DREAMS Really Do Come True
Hon . Erithe Smith , C . D . California Paul E . Harner Co-Chairs , Standing Committee on Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion
In this issue of College Columns , we highlight three recent initiatives of the College ’ s Standing Committee on Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion : the second annual DREAMS symposium held on November 6 , 2024 at the Howard University School of Law ; the presentation of our 2024 DEI Excellence Award at the College ’ s September meetings in Seattle , Washington ; and the rollout of the DEI section of the College ’ s revamped website .
Howard DREAMS . On November 6 , 2024 , the DEI Committee presented its second “ Discovering Restructuring Expertise and Mentoring Symposium ” ( Howard DREAMS ) at the Howard University School of Law in Washington , D . C . Conceived and spearheaded by College Fellows Paula Beran and Lynn Tavenner , with the tireless assistance of the College ’ s Proram Director , Jenny Cudahy , Howard DREAMS was initiated by the College in November 2023 .
The symposium again featured wellknown jurists , professors , and practitioners
in the insolvency field and , importantly , Howard law students , who served as panel moderators .
In five separate sessions , the panels focused on :
• Opportunities in Restructuring
• Student Loans
• Clerkships and Internships
• Unjust Debts ( Professor ( and College Fellow ) Melissa Jacoby ’ s extraordinary new book on the United States bankruptcy system ) and
• Paying It Forward to Make a Difference : Sponsorship and Mentoring A number of College Fellows served as panelists , including College Chair Charlie Beckham ( Haynes and Boone , LLP , Houston , Texas ), Professor Jacoby ( University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ), Judge Erithe Smith ( Bankr . C . D . Cal .), Michael Baxter ( Covington & Burling LLP , Washington , D . C .), Judge Michelle Harner ( Bankr . D . Md .), and Travis Torrence ( Shell USA , Inc .).
The six-hour symposium , 1 which concluded with a networking and mentoring reception , was again a resounding success ; and the DEI Committee expects to continue to provide similar law school-based programming in coming years .
DEI Excellence Award Presented to City Bar Justice Center . At its Fall meeting in Seattle , Washington , the College presented its annual DEI Excellence Award to the City Bar Justice Center .
14
1
Videos of the entirety of the Howard DREAMS symposium is available to all Fellows on the College ’ s website here .