With many states across the country moving to restrict voting rights, the need for skilled advocates who can work to increase voter participation, access, and protection is urgent. To help meet that vital need, Steve Cozen, C’61, L’64, and his wife, Sandy, have established the Cozen Family Voting Rights Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Strengthening the Bedrock of Democracy
New Fellowship at Penn Carey Law Supports Voting Rights Advocacy
Published: June 22, 2021
With support from this new fellowship, a graduate of the Law School will receive two years of funding to engage in legal work that advances and protects voting rights.
“Establishing this fellowship provides an important opportunity for our graduates to use their degrees to work in the critical areas of voter participation, access, and protection—in which there is currently much effort to restrict,” said Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law Ted Ruger. “The generosity and vision of the Cozens to help meet this moment ensures the Law School’s continued commitment to access to justice for all, including protecting the ability and right to vote.”
Cozen Fellows will work to advocate for policies related to voting rights, such as reforms to prevent voter disenfranchisement and expanded access to absentee and mail-in voting. In addition, they will engage directly with systematically disenfranchised individuals and communities to gather data on hidden barriers to voting and to advocate for change.
“Sandy and I strongly believe that our democracy and its institutions and norms, including the rule of law, are being challenged as never before by legislative attempts to restrict or deny the right to vote,” said Cozen, who is a member of the Law School’s Board of Advisors and has previously served as an adjunct professor at the Law School. “That basic right, we believe, is the cornerstone of our democracy and we will do anything we can to help preserve that right in a fully unencumbered fashion.”
That basic right [to vote], we believe, is the cornerstone of our democracy and we will do anything we can to help preserve that right in a fully unencumbered fashion.”Steve Cozen, C’61, L’64
Beginning this summer, the Cozen Family Voting Rights Fellowship will accept applications every other year from third-year Law School students and recent alumni who have the commitment and skills to pursue work related to voting rights.
Thanks to the Cozen family’s generosity during The Power of Penn Campaign, Penn Law will be training even more advocates for democracy in the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.
