Office of Diversity Services

The Office of Diversity Services (DS) has been a full-time administrative unit within the law school since 1990. DS works with all segments of WCL--students, administration, faculty, and alumni--to address issues that are important to maximizing the participation of groups in our community who have been historically or statutorily discriminated against. Our mission, therefore, is to develop programming relevant to admission/retention, academic success, professional preparation, and cultural celebration among and within those communities.

For example, DS generates and collaborates on a variety of programming, starting with the annual First-Year Diversity Day at the beginning of each academic year. Other activities, as the photo gallery reflects, include observance of relevant principal holidays and heritage months, coordination of pertinent Founders Celebration activities, and participation in annual alumni gatherings.

The director of DS also counsels students individually, as well as collectively, through meetings of the Minority Affairs Advisory Group (aka the "ALSAs"), which meets periodically to discuss issues related to the quality of life for underrepresented students. It consists of faculty members, administrators, and members of the ALSAs: Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA); Black Law Students Association (BLSA); Latino/a Law Students' Association (LaLSA); Lambda Law Society; and the South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA).

DS's activities are supported by members of the faculty, and we seek out programmatic collaborations with other student organizations, as well as administrative units including admissions, student services, alumni relations, and career and professional development.

Washington College of Law
Office of Diversity Services
4801 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20016-8181
Phone: 202-274-4035 (voice mail)
Fax: 202-274-0787
E-mail: sweaver@wcl.american.edu

Links to law professors' web pages:

and administrative offices: