amount

$1,800

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Xikhongelo Pearl Mukhari

Scholar

Xikhongelo Pearl Mukhari

South Africa

ABOUT

Xikhongelo Pearl Mukhari is a 30-year-old lady from a small village called Elim under Makhado Municipality in the Limpopo province in South Africa. A 4th year LLB student with the University of South Africa and recently graduated as a peacebuilder with MBBI for ARCoM, very passionate about peacebuilding and praying to make the world a better place with her acquired skills from the all the trainings she will be receiving.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Khin Thida Soe

Scholar

Khin Thida Soe

Myanmar

ABOUT

My name is Thida, and I am from Myanmar. I have been serving as a Peace practitioner, mediator and a community dialogue facilitator over a decade. I am also a strong humanitarian. Over past years, I have brought my expertise on Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding (Nexus) to address the intersectional issues of H-D-P. On the other hand, whilst I am emphasizing on building peace that bringing community cohesiveness, I am promoting the human rights/ SOGIE rights that respect the diversity and inclusion. On professional front, I have left Christian Aid where I worked as a Programme Manager (Peacebuilding Nexus) and I just recently joined The LinQ Foundation based in Chiang Mai Thailand. The LinQ promotes the Human Rights and SOGIE rights, advocate for acceptance and recognition towards LGBTQ+ communities, bringing and respecting diversities and inclusion.

In Myanmar since the Coup, Myanmar Military Regime took over power on Feb 1, 2021, all the functions of social, political and economy collapsed and thousands of innocent civilians got killed by the Myanmar Security Force while over thousands of young people including journalists, politicians and activists were detained and some were sentenced to death. Government staff joined Civil Disobedience Movement and students quit the education. The economy and healthcare system were completely collapsed. Post Covid and due to the compounded crises of the current political turmoil, the people got traumatized with a lot fear due to the brutal military crackdown and crime against humanity and genocide towards minority groups, women, children and LGBTQ+ individuals. The people are in a traumatized situation and over 15 million of people are facing with poverty and humanitarian crises. As the repercussion affect, suicide is on the rise and lots of people have frequent suicidal attacks and are negatively impacting their mental trauma. Being a peacebuilder, human rights defender, it is so vital for me to take some responsibilities of helping people healing trauma and brining peace and unity amongst the communities along with bringing transitional justice. Hence having right knowledge and skills on trauma informed peacebuilding is highly important for me to bring more positive changes in the community and building peace.

On top of this, I have been so fortunate that I am one of MBBI alumni since 2015 and I am well trained by MBBI mentors over conflict resolution, leadership challenge and mediation. I have been adapting the gained knowledge into action in my workplace as well as peacebuilding journey throughout the years.

To be able to understand not only the local/regional peacebuilding spectrum, but it is also so crucial to understand the Global peacebuilding trends in daily changing world. Hence having a chance to get connected with peacebuilders across the Globe is highly important for me to learn about their works that I can adapt in my workplaces as well as in peacebuilding sectors. Taking this opportunity, I am keen to share the current context of Myanmar and draw attention of international communities towards supporting in addressing Myanmar issues.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Kate Ferguson

Scholar

Kate Ferguson

South Africa

ABOUT

Kate Ferguson is passionate about humanity’s ability to become part of the solution through our relational intelligence, presencing and aligned action. She draws on her experience in transdisciplinary research, peacebuilding projects and facilitating social & strategic innovation, to guide complex multi- stakeholder collaboration in ways that value local knowledge and best practice. Having taught yoga for 6 years, Kate is dedicated to integrating accessible ways to practice embodiment & mindfulness, inviting our somatic intelligence to inform strategic processes and conflict facilitation. Kate is part of a regenerative leadership duo called The Social Soil who design workshops for progressive organizations & businesses in the healthcare, wellness, legal justice, sustainability and creative fields. Their workshops result in successful prototypes, by bringing diverse stakeholders together in new ways. Kate is also project lead for Pathways of Peace with Amava Oluntu.Kate Ferguson is passionate about humanity’s ability to become part of the solution through our relational intelligence, presencing and aligned action. She draws on her experience in transdisciplinary research, peacebuilding projects and facilitating social & strategic innovation, to guide complex multi- stakeholder collaboration in ways that value local knowledge and best practice. Having taught yoga for 6 years, Kate is dedicated to integrating accessible ways to practice embodiment & mindfulness, inviting our somatic intelligence to inform strategic processes and conflict facilitation. Kate is part of a regenerative leadership duo called The Social Soil who design workshops for progressive organizations & businesses in the healthcare, wellness, legal justice, sustainability and creative fields. Their workshops result in successful prototypes, by bringing diverse stakeholders together in new ways. Kate is also project lead for Pathways of Peace with Amava Oluntu.

Grant Amount

$1,800

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Fathima Dildar

Scholar

Fathima Dildar

South Africa

ABOUT

Fathima Dildar has IT (information technology) experience in the large corporate sector as well as in education. She has fulfilled various roles such as educator, programmer, systems analyst, and solutions architect. She has international certifications in mediation, restorative practices, counselling and coaching. She is an advocate for peacebuilding, gender equality and social cohesion and volunteers her skills, expertise and experience towards multi-sectoral consultations, forums and organizations, reporting, research and development. She also facilitates trauma-informed workshops.

Grant Amount

$1,800

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Apply for the Diversity Scholarship.