Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award

Established in October 2015, the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award is presented by the Board of Governors to an attorney, judge, employer, organization, or bar association that significantly advances diversity and inclusion in the Arizona legal community through creative, strategic, or innovative efforts.

2025 Recipient

Elena Nethers served as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the State Bar of Arizona until her retirement in late 2023. Elena is grateful for the many opportunities her role with the State Bar presented to interact with, and be a resource to, members of the State Bar, including coordination of the Bar Leadership Institute. She is especially gratified to witness so many graduates of the BLI making a positive impact in the legal community and the community at large.

A St. Louis native and alumna of Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Elena remains connected to the legal community through her work with Arizona Lawyers for Equal Justice. In her free time Elena enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, their spouses and five grandchildren. Elena also enjoys volunteering at the Musical Instrument Museum, hiking, and playing mahjong.

Previous Recipients

The award has been presented to:

2016	Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
2017	Arizona Collaborative Bar
2018	Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
2019	Hon. Randall M. Howe James P. O'Sullivan
2020	Hon. David B. Gass Ashley Villaverde Halvorson
2021	Hon. Carol Scott Berry (ret.)
2022	Hon. Frankie Jones
2023	Hon. Amanda Chua
2024	Hon. Joseph C. Welty

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award

2025 Recipient

Previous Recipients

State Bar Annual Awards

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