With a new name, career services office at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law explores shift from traditional hiring practices and the shared belief that diversity truly matters in the profession

(Friday, July 17, 2020) The Career Services Office, led by Assistant Dean Nikki Wright Smith and Assistant Director Kristen Taylor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law on the Texas Southern University campus, announced today its official name change to the Office of Career, Professional Development & Diversity Initiatives to more closely align with the industry's shift from traditional hiring practices, while meeting employer demands for more diverse talent in the profession. In the legal industry, diversity is often broadly defined to include not only racial and ethnic minorities, but also women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, first-generation professionals and also those who have been historically underrepresented in the profession. Heralded nationally as one of the most diverse law schools in the country, Thurgood Marshall School of Law encompasses a campus culture and student body that reflect members of all such communities and more. With the new office title, Wright Smith and Taylor plan to build on the success of the department's administrative focal areas, while fueling engagement initiatives for alumni and legal employers to sit-up, take notice and connect with the law school's diverse, talented student body for potential employment opportunities.

Per Wright Smith, "Assistant Director Taylor and I are always exploring new ways to engage with our students, alumni and potential employers. Our goal is to provide the professional development resources and tools our students and alumni need to have successful, fulfilling careers. Over the last few years, there has been movement within the legal industry to attract and retain more diverse talent and we want our constituents to know about the talented students who attend Thurgood Marshall School of Law. As employers work hard to create more opportunities for diverse talent through diversity-focused internship programs, recruiting events, conferences and more, we likewise want the industry to know that we support the shift from traditional hiring practices and share in the belief that diversity matters in the profession. Through this title change, we hope our constituents will take a closer look at the work we do and our talented students. We also hope the new name garners attention from prospective students and employers looking to collaborate with a school and office that values diversity, while strengthening support for our current students and alumni base."

For more information or to reach the law school's Office of Career, Professional Development and Diversity Initiatives, call (713) 313.7372 or email tmslcareers@tsu.edu.