Diversity Scholar Recipients

Diversity Scholar Recipients

Diversity Scholar Recipients

Overview

Encouraging diversity and inclusion within the field of ADR

The Diversity Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This fund supports individuals and institutions committed to advancing knowledge, skills, and inclusive leadership in ADR.

INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The Fund provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 to students or professionals. This support can be used towards:

· Degree program or fellowship in alternative dispute resolution
· Conference or training program in alternative dispute resolution 

The goal is to empower diverse leaders and professionals in ADR by helping them access education and training opportunities that advance their careers and enhance inclusivity within the field.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS AT HBCUs

The AAA-ICDR Foundation partners with law schools at two historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) – Howard University and North Carolina Central University – that offer certificates in dispute resolution. Key details include:

· $50,000 awarded annually to each law school.
· Scholarships specifically for second- and third-year law students pursuing certificates in dispute resolution.
· Recipients are selected each year in September by the respective law schools
$631K+
IN GRANTS FUNDED
The Foundation has funded $631,777 in Diversity Scholarship Grants.
$1,549
AVERAGE DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP GRANT 2023
The average Diversity Scholarship grant amount in 2023.
$16K+
HBCU SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS
The Average HBCU Diversity Scholarship Grant in 2023 was $16,000.
162
SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS
Since inception, the Foundation has awarded 162 Diversity Scholarships.

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

Sarah Shafik

Scholar

Sarah Shafik

Washington, D.C

School

Howard University Law School

My name is Sarah Shafik. I am a third-year law student at the Howard University School of Law. Before coming to law school, I went to Baruch College in Manhattan, where I majored in International Business and was heavily involved in student organizations on our campus. With that involvement came situations where I had to play a neutral role between students and administration and other situations where I advocated for students. This drive to always find solutions to problems led to my interest in a legal career. Coming into law school, I wanted to find my niche interest in the legal field that would resonate with my purpose, and that is where I found dispute resolution, specifically international arbitration. Since learning about different ADR methods and understanding their effectiveness, I have been heavily involved in our ADR yearlong programs at school and have taken ADR courses. I am still learning so much more about ADR and its exponential growth, and I am grateful to be at Howard with such prominent professors who are trailblazers in the field.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Lee Williams

Scholar

Lee Williams

Washington, D.C

School

Howard University Law School

Lee Williams, a 3L at Howard University School of Law, was born and raised in New Jersey. He has lived in Washington, D.C., for over six years, attending Howard University for his undergraduate and legal studies.

Lee was inspired to attend law school because of his passion for justice and equity. He found that within the current legal landscape, having Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) skills is essential as an attorney looking to serve clients in need thoroughly.

As a student of Professor John Woods, a powerhouse in the ADR community, Lee developed ADR skills and learned how ADR impacts all aspects of practicing law. While external at the International Institute of Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) through Howard's ADR Consortium, Lee wrote about how ADR-based legislation and Supreme Court decisions affect public policy. Some of his writings were published in CPR's Alternatives, and he had the opportunity to attend Supreme Court oral arguments as a press member.

Lee will begin his legal career in the Washington, DC office of Reed Smith LLP, where he looks forward to utilizing his ADR skills as an attorney in the nation's capital.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Katelyn Riddle

Scholar

Katelyn Riddle

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

I am very interested in pursuing roles as an arbitrator. I am a FINRA arbitrator still awaiting my first case. I'd love to continue this career path and explore its intersection with privacy law.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Ivey Foster

Scholar

Ivey Foster

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

As I pursue my goal of becoming a family law and criminal law attorney, I am committed to leveraging my Dispute Resolution Certificate to excel in mediation hearings and develop effective negotiation strategies, particularly in child custody cases and plea deals. I believe that mastering these skills will enable me to make a meaningful impact for my clients.

