Shatter Awards

Each spring, the Women’s Law Association recognizes professors teaching at HLS whom students feel represent the gold standard for promoting inclusiveness and equality, both through the content they teach and through their actions inside and outside the classroom.

Additionally, in recognition of both the critical role staff plays in the HLS community, as well as the important work done by graduates who work after law school on causes related to equity and social justice, the WLA honors staff and recent or under-recognized alumni.

These “Shatter the Ceiling” awards are intended to give a platform and recognition to HLS community members who actively advance racial and gender equity, practice inclusive mentorship and community building, and foster difficult conversations. Nominees do not have to be women in order to be nominated for or to win a Shatter Award!

Prior Awardees

2021
Special Awards for Faculty and Staff that Provided Exceptional Help to Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic:
Professor Sabrineh Ardalan
Professor Alexandra Natapoff
Catherine Pattanayak, Assistant Dean for Public Service
Professor Rachel Viscomi
Kristi Jobson, Assistant Dean for Admissions

2019
Excellence in Fostering an Inclusive Classroom Environment: Da Lin, Climenko Fello
Staff Excellence in Promoting Equity and Justice: Shanell Lavery, PLAP Program Manager
Award for Alumni Excellence: Judge Lauren Reeder, Harris County District Judge
Excellence in Promoting Gender Equality: All Professors who Signed the Kavanaugh Letter

2018
Award for Faculty Excellence: Professor Ruth Okediji
Award for Staff Excellence: Carol Flores
Award for Alumni Excellence: Ally Coll Steele, Co-Founder and President of the Purple Campaign

2017
Excellence in Mentorship: Professor D. James Greiner
Excellence in Fostering an Inclusive Classroom Environment: Professor Todd Rakoff
Excellence in Integrating Social Justice: Professor Jon Hanson
Excellence in Promoting Gender Equality: Professor Catharine MacKinnon
Excellence in Promoting Racial Equality: Professor Khiara Bridges
Excellence in Engaging Students in Difficult Conversations: Professor Alex Whiting and Professor Douglas Nejaime

2016
Award for Excellence in Inclusive Mentorshi: Professor Ruth Okediji
Award for Excellence in Advancing Gender Equality in the Classroom: Professor Rebecca Tushnet
Award for Excellence in Advancing Racial Equality in the Classroom: Professor Aziz Rana
Award for Excellence in Integrating Feminist Legal Theory into the Curriculum: Professor Diane Rosenfeld
Award for Excellence in Integrating Critical Race Theory into the Curriculum: Professor Fernando Ribeiro Delgado
Award for Excellence in Integrating Social Justice into the Curriculum: Professor Jon Hanson