Paul R. Williams, the Rebecca I. Grazier Professorship in Law and International Relations at American University and co-founder and president of the Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), received Stanford University’s 2026 Award for the Advancement of the Common Good, which honors alumni whose service improves lives, strengthens democracy, and promotes civic engagement.

Williams has spent three decades working at the intersection of law, diplomacy, and peacebuilding. PILPG, which he co-founded after advising the Bosnian delegation at the Dayton Peace Accords, provides pro bono legal assistance in peace negotiations, post-conflict constitutions, and war crimes prosecutions.

In a Stanford Report article about Williams and another award winner, he credited Stanford Law with helping shape his commitment to public service, social entrepreneurship, and mentorship. He cited the influence of the late John H. Barton, JD ‘68, the George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Emeritus, and Barton “Buzz” Thompson, Jr., JD/MBA ’76 (BA ’72), the Robert E. Paradise Professor of Natural Resources Law. “It was the belief that young professionals could make a difference, could change the world, and had something to add to the conversation,” Williams said. SL