Students at Fisk University will soon benefit from the launch of the Cravath Scholars program, an experiential learning opportunity that strengthens the historically Black university’s (HBCU) ties to the premier law firm as it celebrates its 200th anniversary, according to leaders.
The new partnership between Fisk and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP adds to the Nashville-based HBCU’s list of corporate partners that provide resources and experiences to students, including Google, Ingram Industries and HCA Healthcare. The Cravath Scholars program builds on Fisk’s career development efforts and will provide selected high-achieving students with tuition assistance, professional development, mentorship and a summer internship at Cravath.
“We know that many of our students need financial support in order to go to college. These are great students who worked hard to get here, and we have the responsibility to create partnerships with others who can provide the financial support that they need so that they can complete college,” said Fisk president Dr. Kevin Rome Sr. “We’re extremely excited about the program. … We think it’s important for students to have exposure to various professional and career opportunities that they can pursue.”
Over the last few years, Fisk leaders have become more deliberate about how the institution engages corporate partnerships for the benefit of students, added Dr. Jens Frederiksen, vice president of institutional advancement and strategic development at Fisk.
“In part, it’s because we see this massive shortage in corporate America of minority leadership,” Frederiksen said. “We consider ourselves well-positioned with the caliber of students that we have to really tackle that challenge.”
The premise of the Cravath Scholars program is to build a pipeline of the next generation of minority talent. The program is not limited to students interested in law, leaders said, but also students interested in marketing, communications, accounting and finance, among other disciplines.
“From its mandate in the aftermath of the Civil War to its illustrious roster of alumni, including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Congressman John Lewis, Fisk University has played a crucial role in the progress of the United States,” said Faiza J. Saeed, Cravath’s presiding partner, in a statement. “It is an honor to celebrate our shared history in our bicentennial year, and to have the opportunity to contribute to the education and development of another generation of Fisk students.”
