Luz Herrera Named Partner in Philanthropy Award Recipient

Faculty or staff must be nominated by a member of the Texas A&M Foundation development team to be considered for the award. Myke Holt, senior director of development for the Foundation at the School of Law, recommended Herrera. “Professor Herrera is extremely proactive in philanthropic activities in support of the law school’s clinics,” Holt said. “She is a great partner and is always thinking outside the box to connect with donors and foundations to enhance the learning experiences students receive through our clinics.” 

Herrera oversees the law school’s clinics, which provide students with hands-on experience in a variety of practice areas, from tenant-landlord disputes and IRS matters to criminal justice and estate planning. Through the clinics, Aggies learn and apply legal skills on behalf of actual clients who cannot afford representation.  

“Professor Herrera’s handprint is everywhere in our clinics,” said Robert B. Ahdieh, dean of the law school and holder of the Anthony G. Buzbee Endowed Dean’s Chair. “She is truly an outstanding professor with an unmatched passion for our law students, experiential education and the people in our community that they help.” 

One example of her out-of-the-box approach is the School of Law’s partnership with Cook Children’s Hospital. That relationship resulted in a $525,000 gift to establish the school’s first Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP). “This clinic helps address the needs of children and their families who cannot afford legal assistance by connecting social workers directly to a legal service provider who can help them triage and often address legal issues,” Herrera explained. “The MLP makes Cook Children’s more efficient in their treatment plans because it helps some of the families they serve address underlying legal needs, such as guardianships or immigration, which can be obstacles for their medical care.”