Three Oregon Law faculty members have received University of Oregon and law school awards recognizing exceptional teaching and sustained leadership in legal education.
Kristen Bell (pictured left), associate professor and faculty director of the Public Service and Policy Program, is the 2026 recipient of Oregon Law’s Orlando John Hollis Faculty Teaching Award for excellence in classroom instruction.
Students describe Professor Bell’s teaching as rigorous, supportive, prepared, inclusive, and entertaining. They value her commitment to experiential learning beyond the traditional classroom— including an inside-out course at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility—and her emphasis on critical thinking through engagement with diverse perspectives.
Megan McAlpin (pictured center), clinical professor in the Legal Research and Writing (LRW) Program, received the University of Oregon’s Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award recognizes senior faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and have a meaningful impact on student learning.
Professor McAlpin’s dynamic, feedback-driven approach helps students develop foundational lawyering and writing skills in a supportive, judgment-free environment. As the inaugural director of the Academic Excellence Program from 2018 to 2023, she expanded academic support and student success initiatives. Her scholarship on improving knowledge retention and application has informed faculty programming on pedagogy, assessment design, instructional technology, and inclusive accommodations.
Suzanne Rowe (pictured right), the James L. and llene R. Hershner Professor and director of the LRW Program, received Oregon Law’s Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions to legal education and the law.
A nationally recognized leader in legal writing education, Professor Rowe has shaped law school classrooms across the country through scholarship, mentorship, and professional leadership. At Oregon Law, she directed the LRW Program for more than two decades, guiding it to a No. 1 national ranking. Oregon Law congratulates these outstanding faculty members for their dedication to teaching excellence and student success.