Nicole Dyszlewski

PROVIDENCE — Nicole Dyszlewski, of East Providence's  Riverside section, was recently presented with the the inaugural Rhode Island Bar Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trailblazer Award.

According to the organization, "The DEI Trailblazer Award recognizes an attorney who encourages and cultivates social discourse related to DEI among all members of the Rhode Island Bar, supports the advancement of attorneys from diverse backgrounds to positions of leadership, and promotes interest in the practice of law among diverse populations."

Dyszlewski currently serves as the Director of Special Programs/Academic Affairs at Roger Williams University School of Law (RWU Law). Prior to this role, she was a law librarian at the school beginning in 2015. She previously practiced real estate law.

Dyszlewski’s areas of scholarly interest are "diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging" (DEIB) pedagogy in law schools, mass incarceration, and access to justice. She led a team of researchers who identified and commemorated the "First Women of the Rhode Island Bar," writing a series of articles and a book chapter about these pioneering attorneys.

Additionally, Dyszlewski is one of the founding professors in RWU Law’s mandatory three-credit class, "Race and the Foundations of American Law." RWU Law was one of the first law schools in America to require students be instructed on the subject matter, and she was part of the small team who developed the curriculum and piloted the class.

Also of note, Dyszlewski is the lead editor of the "Integrating Doctrine and Diversity" book series as well as the creator of the Integrating Doctrine & Diversity speaker series. About to start its third year, the series is a free, virtual discussion of DEIB pedagogy in legal education co-sponsored by RWU Law, City University of New York Law, University of California, Berkeley Law, Jurist (The University of Pittsburgh School of Law) and George Washington University Law.

Dyszlewski received a B.A. from Hofstra University, a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She is a member of the Massachusetts State Bar and the Rhode Island State Bar.

"Nicole was instrumental in helping to identify the First Women attorneys in Rhode Island. After that hard work, she put together her research efforts and the findings and wrote two Law Review articles," said Cassandra Feeney, a principal at Hamel Waxler Allen & Collins and president of the RI Women's Bar Association who has also co-written articles with Dyszlewski.

Feeney continued, "Nicole also served on committees and presented on this important topic to ensure the Bar was made aware of our history and the much- needed work that remains."

Added RI Women's Bar Association vice president Ettie-Lee Schaub, "Nicole was instrumental in helping to identify the First Women attorneys in Rhode Island including the lost history of the first woman of color to practice law in Rhode Island, Dorothy Crockett. She also compiled her efforts into written scholarly work.

"She has been a vocal advocate for the work in this area and the much-needed work that needs to be done. Nicole has also committed to present on the Roger Williams School of Law’s latest required course in race and the law to the RI Women’s Bar Association, a further example of her dedication to both the scholarly work and making an impact in the legal community."