Legal expertise has always been a crucial need in the finance industry, as banking and legal fields are inextricably connected. Established in 2000, the Center for Banking and Finance helps Carolina Law remain at the forefront of these affiliated fields.
The center advances the teaching of banking finance to the corporate sector, where we share our legal expertise with bank directors, cyber security experts and financial service leaders. In other words, the center contributes to the continual evolution of the financial services industry. Much of its success can be attributed to the center’s director and faculty member Lissa Broome. As one of the authors of the Banking Law case book, her text is used by law schools across the country, as she joins other faculty at the top of their fields to contribute her expertise.
Lissa Broome also leads the center’s Director Diversity Initiative (DDI), a program that encourages boards of directors of public companies to increase their gender, racial and ethnic diversity. DDI promotes such initiatives as Broadening Corporate Board Diversity: Earning a Board Seat, a series of programs that’s been offered every year since 2006. In addition, the DDI has partnered with the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College—jointly sponsored by our Center for Banking and Finance, the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, and the FDIC—to provide scholarships supporting diverse students whose career ambitions could potentially position them to join bank boards.
Lynne Fuller-Andrew, Deputy General Counsel, participated in DDI during its formative years. “The Director Diversity Initiative is an invaluable resource for the state’s financial institutions as it tries to identify board ready leaders and equip them for service,” said Lynne. “By expanding and diversifying the talent pool, banks can access people who are not only qualified but also willing to commit themselves to strengthening the institution by helping it to align itself to its customer base and community. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
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