University of Richmond School of Law professor wins YWCA Outstanding Woman of Achievement in Education award
February 13, 2009
The YWCA of Richmond has named Adrienne Volenik, director of the disability law clinic and clinical professor at University of Richmond School of Law, as its 2009 Outstanding Woman of Achievement in Education.
Volenik was one of 10 women to receive awards in 10 categories, including arts, business, communications, health and science, and religion.
The winners were selected from more than 80 nominations, based on their impact on the community, leadership skills, personal and professional achievement, and commitment to the YWCA of Richmond's mission to eliminate racism, empower women and elevate children.
Volenik will be recognized at an awards luncheon April 29 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Volenik, who also serves as acting director of the law school's National Center for Family Law, has taught at Richmond since 1996. She holds a B.A. from Marietta College and a J.D. from the University of Maryland. She is co-author of "Law and Tactics in Juvenile Cases" and "Interstate Child Custody Disputes and Parental Kidnapping: Policy, Practice and Law."
Students in her disability law clinic work with low income parents from the Richmond area "who need help securing an appropriate education for their children within the public school system," Volenik said. The children have various disabilities, such as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, auditory perception problems and other types of learning disabilities. Law students spend hundreds of hours assisting families in securing appropriate educational services. If litigation is required, law students go to court on behalf of their clients, with two even arguing a case successfully before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Mentoring law students is very rewarding," said Volenik. "Seeing them grow in confidence as they handle a case well and achieve a positive result for a family is especially gratifying."
Families are referred to the clinic by former clients, teachers, psychologists and other attorneys, and the clinic handles eight to 10 cases per year.
Volenik was instrumental in setting up the law school's new Family Law Clinic, a central component of the university's new downtown center, where she hopes students from the law school and the university's education department will offer presentations to area parents about education law. "Parents are frequently unaware of their rights under federal and state laws. We hope to change that," she said.