The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law Selects 2021 Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars
Arlington, VA –December 14, 2020 -- The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law has selected five individuals who are entering law school in the Fall of 2021 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 as they apply to law school, mentoring while in law school, and opportunities for active participation in patent bar association activities while they pursue their law degree. 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:
Alexander Toney, BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS in Chemistry/Biochemistry
Usayd Siddiqi, BS in Chemical Engineering
Yasmeen Rose, BS in Biomedical Engineering, MS in Public Health
Layla Kousari, BA in Human Development and Regenerative Biology
Andy Daniel, BS in Biomedical Engineering, MS in Biomedical Engineering, PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering
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 raised over $2.5 million for financial assistance, tuition grants, and programs that support future practitioners of IP Law.