Michelle Gunter, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management at the University of Baltimore School of Law, received the 2025 Unsung Hero Award from the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Pre-Law and Admission to Law School.
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes individuals who consistently go above and beyond their formal job responsibilities to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within law schools and the legal profession. Assistant Dean Gunter was selected for her commitment to inclusive community-building and sustained efforts to expand pathways into legal education.
The nomination highlighted Assistant Dean Gunter’s broad impact both within her institution and across the national legal education community. While her service on national committees and professional networks reflects her influence, nominators emphasized that her most meaningful contributions are rooted in mentorship, advocacy, and listening to the communities she serves.
Gunter expressed gratitude for the support of her institution and colleagues. “In a time when diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are under attack, I am incredibly grateful to work at an institution that allows us to stand firm in our mission and vision,” she said. “I am thankful for the support that makes it possible to create programs that expand access and opportunity.”
At the University of Baltimore School of Law, Assistant Dean Gunter has played an active role in minority networks, LSAT-related initiatives, and hiring committees, consistently advocating for equity, representation, and fairness in institutional decision-making. One of her most transformative contributions has been her leadership in launching the Pre-Law Academy, a high school outreach program designed to support students from historically marginalized communities. The program introduces students to legal careers early and invites them to envision themselves as future attorneys and judges.
In addition to her professional leadership, Assistant Dean Gunter is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education at Morgan State University, work that further informs her approach and promises to shape the future of legal education.