The Minority Student Program (MSP) at Rutgers Law in Camden celebrated its 10th Anniversary at a sold-out gala on May 13. Held at The Mason on Main Street in Voorhees, New Jersey, the celebration highlighted a decade of impact in advancing access to legal education while also honoring the 41 MSP graduates of 2026 and the inaugural MSP Emerging Leader Award recipient, Anwar Abdur-Rahman ’20. Nearly 400 law students have graduated from MSP in Camden over the past 10 years.
Keynote speaker Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis ’06 shared powerful reflections that underscored the vital role of community support and mentorship, particularly for students who are the first in their families to pursue a legal career. Justice Pierre-Louis is the first Black woman to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Assistant Dean Rhasheda Douglas ’02 said, “I selected this year’s graduation theme “A Solid Foundation Built by Community” because MSP Camden’s success is due to the collaborative efforts of Rutgers Law School faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, bar association leaders and other supporters. It’s been a honor to build the MSP at the Camden location with the assistance of an outstanding community of supporters, many of whom I’ve known since I was a law student or early in my own legal career.”
Since its expansion to the Rutgers Law Camden location in 2016, MSP has grown into a thriving academic and professional support network under the leadership of Dean Douglas. The program now serves more than 200 students each year in Camden and Newark and connects them to a powerful alumni network of more than 4,000 MSP graduates. In addition to supporting enrolled law students, MSP Camden has expanded its reach to aspiring law students through pipeline initiatives such as the MSP Pre-Law Diversity Conference and the MSP Pre-Law Summer Academy. Approximately 700 pre-law students have taken advantage of these pipeline initiatives.
Rutgers Law Dean Johanna Bond recognized the immeasurable work and dedication of Dean Douglas at the gala. She said, “As we celebrate a decade of MSP in Camden, we also recognize that this milestone is the result of the commitment and vision of Dean Douglas. Her leadership has strengthened the program into a powerful engine of opportunity and community. The impact of her work can be seen in every student supported, every graduate launched into the profession, and every barrier broken along the way.”
MSP is committed to fostering inclusivity and supporting all students who have faced socioeconomic or educational disadvantages. This nationally acclaimed program is designed for individuals of underrepresented groups in the legal profession who have encountered discrimination or overcome social or socioeconomic challenges. The MSP takes a proactive approach to ensure the success of its students by providing essential resources such as legal skills development, academic support, mentoring, networking opportunities, internships, and more. Regardless of race or ethnic background, all Rutgers Law School students can be considered for the program.
MSP began shortly after the Newark Rebellion in 1967 when the community of Newark protested racially oppressive systems that plagued Newark and many other American cities. Recognizing the need for a meaningful response to the immense social and legal challenges of our nation and Newark in particular, MSP was established and welcomed its first class of 23 students in the fall of 1968. Since then, MSP has been instrumental in advancing the law school’s commitment to provide access to legal education to those historically under-represented in the legal profession.
Proceeds from the anniversary gala support first-year MSP scholars who have secured summer judicial internships.
In ongoing celebration of MSP Camden’s 10th anniversary and in line with MSP’s mission of advancing access to legal education and the legal profession, MSP Camden will host a half-day symposium that will focus on advancing access in legal education and in the legal profession on Friday, October 30.
Click here to support MSP Camden scholars
Click here to view the gala photo album
One of the goals of the Rutgers Law Strategic Plan is to expand our capacity as a national model for student access. Part of our strategy is to ensure access to an educational experience that will serve all learners and support our students’ transition into the profession. Click here to learn more about our Strategic Plan.