Paulina Vera, JD '15, Receives Latinx Leader Award


May 28, 2019

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Professorial Lecturer In Law Paulina Vera, JD ’15, was awarded the Alma Award at the 2019 Latinx Leader Awards ceremony on April 26. The Alma Award recognizes the “unsung heroes” of the Latinx community who strive to make a difference and leave an impact on the lives of others.

“As a two-time GW alumna and current employee, this award is meaningful to me because it is recognition of GW's growing commitment to making the institution a more welcoming and supportive place for Latinx. The award itself is a recognition of my own work to advance that goal,” Vera said.

Currently, Vera serves as the Legal Associate for the Immigration Clinic, supervising students and providing legal representation to individuals seeking asylum or facing deportation. With only 5% of all U.S. attorneys being Latinx and less than 2% of all U.S. lawyers being Latina, Vera said faculty representation is an integral part of student success.

“Each year I meet Latinx students who are accomplishing so much despite having faced many challenges in their lives. These students tend to gravitate towards me because, sadly, there's still too few of us in academia and especially in the legal profession,” Vera said. “It's been a privilege to mentor these students and follow along in their journeys. Being recognized by my alma mater and now employer for doing so is just the cherry on top.”

Prior to joining GW Law, Vera served as the only immigration staff attorney at CASA, a non-profit based in Maryland that advocates for Latinx and immigrant communities.