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
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)
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)
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)
Scholar
Adama Sesay
Sierra Leone
ABOUT
I am Adama Sesay. I am from Sierra Leone and I live in a small town called Port Loko District in Sierra Leone by the north west region.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Sierra Leone and I have gone through so many trainings on peace building and leadership for girls and women empowerment.
I am more interested in peace because of my community and country fight about family life, superiority, discrimination etc., which is affecting girls and women the most. I stand to fight for their rights and freedom. I therefore, founded a community based organization called Collective Woman Network Sierra Leone which main aim is to see women attain their full potential in society through peace.
Grant Amount
$560
PROGRAM
Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)
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)
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)
Scholar
Gennea Moss-Moore
New York, NY
ABOUT
As the former Director of HR Compliance for 9W Halo Op Co LP d/b/a Angelica, she was committed to ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, company policies and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
Gennea is currently an HR Consultant with over 20 years of labor relations and human resources experience with companies such as, Union Carbide Corporation, Charter Communications, Lockhead Martin, and American Red Cross, just to name a few. These positions afforded her the opportunities to be a Company Advocate in arbitrations and other steps of the grievance procedure; Chief and Co- Spokesperson during CBA negotiations; and case manager and change manager for Company policies and procedures. These employment experiences coupled with her education background provided her with a strong foundation in research, writing, presentation and conflict resolution. She believes successful communication is key in reaching and relating to her audience no matter the position she is in.
She was born and raised in West Virginia. She obtained her BA in International Affairs and an MS in Industrial and Employee Relations from Marshall University and a JD from Appalachian School of Law. Gennea completed the FMCS certification for “Becoming a Labor Arbitrator in 2022. She was accepted as a Higginbotham Fellow in 2023 and she is currently completing her HR Consultant Certificate (March 2023).
Gennea has an adult son and daughter who are excited to be a part of this journey with her.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Gloria J. Medina
New York, NY
ABOUT
Gloria J. Medina is a Commercial Litigation Associate at Rivkin Radler, a mid-sized firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. There, she works primarily on commercial litigation and arbitration, with additional work in the fields of employment law, insurance defense, products liability, and professional liability.
Gloria graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in May 2022, earning a J.D. and an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution.
While in law school – where Gloria matriculated after a previous career in public service – she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the ADR Competition Honor Society, an analogue of Moot Court focusing on the disciplines of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation. Gloria also worked as: an Alexander Fellow, serving as a full-time judicial intern for Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave in the S.D.N.Y.; a student mediator in Cardozo’s Divorce Mediation Clinic; and as a member of the Innocence Project Clinic.
Gloria speaks Spanish natively and Mandarin Chinese at a basic level after studying the language at Wellesley College, from which she holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a Psychology minor.
In her free time, Gloria enjoys board games, apartment-gardening, and playing with her Golden Retriever, Leo.
Grant Amount
$500
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Amanda L. Scheeser
Ohio
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Antonia Gia Sanchez
Providence, RI
ABOUT
Gia Sanchez is Bristol Community College's Title IX & Equity Compliance Officer. Before working at Bristol, she was a partner in Pittsburgh law firms for over fifteen years. Gia represented employers and individuals in civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and civil rights. Her experience includes prevailing in jury trials and appeals before state and federal courts, including in cases of first impression.
From the inception of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program, Gia has served as a neutral. She completed lengthy mediation and conflict resolution training programs. Gia has also served as a hearing officer for public school districts.
Gia is an accomplished speaker and writer. She has served as a presenter for continuing legal education and trainer for non-attorneys. She co-facilitated a roundtable discussion on transgender inclusivity for the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) East Coast Conference. The Public's Radio published her essay on gender identity which remains available online. On a lighter note, The New York Times published Gia's Tiny Love Story entitled "Living in the Light."
Gia is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was a member of the law review.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar Recipient
2023 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
2021 Scholarship Recipients
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Scholar
Gloria J. Medina
New York, NY
ABOUT
Gloria J. Medina is a Commercial Litigation Associate at Rivkin Radler, a mid-sized firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. There, she works primarily on commercial litigation and arbitration, with additional work in the fields of employment law, insurance defense, products liability, and professional liability.
Gloria graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in May 2022, earning a J.D. and an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution.
While in law school – where Gloria matriculated after a previous career in public service – she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the ADR Competition Honor Society, an analogue of Moot Court focusing on the disciplines of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation. Gloria also worked as: an Alexander Fellow, serving as a full-time judicial intern for Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave in the S.D.N.Y.; a student mediator in Cardozo’s Divorce Mediation Clinic; and as a member of the Innocence Project Clinic.
