The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL), an institute of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has awarded its inaugural Mark Smith Academy Scholarship to the Honorable Helewena Nesru Kedir, a judge on the Ethiopian Federal High Court. The scholarship fully funded Judge Nesru Kedir’s participation in the 60th Academy of American and International Law (the Academy), currently underway at SWIICL’s education center in Plano, Texas.
The Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 2024 to honor former CAIL President Mark Smith, who served as Dean of the Academy for two decades. Known for his warmth and leadership, Smith personally welcomed thousands of international legal professionals to Texas throughout his tenure. The endowment was made possible through generous contributions from CAIL trustees and Academy alumni committed to expanding access to this globally recognized program.
“For decades, Mark shaped not only the Academy, but the global legal community it fostered,” said Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL. “This scholarship is a natural extension of his legacy—opening doors for extraordinary individuals like Judge Nesru Kedir, whose work already reflects the ideals of justice and international cooperation that the Academy exists to promote.”
Held from May 26 to June 27, the 60th Academy has brought together 38 lawyers, judges, and legal professionals from 17 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The five-week program offers intensive training in U.S. law, international business transactions and disputes, and rule of law topics—taught by distinguished professors and experienced global practitioners.
The Mark Smith Academy Scholarship covers tuition, travel, and lodging for one Academy participant annually and reflects SWIICL’s commitment—through CAIL—to strengthening justice and advancing the rule of law through education, access, and international dialogue.
For more information about the Academy or the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship, please contact CAIL's Communications Officer, Karla Larraga, at [email protected].
About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law.