RWU Law Honorees Recognized with National AALS Award for Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Initiative

Work that began in 2021 to help law faculty integrate equity and inclusion into doctrinal teaching has now received national recognition.

Helga Melgar
Graphic art showing the Integrating Doctrine & Diversity logo, RWU Law logo, AALS logo, and image of a woman with glasses and hair in a bun and another woman with light hair and pearl necklace.

Chelsie Horne, Director of Programs & Initiatives, and Nicole Dyszlewski, Assistant Dean for Curricular Innovation and Professor, have received the 2025 Presidential Spotlight Award from the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) for their sustained leadership of the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series.

A Nationally Recognized Initiative

The Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series was launched as an extension of the book Integrating Doctrine and Diversity: Inclusion and Equity in the Law School Classroom, co-edited by two RWU Law professors. The initiative provides practical, classroom-ready strategies for incorporating equity, inclusion, and critical perspectives into doctrinal instruction.

In 2024, the project expanded with the publication of a companion volume, Integrating Doctrine and Diversity: Beyond the First Year, which adds new essays, case studies, and bibliographies designed for faculty teaching upper-level courses.

Now in its fifth year, the Speaker Series continues to demonstrate broad national engagement. In 2025 alone, representatives from more than 97 percent of ABA-accredited law schools attended at least one session, underscoring the initiative’s continued relevance and impact across legal education.

Sustained Work Behind the Series

The AALS Presidential Spotlight Award recognizes individuals and programs whose contributions strengthen pre-law education and expand access to the legal profession. This year’s award reflects the sustained commitment and collaboration of Horne and Dyszlewski in developing, coordinating, and sustaining the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity initiative.

Dean Gregory W. Bowman commented on the national recognition:

“This recognition from AALS affirms the extraordinary leadership behind the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity initiative. Nicole Dyszlewski and Chelsie Horne have built a program that is reshaping legal education by giving faculty practical, thoughtful ways to bring DEIB principles into the law school classroom.”

View past sessions from the Integrating Doctrine and Diversity Speaker Series here.