Rising Scholars of Justice Program Earns CUNY BMI Program Award
For the second consecutive year, the CUNY BMI Rising Scholars of Justice (RSJ) Program, directed by its Founding Director Prof. Jodie Roure, JD, PhD and housed in the Department of Latin American and Latinx Studies with support from Kristen Guiseppi, has been honored with the Outstanding Advisory Committee Champion Award, demonstrating excellence through its key student support system: the Alumni-driven Advisory Board. The Board is led by Co-chairs Attorneys Wilber Trivino and Natalia Marte, alongside Executive Board members Di’Indra Forgenie, Anaiss Rijos Lelonek, and Sabino Vargas, with support from over 140 alumni.
The RSJ Program, whose application period starts on October 1, is a year-round, 12-month initiative aimed at diversifying the legal profession by providing access to high-quality educational resources and individualized supports throughout college, during law school, and into the practice of law. The program serves students who are often first-generation, low-income, racially and ethnically diverse, and who represent marginalized and vulnerable populations historically underrepresented in the legal field. The Alumni-driven Advisory Committee spearheads several initiatives that offer critical wrap-around services, including mentoring, an ongoing speaker series, and meaningful connections throughout the student selection process. With the support of alumni, internship partners, faculty, staff, and funding partners, the RSJ Program has created life-changing opportunities, achieving a 100% on-time or early college graduation success rate and an increase of 10 to 27 points on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Equally remarkable, the program maintains an outstanding law school acceptance rate of 90-100%, with its students securing $15 million in law school scholarships.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, internship partners, and mentors,” says Dr. Jodie Roure, Founding Director. “It recognizes our unwavering commitment to providing the support and resources necessary for our students to succeed. We are honored to be a part of the CUNY BMI community and to be recognized for our continued contributions to the CUNY and John Jay communities and our shared mission of diversifying the legal profession.”
Congratulations to Prof. Roure and the RSJ team for this well-deserved award!
The RSJ Program, whose application period starts on October 1, is a year-round, 12-month initiative aimed at diversifying the legal profession by providing access to high-quality educational resources and individualized supports throughout college, during law school, and into the practice of law. The program serves students who are often first-generation, low-income, racially and ethnically diverse, and who represent marginalized and vulnerable populations historically underrepresented in the legal field. The Alumni-driven Advisory Committee spearheads several initiatives that offer critical wrap-around services, including mentoring, an ongoing speaker series, and meaningful connections throughout the student selection process. With the support of alumni, internship partners, faculty, staff, and funding partners, the RSJ Program has created life-changing opportunities, achieving a 100% on-time or early college graduation success rate and an increase of 10 to 27 points on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Equally remarkable, the program maintains an outstanding law school acceptance rate of 90-100%, with its students securing $15 million in law school scholarships.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, internship partners, and mentors,” says Dr. Jodie Roure, Founding Director. “It recognizes our unwavering commitment to providing the support and resources necessary for our students to succeed. We are honored to be a part of the CUNY BMI community and to be recognized for our continued contributions to the CUNY and John Jay communities and our shared mission of diversifying the legal profession.”
Congratulations to Prof. Roure and the RSJ team for this well-deserved award!
