Jennifer Solidum Rose, director of the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) at the University of Hawaiʻi, was named Outstanding Woman Lawyer by the Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers (HWL) organization at its annual awards reception on April 12. The Outstanding Woman Lawyer award is presented annually to an attorney in Hawaiʻi who has achieved accomplishments of significant merit that advance the mission of HWL. This year, HWL recognizes Rose’s advocacy work in addressing gender equity, most recently through her efforts at the university to improve institutional response to allegations of sexual harassment and gender violence throughout the UH system.
Rose has worked for more than 20 years as an attorney working to advance civil rights and advocate for systems change in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Under her leadership, OIE coordinates and oversees the university’s systemwide policies and initiatives related to Title IX and the federal Violence Against Women Act, providing resources, training, expertise and advocacy.
Under her guidance, the university participated in a state legislative task force that assisted in passing 2016 legislation that mandated, among other items, Title IX training for students and staff, a confidential advocate at each campus and ongoing campus climate surveys. She led and advised the university’s process in updating its sexual harassment and violence policies to ensure a consistent and equitable institutional response across the 10 UH campuses.
Additionally, Rose served as the principle investigator to the comprehensive student campus climate survey on sexual harassment and gender-based violence and oversaw the survey’s launch to students systemwide. She has worked to develop and implement a centralized, homegrown Title IX case management system for use on each of UH’s 10 campuses. She is frequently called upon as an authority on the utilization of legal and advocacy strategies to combat sexual harassment and violence against women.
A long standing educator and advocate for women
Since 2005, she has taught the Family Law Clinic at the William S. Richardson School of Law, a course on domestic violence and civil remedies, and was twice recognized as Adjunct Professor of the Year Award for her teaching.
Rose has received numerous awards for her advocacy work on behalf of women and marginalized populations. Named one of Honolulu’s Most Inspiring Women by the Honolulu City and County’s Committee on the Status of Women, Rose has served on the board of Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers for 10 years and on numerous committees of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court and the Hawaiʻi Commission on Access to Justice. She has also served on advisory committees of the National Asian Pacific Islander Institute on Gender Based Violence and, more recently, on the Hawaiʻi advisory committee of the Joyful Heart Foundation.
More about Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers
HWL is a non-profit organization that educates, mentors and promotes women attorneys and actively works on issues affecting the legal profession, women professionals and women and children who are in need. HWL organizes, participates and supports public and private activities and projects, including legislation, judicial appointments, career, and health and welfare matters that affect the community.
