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IU McKinney students honored their peers, faculty, and members of the legal community for their commitment to diversity during the eleventh annual Diversity Dinner. The event took place March 25 at the Indiana Historical Society. It is the work of the Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Society, Asian Law Students Association, and Lambda Legal Society.

The event featured a keynote address from Doneisha Posey, J.D. ’14, vice president and general counsel at Black Onyx Management. She has established herself as a prominent civil rights attorney and DEI thought leader. Recognized as one of Indy's Black leadership by VisitIndy, she has worked in various sectors, including corporate, higher education, and government, with a primary goal in fostering equity and inclusivity.

The first Champion of Diversity award of the evening was presented to 3L Amiya Reina, who is in the evening division at IU McKinney. Reina graduated from IU Indianapolis in the top 10 percent of her class with a bachelor’s degree in social work and certifications in paralegal studies, and child abuse and neglect. While at IU McKinney, Reina has been an ICLEO Fellow, a graduate assistant for the 21st Century Scholars Program, a REACH mentor, and a BLSA member. She has also gained legal experience as a law clerk at the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, J.D. ’08; as an intern at Kids’ Voice; and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Leanna Weissmann, J.D. ’94, of the Indiana Court of Appeals.

The next Champion of Diversity award was given to Professor Aila Hoss. She focuses her teaching and research on public health law, health policy development, and the impact of federal Indian law and tribal law on health outcomes. After obtaining her law degree from the University of Oregon, Professor Hoss served as a staff attorney for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Law Program. One of her students described her as “equal parts fierce and kind. Her passion for the law and for her students inspires them to go above and beyond. Her advocacy on their behalf, both seen and unseen, is unmatched. Aila Hoss exemplifies what it means to be a mentor, a role model, a confidant, and a law professor.”

The evening’s final Champion of Diversity award was presented to Mark Nicholson. Before founding his law firm, he worked as a Marion County civil court bailiff and as a law clerk for the American Civil Liberties Union. He also worked at the Indiana State Public Defender Office, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. He is a military combat veteran and former member of the board of directors for the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation. Nicholson is passionate about mentoring new attorneys and law students. He has trained numerous attorneys at the Marion County Public Defender Agency and teaches a class on prison law at IU McKinney. Having previously spent time in prison, Nicholson provides an important and necessary perspective when representing his clients, helping him fight for the justice they deserve.

In the photo from left are Professor Aila Hoss, Amiya Reina, Mark Nicholson, and Doneisha Posey.