10
B R I E F S
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ACHIEVEMENTS
® 2020
Top Colleges for Diversity
Stetson Law continues to work to become an even more inclusive and empathetic institution, one focused on maintaining and
promoting human dignity, not only for students, faculty and staff, but in the community as well. Three major initiatives and
successes this year include:
HEED Award
Stetson was one of only two law schools to receive the 2020
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award
from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest
diversity-focused publication in higher education. The national
honor recognizes U.S. colleges, universities and professional
schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity
and inclusion. Stetson was chosen for increasing the diversity and
representation of student and staff/tenured faculty communities,
strengthening the reach and structure of campuswide diversity and
cultural competence education and resources, and expanding the
reach of its social justice advocacy program and initiatives.
Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice
Stetson Law joined the 11 other state law schools to respond
to both long-standing and recent acts of racist violence
throughout the country by forming the Florida Law Schools’
Consortium for Racial Justice (FLSCRJ). This collective is
leveraging the strengths and educational roles of the schools to
assist community organizations fighting for racial justice and
policy reform throughout Florida. Each school will designate at
least one student fellow to work with FLSCRJ annually. They will
collaborate on a variety of possible initiatives, including changes
to the process by which juveniles are charged as adults and the
Antiracism Resolution
In October 2020, Stetson Law faculty voted to approve an
Antiracism Resolution, declaring their commitment to
“dismantling all forms of oppressive power dynamics and
challenging any assumptions that diminish human dignity, including
those that rely on racist assumptions.” The resolution grew out of the
Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s and faculty’s concern about the
national unrest that unfolded throughout the summer of 2020, as well
as a call from students and faculty for Stetson to not only reflect on
what was happening nationally, but to take a stand. The Diversity and
Inclusion Committee, which comprises 15 members from Stetson
staff and faculty, crafted a resolution that acknowledges racial and
societal injustices and includes a multi-point call to action.
passage of local and state ordinances designed to achieve equal pay
for equal work.
Stetson hosted the formal launch with a timely panel called “Civil
Rights Litigation and Coalition Building in the 21st Century
Forum.” It featured Michele Rayner-Goolsby, who represents
District 70 in the Florida House and is one of the first openly
LGBTQ women of color elected to Florida’s Legislature, and
Jotaka L. Eaddy, the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies,
LLC, a social impact consulting firm committed to advancing
transformative change and global impact.