Professor Suzette Meléndez, Director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award.
“It is an honor to receive the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award. I feel connected to Hurclee Maye, Judge Langston McKinney, and Henry Melchor in their dedication to making legal services accessible to all people in the CNY community, and through the clinics I have led, hope to have built on their legacy,” says Meléndez. “It’s also very special that Maye and Judge McKinney are College of Law alums. I am especially grateful for the mentorship of the late Judge McKinney who guided and supported me in my work at the law school.”