Grant Amount

$20,000

Shelia Rodriguez Padron

Scholar

Sheila Rodriguez Padron

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

I plan to use my ADR certificate to better assist my clients in their estate planning and asset protection endeavors. In the future, I want to become a certified mediator or arbitrator so I can help people needing these services while going through the justice system. Overall, alternative dispute resolution courses should be a requirement of all law degree programs as these skills are transferable to any industry one finds herself in.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Destiny Fulton

Scholar

Destiny Fulton

North Carolina

SCHOOL

North Carolina Central University Law School

My goal within the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution includes learning how to effectively consider interests and values of disputing parties, while navigating a healthy and open-minded process.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

2023 Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

Historically Black Colleges and University Scholarship Recipients

mobile
Sarah Shafik

Scholar

Sarah Shafik

Washington, D.C

School

Howard University Law School

My name is Sarah Shafik. I am a third-year law student at the Howard University School of Law. Before coming to law school, I went to Baruch College in Manhattan, where I majored in International Business and was heavily involved in student organizations on our campus. With that involvement came situations where I had to play a neutral role between students and administration and other situations where I advocated for students. This drive to always find solutions to problems led to my interest in a legal career. Coming into law school, I wanted to find my niche interest in the legal field that would resonate with my purpose, and that is where I found dispute resolution, specifically international arbitration. Since learning about different ADR methods and understanding their effectiveness, I have been heavily involved in our ADR yearlong programs at school and have taken ADR courses. I am still learning so much more about ADR and its exponential growth, and I am grateful to be at Howard with such prominent professors who are trailblazers in the field.

Grant Amount

$25,000

mobile
Lee Williams

Scholar

Lee Williams

Washington, D.C

School

Howard University Law School

Lee Williams, a 3L at Howard University School of Law, was born and raised in New Jersey. He has lived in Washington, D.C., for over six years, attending Howard University for his undergraduate and legal studies.

Lee was inspired to attend law school because of his passion for justice and equity. He found that within the current legal landscape, having Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) skills is essential as an attorney looking to serve clients in need thoroughly.

As a student of Professor John Woods, a powerhouse in the ADR community, Lee developed ADR skills and learned how ADR impacts all aspects of practicing law. While external at the International Institute of Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) through Howard's ADR Consortium, Lee wrote about how ADR-based legislation and Supreme Court decisions affect public policy. Some of his writings were published in CPR's Alternatives, and he had the opportunity to attend Supreme Court oral arguments as a press member.

Lee will begin his legal career in the Washington, DC office of Reed Smith LLP, where he looks forward to utilizing his ADR skills as an attorney in the nation's capital.

Grant Amount

$25,000

mobile
Katelyn Riddle

Scholar

Katelyn Riddle

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

I am very interested in pursuing roles as an arbitrator. I am a FINRA arbitrator still awaiting my first case. I'd love to continue this career path and explore its intersection with privacy law.

Grant Amount

$10,000

mobile
Ivey Foster

Scholar

Ivey Foster

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

As I pursue my goal of becoming a family law and criminal law attorney, I am committed to leveraging my Dispute Resolution Certificate to excel in mediation hearings and develop effective negotiation strategies, particularly in child custody cases and plea deals. I believe that mastering these skills will enable me to make a meaningful impact for my clients.

Grant Amount

$20,000

mobile
Shelia Rodriguez Padron

Scholar

Sheila Rodriguez Padron

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

I plan to use my ADR certificate to better assist my clients in their estate planning and asset protection endeavors. In the future, I want to become a certified mediator or arbitrator so I can help people needing these services while going through the justice system. Overall, alternative dispute resolution courses should be a requirement of all law degree programs as these skills are transferable to any industry one finds herself in.

Grant Amount

$10,000

mobile
Destiny Fulton

Scholar

Destiny Fulton

North Carolina

School

North Carolina Central University Law School

My goal within the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution includes learning how to effectively consider interests and values of disputing parties, while navigating a healthy and open-minded process.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Scholar Recipient

2023 Scholarship Recipients

2022 Scholarship Recipients

2021 Scholarship Recipients

2020 Scholarship Recipients

2021 Scholarships Totaled $39,605.
2020 Scholarships Totaled $12,463.
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
Jeanie Telfer

Scholar

Jeanie Telfer

New York, NY

ABOUT

Jeanine Telfer has dedicated her career, which has spanned more than 15 years, to litigation and advise matters within federal government and state government sectors. Ms. Telfer is a 2010 American Arbitration Association's A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Fellow, who has practiced in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, California, New Jersey, and New York. She is also a patent attorney and licensed mediator. Ms. Telfer has experience in labor and employment, disability law, patents, trademarks, copyrights, government relations, government regulations, contracts, negotiations, and collective bargaining agreements. Ms. Telfer prides herself in bringing a prophylactic approach that assures quality advice and counsel with integrity, resulting in appropriate decisions. Providing supportive, knowledgeable legal advice with direction that educates through honest communication and mutual respect is her goal.

