Establishment of DEI Excellence Award

Dear Fellows:

The American College of Bankruptcy and its Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are pleased to report the establishment of an annual DEI Excellence Award. The award is to be presented, by unanimous resolution of the College’s board of directors, to “one or more deserving individuals or an organization . . . that has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to and achievement realized in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.”

The College will present its inaugural DEI Excellence Awards at its semi-annual meeting in October in Orlando, Florida.

We are pleased to announce that the initial recipients of the awards will be Judge Jeffrey Hopkins of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio and Chief Judge Laurel Isicoff of the Southern District of Florida. Judges Hopkins and Isicoff launched the College’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as co-chairs of its landmark DEI Commission. Throughout their careers, both have actively devoted enormous time and energy to addressing and promoting DEI objectives in the bankruptcy/restructuring community and beyond.

The College heartily congratulates Judges Hopkins and Isicoff and is deeply grateful for their tireless work.

Hon. Erithe A. Smith                     Paul E. Harner

United States Bankruptcy Court   Sheppard Mullin

Central District of California