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A first-generation immigrant from Suriname, South America who is fluent in Dutch, Professor Salihah Denman is the first person in her family to become a lawyer in the United States. She attended Howard University School of Law and obtained an LLM from American University’s Washington College of Law. Her passion for academia and working with students has been a driving force throughout her career. Currently, she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at Haub Law and Director of Student Diversity Initiatives for the New York State Judicial Institute and Director of the Institute’s New York Legal Educational Opportunity (“NY LEO”) program. Learn more about Professor Denman in this Q&A.

How has your background as a first-generation immigrant from Suriname, South America impacted your career and outlook?

My background has allowed me to connect with first generation law students and lawyers. When I went to law school it was like entering another world that spoke a different language. Navigating the silent syllabus was challenging. I enjoy being a support for law students and aspiring lawyers by helping to guide them on their journey.

Can you talk a bit about your passion for academia and how that evolved?

My passion for academia and working with students has been a driving force throughout my career. Teaching legal practice at New York Law School was a transformative experience, allowing me to share my enthusiasm for the law with eager students. When I had the chance to teach Family Law at Haub Law, it sparked a deeper realization of my desire to share this specialized area of law with the next generation of legal minds. I thrive on the opportunity to examine legal issues through both macro and micro lenses, and being part of the scholarly community allows me to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse.

Your research interests and areas of expertise include Family Law and Children and the Law – what is it about those areas that hold your interest?

I am interested in these areas because they impact the very fabric of our society. Issues in these areas can have lifelong traumatic effects on families. There are also a lot of negative aspects of the system that can have dire consequences for children including the foster care to prison pipeline.

Can you talk about your role with the Judicial Institute and the New York Legal Educational Opportunity (“NY LEO”) program?

I have the opportunity to expose students to the law from a very young age. We have programs beginning in middle school all the way to students pursuing law school. NY LEO is a program that bridges the gap for students who do not have access to people within the legal community to guide them. It also exposes them to some of the concepts and cases for first year doctrinal courses.

What are some of your current research interests and projects?

I am interested in procedural and evidentiary safeguards in the child welfare system. My present project focuses on evidentiary burdens in child removal proceedings.

As a professor you are tasked with teaching students, but what have you also learned from them in return?

Our students have such resiliency and dedication to becoming great lawyers. Their intellectual curiosity always adds additional layers of analysis and thought to our in-class discussions.

What advice do you have for law students?

To follow your dreams and know that you will be successful in your careers. Law is not always a straight line; every part of your journey will contribute to your success.

Aside from law, how do you spend your spare time?

I love to spend time with my husband and two daughters. I love to read and also really enjoy traveling. My favorite place that I have traveled so far is Croatia.