The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is proud to celebrate two members of its leadership team who will be honored at the 2026 K. Leroy Irvis Celebration.
Frances Newman, Director of Administrative Services, has been selected as a recipient of the Innovation in Service Award, and Kellie Ware, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, will receive the Emerging Leader Award.
Presented by the University’s Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing, the awards recognize individuals whose careers and character reflect the legacy of K. Leroy Irvis, a 1954 Pitt Law graduate, trailblazing legislator, and the first African American Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since Reconstruction.
The Innovation in Service Award honors individuals whose leadership exemplifies service, education, and cultural enrichment. The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates growing leadership and engagement in advancing positive change within the University or local community.
The awards will be presented during the University’s annual K. Leroy Irvis Celebration of Black History Month at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in the Connolly Ballroom, Alumni Hall.
As Director of Administrative Services, Frances plays a critical role in ensuring the Law School's smooth and effective operations. Her thoughtful leadership, problem-solving mindset, and deep institutional knowledge strengthen processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the experience of everyone who works and studies at Pitt Law.
“Frances is the steady force who makes excellence possible,” said Dean Jerry Dickinson. “Her innovation is not about recognition, but about results. She leads with integrity, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to our students, faculty, and staff. This award is a fitting tribute to the impact she makes every single day.”
In reflecting on the honor, Frances shared:
“It is truly meaningful to receive an award connected to K. Leroy Irvis’s legacy. His life reminds us that service matters and that leadership can be both principled and compassionate. I am grateful to be part of a community at Pitt that values collaboration, integrity, and a commitment to making things better for others.”
As Assistant Dean for Professional Development, Kellie oversees the office’s day-to-day operations, counsels students, develops programming to enhance students’ professional acumen, and engages with employers across sectors to expand opportunity for Pitt Law students.
Kellie received her BS in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. After working in community economic development as a tipstaff and starting her family, she earned her JD from Northeastern University School of Law, concentrating in Poverty Law and Economic Justice and Law and Development, and participating in the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic.
Upon returning to Pittsburgh, Kellie served as a staff attorney focusing on tenants’ rights at Neighborhood Legal Services. She later became the inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Analyst for the City of Pittsburgh and served as Executive Director of the NAACP’s Pittsburgh Branch. She has also held leadership roles at The Forbes Funds and the Allegheny County Bar Association, where she directed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts and led the Summer Clerkship Program. Her work with law students in that role sparked a passion for career counseling and professional development that she now brings to Pitt Law.
Dean Dickinson shared, “Kellie’s leadership reflects both vision and heart. She understands that professional development is about more than jobs. It is about confidence, access, preparation, and belonging. She brings deep community ties and an unwavering commitment to equity and student success. We are incredibly proud of her.”
“To receive an award connected to K. Leroy Irvis’s legacy is deeply meaningful. My work has always been rooted in expanding opportunity and helping others see what is possible for themselves. I am grateful to serve our students and to be part of a community that believes in developing leaders who will make a difference.”
This year’s celebration highlights individuals whose work embodies Irvis’s lifelong commitment to expanding educational opportunity, advancing civil rights, and strengthening communities.
We congratulate Frances and Kellie on these well-deserved recognitions and thank them for the leadership and care they bring to Pitt Law every day.