STAR Program Recipients Fall 2025
The STAR Program offers Columbia Law School administrative staff a way to acknowledge and express appreciation for co-workers who make a difference in their everyday work life.
Pictured above: STAR Award recipients with Dean Daniel Abebe (Left to Right) Pictured above: John Soto, Dean Daniel Abebe, and Rachaele Henderson. Not pictured Mercedes Suazo.
Fall 2025
These are the recipients of the Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Program for the Fall 2025. Winners receive a $2,000 award and a standing crystal STAR as a signal of the school’s appreciation.
Rachaele Henderson
Associate Director of Major Gifts
Development and Alumni Relations
Rachaele demonstrated exceptional innovation and leadership by revitalizing the Kellis Parker Portrait Fund, honoring Columbia Law School’s first Black professor and civil rights pioneer. After the fund stalled shortly after its launch, she voluntarily stepped in, identifying gaps in visibility and engagement, developing new fundraising strategies, and navigating complex institutional processes to integrate the fund into Reunion efforts. Through strategic collaboration with multiple departments, alumni, and the late Professor Parker’s family, she transformed the initiative into a successful campaign, generating over $125,000 in pledges within two months and planned a major Fall 2025 fundraising event. Her commitment, creativity, and service helped preserve an important legacy at the School.
John Soto
Associate Director of Building Services and Life Safety
Office of Building Services
John Soto truly deserves this award for his steady, reliable support of the Law School's daily operations. He plays a key role in keeping everything running smoothly, often juggling a wide range of requests with impressive organization, patience, and professionalism. John has a great ability to prioritize what matters most and finds practical solutions that work for everyone. Whether he’s helping students, faculty, staff, or administrators, he approaches each task with care, creativity, and a consistently positive attitude. Much of his work happens behind the scenes, and it is easy to overlook just how essential he is, simply because he does it so well. He is respected by colleagues and genuinely appreciated across the Law School community. This is John’s second STAR, the first which was awarded in the Spring of 2019, and is a testament to his dedication and service to make a real difference every day.
Mercedes Suazo
Manager of Collection Maintenance, Off-site Storage and Bindery
Li Lu Library
On top of being a positive, enthusiastic influence in the library for years, Mercedes has showcased tremendous leadership and patience throughout the renovation of the Li Lu Law Library. As the primary manager for the massive physical collection of the library both on and off site, she has been at the forefront of a multi-year long undertaking moving and rearranging thousands of volumes across new, temporary, and old spaces all under the pressure of delays, deadlines, and constant changes. Through it all, Mercedes trained and supervised her group of library staff and student workers with warmth and an unflappable attitude that allowed this massive undertaking to proceed in the timely and successful manner that it had. It is due to her willingness to go above and beyond in her role that makes Mercedes deserving of this award.