UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion; Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar; and clinical professor of law at Penn State Law in University Park, is the recipient of the 2023 W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Achievement Award.

Established in 1995, the award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University. It is named for the late deputy vice president for international programs.

Nominators said Wadhia, who had extensive experience at a Washington, D.C.-area immigration law firm and nonprofit before joining Penn State in 2008, is an asset for international students. To illustrate, her responses to several nationwide travel restrictions gave necessary guidance to students. She has also partnered with Penn State Global to educate the community and create fact sheets about policy changes impacting students and scholars.

Wadhia is founder and director of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic (CIRC) at Penn State Law, which gives law students practical training on immigration law in the following areas: community outreach and education, pro bono legal work and policy work. At CIRC, students are trained to become effective immigration advocates and attorneys under Wadhia’s supervision. Work by students in CIRC have included drafting legal documents, producing fact sheets for communities impacted by changing immigration policy, and engaging in community legal education and training.  

At Penn State, Wadhia created the Immigration Roundtable, an assembly of immigration experts who work on topics including migration, undocumented and documented immigrants, and international students.

“Wadhia, the child of immigrants to the United States, has long been an advocate for all those coming to the nation,” a nominator said. “She does not just focus on the international students at Penn State, but she has advocated for an understanding of those who are both undocumented, with DACA and here through legal status. She has a strong relationship with the State College borough administrators, including officials and the police. A frequent speaker, she has provided training to a broad range of individuals within the community. She’s been active in the civil rights and discrimination for Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities.”

Wadhia also worked to protect students subject to various travel bans that prevented their entry in the United States. Concerned for students, she opened up channels of dialogue regarding the bans. During this time, some students were unable to visit family members and some students’ spouses were unable to return to the United States during this time. Wadhia worked with her connections in Boston to find options for these students. She also helped create literature for the Penn State community to shed light on the subtle details of the restrictions, nominators said.