Grant Amount

$1,225

PROGRAM

Fall 2023 NYSBA Three-Day Commercial Mediation Training and Fall 2023 NYSBA Two-Day Advanced Commercial Mediation Training

Meher Tandon

Scholar

Meher Tandon

India

School

MIDS in International Dispute Settlement, Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS), Geneva Graduate Institution

I am a common-law trained attorney from India, currently enrolled in the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (“MIDS”), specializing in international commercial arbitration.
Before joining the MIDS, I worked for five years and was a senior associate in the dispute resolution team at Khaitan & co, one of India’s tier-one law firms. During my tenure at the firm, I have acted as legal counsel for large-scale and multinational hospitality and infrastructure companies before Courts and in arbitral proceedings, both domestic and international, primarily before ad hoc and some institutional arbitral tribunals.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Johnchryso Eze Tochukwu

Scholar

Johnchryso Eze Tochukwu

Nigeria

School

Chattered Institute of Arbitrators' Course on - Accelerated Route to Fellowship - International Arbitration

My career goal is to become a renowned dispute resolution and international arbitration expert. I also intend to purse my masters and doctorate degrees on International Arbitration and to afterwards become a part time lecturer teaching courses in international arbitration.

I have been engaged in litigation practice for over 5 years with lots of experience in court room adjudication in various subjects including cross border transactions and disputes . However, I need this experience to become a well-rounded dispute resolution expert because it is not all disputes that are suitable for litigation and I need the competence and certification to practice arbitration on a professional level. I earlier took a course of Mediation and Conciliation which certified me as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chattered Mediators and Conciliators Nigeria.

Grant Amount

$794

Queralt Vidal

Scholar

Queralt Vidal

Spain

School

MIDS in International Dispute Settlement, Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS), Geneva Graduate Institution

My name is Queralt Vidal, I am 23 years old and I am applying for the American Arbitration Association Foundation’s Diversity Scholarship.

I was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, and I graduated from ESADE Law School in December 2022. I completed a double degree in Law and International Affairs, but since I started my college years, Alternative Dispute Resolution caught my attention. It was during my participation in the Jessup and ELSA Moot Courts that I realized that I wanted to make a living out of this beautiful profession.

After 4 years in college I had the opportunity to do two exchange programs. The first one was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I both studied and worked (Universidade de Sao Paulo and BMA Advogados), and the second one was in Washington DC (Elliot school of International Affairs). In DC I attended all kind of conferences and events which allowed me to create a humble but solid network through which I found the internship that I am doing right now. I started this job in May 2023, in Dunning Rievman & MacDonald LLP, in New York City, where we mostly do international arbitration. I absolutely love what I do and I look forward to do it as a real lawyer, and not only an intern.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Mary Mutupa

Scholar

Mary Mutupa

Zambia

ABOUT

Mary Mutupa MCIArb, is an author, human rights and dispute resolution lawyer, gender and governance expert with more than 14 years of management experience and 17 years overall national and international work experience mostly in civil society sector. Mary specialises in and has vast experience in resolving disputes through Mediation and Arbitration. Mary has teaching experience in dispute resolution and has taught at the University of Zambia. Between 2016-2018 she worked at CIArb Zambia as a project consultant on a mediation project which was support by USAID which focuses on increasing mediators in Zambia. She also coordinated all trainings and sensitisation activities on Alternative Dispute Resolutions through media engagement, workshops and publications.


Mary is working as an independent Consultant. Before this, she worked at the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW)as Deputy Executive Director from 2016-2023. And prior to joining NLACW in 2016, she worked at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Zambia Branch as a Mediation project Consultant; ActionAid Zambia as Governance Programme Officer, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Constitution project as Coordinator, Programme Manager African Women Millennium Initiative in Senegal and Zambia among others.


