Celebrating the Skadden Fellowship Program’s 35th Anniversary!
For 35 years, we’ve provided two-year fellowships to recent law graduates pursuing a career in public interest law. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, we are delighted to share profiles of one Skadden Fellow from each year, who together illustrate the Foundation's extraordinary impact.
2003
Senior Principal, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund
Victoria Selkowe
Building on her advocacy during her Fellowship, Vicky has championed and led equity-focused economic mobility efforts through various nonprofit and government roles.
My Skadden Fellowship was an empowering and catalyzing start to my career in systems change and public service. The network of inspiring Fellows, as well as the freedom to experiment and learn, made it excitingly clear that I could combine my personal passions and legal training for incredible impact. I remain very grateful for that strong foundational support 20 years later.
2005
Executive Director, National Center for Youth Law
Shakti Belway
Building directly off her Fellowship work representing the needs of children and families in their efforts to access educational services and secure quality public schools for all, Shakti directs the policy, litigation and strategic initiatives at one of the country's most effective youth advocacy organizations.
2023
Skadden Fellow
Sarah Rosenkrantz
Sarah, who co-founded and operated a youth homeless shelter before law school, represent tenants who are Section 8 voucher-holders facing risk of homelessness because of an eviction or termination of their vouchers.
I spent many years working in homeless shelters and went to law school with the hope of challenging the oppressive systems that cause housing instability. I am deeply grateful to the Skadden Foundation for allowing me to continue this work in my community, which is experiencing an unparalleled housing crisis.
1999
Legal Director at Children's Law Center
LaShanda Taylor Adams
LaShanda recently returned — now as the legal director — to her Fellowship host organization, the Children's Law Center.
I knew that I wanted to devote my legal career to supporting children and families. My Fellowship allowed me to start that career at a leading child advocacy organization. All that I have accomplished over the past 25 years has been built upon the strong foundation that Skadden afforded me.
1998
Program Director, Human Rights and Democracy at Overbrook Foundation
Risa Kaufman
Risa’s career advancing women’s rights as human rights began during her Fellowship, and has spanned philanthropy, legal education, non-profit work, and board service.
The Skadden Fellowship has been both a launching pad and a home base for my public interest career. My experiences as a Fellow indelibly shaped who I am as a lawyer and advocate, and the remarkable Fellowship community nurtures, fuels and inspires me today.