The American Bar Association will recognize recipients of its Spirit of Excellence Award during the inaugural “Titans for Change Gala: Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence, Impact and Pathways to the Profession” at the 2026 ABA Midyear Meeting on Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.
The Spirit of Excellence Award, presented by the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, is celebrating its 30th anniversary and recognizes the exceptional efforts and accomplishments of lawyers who work to promote a more racially and ethnically diverse legal profession.
The 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award recipients are:
• Judge Marcella Holland, the first African American woman administrative judge in Maryland, has presided over a wide range of cases, mentored younger attorneys, broken barriers and held leadership roles in judicial organizations.
• Loren Kieve, first-chair trial and appellate lawyer, served as the three-time chair of the Institute of American Indian Arts. He has been a driving force in creating national policy as well as legal education and mentorship, emphasizing excellence in teaching, inclusivity in classrooms and the development of the next generation of legal leaders.
• Sandra Leung, the first Asian American female assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, served for nearly two decades as executive vice president and chief legal officer of Bristol Myers Squibb, a Fortune 100 company. Recognized by peers and professional organizations, she has helped open doors for others through her leadership in advocacy organizations and her commitment to ethical excellence.
• Rosevelie Márquez Morales, chief inclusion officer at Hogan Lovells, has devoted her career to public service and advocacy, championing civil rights, social justice and community partnerships. Her efforts have created systemic change, improved legal accessibility and empowered marginalized communities.
• Hector Villagra, vice president, policy advocacy and community education with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), is a noted public interest lawyer and civil liberties advocate, known for his foundational work at MALDEF and through his pivotal role leading the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
“This bar year marks three decades of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession celebrating excellence through our Spirit of Excellence Award,” said Jin Hwang, commission chair. “By reframing our annual award ceremony as a gala, we invite the legal community to join in an evening that is as celebratory as it is meaningful. We are not only honoring individuals, but also reaffirming that excellence, inclusion and leadership go hand in hand. On behalf of the commission, I extend my warmest congratulations to each of our deserving 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award honorees.”
At the heart of the Spirit of Excellence Award is the commission’s motto: Ad Astra Per Aspera—To the Stars Through Difficulty. This phrase is more than a Latin maxim — it is a lived narrative for many attorneys who have faced barriers based on race, ethnicity or identity. It is a reminder that the path upward often begins in struggle, and it is through persistence, courage and community that greatness is realized. In honoring these recipients, the commission celebrates not only their individual achievements, but also their willingness to light the way for others who follow.
Recipients of the ABA Impacto and Alexander Awards also will be honored at the gala. The honorees will be announced at a later date.
The Spirit of Excellence Award, presented by the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, is celebrating its 30th anniversary and recognizes the exceptional efforts and accomplishments of lawyers who work to promote a more racially and ethnically diverse legal profession.
The 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award recipients are:
• Judge Marcella Holland, the first African American woman administrative judge in Maryland, has presided over a wide range of cases, mentored younger attorneys, broken barriers and held leadership roles in judicial organizations.
• Loren Kieve, first-chair trial and appellate lawyer, served as the three-time chair of the Institute of American Indian Arts. He has been a driving force in creating national policy as well as legal education and mentorship, emphasizing excellence in teaching, inclusivity in classrooms and the development of the next generation of legal leaders.
• Sandra Leung, the first Asian American female assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, served for nearly two decades as executive vice president and chief legal officer of Bristol Myers Squibb, a Fortune 100 company. Recognized by peers and professional organizations, she has helped open doors for others through her leadership in advocacy organizations and her commitment to ethical excellence.
• Rosevelie Márquez Morales, chief inclusion officer at Hogan Lovells, has devoted her career to public service and advocacy, championing civil rights, social justice and community partnerships. Her efforts have created systemic change, improved legal accessibility and empowered marginalized communities.
• Hector Villagra, vice president, policy advocacy and community education with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), is a noted public interest lawyer and civil liberties advocate, known for his foundational work at MALDEF and through his pivotal role leading the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
“This bar year marks three decades of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession celebrating excellence through our Spirit of Excellence Award,” said Jin Hwang, commission chair. “By reframing our annual award ceremony as a gala, we invite the legal community to join in an evening that is as celebratory as it is meaningful. We are not only honoring individuals, but also reaffirming that excellence, inclusion and leadership go hand in hand. On behalf of the commission, I extend my warmest congratulations to each of our deserving 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award honorees.”
At the heart of the Spirit of Excellence Award is the commission’s motto: Ad Astra Per Aspera—To the Stars Through Difficulty. This phrase is more than a Latin maxim — it is a lived narrative for many attorneys who have faced barriers based on race, ethnicity or identity. It is a reminder that the path upward often begins in struggle, and it is through persistence, courage and community that greatness is realized. In honoring these recipients, the commission celebrates not only their individual achievements, but also their willingness to light the way for others who follow.
Recipients of the ABA Impacto and Alexander Awards also will be honored at the gala. The honorees will be announced at a later date.
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