Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award

Created in December 2021, the Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award is presented to a legal professional who has devoted extraordinary energy and sustained attention to mentoring others in the legal community, who has avidly promoted the development and careers of individuals from diverse and historically underrepresented groups in the legal profession, and who has inspired and fostered engagement of others in activities that reflect the highest ethics and ideals of the legal profession, such as significant pro bono, public and community service.

2025 Recipient

Maya Abela is Deputy Legal Director at Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ), the state’s designated protection and advocacy agency. Since joining DRAZ in 2015, she has worked to protect the rights of people with disabilities across Arizona. Ms. Abela collaborates with DRAZ’s Legal Director to lead the legal and advocacy teams at the organization and represents DRAZ in class action litigation challenging unconstitutional conditions in Arizona’s prison system.

Ms. Abela is committed to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals and supports staff and legal interns in developing their skills and fostering a commitment to civil rights advocacy. Ms. Abela also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Fair Housing Council, where she helps guide efforts to advance housing equity in Arizona. Earlier in her career, Ms. Abela was a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., serving through the Attorney General’s Honors Program in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

Recipients

2022	Cynthia L. Choate
2023	Hon. (ret.) Mina Méndez
2024	Debbie Weecks

Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award

2025 Recipient

Recipients

State Bar Annual Awards

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