Our History
The Sylvania Woods Conference on African Â鶹´«Ã½s and the Law—initially known as the African Â鶹´«Ã½s and the Law Conference began as a component program of the Washington College of Law Centennial Celebration in April 1997. The Honorable Sylvania Webb Woods of Prince Georges County, Maryland, was a member of a panel of judges who spoke about their paths to the judiciary during the first conference. Following Judge Woods death, the conference became an element of the now-annual Founders’ Celebration, and the decision was made to honor his memory by naming it the Sylvania Woods Conference on African Â鶹´«Ã½s and the Law.