FADIPL Selects 2020 Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars

Arlington, VA – August 16,2020 -- The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law has named ten students who are entering law school this summer as Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars.  The Foundation’s Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program recognizes individuals from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession based on their prior academic training and achievements and their interest in exploring careers in patent law.

Under the Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, these Scholars receive advice and counsel from experienced patent law professionals and opportunities for active participation in patent bar association activities while still in law school.  The Foundation assists Scholars in securing patent law internships and clerkships and in becoming registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Scholars are provided additional opportunities to engage with leaders in the profession an annual Convocation of Scholars held in Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to invest in these individuals as they begin their journey exploring a career in patent law,” stated Foundation President Teresa Stanek Rea. “By assisting outstanding students with the promise of becoming equally outstanding patent attorneys, the Foundation is working diligently to advance its mission of increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the patent law profession.”

Since 2001, the Foundation’s Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program has supported individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as they explore possible careers as intellectual property lawyers.  The program’s current focus is on advancing the career readiness of Scholars through development opportunities that fall outside the typical law school curriculum.  These efforts are aimed at preparing Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars to become leaders in the patent law profession.

Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars Entering Law School in 2020:

·        Ms. Tiffany Allen, University of California Berkeley School of Law

·        Ms. Katherine Costella, University of Houston Law Center

·        Mr. Abhinav Garg, George Washington University Law School

·        Ms. Elizabeth Kimbrough, Vanderbilt University School of Law

·        Dr. Mark Lambert, University  of Chicago Law School

·        Ms. Payal Patel, George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law

·        Noah Rushin, Columbia University School of Law

·        Dr. Sangheon San, University of Houston Law Center

·        Dr. Sara Serag, University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School

·        Jacqueline Yee, Santa Clara University School of Law

 

About the Foundation

For nearly two decades the Foundation—formerly the American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation—has worked for the advancement of diversity in the IP profession.  In 2020, the Foundation adopted its new name—Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law— to accompany an expansion of the Foundation’s longstanding programming aimed at attracting more members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into the IP law profession—and advancing their opportunities for achievement in the profession once completing law school.  Since its inception, the Foundation had provided over $2.5 million in scholarship assistance to over 130 individuals.