Chief Justice Shepard’s vision for a more diverse Indiana bench and bar opened the door for me to have an experience more valuable than I can articulate. As I celebrate my ten year anniversary as an Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) Fellow, it is hard to imagine what my law school experience would have been like without it. I came to Indianapolis to be part of the third ICLEO class. For six weeks, twenty eight other Fellows and I were immersed in property, contracts, torts, and legal writing. Outside of the classroom, we engaged in numerous networking opportunities with members of the Indiana legal profession. As the ICLEO Summer Institute ended, we parted with genuine camaraderie, a firm foundation in the skills needed to be successful in law school, and hopes for a bright future. The friends made and skills learned played an instrumental role in our achievements as law students.
ICLEO is the gift that keeps on giving. My connection with other Fellows and supporters of the ICLEO program has helped me professionally on countless occasions. I wanted to give back when the opportunity to work for the program presented itself. I love my job. I enjoy working with students and playing a role in their achievement of both academic and career goals. I am excited with each new group of Fellows because of the rewards they are poised to receive.
This milestone of ten years is especially significant because two of my CLEO classmates, Chasity Thompson and Patricia Kinney, have key roles in the 2009 Summer Institute. Both women serve as co-directors for the Summer Institute and are employed by this year’s host institution, Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. Chasity is the Associate Dean of Professional Development and Patricia is the Director of Admissions. When asked about her thoughts on celebrating ten years as a CLEO Fellow and now working with the program, Patricia said, “Ten years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be so fortunate to spend my 10-year anniversary serving as one of the Co-Directors of the ICLEO Summer Institute and to do so with Chasity Thompson, who is also a 1999 ICLEO Fellow. This is such a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone! The students are amazing and it is such a privilege to be a part of the process that will help them attain their life and professional goals.”