Kendell is the executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Under the direction of Kendell, who took the helm in 1996, NCLR tackles important legal work that protects and advances the civil and human rights of LGBT people and their families across the nation. Kendell also previously served as the first staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, and while there directly litigated many high profile cases focusing on all aspects of civil liberties and human rights.

Each year PIPS uses the Dom Vetri Award to honor an attorney or scholar who has demonstrated a significant commitment to advancing legal issues in public interest and public service work. The award is named after Dom Vetri, a professor emeritus at the University of Oregon School of Law, who founded the PIPS Program and has taught law for more than four decades. When Professor Vetri retired in 2008, PIPS established this award in his honor.

Annual Auction Benefits Public Interest Fund

The 16th Annual OLSPIF Benefit Auction will be held on February 18. To elevate the auction’s professionalism and stature, and to help increase revenue with more lawyer, community, and faculty attendance, this year the auction will be held at the Eugene Country Club. This event raises funds for summer stipends for students, so that they can accept public service jobs that would otherwise be unpaid. Stipend recipients help clients in desperate situations, and a stipend position can be the very job that leads to a career in public service. The evening will feature a buffet dinner and no host bar, a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction beginning at 7 p.m. Student tickets are $15; attorney and faculty tickets are $25.

For more information or to arrange to donate items to be auctioned, contact Nicole Hermann.