KU News Release

Advisory council to support law school’s diversity efforts

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Law has been open to anyone — regardless of gender or ethnicity — since its doors opened in 1878. Despite that proud history, there is still work to be done.

With that in mind, Gail Agrawal, dean of the law school, has formed a Diversity Advisory Council. Its members are culturally diverse and accomplished KU alumni who have agreed to share their wisdom and experience. They will serve as resources in the recruitment and retention of students from groups that are underrepresented in law school classrooms and the legal and judicial professions. They will also mentor and advise law students as they prepare for their careers.

The founding members of the council are listed below by graduation year and current position.

— Dan Cranshaw, 2003, associate, Lathrop & Gage, Kansas City, Mo.
— Laura Clark Fey, 1992, partner, Daley Crowley, Kansas City, Mo.
— Cesar Alberto Herdoiza, 1980, solo practitioner, Law Offices of Cesar Alberto Herdoiza, Dodge City and Kansas City, Kan.
— Lana Knedlik, 1996, partner, Stinson Morrison Hecker, Kansas City, Mo.
— Rico Kolster, 2001, associate, Bryan Cave, Kansas City, Mo.
— Patricia Konopka, 1994, partner, Stinson Morrison Hecker, Kansas City, Mo.
— Marcella Lee, 1994, vice president and general counsel, Kauffman Scholars Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
— Don Low, 1975, director of utilities, Kansas Corporation Commission, Topeka
— Janet Murguia, 1985, president and CEO, National Council of La Raza, Washington, D.C.
— Kelley Sears, 1974, senior vice president of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and general counsel of Wal-Mart Legal Division, Bentonville, Ark.
— Joe Serrano, 1993, associate, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Kansas City, Mo.
— Damon Williams, 2002, general council of Three Affiliated Tribes, New Town, N.D.
— Issaku Yamaashi, 2000, partner, Foulston Siefkin, Overland Park
— Holly Zane, 1986, human resources manager, Kansas Department of Corrections, Topeka

Murguia, who leads the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, joined the council because she knows there are still challenges in the legal profession when it comes to diversity.

“I remember back when I was in law school that there were still too few minorities, definitely too few Hispanics,” Murguia said. “A lot of work has been done to try to increase those numbers. In my career, I’ve worked with a number of folks in the private and public sectors to deal with diversity issues, and I thought my background could be of service in helping the law school address this issue.”

The Diversity Advisory Council will meet for the first time on Friday, March 6, in conjunction with the law school’s annual Diversity in Law Banquet.

The School of Law values diversity in its student body and believes that the intentional creation of a diverse learning environment is essential to achieving the university’s educational mission. Twenty-one percent of the 162 students in the law school’s 2008-09 class are minorities, and nearly 40 percent are women. Nine law student organizations actively promote cultural awareness in the school and the legal profession. They are the Asian Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, Global Lawyers Society, Hispanic American Law Students Association, Muslim Law Students Association, Native American Law Students Association, Non-Traditional Students in Law, OUTLaws & Allies and Women in Law.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.