FACULTY NEWS
Faculty Excellence A Year of Scholarship, Teaching and Service
These accolades reflect a broader culture of excellence. Professor Jamie Abrams led national conversations on inclusive Socratic teaching and reproductive rights. Tamar Alexanian presented on trans youth rights and feedback in legal education, while Hilary Allen shaped debates on financial regulation and AI, including legislative testimony. Professor Carlos Ayala was elected president of the prestigious International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
Professor Rebecca Hamilton (center) receives the Scholar of the Year Award from President Jon Alger (leſt) and Provost Vicky Wilkins (right).
The past year has been marked by extraordinary accomplishments among our faculty, as professors advanced critical scholarship, shaped national and global conversations, and earned prestigious awards for their work.
At the 2025 Faculty Scholarship and Teaching & Service Awards, several faculty members were formally honored — and recent American University recognitions were also acknowledged. Among them, Professor Rebecca Hamilton was celebrated for receiving AU’s university-wide Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award, and Professor Walter A. Effross was recognized for 30 years of distinguished service to the university.
AUWCL-specific honors included the Pauline Ruyle Moore Award,
which was presented to Professor Jayesh Rathod for his Columbia Law Review article Fleeing the Land of the Free, and to Professor Charles Duan for On Abstractions and Patent Eligibility (University of Chicago Law Review Online). Professor Susan Franck was awarded the Edwin A. Mooers Scholar Award for her work in international dispute resolution. Professor Robert Dinerstein received the Innovation in Pedagogy Award for his pioneering contributions to clinical legal education, and Professors Heather Ridenour and David Spratt were honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award for their outstanding instruction in legal writing. Professor Anita Sinha was recognized with the Outstanding Service Award for her commitment to immigration and human rights advocacy.
40 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
Professors Priya Baskaran and Lise Beske contributed to AI ethics and constitutional law, respectively. Chaz Brooks continued his work on racial wealth disparities, and Susan Carle published on civil rights lawyering and Title VII protections. Michael Carroll advanced thought leadership on copyright and AI.
N. Jeremi Duru addressed DEI in sports, and Lia Epperson delivered major civil rights lectures. Christine Farley published on trademark and design authenticity, and Andrew Ferguson’s scholarship explored AI in policing.
Faculty leaders in experiential and clinical education included Tianna Gibbs, Binny Miller, and Cynthia Goode Works. Claudio Grossman received international honors for his human rights leadership.
Lewis Grossman published on medical mistrust and
reproductive rights. Rebecca Hamilton advanced scholarship on international justice and freedom of the press, while Cynthia Jones updated “Mastering Criminal Law” and trained federal judges.
Benjamin Leff and Jeffrey Lubbers continued leadership in tax and administrative law, respectively. Maya Manian published widely on reproductive justice, and Fernanda Nicola contributed international scholarship on comparative law.
Professors Angi Porter and Anita Sinha were named Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Teachers of the Year for 2024. Jayesh Rathod received the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) (honorable mention) award for Excellence in a Public Interest Case or Project.
Professors Diane Orentlicher, Gustavo Ribeiro, Susana SáCouto, and Anita Sinha led human rights and transitional justice efforts, while William Snape, David Snyder, and Brandon Weiss championed environmental, housing, and ESG reform. Steve Wermiel’s work on the Supreme Court and civil rights history remained influential, alongside leadership in pedagogy and advocacy from Caroline Wick. Professor Thomas Wilson Williams was named the 2025 Rising Star of the Hastings Center Fellows Council.
Together, AUWCL faculty continue to lead in legal education, service and impact.
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