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Former UW School of Law dean for students and recently appointed deputy director of the ACLU of Washington, Michele Storms, received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Washington State Bar Association Civil Rights Section.

Each year, the Civil Rights Law Section recognizes individuals who have made a notable contribution to the cause of civil rights and championed equality for impoverished, underserved, minority or disabled populations in Washington state.

“In all of her years in our movement for equity, inclusion and justice, Michele Storms stands out as a gifted and inspirational leader,” said Aline Carton-Listfjeld, director for the Center for Public Service Law. “The integrity, love and joy she brings to the work and the people around her is a humbling reminder to us all. ”

Storms first joined UW School of Law as a clinical faculty member, founding the Child Advocacy Clinic (now CAYAC), and taught child advocacy, family law and interviewing and counseling for eight years. 

As the executive director of the William H. Gates Public Service Law Scholarship program, Storms established the Gates Scholars program as one of the foremost public service programs in the nation. She later became assistant dean for public service programs and then for students in March 2016. 

Storm’s nomination cited her significant contributions as a practicing attorney, a leader in the legal community and as an educator recruiting diverse candidates for the Gates Public Service Law Scholarship program, training future generations of civil rights attorneys.

Storms will be honored at the Civil Rights Law Section’s annual meeting on September 23, 2016.

“Michele Storms is an amazing person, lawyer and leader,” said Dean Kellye Y. Testy. “I am so pleased to see her recognized for the many contributions she has made and will continue to make to justice and equality.”