Gloria speaks Spanish natively and Mandarin Chinese at a basic level after studying the language at Wellesley College, from which she holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a Psychology minor.
In her free time, Gloria enjoys board games, apartment-gardening, and playing with her Golden Retriever, Leo.
Grant Amount
$500
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Amanda L. Scheeser
Ohio
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Antonia Gia Sanchez
Providence, RI
ABOUT
Gia Sanchez is Bristol Community College's Title IX & Equity Compliance Officer. Before working at Bristol, she was a partner in Pittsburgh law firms for over fifteen years. Gia represented employers and individuals in civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and civil rights. Her experience includes prevailing in jury trials and appeals before state and federal courts, including in cases of first impression.
From the inception of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program, Gia has served as a neutral. She completed lengthy mediation and conflict resolution training programs. Gia has also served as a hearing officer for public school districts.
Gia is an accomplished speaker and writer. She has served as a presenter for continuing legal education and trainer for non-attorneys. She co-facilitated a roundtable discussion on transgender inclusivity for the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) East Coast Conference. The Public's Radio published her essay on gender identity which remains available online. On a lighter note, The New York Times published Gia's Tiny Love Story entitled "Living in the Light."
Gia is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was a member of the law review.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Stacey Cameron
New York, NY
ABOUT
A native and true Southerner at heart, born and raised in Memphis, TN. Stacey M. Cameron is an Attorney and Advocate of Social Justice.
As an attorney with sixteen years of experience in advocating for clients from all walks of life, and licensed in both Georgia and New York, Stacey is committed to representing clients in need through her law firm: S. M Cameron Law and Mediation, PLLC/ LLC. Stacey’ law firm focuses on assisting clients within Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Guardianship Law and Mediation/ Arbitration.
Furthermore, as an alumna of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University with an undergraduate degree in Biology and having worked in both medical and chemical manufacturing laboratories as a scientist before law school, Stacey has a healthy dosage of curiosity for continued learning and growth. She is an enthusiastic leader with a passion and talent for motivating and empowering community through multiple levels and platforms. She has raised and is extremely proud of her two self-aware and outspoken young adult children, Nico and Jalyn.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Nydia Shahjahan
New York, NY
ABOUT
Nydia Shahjahan is the Principal of Nydia Shahjahan, Esq. P.C., a business law practice focused on providing strategic and cost-effective counsel and civil litigation services for the business-minded client.
Ms. Shahjahan graduated from City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law in 2009, and Georgetown University in 2004 with an undergraduate degree in foreign service.
Ms. Shahjahan began her career litigating for the New York State Attorney General Office’s Civil Rights Bureau as an Assistant Attorney General. Thereafter, she associated with the firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in the New York office. Ms. Shahjahan represented corporate clients in connection with complex commercial litigation within the financial industry, along with pro bono matters. Building on her experience as a commercial litigator, Ms. Shahjahan formed her business law practice, efficiently providing legal risk management and outside general counsel services to a varied client base ranging from New York-based businesses to international corporations.
Ms. Shahjahan is a trained mediator and consistently advises clients to pursue a business resolution agreeable to the parties to avoid the monetary costs and emotional burden of litigation.
Grant Amount
$500
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Venky Venkatraman
Coppell, TX
ABOUT
A patent Attorney, mediator, and consultant with engineering and management experience, Mr. Vekatraman focused primarily on patent (Intellectual Property) law, business (corporate) law, international law, University Disciplinary Proceedings (Title IX Student Sexual Misconduct Defense), and family law in both transactional and litigation practice. He is currently providing IP related service by leveraging the resources of an established offshore IP Services firm, and is experienced in the areas of electrical engineering and software development on various platforms, mostly in a supervisory capacity.
His extensive management experience ranging from software project management to managing teams of several hundreds of people, both onsite and offshore, supports the Information Technology needs of large US corporations.
He is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO). He is credentialed by the Texas Mediator Credentialling Association as an Advanced Mediator, having successfully mediated numerous disputes over several years.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Alejandro Martinez Sanchez
New York, NY
School
Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Alejandro Martinez is a Spanish lawyer and an LL.M candidate in Dispute Resolution and Advocacy at Cardozo School of Law. With a strong passion for litigation and international arbitration, Alejandro is dedicated to expanding his knowledge and expertise in this field.
He started his studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where he also did an exchange at Fudan University, in Shanghai. After, he started a double LLM at ESADE, in Barcelona, and as a result of his commitment to dispute resolution he is pursuing an LL.M in Dispute Resolution in New York. In the meantime, he has been actively engaged in courses offered by renowned institutions such as CIARB, ICC, and SIAC. He has practical experience as an arbitrator in moot court competitions and currently coaches the FDI Moot team at Christ University of Bangalore.