Mary holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights Law, Degree in Law, Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching and Lecturing methodology, professional training in Arbitration, Mediation among others. In 2010 she authored a Publication entitled “Working with the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council: A Handbook for Civil Society Organizations”. She has contributed to various publications on Human Rights, Gender, Governance and Alternative Dispute Resolutions topics.

Grant Amount

$1,750

PROGRAM

African Arbitration Association Conference

Kelvin Njuuna

Scholar

Kelvin Njuuna

Nairobi, Kenya

School

Queen Mary University

I am Kelvin Njuguna Mugwe, a 27-year-old Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. I have been a practitioner for the last three years. I am passionate and greatly interested in advancing my skills in international arbitration.

I consider myself a diligent, hardworking and self-driven individual. I have through the years, demonstrated commitment, adaptability to ever changing circumstances and the desire to learn from my mistakes while seeking to attain excellence in all I do. My experiences, both at school and my brief professional life, have inculcated in me the virtues of professionalism, integrity and teamwork. I further possess the ability to effectively communicate on diverse issues, both orally and through writing.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Kricia Pires Coelho

Scholar

Kricia Pires Coelho

Brazil

School

Bucerious Law School LLM

Krícia Pires is a highly accomplished legal professional with a passion for international dispute resolution and a commitment to promoting justice and fairness. Krícia is currently enrolled in the International Dispute Resolution LL.M. at the prestigious Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, in the class of 2023-2024.
Krícia has a diverse range of professional experiences that have shaped her expertise and dedication in this field. As an intern at Brazilian's largest law firm, Machado Meyer, Krícia played a vital role in the civil reparation mediation program for the Vale dam environmental disaster, contributing to the resolution of the damage caused to affected individuals and territories in Brumadinho. This experience ignited her interest in environmental and social justice issues. Krícia further honed her skills at Guglielmino Derecho Internacional, where she represented Venezuela and Bolivia in Investor-State arbitrations before renowned bodies such as ICSID and PCA. Working alongside esteemed mentors, Krícia gained valuable insights into the complexities of international arbitration and the importance of effective representation. Krícia has also been employed as a legal trainee at Delaloa, an international arbitration boutique in Lisbon, handling international commercial arbitrations under the ICC and LCIA Rules. This role allowed her to broaden her understanding of the European Union framework and gain invaluable experience in different jurisdictions. With a strong drive to promote Latin America and the Global South in the international scenario of dispute resolution, Krícia aspires to become an active voice in addressing the specific challenges faced by these regions. She seeks to contribute to the discourse, advocate for fairness, and drive positive change in the field of international dispute resolution.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Lorraine D. Mandel

Scholar

Lorraine D. Mandel

New York, NY

ABOUT

Lorraine D. Mandel is an arbitrator and court certified mediator. She serves on the commercial arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association and as a non-public FINRA arbitrator.

Previously, she was Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Global Derivatives and Government Affairs, of XL Group, the global (re)insurance holding company (now AXA-XL). In her previous in-house positions, she negotiated complex commercial transactions and insurance coverage matters on a world- wide basis. Through her participation in the training course entitled “Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel”, sponsored by the NYS Bar Association and the AAA, Lorraine hopes to gain high level and intensive training experience to further enhance her effectiveness as a practitioner and lend value to the ADR field. Lorraine is a member of the Board of Directors of the NYU Law School Alumni Association, and is Secretary to the Legal Advisory Council of Sanctuary for Families. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association and the Insurance Law Committee of the City Bar Association. She holds a
B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from Tufts University, and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School (having attended New York University Law School).

Grant Amount

$795

PROGRAM

Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel

Jessica Rado

Scholar

Jessica Rado

New York, NY

School

International Arbitration Summer School in Paris

My name is Jessica Rado, I am a recent LL.M. graduate, and soon-to-be-admitted New York attorney.

