Professor Pérez Named as 2010 Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient

Professor Amagda Pérez is the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Teaching Award, Dean Kevin R. Johnson announced January 25.  The award, which is supported by the generosity of Bill and Sally Rutter, honors "law teachers who give stellar performances in the classroom."  She will be presented with the award at the Distinguished Teaching Award Dinner held on Thursday, March 18, at the ARC Ballroom on the UC Davis campus.

Professor Pérez earned her J.D. from King Hall in 1991, where she served as co-chair of La Raza Law Students Association, worked in the Immigration Law Clinic, and was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service and Leadership Award.  In 1994, she joined the King Hall faculty in the Immigration Law Clinic, and in 2007 was named its director.  In addition to her work at King Hall, she serves as the Executive Director of California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, which provides free legal aid to immigrants in poor rural communities. 

"Professor Pérez has dedicated her professional career to helping people in need and to teaching, mentoring, and supporting law students," said Dean Johnson.  "I hope as many members of the King Hall community as possible will join us in honoring her at the Distinguished Teaching Award Dinner on March 18."

Dean Johnson also thanked the award selection committee, which included Professor Floyd Feeney (the 2008 Distinguished Teaching Award winner); Michael Mills '97; and Susana Solano '10.  Also nominated for the award were Professors Holly Cooper, Katherine Florey, Bill Hing, John Hunt, Elizabeth Joh, Courtney Joslin, Carlton Larson, Miguel Mendéz, Lisa Pruitt, and Dennis Ventry.