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Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
As a molecular biologist who worked at Eli Lilly and Co. as a clinical and research scientist for over a decade before attending law school, I decided to enter the legal profession, specifically to become an intellectual property (IP) and patent attorney. I was particularly intrigued and excited to become a patent attorney because I knew it would capitalize on my STEM background and I appreciated that the lack of diversity in this niche and specialized legal practice would allow me to have great influence in that regard.
What does “diversity, equity and inclusion” mean to you?
To me, DEI is a moral and business imperative that simply means respecting and valuing all the many experiences, backgrounds and contributions of the many different people that should make up any diverse team to arrive at the best outcomes and solutions to any problems.
Why is DEI important to the legal profession?
DEI is important to the legal profession to ensure that the best and brightest minds have access and opportunity to contribute to this amazing profession, to craft and create laws that protect the interest of all people, and so that the lawyers empowered to provide legal representation and protections to folks in our communities reflect and represent the clients that we serve.
Why has DEI become so controversial?
Any large-scale efforts to ensure that the institutional and systemic power and privilege is more equally shared amongst all of those who have valuable contributions will be challenged and controversial in American society simply based on the power dynamics and premises with which this country was founded and built.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Always lead with excellence and competence to demonstrate your value and do so as authentically true to yourself as possible. Once you demonstrate value, you are then empowered to begin to effectuate positive change to any culture or community.
How do you spend your free time?
I am a basketball mom to a college athlete, so during basketball season, I am an avid and steady fan at my son’s games. Beyond that, I love to spend my time in the sun on a beach or at a lake.
What was your favorite – and least favorite – class in law school?
My favorite law school class was Property with professor Florence Roisman, who became a great mentor and advocate for me. My least favorite class, mostly because I did the worst in it, was Wills, Trusts, and Estates. Happy I chose to practice IP.
What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the legal profession since you began your career?
The increase of diverse in-house attorneys who are in a position to demand that law firms account for the training and advancement of diverse attorneys to the highest ranks of law firm leadership.
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