Since the very beginning of my studies, I have been an active member of the arbitration community, focusing most of my efforts to the promotion of diversity in ADR. In fact, I volunteered at the New York ADR Inclusion Network, became a fellow of the ABA Section of
Dispute Resolution, a member of R.E.A.L (Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers), and I joined many
international organizations such as NYCLA’s ADR Committee, ArbitralWomen, Young ICCA, and Young ITA. I am currently working on a new webinar series, in collaboration with Careers in Arbitration, that aims to inspire young students by sharing career paths of brilliant practitioners from all over the world.

All of these experiences allow me to connect with fellow practitioners, and, most importantly, to do my part to keep this community so active, welcoming, and kind. I am currently working as a litigation associate to sharpen my drafting and advocacy skills which I hope to transfer into an international arbitration position. In addition, I volunteer as a teaching assistant for Professor and Arbitrator Dana MacGrath at Fordham Law School. In this role, I have the pleasure of coaching and guiding our Vis moot team through their preparation for the competitions, and I had the opportunity to support them in Hong Kong this past March. Thanks to the many pre-moots and practices that I coordinated and arbitrated, I forged very meaningful connections with Professors, students, and practitioners both in New York and all over the world ,including many friends at the American Arbitration Association.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

Scholar

Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

South Africa

ABOUT

My name is Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu, resident of Ekuphumleni Location, Kenton-On-Sea, South Africa. I am 47 years old. I was recently graduated as Peace builder after I attended Mediator Beyond Borders International Training.
For as long as I remember, I have a passion in giving back to the community and trying to bring people together and help in conflict resolution. I am particularly excited by the opportunity I am given to be part of the congress and I know and believe that with the skills that I will learn there, they will empower me to achieve to be able to achieve my goals which is helping people to live in a non-violent community.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

Scholar Recipient

2023 Scholarship Recipients

2022 Scholarship Recipients

2021 Scholarship Recipients

2020 Scholarship Recipients

2021 Scholarships Totaled $39,605.
2020 Scholarships Totaled $12,463.
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
The AAA-ICDR Foundation is proud to support the following scholars:
Jeanie Telfer

Scholar

Jeanie Telfer

New York, NY

ABOUT

Jeanine Telfer has dedicated her career, which has spanned more than 15 years, to litigation and advise matters within federal government and state government sectors. Ms. Telfer is a 2010 American Arbitration Association's A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Fellow, who has practiced in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, California, New Jersey, and New York. She is also a patent attorney and licensed mediator. Ms. Telfer has experience in labor and employment, disability law, patents, trademarks, copyrights, government relations, government regulations, contracts, negotiations, and collective bargaining agreements. Ms. Telfer prides herself in bringing a prophylactic approach that assures quality advice and counsel with integrity, resulting in appropriate decisions. Providing supportive, knowledgeable legal advice with direction that educates through honest communication and mutual respect is her goal.

Grant Amount

$1,225

PROGRAM

Fall 2023 NYSBA Three-Day Commercial Mediation Training and Fall 2023 NYSBA Two-Day Advanced Commercial Mediation Training

Meher Tandon

Scholar

Meher Tandon

India

School

MIDS in International Dispute Settlement, Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS), Geneva Graduate Institution

I am a common-law trained attorney from India, currently enrolled in the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (“MIDS”), specializing in international commercial arbitration.
Before joining the MIDS, I worked for five years and was a senior associate in the dispute resolution team at Khaitan & co, one of India’s tier-one law firms. During my tenure at the firm, I have acted as legal counsel for large-scale and multinational hospitality and infrastructure companies before Courts and in arbitral proceedings, both domestic and international, primarily before ad hoc and some institutional arbitral tribunals.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Johnchryso Eze Tochukwu

Scholar

Johnchryso Eze Tochukwu

Nigeria

School

Chattered Institute of Arbitrators' Course on - Accelerated Route to Fellowship - International Arbitration

My career goal is to become a renowned dispute resolution and international arbitration expert. I also intend to purse my masters and doctorate degrees on International Arbitration and to afterwards become a part time lecturer teaching courses in international arbitration.

