The American Bar Association Section of Taxation has announced its 2023-2026 class of Loretta Collins Argrett Fellows. The three-year fellowship seeks to create a more accessible and equitable pipeline into the Tax Section and the tax bar.
Loretta Collins Argrett was the first African American staff member of the U.S. Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation. In 1993, she became the first African American woman in Justice Department history to hold a position that required U.S. Senate confirmation and was confirmed as the assistant attorney general of the U.S. Justice Department’s Tax Division.
The 2023-26 fellows are:
• Goldburn Maynard, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
• Jorge M. Obén, IRS Office of Chief Counsel (International)
• Sonia Shaikh, Miles & Stockbridge
• Sonya Watson, U.S. Tax Court
• Linda Whitfield, Loyola Marymount University Loyola Law School
The goal of the Argrett fellowship is to identify, engage and infuse historically underrepresented individuals into the section; create a more accessible, equitable and inclusive pathway into section leadership; and support the expansion, diversification and inclusiveness of the tax profession to create a space and sense of belonging for those looking to become involved with the section.
The fellowship is a three-year program and applicants need not be members of the Tax Section or ABA to apply. Fellows receive complimentary ABA and section membership, waiver of registration fees for the section’s meetings and, to the extent permitted, reimbursement for travel and lodging. Fellows will be paired with two Tax Section member mentors during their fellowship and will participate in monthly educational webinars. Additionally, special fellows-only events will allow fellows to learn more about the section and its leadership. For more information on the Argrett Fellowship, visit www.americanbar.org/groups/taxation/dei/argrett-fellowship.
“We welcome these five outstanding Loretta Collins Argrett Fellows, selected from 82 deserving applicants,” said Tax Section Chair Wells Hall. “We look forward to seeing them seize leadership opportunities and advance the goals of the section, consistent with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan, while advancing their own careers in tax.”
“We are thrilled to welcome our second class of Argrett fellows and look forward to working closely with them and their colleagues in the inaugural class,” said Caroline Ciraolo, vice chair of Membership, Diversity & Inclusion for the Tax Section. “The Argrett Fellowship is a groundbreaking initiative that has been tremendously successful thanks to the fellows, their section mentors, section leadership, and so many others who have and continue to contribute to this important endeavor.”
The Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowships are funded through the Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund. More information on the fund can be found here.
The ABA Section of Taxation is the largest professional association of tax lawyers, with approximately 11,000 members nationwide. Its goals include helping taxpayers better understand their rights and obligations under the tax laws and working to achieve a simplified tax system that is equitable and efficient.
