Melissa Abernathy and Tammy Lin Honored at USD Diversity and Inclusion Impact Awards Luncheon

SAN DIEGO (March 4, 2025) – The University of San Diego proudly recognized 15 individuals at the 4th Annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ceremony and Luncheon held in February. From the School of Law, Melissa Abernathy, JD, Associate Director of Research and Instruction at the Legal Research Center, and Tammy Lin, JD, Adjunct Professor and Supervising Attorney at the Immigration Clinic, were honored for their outstanding contributions to promoting diversity and inclusion within the law school community.

The DEI ceremony highlights individuals who have made significant strides in fostering a more inclusive environment for students and faculty. Abernathy and Lin were both commended for their tireless dedication to improving the educational experience and advancing social justice within legal education.

Abernathy has always emphasized the collective effort behind creating an inclusive and supportive environment. In her acceptance speech, she shared, "Thank you and I am truly honored to receive this award. This recognition though is not just for me—it is a reflection of the dedication and passion of so many individuals at the Legal Research Center." 

Lin is passionate about diversity, inclusion, and social justice, stating in her acceptance speech, "It is about social justice to lift up the most marginalized." Through her work with local nonprofits, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, and her role as an Adjunct Professor, she fosters an inclusive environment that empowers marginalized communities and advances social justice.

“At the University of San Diego, we are proud to celebrate inclusive excellence, which we see across our campus every single day,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. “It’s a part of our DNA, a part of our Catholicity, a part of our very foundation and who we are … as a campus and as a community.”

The ceremony served as a reminder of the transformative power of diversity and inclusion. The law school’s leadership expressed deep appreciation for both Abernathy and Lin’s exemplary efforts in creating a more inclusive and equitable legal education environment. Their work continues to inspire future generations of legal professionals committed to justice and social equity.

About the University of San Diego School of Law

Each year, USD educates approximately 800 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law and taxation.

USD School of Law is one of the 88 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school’s faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 34th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 37th nationally in past-year faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.