Stanford University’s recent Reunion Homecoming was a time to celebrate alumni whose contributions are making a difference on campus and around the world, and Stanford Law graduates were well represented. 

Paul R. Williams, JD ’90, was one of two recipients of Stanford’s 2026 Award for the Advancement of the Common Good, while three other law school alumni were among the inductees into the university’s newly renamed Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership (CECL) Alumni Hall of Fame.

Lawyering for Peace

Williams’ Advancement for the Common Good award honored his three decades of work advancing peace and justice in some of the world’s most challenging conflicts. In addition to serving as the Rebecca I. Grazier Professor of Law and International Relations at American University, he is the co-founder and president of the Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), which provides pro bono legal assistance in peace negotiations, post-conflict constitutions, and war crimes prosecutions in more than 30 countries. Presented to Williams by George Triantis, JSD ’89, Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean of Stanford Law School, the award celebrates alumni who embody the university’s founding commitment “to be of greater service to the public” by using their education, experience, and leadership to address pressing societal challenges.

Read about Paul Williams in Stanford Report

Following the presentation, Williams joined Professor Allen Weiner, JD ’89, for a conversation titled “How Do Lawyers Help End Wars—and Build a Peace That Lasts?” Part of the law school’s Classes Without Quizzes series held during Reunions, the program explored the role lawyers can play in resolving conflicts and building durable peace.

Celebrating Service and Community

Stanford’s CECL Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes alumni whose educational, professional, and civic contributions have advanced the missions of the university’s campus community centers. Each participating center honors alumni for their contributions to the center, the university, and society at large.

Three of this year’s six inductees were Stanford Law graduates: Leslie T. Hatamiya, JD ’97 (BA ’90), executive director of the San Bruno Community Foundation since 2015, was recognized by the Asian American Activities Center; Shirin Sinnar, JD ’03, the William W. and Gertrude H. Saunders Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, by the Markaz Resource Center; and Sunshine S. Sykes, JD ’01 (BA ’97), a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, by the Native American Cultural Center.

Established in 1995 as the Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame, the program was expanded this year to include two additional centers—the First-Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center and the Markaz Resource Center—and renamed to reflect its broader scope.