I have been engaged in litigation practice for over 5 years with lots of experience in court room adjudication in various subjects including cross border transactions and disputes . However, I need this experience to become a well-rounded dispute resolution expert because it is not all disputes that are suitable for litigation and I need the competence and certification to practice arbitration on a professional level. I earlier took a course of Mediation and Conciliation which certified me as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chattered Mediators and Conciliators Nigeria.

Grant Amount

$794

Queralt Vidal

Scholar

Queralt Vidal

Spain

School

MIDS in International Dispute Settlement, Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS), Geneva Graduate Institution

My name is Queralt Vidal, I am 23 years old and I am applying for the American Arbitration Association Foundation’s Diversity Scholarship.

I was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, and I graduated from ESADE Law School in December 2022. I completed a double degree in Law and International Affairs, but since I started my college years, Alternative Dispute Resolution caught my attention. It was during my participation in the Jessup and ELSA Moot Courts that I realized that I wanted to make a living out of this beautiful profession.

After 4 years in college I had the opportunity to do two exchange programs. The first one was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I both studied and worked (Universidade de Sao Paulo and BMA Advogados), and the second one was in Washington DC (Elliot school of International Affairs). In DC I attended all kind of conferences and events which allowed me to create a humble but solid network through which I found the internship that I am doing right now. I started this job in May 2023, in Dunning Rievman & MacDonald LLP, in New York City, where we mostly do international arbitration. I absolutely love what I do and I look forward to do it as a real lawyer, and not only an intern.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Mary Mutupa

Scholar

Mary Mutupa

Zambia

ABOUT

Mary Mutupa MCIArb, is an author, human rights and dispute resolution lawyer, gender and governance expert with more than 14 years of management experience and 17 years overall national and international work experience mostly in civil society sector. Mary specialises in and has vast experience in resolving disputes through Mediation and Arbitration. Mary has teaching experience in dispute resolution and has taught at the University of Zambia. Between 2016-2018 she worked at CIArb Zambia as a project consultant on a mediation project which was support by USAID which focuses on increasing mediators in Zambia. She also coordinated all trainings and sensitisation activities on Alternative Dispute Resolutions through media engagement, workshops and publications.


Mary is working as an independent Consultant. Before this, she worked at the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW)as Deputy Executive Director from 2016-2023. And prior to joining NLACW in 2016, she worked at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Zambia Branch as a Mediation project Consultant; ActionAid Zambia as Governance Programme Officer, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Constitution project as Coordinator, Programme Manager African Women Millennium Initiative in Senegal and Zambia among others.


Mary holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights Law, Degree in Law, Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching and Lecturing methodology, professional training in Arbitration, Mediation among others. In 2010 she authored a Publication entitled “Working with the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council: A Handbook for Civil Society Organizations”. She has contributed to various publications on Human Rights, Gender, Governance and Alternative Dispute Resolutions topics.

Grant Amount

$1,750

PROGRAM

African Arbitration Association Conference

Kelvin Njuuna

Scholar

Kelvin Njuuna

Nairobi, Kenya

School

Queen Mary University

I am Kelvin Njuguna Mugwe, a 27-year-old Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. I have been a practitioner for the last three years. I am passionate and greatly interested in advancing my skills in international arbitration.

I consider myself a diligent, hardworking and self-driven individual. I have through the years, demonstrated commitment, adaptability to ever changing circumstances and the desire to learn from my mistakes while seeking to attain excellence in all I do. My experiences, both at school and my brief professional life, have inculcated in me the virtues of professionalism, integrity and teamwork. I further possess the ability to effectively communicate on diverse issues, both orally and through writing.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Kricia Pires Coelho

