Northern Illinois University College of Law is pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2021-22 Embracing Diversity Award are Nabeela Ahmed (3L) and Felix Mitchell (2L). Nabeela and Felix will organize “Embracing Diversity Featured Speaker Series” and “Conversations With…” dinners with guest speakers. The goal of these events is to heighten student awareness of diversity issues as they prepare to enter their professional careers, and to help build positive relationships with those whom they may represent in the future.
Nabeela Ahmed is a third-year law student and serves as a graduate assistant in the NIU College of Law’s Admissions Office. Nabeela currently sits on the executive board of many student organizations including the American Constitution Society (Treasurer), Criminal Law Society (Treasurer), Public Interest Law Society (Treasurer), and the Gender-Sexualities Alliance (Treasurer). Just last year she completed her certification in a program offered by NIU College of Law titled Diversity and Inclusion: Foundation & Strategies hosted by George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. As a 711 licensed law student, Nabeela is currently working in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic in Rockford and is a part of the Prisoners’ Rights Project. Post-graduation, Nabeela has hopes to work as a criminal defense attorney.
Felix LaShawn Mitchell is a 2L and a graduate assistant in Office of Strategic Communications, Alumni Engagement, and Diversity Initiatives. Felix currently serves as the Attorney General for National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA), where he is the policy director for the one of the country’s largest law student-run organizations with over 7,000 members. At NIU Law, Felix is on the executive board for the American Constitution Society (ACS) as Diversity and Inclusion Director. Other achievements include being selected as the 2020 E.J. “Zeke” Giorgi Memorial Scholarship recipient and moderator for NIU Law ACS/BLSA Racial Roundtable Discussion, held annually in February. After graduation, Felix plans to work in public interest law with possible political aspirations.
One of the bedrock values of the NIU College of Law is to create an inclusive and diverse community. The Embracing Diversity Scholarship provides financial support for rising second- and third-year students to create, manage, and oversee a series of talks and community conversations addressing issues of socio-economic diversity. To help support the Embracing Diversity Scholarship Series or other NIU College of Law student-centered initiatives, please visit the College of Law giving page.