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
Scholar
Amir Muhammad
Washington D.C.
School
Howard University School of Law
My ADR professor actually told the class something during my 2L year that I value, and know I will continue to value, throughout my career. He mentioned that arbitration is becoming more prevalent and that makes learning about it now that much more advantageous. Alternative dispute resolution is a realm of law that oftentimes can trip a layperson up in arbitration contracts, or lawyers during mediation settlements. I want to learn, study, and become one of the next leaders in arbitration to encourage others like me of an "alternative" career path as opposed to big law or public interest. And I want to continue to not only show diversity, but be amongst those as well in what I see as a beneficial wave.
Grant Amount
$25,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Tamia Glover
North Carolina
School
North Carolina Central University School of Law
After graduation I plan on practicing criminal defense and part of being a defense attorney is negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors. I plan on incorporating my ADR certificate into the practice of criminal defense, this certificate will provide me with additional tools to zealously advocate for my clients.
Grant Amount
$20,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Brie Starks
North Carolina
School
North Carolina Central University School of Law
I am pursuing the field of ADR in order to advance my skills and contribute to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) space. I believe that ADR will contribute to the many differences that show up in corporate DEI spaces. I additionally plan to pursue a career in Civil and Human Rights and ADR would enhance my skills a great deal in order to effectively solve disputes in the future for clients and between community leaders and larger systems.
Grant Amount
$16,416
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Sarah Ayad
North Carolina
School
North Carolina Central University School of Law
Alternative dispute resolution is important in small communities, like my own, where people do not fully trust the legal process. It also allows parties to play an important role in resolving their own disputes which often results in creative solutions, longer-lasting outcomes, greater satisfaction, and improved relationships. As someone who strives to uphold a reputation of honesty and integrity, I know the Muslim community will come to me to help resolve their disputes in a cost effective, efficient, and healthy way. I hope to be a conduit for change for how disputes are currently resolved in my community, and it starts with me.
Grant Amount
$5,975
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Celeea Williams
North Carolina
School
North Carolina Central University School of Law
North Carolina Central University School of Law
I am a wife to an army veteran that served over twenty-one years, and I witnessed the need for advocacy concerning veterans’ rights. My goal is to use my knowledge and skills gained in arbitration and mediation to assist veterans. I will assist veterans with getting benefits that are needed and deserved.
Grant Amount
$7,609
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Damilola Adebayo
Washington D.C.
SCHOOL
Howard University School of Law
Damilola Adebayo is currently a 3L at Howard University School of Law. She is also an extern at the Howard Law ADR World Bank Externship. She plans to work in the corporate field and transition her experience into the field of international ADR. She hopes to eventually work with organizations like ICSID in the field of international business arbitration.
GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Marianna Mitchell
North Carolina
SCHOOL
North Carolina Central University School of Law
"My future goals within the ADR field not only include becoming a professional mediator in the state of NC, but also to educate the public and bring more awareness to alternative dispute methods. Additionally, I plan to create a community based program that will allow individuals in low income communities to have access to these methods."
GRANT AMOUNT
$15,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Asia A. Skyers
North Carolina
SCHOOL
North Carolina Central University School of Law
“I plan to practice civil litigation. In most cases, it is advantageous for parties to use ADR to resolve conflict as opposed to going to trial. In those cases, I plan to provide the best representation and assistance to clients seeking to mediate or negotiate through conflict.”
GRANT AMOUNT
$15,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Kailah McClenney-Johnson
North Carolina
SCHOOL
North Carolina Central University School of Law
"After graduation I plan to practice corporate law. I believe that the Alternative Dispute Resolution program at North Carolina Central has provided me with the skills of ADR and helped identify more ways that they can be used in the field of corporate law. I imagine in practice I will have to negotiate contracts for my clients and believe that my knowledge of the ADR methods will allow me to save time, money, as well as provide various options to resolving disputes. A lot of contract disputes use mediation and arbitration as methods to resolve conflicts and I believe that having the knowledge of these methods will make me a stronger attorney and advocate.”
GRANT AMOUNT
$20,000
PROGRAM
AAA-ICDR Foundation HBCU Scholarship
Scholar
Cherrie Fisher
New York
Cherrie K. Fisher, PMP is a construction neutral with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and a AAA 2021 Higginbotham Diversity Fellow. Ms. Fisher brings more than three decades of construction knowledge to her arbitration practice including her experience negotiating claims for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While working at AT&T, Ms. Fisher oversaw Environmental Services for the corporation’s Western Region, where she was responsible for Disaster Recovery, Underground Storage Tank Remediation and managing a $20 million annual construction budget. Ms. Fisher is adept breaking down complex technical issues into clear, concise and coherent summaries.
Currently she provides construction claims analysis, litigation support and expert testimony to attorneys, insurance companies and public entities. Ms. Fisher is the 2021-2022 Programming Chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Women in Dispute Resolution Section and former Vice-President of the Society of Women Engineers – Dallas, TX. Ms. Fisher regularly speaks on the benefits of early mediation, Construction Partnering, Dispute Review Boards and diversity recruiting. Most recently, she served as a panelist at the 2020 Public Private Partnership Conference and the Construction Management of America Association’s 2020 Regional Conference. Ms. Fisher earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership. She lives in Dallas, TX with her family and enjoys mentoring young engineers and construction professionals.
GRANT AMOUNT
2000
PROGRAM
AAA Higginbotham Fellows Training