Scholar

Kricia Pires Coelho

Brazil

School

Bucerious Law School LLM

Krícia Pires is a highly accomplished legal professional with a passion for international dispute resolution and a commitment to promoting justice and fairness. Krícia is currently enrolled in the International Dispute Resolution LL.M. at the prestigious Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, in the class of 2023-2024.
Krícia has a diverse range of professional experiences that have shaped her expertise and dedication in this field. As an intern at Brazilian's largest law firm, Machado Meyer, Krícia played a vital role in the civil reparation mediation program for the Vale dam environmental disaster, contributing to the resolution of the damage caused to affected individuals and territories in Brumadinho. This experience ignited her interest in environmental and social justice issues. Krícia further honed her skills at Guglielmino Derecho Internacional, where she represented Venezuela and Bolivia in Investor-State arbitrations before renowned bodies such as ICSID and PCA. Working alongside esteemed mentors, Krícia gained valuable insights into the complexities of international arbitration and the importance of effective representation. Krícia has also been employed as a legal trainee at Delaloa, an international arbitration boutique in Lisbon, handling international commercial arbitrations under the ICC and LCIA Rules. This role allowed her to broaden her understanding of the European Union framework and gain invaluable experience in different jurisdictions. With a strong drive to promote Latin America and the Global South in the international scenario of dispute resolution, Krícia aspires to become an active voice in addressing the specific challenges faced by these regions. She seeks to contribute to the discourse, advocate for fairness, and drive positive change in the field of international dispute resolution.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Lorraine D. Mandel

Scholar

Lorraine D. Mandel

New York, NY

ABOUT

Lorraine D. Mandel is an arbitrator and court certified mediator. She serves on the commercial arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association and as a non-public FINRA arbitrator.

Previously, she was Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Global Derivatives and Government Affairs, of XL Group, the global (re)insurance holding company (now AXA-XL). In her previous in-house positions, she negotiated complex commercial transactions and insurance coverage matters on a world- wide basis. Through her participation in the training course entitled “Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel”, sponsored by the NYS Bar Association and the AAA, Lorraine hopes to gain high level and intensive training experience to further enhance her effectiveness as a practitioner and lend value to the ADR field. Lorraine is a member of the Board of Directors of the NYU Law School Alumni Association, and is Secretary to the Legal Advisory Council of Sanctuary for Families. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association and the Insurance Law Committee of the City Bar Association. She holds a
B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from Tufts University, and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School (having attended New York University Law School).

Grant Amount

$795

PROGRAM

Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel

Jessica Rado

Scholar

Jessica Rado

New York, NY

School

International Arbitration Summer School in Paris

My name is Jessica Rado, I am a recent LL.M. graduate, and soon-to-be-admitted New York attorney.

Since the very beginning of my studies, I have been an active member of the arbitration community, focusing most of my efforts to the promotion of diversity in ADR. In fact, I volunteered at the New York ADR Inclusion Network, became a fellow of the ABA Section of
Dispute Resolution, a member of R.E.A.L (Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers), and I joined many
international organizations such as NYCLA’s ADR Committee, ArbitralWomen, Young ICCA, and Young ITA. I am currently working on a new webinar series, in collaboration with Careers in Arbitration, that aims to inspire young students by sharing career paths of brilliant practitioners from all over the world.

All of these experiences allow me to connect with fellow practitioners, and, most importantly, to do my part to keep this community so active, welcoming, and kind. I am currently working as a litigation associate to sharpen my drafting and advocacy skills which I hope to transfer into an international arbitration position. In addition, I volunteer as a teaching assistant for Professor and Arbitrator Dana MacGrath at Fordham Law School. In this role, I have the pleasure of coaching and guiding our Vis moot team through their preparation for the competitions, and I had the opportunity to support them in Hong Kong this past March. Thanks to the many pre-moots and practices that I coordinated and arbitrated, I forged very meaningful connections with Professors, students, and practitioners both in New York and all over the world ,including many friends at the American Arbitration Association.

Grant Amount

$2,000

Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

Scholar

Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu

South Africa

ABOUT

My name is Nomawethu Iris Ngangqu, resident of Ekuphumleni Location, Kenton-On-Sea, South Africa. I am 47 years old. I was recently graduated as Peace builder after I attended Mediator Beyond Borders International Training.
For as long as I remember, I have a passion in giving back to the community and trying to bring people together and help in conflict resolution. I am particularly excited by the opportunity I am given to be part of the congress and I know and believe that with the skills that I will learn there, they will empower me to achieve to be able to achieve my goals which is helping people to live in a non-violent community.

Grant Amount

$1,200

PROGRAM

Restorative Practice and Trauma-Informed Peacebuilding training and the MBBI congress (10th International Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya)

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