Awards & Recognition
★Politico 50 Thinkers Transforming Politics (2016)
★National Action Network Action & Authority Award (2016)
★Yale Law School Gruber Distinguished Lecturer (2015)
★Association of University Centers on Disabilities Special Recognition Award (2015)
★Chronicle of Higher Education Influence List - The Enforcer (2014)
★California Lawyer Attorney of the Year for Civil Rights (2004)
★Yale Law School Outstanding Woman Law Graduate (1996)
★Top 20 California Lawyers Under 40 (2007)
★California's Top Women Litigators (2007, 2010)
Notable Facts
→Served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at U.S. Department of Education under both Obama and Biden administrations
→Chaired the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 2016-2021
→Served as Legal Affairs Secretary in California Governor Gavin Newsom's cabinet
→Mentioned by liberal group Demand Justice as potential Supreme Court nominee
→Led major civil rights litigation at ACLU of Southern California and Public Counsel
→Currently Executive Director of UC Berkeley Law's Edley Center on Law & Democracy
→Senate confirmation required 51-50 vote with VP Harris as tie-breaker
→Oversaw doubling of civil rights complaints during Obama administration tenure