The University of Iowa College of Law has announced the recipients of its annual Alumni Awards. The four award categories are Alumni Achievement, Alumni Service, Emerging Leader, and the Iowa Law Review Alumni Award.
The 2025 honorees are:
- Tara Sutton (92JD), Alumni Achievement Award
- Melvin Shaw (04JD), Alumni Service Award
- Mackensie Graham (21JD), Emerging Leader Award
- Gretchen Wolf (02JD), Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award
Recipients will be recognized during an Alumni Awards Brunch on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Hancher Auditorium. This event will close out Iowa Law’s Reunion Weekend.
Alumni Achievement Award: Tara Sutton (92JD)
The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni for significant accomplishments in their law careers and significant service to the College of Law.
Tara Sutton, who graduated from Iowa Law in 1992, is being recognized for her outstanding contributions in trial litigation. A nomination letter highlighted Sutton’s dedication to justice for Tribal Nations and countless others, including advocacy for women in the legal profession, and continued involvement with the College of Law.
Sutton, who is a partner at Robins Kaplan LLP and chair of the firm’s National Mass Tort Group, has pursued litigation against Big Tobacco, e-cigarettes, and a case against the growing epidemic of “dusting,” or using aerosol duster products to achieve a high. She is also leading work on behalf of multiple native nations against several social media companies for their alleged role in contribution to mental health issues among Native American teens, and Sutton has previously represented tribes in litigation against the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers.
“With decades of leadership and a long history of challenging powerful corporations, Tara has earned a national reputation for her tenacity and commitment to justice,” a nomination letter stated.
Alumni Service Award: Melvin Shaw (04JD)
The Alumni Service Award recognizes alumni for significant service to the college, university, community, state, or nation.
Melvin Shaw, who graduated from Iowa Law in 2004, is being recognized for his outstanding leadership as the 138th president of the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) and his efforts to improve the legal profession’s services to Iowans.
An announcement letter stated, “Your achievements leading the ISBA, your commitment to justice for all people, your efforts to preserve judicial independence and our fair and independent courts, and your fierce advocacy for improved access to justice and legal services in Iowa’s rural communities all nicely exemplify the spirit of this award.”
In addition to his work with the ISBA, Shaw has his own Coralville-based practice helping clients with estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law matters. He has also served in leadership roles with the Housing Fellowship of Johnson County and as president of the Johnson County Bar Association. He’s previously served on the ISBA Board of Governors and was appointed to the Commission on Judicial Qualifications by the late Chief Justice Mark Cady, among other important service work.
Emerging Leader Award: Mackensie Graham (21JD)
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes alumni of the College of Law for early career achievements in their area of practice and in their service to the college, community, state, or nation.
Mackensie Graham, who graduated from Iowa Law in 2021, has had a distinguished early legal career. She founded her own law firm, Ampersand Legal PLLC, in 2024, which is focused on providing accessible, transparent legal services to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The mission of her firm, which is based in Coralville, is to bring predictability, transparency, and meaningful relationships to business and employment law.
But this spirit of mentorship and passion for her community don’t stop at Graham’s work with her firm. She has also made significant contributions through her work as a leader in statewide and local volunteer spaces.
For years, she has volunteered her time with the Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Outside of the legal space, Graham has dedicated her time to local initiatives, volunteering on city commissions—including her years of work as vice chair on the City of Coralville’s Parks & Recreation Division—and community organizations like Girls on the Run.
This summer, Graham was also recognized with Greater Iowa City, Inc.’s Ambassador Spirit Award for her years of service with the organization, including her work to mentor and uplift local entrepreneurs through the Business Resource Center. As a weekly volunteer, Graham uses her professional experience to provide legal resources, recommendations, and referrals.
Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award: Gretchen Wolf (02JD)
The Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award is selected annually by the Iowa Law Review Board and recognizes former members of the Iowa Law Review for outstanding personal and professional achievement.
Gretchen Wolf, who graduated from Iowa Law in 2002, is litigation partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where she focusses on white collar defense and investigations. She was also recognized as one of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's Top 50 Women in Law and as a leading litigator in America by Lawdragon, showcasing her outstanding professional credentials.
Before joining the firm, she clerked for the Honorable David Hansen on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Service work is also important to her. She is part of the Advisory Selection Committee of the Skadden Fellowship Program, which provides two-year fellowships to recent law graduates to pursue public interest opportunities on a full-time basis. Wolf also currently serves as an Iowa Law School Foundation Board member.
A nomination letter states, “The [Iowa Law Review] Board selected Ms. Wolf for her commitment to the College of Law, her dedication to supporting her surrounding community, and her first-rate professional accolades. These attributes that Ms. Wolf possesses exemplify the values and tradition of excellence that the Iowa Law Review strives to embody, and for that reason we were thrilled to select her for this award.
To celebrate this year’s award recipients, register for the Alumni Awards ceremony online.