UH Law Center Honors Students, Faculty, and Staff at 2026 Dean’s Awards Ceremony
UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes (center) with UHLC students who earned over 100 awards and scholarships, including LEX Awards for achieving the highest grades in first‑year courses.
Dean’s Awards Ceremony at a Glance
Event: 2026 Dean’s Awards Ceremony at the University of Houston Law Center.
Location: John M. O’Quinn Law Building in Houston, Texas.
Recognition: More than 100 student awards and scholarships, including LEX Awards for top grades in first-year courses, plus faculty and staff honors.
May 5, 2026 — The University of Houston Law Center celebrated the achievements of its students, faculty, and staff during the annual Dean’s Awards Ceremony, held recently at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building.
Hosted by Dean Leonard M. Baynes and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Monica Mensah, the ceremony highlighted outstanding academic performance, professionalism, and service across the Law Center community.
Baynes emphasized the importance of pausing to recognize achievement in the demanding environment of law school.
“You've probably seen your students, your colleagues, your children, your friends, working all the time and really studying more than you may have ever seen them do before,” he said. “One of the challenges in law school is that sometimes we don't give people a pat on the back and say, ‘how great are you doing?’ So again, congratulations to our students, faculty, and staff.”
More than 100 awards and scholarships were announced, including over 50 scholarships recognizing academic excellence, legal writing, professionalism, and other indicators of merit and accomplishment.
Dean Baynes with 2026 Ethel M. Baker faculty award recipient Daniel Morales, Associate Professor of Law, Dwight Olds Chair
Dean Baynes with 2026 Order of the Barons Professor of the Year recipient Laura Portuondo, Assistant Professor of Law
The ceremony also included the presentation of LEX Awards, which recognize students who earned the highest grades in first-year courses. Awards were presented in Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Procedure, Property, Statutory Interpretation, Torts, Introduction to American Law, and Lawyering Skills and Strategies.
Mensah noted that more than 80 percent of UHLC students are first-generation law students, with approximately 20 percent being first-generation college graduates.
The 2026 ceremony further honored faculty and staff for exceptional service and teaching excellence. This year’s distinguished award recipients included:
- 2026 Ethel M. Baker faculty Award: Daniel Morales, Associate Professor of Law, Dwight Olds Chair
- 2026 Order of the Barons Professor of the Year: Laura Portuondo, Assistant Professor of Law
- 2026 Student Bar Association Professor of the Year—Full-Time: Chris Mirasola, Assistant Professor of Law
- 2026 Student Bar Association Professor of the Year—Part-Time: Lauren Jansen Simpson, Clinical Associate Professor of Lawyering Skills & Strategies
- 2026 Staff Awards: Grace Rosanes, Executive Director for Business Operations; Kristan Withers, Program Director for Student Affairs & Student Organizations
Dean Baynes with 2026 Student Bar Association Professor of the Year—Full-Time program winner Chris Mirasola, Assistant Professor of Law
Dean Baynes with 2026 Student Bar Association Professor of the Year—Part-Time program recipient Lauren Jansen Simpson, Clinical Associate Professor of Lawyering Skills & Strategies. A dedicated and popular professor, she has won this award eight times.
Dean Baynes with 2026 Staff Awards winner Grace Rosanes, Executive Director for Business Operations
Dean Baynes with 2026 Staff Awards winner Kristan Withers, Program Director for Student Affairs & Student Organizations