In his professional experience, Alejandro has worked in different jurisdictions and with clients from different nationalities, his solid international background and his fluency in different languages have helped him to successfully work in the international sphere. His experience is focused on litigation and international transactions.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
35th Annual ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting
Remedies in International Arbitration: Wielding Arbitral Power for Effective Redress
Scholar
Inigo Kwan Parsons
Australia, Aotearoa
School
LLM (International Arbitration) course at University of Miami School of Law
Inigo is an indigenous lawyer from Aotearoa New Zealand and currently works at Herbert Smith Freehills in Perth, Australia. His practice centers on the resolution of complex disputes in all key fora, with a particular focus on arbitration (both domestic and international). He is dual-qualified in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and is associated with leading arbitral institutions in both jurisdictions.
Inigo has a wide range of experience working in different sectors, with significant experience in resolving disputes in construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, and energy. He also has a particular interest in legal
issues regarding indigenous rights and climate change, and has authored several articles on arbitration- related issues, including the application of Māori indigenous law in arbitral proceedings.
Grant Amount
$2,000
Scholar
Hardik Jain
Geneva, Switzerland
ABOUT
Hardik is an India qualified lawyer, who has been admitted for a master’s course at the Geneva LL.M. in
International Dispute Settlement (“MIDS”). He completed his B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) in 2019 from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, one of the leading law schools in India. He then worked with AZB & Partners and DSK Legal, two premier law firms in India as an associate in the dispute resolution teams. In these roles, he has handled several high-stake commercial arbitrations on shareholders and construction disputes. He has also represented clients in associated litigations before courts seeking appointment of arbitral tribunals, obtaining urgent interim reliefs, and challenging arbitral awards. He also has experience of representing clients in civil disputes, insolvency proceedings, and constitutional and testamentary matters.
Hardik co-founded and served as the content editor of the Indian Arbitration Law Review, a highly reputed and specialized periodical devoted to arbitration law. During his time as an undergraduate student, he represented his university at the 26th Vis moot competition in 2019 and was the part of the team which won the pre-moot held at Budapest. Hardik’s research paper on the 2015 amendments to
the Indian Arbitration Act and their retrospective applicability to certain pending court proceedings, was published in the Journal on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
By pursuing a master’s at the MIDS, he intends to build on his educational and professional experience in arbitration and gain the necessary skills to become an international arbitration practitioner. Upon graduation, Hardik plans to join the dispute resolution team in an international law firm and use the knowledge and skills he has gained to provide the best solutions for his clients both inside and outside the courtroom.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Geneva LLM in International Dispute Resolution
Scholar
Eva Litina
Athens, Greece
School
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Virtual Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration
Dr. Eva Litina is a Legal Expert at the Hellenic Consumers’ Ombudsman, and an attorney-at law admitted to the Athens and New York bars. She completed her PhD thesis in International Maritime Arbitration at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean whereshe is also teaching commercial law.
She studied law at the University of Athens and received her Master of Laws from New York University School of Law. For her research, Eva has been granted university-funded scholarships from the University of the Aegean. She has also been awarded the Comité Maritime International (yCMI) Essay Prize 2020, the International Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Scholarship 2017, and scholarships from the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law in 2017 and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg in 2018.
Her monograph entitled ‘Theory, Law and Practice of Maritime Arbitration: The Case of International Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Sea’ was published with Kluwer Law International. Eva is also an LMAA Supporting Member and Vice Chair of the Community Building, Networking & Scholarship Committee of Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers (REAL).
Given her academic expertise in maritime arbitration and strong interest in a career as a maritime arbitrator, the CIArb Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration provides an opportunity for her to achieve Fellowship of CIArb. She aims to deepen her knowledge on legal principles, process, practice and procedure in international maritime arbitration, the processes followed by an arbitrator in defining the issues that have to be decided by an award, dealing with the submissions made by the parties, analyzing the applicable law, evaluating the evidence and award writing.
Grant Amount
$2,000
Scholar Recipient
2023 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
2021 Scholarship Recipients
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Scholar
Gloria J. Medina
New York, NY
ABOUT
Gloria J. Medina is a Commercial Litigation Associate at Rivkin Radler, a mid-sized firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. There, she works primarily on commercial litigation and arbitration, with additional work in the fields of employment law, insurance defense, products liability, and professional liability.
Gloria graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in May 2022, earning a J.D. and an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution.
