Penn Carey Law Milestones: Black History at Penn Carey Law
The Penn Carey Law Milestones series of digital exhibitions celebrates the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff. Penn Carey Law has been celebrating Black accomplishments since 1888 when Aaron Albert Mossell became the first Black man to graduate from Penn Carey Law. The list below and the accompanying visual timeline at the bottom of the page outlines Black history here at Penn Carey Law.
Credit: Merle J. Slyhoff, Collection Development Librarian
1888 - Aaron Albert Mossell, first Black man to graduate from Penn Carey Law.
1926 – Sadie Tanner Mossell (Alexander) L’27 and Robert Burke Johnson L’27 become first Black contributors and Associate Editors of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
1927 - Sadie Tanner Mossell (Alexander) becomes first Black woman to graduate from Penn Carey Law School.
1970 - Black Law Students Association is created at Penn Carey Law School.
1975 - Ralph Smith becomes the first Black man to join the Penn Carey Law faculty.
1977 - Regina Austin L’73 becomes the first Black woman to join the Penn Carey Law faculty.
1979 – The Black Students Union publishes the first directory of Black alumni who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
1986 - Vernon Francis L’87 becomes first Black male Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
1988 – The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) establishes a Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Committee and each year hosts an annual dinner and conference to honor Dr. Sadie Tanner Mosell Alexander’s legacy by delving into legal issues that are pertinent to the Black community and committing to progressive legal advocacy.
- History of the Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Commemorative Conference
- The University of Pennsylvania Black Law Students Association (BLSA) celebrates the 25th Annual Sadie T.M. Alexander Commemorative Conference on January 26, 2013
2003 - Desa Burton L’04 named first Black Editor-in-Chief / first Black female Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law.
Circa 2004 - Penn Carey Law Black Alumni Association created University of Pennsylvania Black Law Alumni Directory.
2004 - Akua Asare L’05 named first Black Editor-in-Chief / first Black female Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law.
2009 – Former Penn Carey Law School Dean Michael A. Fitts named Professor Anita Allen as first Black Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs.
2012 – Dorothy Roberts appointed Inaugural Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander ED’18, GR’21, L’27 Professor of Civil Rights.
2013 - Professor Anita Allen named Penn’s first Black Vice Provost for Faculty from 2013-2020, and during this time chaired the Provost’s Arts Advisory Council. She is also the first Black faculty member to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.
2014 - Wendell Pritchett named Penn Carey Law Interim Dean and Presidential Professor.
2015 – Kendra Sandidge L’16 named first Black female Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
2017 - Wendell Pritchett, James S. Riepe Presidential Professor of Law and Education, becomes 30th Provost at the University of Pennsylvania.
2020 – Publication of Black Women Future Leaders by Dana Dyer L'22 and Magali Duque L'22 in conjunction with Prof. Rangita de Silva de Alwis course “Women, Law, and Leadership”.
2020 – Creation of the Dr. Sadie Alexander Scholarships: The three new scholarships will be available in Spring 2021 for incoming students whose education, experience, and professional commitments advance racial justice and honor the work and legacy of Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander L’27.
2020 – Osagie Imasogie LLM’85 appointed first Black Chair of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s Board of Advisors.
2021 - Jocelyn A.K. Walcott L’22 named first Black Editor-in-Chief / first Black female Editor-in-Chief of The Regulatory Review.