L-R: Dean Michael A. Simons, Shandy Abraham, Jasmine Johnson, Kamille Dean, Wanyu Cho, Joshua Beckham, and Yessica Pinales
April 25, 2019
Earlier this month, the St. John’s Law community came together at the scenic Tribeca Rooftop in lower Manhattan for the third annual Diversity & Inclusion Gala.
Yessica J. Pinales ’19, who has helped to lead St. John’s Latin American Law Students Association, was one of several student speakers who addressed the 320 celebrants. She was just eight years old when her family left everything behind in the Dominican Republic and came to New York in search of the American dream. “We had to start all over again, but my parents showed me the value of education, instilled a strong work ethic, and encouraged me to use my diverse background to influence positive change,” she says.
Pinales put those family values into action as she graduated from college, charted a successful career as a bank manager, and then started at St. John’s Law. “My experiences as one of the few women of color in a professional setting inspired me to pursue a law degree,” she says. “When I first visited St. John’s, I knew it would be the ideal place for my legal education. Walking through the hallways and seeing people from various backgrounds, I feel at home. There’s a commitment here to diversity and Inclusion not as a distant goal, but as an everyday norm.”
That commitment, Pinales says, was behind the guidance and support the Law School gave her as she served as national chair of the National Latina/o Law Student Association this year. “I wouldn’t have succeeded in this leadership and change agent role without it.” The same commitment drives Kamille Dean’s work as director of diversity and inclusion at St. John’s Law and director of the Law School’s Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights.
“From extensive diversity trainings for our students, faculty, and staff to Law School programming that highlights the contributions of our diverse community, we’re on a mission,” Dean shared at the Gala. “That mission is based on the Vincentian values that St. John’s is built upon, including service and social justice. It’s through this lens that we provide a safe and welcoming space at the Law School for students to learn and grow in an inclusive environment of innovation and inspiration.”
Taking the podium at the Gala, Joshua R. Beckham ’19 also spotlighted the Law School’s mission of educating students who bring a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to their legal studies. Beckham, who is active in the Law School’s OUTLaws and Allies student organization, came to St. John’s to make a difference. “I’m from a low-income family in rural Louisiana, and there were many times when we were taken advantage of because we didn’t know our rights,” he says. “I wanted to be that person who could stand up for my rights, as well as for the rights of others. When underrepresented people see attorneys they can identify with, it gives them some assurance that they are represented in the law and government. And I think this is, at its heart, one of St. John’s main goals.”
Gala attendee Maurice Sayeh ‘11C, ‘17L agrees. “Although magnificent strides have been made, diversity and inclusion are goals that still must be strived for in and beyond the legal profession because no one should feel alone or discouraged when chasing their dreams,” he says. “No matter your color, creed, religion, or background, your voice and dreams matter.” Sayeh, who just completed a federal clerkship and is active in the Law School Alumni Association’s Alumni of Color Chapter, can still recall his excitement three years ago when he learned that the Law School was planning its first Diversity & Inclusion Gala.
“It’s a very special night,” he says of the now-annual event. “Alumni, current students, and even prospective students who may be the minority in their respective fields or classes can be ambassadors of goodwill. We come together to celebrate our accomplishments, experience fellowship, embrace each other, and welcome the next generation. The Gala means a lot to me, and I look forward to continuing to support it.”
The special event is also a standout for Sayeh’s classmate, Olivia Cheung ‘11C, ‘17L, who serves on the Gala planning committee. “As an alumna, it’s crucial for me to support students by connecting and sharing ideas and initiatives that bring about change,” she explains. “Our goal in planning the Gala has always been to celebrate the Law School’s dynamic and vibrant diversity. Our efforts culminate in a wonderful, and wonderfully unique, event that reflects future-facing values shared by our students, alumni, faculty, and administrators.” Despite her busy schedule as a successful Queens business owner who also runs her own law practice, Cheung remains steadfast in her dedication to the Gala and alma mater. “When you bring together a diverse community like St. John’s, magic happens.”
Like Cheung, Ikhwan A. Rafeek ’08, who is of counsel at Otterbourg P.C., finds it very meaningful to support the Gala and diversity and inclusion at St. John’s Law more broadly. “We live in an increasingly diverse society, and there is tremendous value in law students engaging with people from various backgrounds as they prepare to become advocates,” he observes. “I was born in Guyana, South America and grew up in Queens, which is the one of the most diverse places in the world, yet there was still so much I learned about people and their backgrounds when I attended St. John’s.”
Rafeek carried this awareness to Otterbourg, a law firm that has strong ties to St. John’s Law and a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. In addition to making a generous contribution to the Gala, Otterbourg hosted a recent Alumni of Color Networking Event and has supported the Law School in various other ways. “I’ve been fortunate to work at Otterbourg for my entire legal career,” Rafeek says. “The firm’s chairman, Richard L. Stehl ’92, and other current and former Otterbourg lawyers model the value of giving back to St. John’s. With their example, I remain committed to diversity initiatives at the Law School and in the profession.”
Rafeek reaffirmed this commitment recently by establishing a scholarship to benefit the Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep program for College Students, an award-winning pipeline initiative at St. John’s Law. “My wife and I were impressed with the Prep Program,” he shares. “Like so many others, when I was young, I didn’t know anyone who could guide me on the path to law school. The Prep Program is an excellent resource for college students who seek that guidance. The experience alone can inspire them to push forward, despite any obstacles they may face.”
Reflecting on the contributions of generous alumni, faculty, and staff and on the slate of impressive student speakers at the Diversity & Inclusion Gala—which, in addition to Yessica Pinales and Joshua Beckham, included Shandy Abraham ’19, president of the Law School’s South Asian Law Students Association; Wanyu Cho ’19, president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association; and Jasmine Johnson ’21, who helps to lead the Law School’s Black law Student Association—Kamille Dean says:
“We’re all in a position to influence a change in shining a light on issues of bias, discrimination, and injustice. Our visionary leadership at St. John’s Law, with Dean Michael A. Simons at the helm, is charting a unique course of inclusion. In gathering resources and galvanizing the strength of our diverse alumni, we’re lighting a path of achievement from our campus in Queens to points throughout the world.”