While in law school – where Gloria matriculated after a previous career in public service – she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the ADR Competition Honor Society, an analogue of Moot Court focusing on the disciplines of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation. Gloria also worked as: an Alexander Fellow, serving as a full-time judicial intern for Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave in the S.D.N.Y.; a student mediator in Cardozo’s Divorce Mediation Clinic; and as a member of the Innocence Project Clinic.
Gloria speaks Spanish natively and Mandarin Chinese at a basic level after studying the language at Wellesley College, from which she holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a Psychology minor.
In her free time, Gloria enjoys board games, apartment-gardening, and playing with her Golden Retriever, Leo.
Grant Amount
$500
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Amanda L. Scheeser
Ohio
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Antonia Gia Sanchez
Providence, RI
ABOUT
Gia Sanchez is Bristol Community College's Title IX & Equity Compliance Officer. Before working at Bristol, she was a partner in Pittsburgh law firms for over fifteen years. Gia represented employers and individuals in civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and civil rights. Her experience includes prevailing in jury trials and appeals before state and federal courts, including in cases of first impression.
From the inception of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program, Gia has served as a neutral. She completed lengthy mediation and conflict resolution training programs. Gia has also served as a hearing officer for public school districts.
Gia is an accomplished speaker and writer. She has served as a presenter for continuing legal education and trainer for non-attorneys. She co-facilitated a roundtable discussion on transgender inclusivity for the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) East Coast Conference. The Public's Radio published her essay on gender identity which remains available online. On a lighter note, The New York Times published Gia's Tiny Love Story entitled "Living in the Light."
Gia is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was a member of the law review.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Stacey Cameron
New York, NY
ABOUT
A native and true Southerner at heart, born and raised in Memphis, TN. Stacey M. Cameron is an Attorney and Advocate of Social Justice.
As an attorney with sixteen years of experience in advocating for clients from all walks of life, and licensed in both Georgia and New York, Stacey is committed to representing clients in need through her law firm: S. M Cameron Law and Mediation, PLLC/ LLC. Stacey’ law firm focuses on assisting clients within Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Guardianship Law and Mediation/ Arbitration.
Furthermore, as an alumna of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University with an undergraduate degree in Biology and having worked in both medical and chemical manufacturing laboratories as a scientist before law school, Stacey has a healthy dosage of curiosity for continued learning and growth. She is an enthusiastic leader with a passion and talent for motivating and empowering community through multiple levels and platforms. She has raised and is extremely proud of her two self-aware and outspoken young adult children, Nico and Jalyn.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Nydia Shahjahan
New York, NY
ABOUT
Nydia Shahjahan is the Principal of Nydia Shahjahan, Esq. P.C., a business law practice focused on providing strategic and cost-effective counsel and civil litigation services for the business-minded client.
Ms. Shahjahan graduated from City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law in 2009, and Georgetown University in 2004 with an undergraduate degree in foreign service.
Ms. Shahjahan began her career litigating for the New York State Attorney General Office’s Civil Rights Bureau as an Assistant Attorney General. Thereafter, she associated with the firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in the New York office. Ms. Shahjahan represented corporate clients in connection with complex commercial litigation within the financial industry, along with pro bono matters. Building on her experience as a commercial litigator, Ms. Shahjahan formed her business law practice, efficiently providing legal risk management and outside general counsel services to a varied client base ranging from New York-based businesses to international corporations.
Ms. Shahjahan is a trained mediator and consistently advises clients to pursue a business resolution agreeable to the parties to avoid the monetary costs and emotional burden of litigation.
Grant Amount
$500
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Venky Venkatraman
Coppell, TX
ABOUT
A patent Attorney, mediator, and consultant with engineering and management experience, Mr. Vekatraman focused primarily on patent (Intellectual Property) law, business (corporate) law, international law, University Disciplinary Proceedings (Title IX Student Sexual Misconduct Defense), and family law in both transactional and litigation practice. He is currently providing IP related service by leveraging the resources of an established offshore IP Services firm, and is experienced in the areas of electrical engineering and software development on various platforms, mostly in a supervisory capacity.
His extensive management experience ranging from software project management to managing teams of several hundreds of people, both onsite and offshore, supports the Information Technology needs of large US corporations.
He is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO). He is credentialed by the Texas Mediator Credentialling Association as an Advanced Mediator, having successfully mediated numerous disputes over several years.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Higginbotham Fellows Program
Scholar
Alejandro Martinez Sanchez
New York, NY
School
Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Alejandro Martinez is a Spanish lawyer and an LL.M candidate in Dispute Resolution and Advocacy at Cardozo School of Law. With a strong passion for litigation and international arbitration, Alejandro is dedicated to expanding his knowledge and expertise in this field.
