Sadie T.M. Alexander, standing in front of a fair employment booth in 1947, was the first Black woman to earn a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania. —CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PHOTO
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is launching a new postgraduate fellowship to honor the late Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the school’s first Black graduate and a pioneering figure in civil rights.
The fellowship will provide two years of funding to graduates engaged in civil rights advocacy, with a focus on racial and economic justice. It will prioritize projects that serve communities in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., two cities closely tied to Alexander’s work and legacy.
In addition to the fellowship, the law school will introduce a full-tuition scholarship for incoming students with the greatest financial need.
“Together, these initiatives affirm Penn Carey Law’s dedication to reducing barriers to entry and ensuring that students regardless of financial circumstances can embark on their legal education and carry forward into their choice of meaningful careers,” the law school said in a statement on its website.
“These initiatives also honor the legacy of Dr. Alexander by extending her vision of access and opportunity while the Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Scholarship remains paused for new applicants,” the statement added.
Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, expressed optimism about Penn Carey Law’s renewed commitment to social justice and supporting students with financial need.
“This fellowship offers the next generation of civil and human rights leaders a chance to learn about Sadie Alexander’s legacy, engage in important discussions and advance social justice initiatives in our society,” Lassiter said.
“Many universities, including the Ivies, now recognize that students come from marginalized communities—urban, suburban and rural,” he continued. “Any effort to support them, especially given the high cost of tuition, is something that should be commended.”
A native Philadelphian, Sadie T.M. Alexander was a groundbreaking leader in law, economics, and civil rights. She was the first African American in the U.S. to earn a doctoral degree in economics and the first Black woman to graduate from Penn Law.
She also became Philadelphia’s first Black female assistant city solicitor and co-founded the city’s Commission on Human Relations. Alexander practiced law for more than five decades and passed away in 1989 at age 91.
In August, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced that sculptor Vinnie Bagwell will create a statue honoring Alexander. The statue will be installed at Thomas Paine Plaza as the city’s third monument dedicated to a historic African American woman.
Renee Chenault-Fattah, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and a Penn Carey Law alumna, expressed gratitude that her alma mater is launching a new program in honor of Alexander.
Last month, Chenault-Fattah sent a letter to Dean Sophia Z. Lee expressing concern about the school’s decision to pause the scholarship program.
“I was extremely disappointed in the initial decision to pause the Sadie T.M. Alexander scholarship,” Chenault-Fattah said.
“From the beginning there was swift opposition to Penn’s first decision, led by the family of Sadie T.M. Alexander, Black Penn Law alums, current Black Penn Law students, and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Executive Director Chad Lassiter.”
“This latest decision to create a new fellowship honoring Alexander’s legacy is proof we make a difference when we stand together and speak out,” she added.
The announcement comes after controversy over Penn Carey Law’s decision to pause its full-tuition scholarships honoring Alexander and close its Office of Equal Opportunity and Engagement.
Launched in 2021 to support students committed to racial justice, the scholarship was proposed by Penn’s Black Law Students Association. While current recipients will keep their funding, the pause drew backlash from students, alumni, and the community.
The decision follows national efforts by the Trump administration to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, prompting Penn to begin removing DEI references from its websites in February.
Lassiter, who has both studied and taught at Penn, stated that the law school has yet to provide a clear explanation for its decision to pause the scholarship and close the Office of Equal Opportunity and Engagement.
Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, revisiting the significance of this moment, and uplifting Alexander’s legacy for future generations.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions for many,” Lassiter said. “There needs to be an update on what went into the decision of this initially happening. It’s OK to have an honest admission to say we got this wrong and now we’re trying to make it right.”
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