Lisa Neal-Graves '06, a dedicated and engaged Colorado Law alumna, never envisioned herself as a fundraiser. However, after meeting Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss during her interview with the Law Alumni Board and witnessing the transformative impact of her work, Neal-Graves discovered a newfound passion for supporting the school in a meaningful way.
鈥淲hat I loved about Dean Inniss is her commitment to what she talked about during her interview, creating a focus on greater inclusivity in the technology law and policy area. As a technologist, she was speakingdirectly to my soul,鈥� she said.
Since assuming her role as dean in July 2021, Inniss has hired more than 30 full-time faculty members and led numerous cross-disciplinary initiatives, including a recent conference on AI and the Constitution. As Colorado Law鈥檚 second female dean and first Black dean in its 130-year history, her appointment is historic. Inspired by this milestone, Neal-Graves felt compelled to help create a lasting legacy in honor of Inniss.
鈥淚t鈥檚 historic that Dean Inniss is here at CU Law. There should be something we do that is a legacy reminder of her work,鈥� Neal-Graves explained.
She reached out to her classmates, Rita Sanzgiri '06, PhD, patent attorney and assistant general patent counsel at Eli Lilly and Co., and Laurie Rust '06, shareholder at Littler Mendelson P.C., to discuss setting up a fund. The idea quickly gained traction, and soon, a coalition of female lawyers united to support Inniss鈥� vision and ensure her legacy endures. The fund, dedicated to supporting faculty whose scholarship centers the legal history of Black entrepreneurship and technology in the American West, reflects Neal-Graves' passion for the field.
鈥淚t needs to be normalized that we look for talent regardless of how and where it鈥檚 embodied. Tech law is a very male-centric area. The more inclusivity we can have both in the law and in tech, the better we will be in terms of creating a world where all the right people are at the table to find solutions we wouldn鈥檛 have had otherwise,鈥� she said.
To date, more than a dozen alumni have committed to supporting the fund, including Judge Claudia Jordan '80, Colorado鈥檚 first Black female judge, and Velveta Golightly-Howell '81, Colorado鈥檚 first Black female prosecutor.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to see this fund associated with Dean Inniss鈥� name live on in the law school as a reminder of the great things that happen when you have inclusivity and leadership from all walks of life,鈥� Neal-Graves added.
Dr. Rita Sanzgiri, a longtime supporter of Colorado Law, was also inspired by Inniss鈥� vision, background, and commitment to inclusivity in the legal profession and wanted to get involved.
"Dean Inniss has brought fresh ideas to the school. She has hired a diverse group of faculty with global, modern views on the law, covering areas like immigration law, the rights of noncitizens, American Indian law, race and law, law and gender, and, not to forget, patent law. She has a bold vision for the law school, which we support,鈥� Sanzgiri noted.
While Neal-Graves and Sanzgiri never sought to become fundraisers, they now embrace their roles with enthusiasm, driven by a mission they deeply believe in. 鈥淵ou can only fundraise effectively when you truly believe in the cause. This is something special and unique that will benefit the school. Dean Inniss is a unique individual leading the school in a unique time in our history,鈥� Sanzgiri said.
Neal-Graves and Sanzgiri hope the fund has long-term, far-reaching impacts, enabling Colorado Law to attract even more talented faculty with diverse perspectives and expertise.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e the first鈥攐r one of the only鈥攜ou need a support network you can feel comfortable reaching out to. This fund will allow the dean to do something more substantive than what she could do without it,鈥� Neal-Graves concluded.
From left: Colorado Law's Jeremy Jones, Laurie Rust '06, Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss, Lisa Neal-Graves '06, Rita Sanzgiri '06, and Hon. Claudia Jordan '80.