Twelve Miami Law faculty members offered glimpses into their work and scholarship at U-LINK @ Miami Law: “Faculty Projects Addressing Race, Diversity, and Equity,” an event hosted by the University of Miami’s Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (ULINK). Some professors highlighted projects which heighten understanding of the history and future of important social problems, while others discussed projects which help innovate and implement solutions through community engagement.
The panelists each gave seven-minute presentations, just scratching the surface of their vast efforts to help local, regional, and global communities. A major topic of discussion was the intersection of race, gender, and national origin within the American legal, political, and social systems. The desire to confront new manifestations of old phenomena like white supremacy, gender disparity, and vast inequality sparked many, if not all, of the Miami Law projects presented during the 100-minute event.
Ultimately, the event served as a reminder that lawyers, educators, and scholars possess the ability to apply their diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and skills to create positive change in society. Describing the presenters as “object lessons for hope,” moderator and Vice Dean for Intellectual Life Lili Levi remarked that “we’ve seen their passion and engagement and that of our students whom they guide.”
“They serve as examples that demonstrate the role of law and lawyers as self-conscious wielders of power for good,” Levi added.
Given ULINK’s interdisciplinary nature, the professors’ areas of focus varied widely, ranging from developing online programs and social engineering, to heightening the local sense of urgency about Caribbean Sea level rise, to teaching a legal writing class in prison. With a variety of disciplines and approaches, each presentation was distinctly compelling.
The talented Miami Law faculty members who presented their projects included:
Donna Coker | Professor of Law and Dean's Distinguished Scholar
Charlton Copeland | Professor of Law and Dean's Distinguished Scholar
Xavier Cortada | Affiliated Faculty, J.D. Program and Professor of Practice Dept. of Art & Art History
Patrick Gudridge | Professor of Law and Dean's Distinguished Scholar
Elizabeth Iglesias | Professor of Law
Shara Kobetz Pelz | Professor of Legal Writing & Lecturer in Law
Marni Lennon | Assistant Dean, Public Interest & Pro Bono; Director, HOPE Public Interest Resource Center & Lecturer in Law
JoNel Newman | Professor of Clinical Legal Education & Director, Health Rights Clinic
Rebecca Sharpless | Professor of Law and Director, Immigration Clinic
Kele Stewart | Associate Dean for Experiential Learning, Professor of Law, and Co-Director, Children & Youth Law Clinic
Melissa Swain | Associate Director, Health Rights Clinic & Lecturer in Law
William Widen | Professor of Law
To watch U-LINK @ Miami Law: Faculty Projects Addressing Race, Diversity, and Equity, please click here.
