Camille A. Nelson, dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has been named the 2025 Outstanding Woman Lawyer by Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers (HWL). This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to advancing women in the legal profession and promoting equal opportunity. Nelson was recognized at the HWL Annual Awards Ceremony on April 17.
“I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to receive this award from Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers,” said Dean Nelson. “It is a privilege to be part of a profession where we can uplift and empower one another, and I remain committed to expanding opportunity and cultivating the next generation of women leaders in law. Mahalo nui loa to HWL and to my incredible colleagues and students at Richardson Law who inspire me every day.”
Service, leadership, innovation
Nelson, who has led Hawaiʻi’s Law School since 2020, is recognized for her service, leadership and innovation. A nationally respected legal scholar and administrator, she has served as dean at three law schools—breaking barriers as the first woman and first person of color in each of those roles—and has mentored generations of students, scholars and legal professionals throughout her distinguished career.
In January 2025, Nelson was also awarded the 2025 Deborah L. Rhode Award from the American Association of Law Schools. This award recognizes individuals who advance leadership, professional responsibility, pro bono service and gender equality in law.
Since joining the UH law school, Nelson has launched several initiatives to expand access and empower students. These include the Island Leadership Lab, Business Bootcamp, and Innovator in Residence program, aimed at enhancing leadership skills, financial literacy, and legal technology. She also helped establish the Hawaiʻi Online JD Program to improve access to legal education for students on neighbor islands and in the Pacific region.
Under her leadership, Richardson Law earned the 2024 American Bar Association Diversity Leadership Award and has been ranked among the top 100 law schools in the nation. The school is known for its strengths in Native Hawaiian law, environmental law, international law and part-time legal education.
