TALI Scholarships: 2023-2024 Recipients

Executive Leadership Academy Recipient: Danielle Mundekis

Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, where did you go to college?
I was born in the Bronx, New York and lived in suburb of the city called Mt. Vernon until I was almost 10 years old, when we moved to the Bronx. I went to an independent school called the Ethical Culture Fieldston School for grades 1-12, where ethics was a core component of the curriculum, and activism, outreach, and critical thinking were celebrated.

I went to Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, where I studied politics and French and played field hockey. My favorite professor was Paul Dawson. Senior year, we had a class with more registrants than seats. He asked us to design a policy for who stayed, using strict instructions. Upon submission, the papers of those who hadn’t precisely followed the instructions were immediately thrown away and those folks were asked to leave. There was one student who arrived late (stated in the assignment as automatic exclusion from being allowed to take the course until seats were determined), and Dawson made a show of castigating her while we all chose to watch silently. Once she left, he asked why none of us came to her defense, not regarding her tardiness, but instead, his treatment of her. Unbeknownst to us, that interaction was planned, as she wanted to drop the course. Dawson made a point to teach us to look at ourselves and everyone in that room and realize what we were willing to allow for personal gain. It’s an action I’ve never repeated.

Why did you decide to pursue diversity, equity and inclusion work? Why specifically at a law firm?
I went to my first DEIB conference with the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (the student component of the NAIS national diversity conference) as part of the People of Color Conference (the adult component of the NAIS national diversity conference) when I was in form IV. That conference was offered to students in independent schools of any race, who had an interest in DEIB and building stronger school communities. That was where I first realized that DEIB would be a part of whatever career path I chose. Every year that students attended the conference, we were charged with brining back what we learned to our school communities and transitioning those lessons into actionable, sustainable plans with our teachers, administrators, and DEIB counselors. My advisor, Randy Slaughter, was the Diversity Coordinator who facilitated students’ ability to attend the conference, and he has a profound impact on my educational and professional careers.

I’ve always wanted to work in law, but due to a series of traumatic incidents in college and lack of financial access, law school was unattainable at that time. I grew up with my mom’s side of the family because of racial and cultural biases from my father’s family. I am a first generation American, and the first in my family to be born here. The weight of expectation that carries is something that can only be truly felt by someone who shares a similar experience – the idea of performing at any level other than the top is unfathomable, and needing help, even more so. When that became the case, I had no idea how to ask, and the shame I felt along with needing to, especially because the root of my struggles did not originate from the classroom, but were felt there, made it nearly impossible, until it was almost too late. Chris Donaldson, the Assistant Dean for Inclusion and Belonging at Oberlin, along with Linda Gates, the Dean of Students, and Marvin Krislov, former President, became my champions, and were incredible contributors to my success, both academically and personally. That trio was an inordinate demonstration of advocacy, empathy and support. They also taught me the value of self-empowerment and self-advocacy, and what it looked like to navigate that path as an adult and with confidence.

I now do this work in a law firm because it is part of my mission to help secure the resources and access I wish I’d known sooner were available to me, for people who share similar experiences.

Why do you love Pittsburgh? 
I love Pittsburgh because of the opportunities that exist here, and the willingness that so many folks have to try to make it better. I’ve seen a real commitment to making and effort, and to learning and understanding the work it will take to make the access to opportunities more available to anyone seeking them.

What does this opportunity to be a TALI Executive Leader mean to you?
This experience is a tremendous opportunity to continue to build community, fellowship, and exposure for all participants, about the ways we contribute to our professional environments and how we can share those contributions across the entire city.

What can the legal community do better to support the growth and advancement of Black lawyers?
I talk all the time about the “unwritten rules” of what it means to be an upwardly mobile practicing attorney, particularly in big law – the legal community can better embrace that concept and more freely share the experiential knowledge, tips, and tricks that are less frequently made accessible to Black lawyers and lawyers who don’t come from generational legal and white-collar families. The legal community can also do a better job of trying to understand that cultural differences don’t automatically equal incompetence or lack of ability.

Who are your legal heroes?
There are way too many from across land and time to name, but I admire people who recognize that inclusion is not zero-sum, and that one’s advancement doesn’t have to come at the cost of another’s loss. I also admire the folks who advocate for the people that aren’t in the room.

Who is your favorite fictional lawyer?
I only watched the first two seasons, but I really liked Judge Lola Carmichael and Mark Callan on All Rise. I thought the show did a great job of showing their hopes and fears, and addressed each of them, as well as others, challenging their beliefs and biases within the context of the courtroom, even when those biases could on the surface be interpreted as “right.” The nuance of their relationship and lived-experiences shaping various issues, as well as their friendship, was also so important, and something I’d never seen explored quite so openly in this type of show. I also appreciated the highlight of the toll that working in the legal industry can take on personal lives and where that intersects with professional obligations. All with a healthy dose of drama, intrigue, and “this would never happen” for added flair!

Do you have anything else you want the Pittsburgh legal community to know about you?
I’m grateful for this opportunity and truly looking forward to the TALI experience!

Executive Leadership Academy Recipient: Nicole Rhodes

Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, where did you go to college?
I was born in New York City but grew up in Penn Hills, an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh. I went to the University of Pittsburgh where I majored in Communications and then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Why did you decide to go to law school? What motivated you to be a lawyer?
I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a little girl. Long before I knew what a lawyer actually was we had a family friend I looked up to who was a lawyer. I knew I wanted to be just like her so I had to be a lawyer. Later, when I learned what lawyers do the profession was the perfect match for all of my passions, reading, writing, researching and debating. There was never a time I wanted to be anything else and it’s incredible to be living my dream.

Why do you love Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is home. My family is here and I have an amazing circle of friends here as well. I’ve lived in other cities but there is something incredibly special about Pittsburgh. I hear people say there aren’t a lot of things to do in Pittsburgh but that couldn’t be further from the truth. From entertainment to good food, sports, and the arts, we have it all and everything is in such close proximity and easily accessible. The city isn’t perfect, but I love it, flaws and all.

What does this opportunity to be a TALI Executive Leader mean to you?
It is such an honor to be a part of the program. It means becoming a part of a group of black professionals that I hold in high esteem. It’s an opportunity to enhance skills I already have, discover new skills and tools to enhance my professional growth, and increase my professional network.

What can the legal community do better to support the growth and advancement of Black lawyers?
Mentorship is key but it has to start prior to law school. I was lucky enough to have mentors long before I went to law school. Those relationships provided me with information that was critical to my success but that many black law students and lawyers (especially those early in their careers) don’t have. My mentors stressed the importance of networking, helped me navigate LSAT prep and applying to law schools that were the best fit for my career goals and geographic preferences. They gave me a realistic picture of what to expect during law school also provided advice and support for challenges I faced during law school and after. Many black lawyers are first generation, unlike our counterparts who have a built-in support system and network from the start. Finding ways to provide significant mentorship during the pre-law school phase and throughout law school would have a significant impact on the success of black lawyers.

Who are your legal heroes?
Jane Bolin, who was the first black judge in the United States and the first black woman to graduate from Yale Law School. Also, Thurgood Marshall, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Who is your favorite fictional lawyer?
This is tough because there are so many! Definitely Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) in “How to Get Away With Murder” and a close second would be Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) from “A Time to Kill.”

Do you have anything else you want the Pittsburgh legal community to know about you?
That I am ready, willing, and able to be a resource for anyone that I can assist. I am committed, not just to my professional growth, but the professional growth of other black attorneys. I want Pittsburgh to be a city where black attorneys want to come and also want to stay. Anything I can do to make that happen; I’m fully committed.