Houston, Texas (October 4, 2022) — NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson ’97, a South Texas College of Law Houston alumnus, will present the Inaugural Diversity Lecture on Oct. 4, 2022, for The Benny Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center at STCL Houston.
The Benny Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center at STCL Houston was established in October 2021 with a $3 million gift from the Agosto family. The gift to Mr. Agosto’s law school alma mater supported two of his passions: giving back to the community and encouraging more diversity in the legal field.
The Agosto Diversity Lecture series aims to engage STCL Houston students and the legal community on diverse topics, fully embracing the conversations and public policy surrounding diversity and what it means to be a lawyer in a pluralistic society. The center will host prominent scholars, thought leaders, and innovative artists who can foster important conversations both inside the law school and in the larger legal community.
Agosto, a 1995 graduate of STCL Houston, has focused much of his career on helping change the face of law to become more diverse. “The legal field is sorely lacking minorities, and I have been proactive in my career to try to change that – starting in the law firm where I work,” Agosto said. “If we don’t do anything differently, 30 years from now the legal profession will look the same as it does today.”
“The Benny Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center will place South Texas at the forefront of the conversation on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the legal profession – and will allow us to invest in the students who will provide legal services to our diverse community,” said Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Professor of Law Shelby Moore.
Agosto is a managing partner with Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, and Stogner in Houston, the longest-standing plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm in Texas. He has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Texas.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 4 from 4-5 p.m. in Garrett Townes Auditorium at STCL Houston (1303 San Jacinto St.), with a reception to follow. Participation is free and open to the public, but registration is required.