He started his studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where he also did an exchange at Fudan University, in Shanghai. After, he started a double LLM at ESADE, in Barcelona, and as a result of his commitment to dispute resolution he is pursuing an LL.M in Dispute Resolution in New York. In the meantime, he has been actively engaged in courses offered by renowned institutions such as CIARB, ICC, and SIAC. He has practical experience as an arbitrator in moot court competitions and currently coaches the FDI Moot team at Christ University of Bangalore.
In his professional experience, Alejandro has worked in different jurisdictions and with clients from different nationalities, his solid international background and his fluency in different languages have helped him to successfully work in the international sphere. His experience is focused on litigation and international transactions.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
35th Annual ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting
Remedies in International Arbitration: Wielding Arbitral Power for Effective Redress
Scholar
Inigo Kwan Parsons
Australia, Aotearoa
School
LLM (International Arbitration) course at University of Miami School of Law
Inigo is an indigenous lawyer from Aotearoa New Zealand and currently works at Herbert Smith Freehills in Perth, Australia. His practice centers on the resolution of complex disputes in all key fora, with a particular focus on arbitration (both domestic and international). He is dual-qualified in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and is associated with leading arbitral institutions in both jurisdictions.
Inigo has a wide range of experience working in different sectors, with significant experience in resolving disputes in construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, and energy. He also has a particular interest in legal
issues regarding indigenous rights and climate change, and has authored several articles on arbitration- related issues, including the application of Māori indigenous law in arbitral proceedings.
Grant Amount
$2,000
Scholar
Hardik Jain
Geneva, Switzerland
ABOUT
Hardik is an India qualified lawyer, who has been admitted for a master’s course at the Geneva LL.M. in
International Dispute Settlement (“MIDS”). He completed his B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) in 2019 from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, one of the leading law schools in India. He then worked with AZB & Partners and DSK Legal, two premier law firms in India as an associate in the dispute resolution teams. In these roles, he has handled several high-stake commercial arbitrations on shareholders and construction disputes. He has also represented clients in associated litigations before courts seeking appointment of arbitral tribunals, obtaining urgent interim reliefs, and challenging arbitral awards. He also has experience of representing clients in civil disputes, insolvency proceedings, and constitutional and testamentary matters.
Hardik co-founded and served as the content editor of the Indian Arbitration Law Review, a highly reputed and specialized periodical devoted to arbitration law. During his time as an undergraduate student, he represented his university at the 26th Vis moot competition in 2019 and was the part of the team which won the pre-moot held at Budapest. Hardik’s research paper on the 2015 amendments to
the Indian Arbitration Act and their retrospective applicability to certain pending court proceedings, was published in the Journal on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
By pursuing a master’s at the MIDS, he intends to build on his educational and professional experience in arbitration and gain the necessary skills to become an international arbitration practitioner. Upon graduation, Hardik plans to join the dispute resolution team in an international law firm and use the knowledge and skills he has gained to provide the best solutions for his clients both inside and outside the courtroom.
Grant Amount
$2,000
PROGRAM
Geneva LLM in International Dispute Resolution
Scholar
Eva Litina
Athens, Greece
School
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Virtual Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration
Dr. Eva Litina is a Legal Expert at the Hellenic Consumers’ Ombudsman, and an attorney-at law admitted to the Athens and New York bars. She completed her PhD thesis in International Maritime Arbitration at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean whereshe is also teaching commercial law.
She studied law at the University of Athens and received her Master of Laws from New York University School of Law. For her research, Eva has been granted university-funded scholarships from the University of the Aegean. She has also been awarded the Comité Maritime International (yCMI) Essay Prize 2020, the International Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Scholarship 2017, and scholarships from the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law in 2017 and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg in 2018.
Her monograph entitled ‘Theory, Law and Practice of Maritime Arbitration: The Case of International Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Sea’ was published with Kluwer Law International. Eva is also an LMAA Supporting Member and Vice Chair of the Community Building, Networking & Scholarship Committee of Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers (REAL).
Given her academic expertise in maritime arbitration and strong interest in a career as a maritime arbitrator, the CIArb Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration provides an opportunity for her to achieve Fellowship of CIArb. She aims to deepen her knowledge on legal principles, process, practice and procedure in international maritime arbitration, the processes followed by an arbitrator in defining the issues that have to be decided by an award, dealing with the submissions made by the parties, analyzing the applicable law, evaluating the evidence and award writing.
Grant Amount
$2,000