Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University of Minnesota Law School is committed to creating a more just society for our local, national, and international communities. Alongside many of you, we have been working hard toward change, but we know there is still a long road ahead. Racial and social justice work is both urgent and long-term, and Minnesota Law's mission—focused on education, outreach, and research—includes a shared responsibility to educate lawyer-leaders who will also work to bring about justice and change. The lives of our BIPOC students, faculty, staff, and alumni community members matter and we are energized and determined to succeed in this important work.

A Message From Our Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Welcome to the University of Minnesota Law School! I am so excited to be back at my law school alma mater as the newly appointed assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion. When I was a prospective student, my experience at our Admitted Students Weekend was pivotal in my choice to enroll. During a conversation with a rising 3L student about narrowing my choice of law schools, she said "I think you should come here because you should always choose places where you feel celebrated instead of just tolerated and that's how Minnesota Law makes me feel." Her characterization not only persuaded me to attend Minnesota Law, but has proven true, time and time again. Both as a student and an alum, this institution has empowered me to thrive and show up as my authentic self. It is my goal as the assistant dean of DEI At Minnesota Law, to ensure that every student is empowered to show up as their authentic selves and enrich our learning environments where genuine community is nurtured and flourishes. Those connections are essential to fashioning a society we all want to live in and a law school where we all belong. Here, you’ll find numerous opportunities to explore the law’s impact on the human experience, engage with your peers who come from all backgrounds and geographic locations, and expand your knowledge and understanding of the law. We strive to embody belonging in how we connect to each other and to the law. Our commitment to cultivating authentic community among our students, staff, faculty, and alumni is not only something I experienced as a student, but that many generations of lawyer-leaders have encountered as well, and is one of our strongest attributes. I am thrilled to be back at the Law School, working alongside students, faculty, and staff to increase diversity and equity measures, build on the foundations of our already strong community, and cultivate an authentic sense of belonging for all at Minnesota Law.

Ra'Shya Ghee '13
Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Recent News

Civil Rights Appellate Clinic Submits Second SCOTUS Amicus Brief

Just midway through its first full semester of operation, Minnesota Law’s new Civil Rights Appellate Clinic filed its second amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The clinic’s newest brief was submitted in the consolidated cases of Arizona v. Navajo Nation (No. 21-1484) and Dep't of Interior v. Navajo Nation (No. 22-51), which present a major water rights issue with significant implications for both the Navajo Nation and federal Indian Law. The clinic's director, Visiting Assistant Professor Elizabeth Bentley, oversaw the drafting of the brief, working closely with students.

“Working on the amicus brief was a great way to see how appellate litigation works in practice and to further develop my writing and research skills,” said 2L E. Isabel Park , who also attended the March 20 arguments. “It deepened my interest in this area of the law, and I'm grateful to Professor Bentley, who’s extremely knowledgeable and helpful, for this unique opportunity.”

Read more about the brief and the Civil Rights Appellate Clinic in the spring 2023 digital edition of Minnesota Law magazine.

Jadyn Lovelady ’26 Named First Recipient of the Jones Day Diversity Fellowship

Alumni News: Judge Toddrick Barnette '92 Nominated to Serve as the Next Community Safety Commissioner of Minneapolis

Alumni News: The Honorable Natalie Hudson '82 Appointed Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court

More DEI News

Scholarship Highlights

George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in Law

With a generous gift from Catlan M. McCurdy ’11 and Sanjiv P. Laud ’12, and an equal match from the Law School, the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in Law was announced in June 2020.

The endowed scholarship will provide critical financial support, allowing underrepresented students, and Black or African-American students in particular, to pursue careers in the law and achieve their dreams.

“Mr. Floyd’s killing was a tragic reminder of the inequity and injustice facing Black Americans today, despite the decades that have passed since the civil rights movement,” McCurdy and Laud observe in their statement announcing the establishment of the scholarship. They expressed a hope that recipients of this scholarship will join the legal profession and join Minnesota Law alumni in advocating for racial justice and equality. Read more and support the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in Law.

Medtronic Funds Two Scholarships in Honor of Path Breaking Judges

Thanks to a generous gift from Medtronic, Minnesota Law has created two new scholarships named after trailblazing alumni. The Judge Pamela G. Alexander ’77 Scholarship and Judge Michael J. Davis ’72 Scholarship were established to support law students who show a commitment to social justice and exhibit outstanding potential for legal work as civil rights or public interest attorneys.

“These scholarships recognize two champions of justice in the Minnesota legal community,” says Michelle Miller ’86, Medtronic vice president and chief counsel of employment law. “By meeting game-changer challenges with courage and compassion, Judge Pamela Alexander, now retired from the bench but not the work, has modeled the power of conviction as she steadfastly works to improve the legal system for all. And a fierce advocate for justice, Federal District Court Judge Michael J. Davis, who is currently on senior status, has continued to strive to make the court system fairer and more accessible to the underrepresented and poor.”

Our Ongoing Commitment to Racial Equity & Justice

To inform our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dean Jenkins appointed a Racial Equity & Justice Committee, which includes faculty, leadership, and students, and is tasked with working towards structural change by developing and tracking actions, and providing accountability and transparency on our efforts.

Minnesota Law Course Highlights

Minnesota Law has expanded courses related to social and racial justice and the law. We continue to revise our curriculum and work with community members and faculty on new and returning courses for each semester. Recent courses include:

George Floyd’s Minneapolis: Past, Present, and Moving Forward with Dean Garry Jenkins & Professor Perry Moriearty
Race and the Law: Systems, Structures, and Solutions with Adjunct Professor Judge Nicole Starr ’03
Public Interest Advocacy and State Attorney General with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison ’90
International Human Rights with Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
Race and American Law with Adjunct Professor Ra'Shya Ghee ’13
Civil Rights: Citizenship and Human Rights with Professor Christoper Roberts
Equal Protections and Civil Rights Act with Professor Myron Orfield
Poverty and Human Rights with Adjunct Professor Amanda Lyons, Human Rights Center Executive Director and Lecturer in Law

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Recent News

Scholarship Highlights

Our Ongoing Commitment to Racial Equity & Justice

Minnesota Law Course Highlights

Events