Law Professor Honored with 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Prize
In the heart of Central New York (CNY), a tradition of advocacy and legal service continues to thrive, thanks to the tireless efforts of Professor Suzette Meléndez. The director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic at Syracuse University College of Law, Meléndez was recently honoured with the prestigious Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award.
This annual award, presented at the 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner, recognises individuals who, like Hurclee Maye, Judge Langston McKinney, and Henry Melchor, have dedicated their careers to making legal services accessible to all members of the CNY community. These three prominent figures are celebrated for their unwavering commitment to justice and their significant contributions to legal accessibility.
Meléndez, a 2025 recipient of the Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award, feels deeply connected to this esteemed trio. As a fellow College of Law alum, she notes the guidance and support she received from Judge McKinney during her work at the law school. The shared dedication to justice and accessibility, she believes, is what binds them together.
Maye, McKinney, and Melchor are not just names on a plaque for Meléndez; they are inspirations that guide her work at the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic. She aspires to continue their influential legacy, ensuring that legal services remain accessible and just for all.
Meléndez expresses her gratitude for the mentorship she received from the late Judge McKinney, who played a significant role in shaping her career. His guidance, she says, has been invaluable in her mission to provide legal services to those who need them most.
With this prestigious award, Meléndez hopes to carry on the legacy of Hurclee Maye, Judge Langston McKinney, and Henry Melchor. Their collective work represents a tradition of advocacy and legal service that is central to the mission of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic under her direction.
[1] Syracuse University College of Law, "Syracuse University College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez Honored with 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award"
[2] Syracuse University College of Law, "Professor Suzette Meléndez Receives Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award"
- Suzette Meléndez, inspired by the legacy of Hurclee Maye, Judge Langston McKinney, and Henry Melchor, aspires to further her work at the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic as part of her education-and-self-development, focusing on personal-growth aligned with their principles of justice and accessibility.
- Paying tribute to her mentor, Judge Langston McKinney, Professor Suzette Meléndez's personal-growth and commitment to education-and-self-development is centered on ensuring the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic upholds the tradition of advocacy and legal service established by Hurclee Maye, Judge McKinney, and Henry Melchor.
