Fellowships and Scholarships

Dwight L. Greene Memorial Scholarship

The Dwight L. Greene Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to one student who has demonstrated a commitment to advocacy on behalf of minority groups.

Hofstra Law Professor Dwight L. Greene was a brilliant scholar, a talented teacher and a beloved colleague. 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University and was a graduate of Harvard Law School. He joined the Hofstra Law faculty in 1984. Professor Greene’s scholarly work displayed an extraordinary breadth and range of interests. He not only wrote enthusiastically about banking law, but was also committed to critical race scholarship.

Through his important work, Professor Greene sought clear identification of racial, gender and class problems, and he proposed solutions. Professor Greene was an inspiration to hundreds of students fortunate enough to have learned from him during his all-too-brief career.

In 1995, shortly after his sudden and premature death, Hofstra Law School, the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell, and Professor Greene’s family, friends and colleagues endowed a scholarship in his honor.

One full scholarship is awarded each year to an incoming first year student. The recipient receives full tuition and fees for three years of law school. The scholarship also includes an annual stipend of up to $5,000 to offset living expenses while working for a not-for-profit or governmental agency dedicated to the advocacy for under-represented minority groups.

The scholarship is open to persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, ages and genders. The scholarship recipient is selected on the basis of:

  • Demonstrated academic excellence.
  • Proven leadership ability and community service.
  • Experience with advocacy on behalf of minority groups prior to law school, including political activity, aid to minority social support networks, participation in events that promote the visibility of minorities, and other forms of charitable and/or philanthropic activity.

Consideration is given to the applicant’s plans to advocate on behalf of minority communities. In order to be considered, applicants must submit all required materials for the scholarship and JD application. The selection of finalists is conducted by a Faculty Committee, which may request an on-campus interview with candidates.

Applicants must submit:

  1. A Completed Application
  2. A Resume
  3. A Personal Statement
    Professor Greene brought great insight, commitment and dedication to the pursuit of social justice for minority groups. In no more than three pages, please discuss how your past activities have furthered the interests of justice and equality for minority groups, and how you expect your career as an attorney to advance these goals further.
  4. Two Letters of Recommendation
    Include two letters from persons who can speak to your experience with advocacy on behalf of minority groups. They cannot be the same as those submitted as a part of your J.D. application. The application and further instructions can be found on the Admitted Student Portal.

To submit an application and for more information please contact lawadmissions@hofstra.edu.