Sharingknowledge
to serveothers
Loyola’s long tradition of educating students to serve others in
need is part of its vital Jesuit tradition and core mission of building
the future of justice. In the classroom, in clinical work, and in the
community, tomorrow’s Loyola lawyers use their talents and passion
for positive change to improve the lives of vulnerable fellow citizens.
Strengthening
the rule of law
PROLAW, Loyola’s one-year
LLM degree
program in Rule of Law for Development,
just completed its fifth year. PROLAW
has trained 104 legal professionals from
44 countries to become qualified and
effective rule of law advisors. Program
highlights include:
• Additional
funding in the amount of
$468,000
from the U.S. Department of
State’s Bureau of International Narcotics
and Law Enforcement Affairs. This grant,
totaling $1.8 million, supports the State
Department’s significant partnership
agreement with the African Union to
strengthen governance and the rule of law
to ensure peace, security, and stability on
the African continent. PROLAW scholarships
for 22 selected African Union staff members
are funded through the grant.
• A milestone
memorandum of
understanding between Loyola and the
Organization of American States
(OAS),
the world’s oldest regional organization
established to implement democracy,
human rights, security, and development
in the Americas. OAS staff and advisors
and selected representatives from member
states will attend PROLAW with the aim of
improving democratic governance and the
rule of law in the Americas.
Petition speeds law reform
After identifying a pattern of lead poisoning
among clients living in federally assisted
housing, Loyola students enrolled in the
Health Justice Project (HJP)
, a medical-legal
partnership clinic in the Beazley Institute
for Health Law and Policy, determined that
federal regulations require a child to become
lead poisoned before any actions are taken.
To compel critical reform, HJP students joined
more than 30 other national nonprofits,
public health experts, associations, and
scientists in petitioning the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
for rulemaking. With record speed, HUD
responded by promulgating new rules
and
developing a new lead poisoning
prevention strategy.
Several U.S. senators
and representatives also introduced legislation
that adopts additional recommendations
contained in the petition.
Combating implicit bias
Loyola’s
Cultural Impact Initiative
works
with faculty and administrators to promote
cultural competency in the classroom,
combat implicit bias, and serve as a support
to Loyola’s diverse student body. The
student-led organization addresses issues
of race, gender, sexual orientation, mental
health, and other social challenges and
equity issues.
The Health Justice Project’s Allyson Gold (left) and Emily Benfer
Signing a milestone memorandum
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2015–16 DEAN’S ANNUAL REPORT
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO SCHOOL OF LAW
22
