The Bettina E. Pruckmayr Memorial Award is presented each year to a graduating J.D. student who has demonstrated a commitment to international human rights work.

The award honors Bettina Pruckmayr, a 1994 Law Center graduate who was dedicated to advancing human rights and the public interest. During her time at Georgetown Law, Bettina co-founded the German American Law Students Association and served as the chairperson of the Georgetown Law chapter of Amnesty International. After graduation, Bettina served as director of the World Federalist Association’s International Criminal Court project. Bettina’s life was tragically cut short when she was killed in December 1995 during a violent mugging that took place near her home in Washington, D.C.

“Bettina had an inner spark that energized everyone around her,” says Professor Elisa Massimino, Executive Director of the Human Rights Institute. “She was brimming with creative ideas for how to make human rights real in people’s lives. Her example continues to inspire our community.”

Each year, the Human Rights Institute selects one graduating J.D. student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to human rights work to receive this award. The award winner receives $2,000 through a gift fund established by the Pruckmayr family.

A call for nominations goes out to the campus community every spring, and nominations can be submitted by email to the Human Rights Institute.

2025 Award Winner — Danielle McClain

The Human Rights Institute is pleased to announce that Danielle McClain (L’25) has been named as the recipient of the 2025 Bettina E. Pruckmayr Memorial Award. Danielle’s exceptional dedication to advancing the rights of immigrants and the incarcerated, her creativity in seeking justice at the local, national, and international levels, and her deep commitment to elevating the voices and perspectives of marginalized people evoke the spirit and passion for human rights of Bettina Pruckmayr (L’94), the award’s namesake.

Throughout her time at Georgetown—in her coursework and legal internships—Danielle has demonstrated a consistent focus on human rights. As a 2L, she externed at the Public Defender Service of D.C., assisting in criminal trial preparation for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. That summer, Danielle interned at Freedom Now, where she advocated before international bodies on behalf of prisoners of conscience. She also held a research position with the International Criminal Justice Initiative’s Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, investigating war crimes in Ukraine. In her 3L year, Danielle participated in the Human Rights Advocacy in Action Practicum, developing legal and political strategies to secure restitution for Haiti from the governments and private entities that exploited Haiti’s so-called “Independence Debt.” Danielle’s passion, creative thinking, and insistence on centering Haitian voices while building coalitions among the African Diaspora were critical to the team’s success.

Danielle has also honed the skills she will need as a human rights advocate as a summer associate with Honingman LLP, a judicial extern for Hon. Judge Matthew Leitman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and an SEO Law Fellow at Jones Day, where she assisted in an asylum matter for a Venezuelan refugee. In addition to her Juris Doctorate, Danielle is graduating with a Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies.

Danielle’s passion for community-building has been a centerpiece of her law school career. She has served as Social Advocacy Chair for the Black Law Students Association, Vice President of the African Law Society, and Competition Director for Barristers’ Council’s Alternative Dispute Resolution division. Through the International Refugee Assistance Project and the Save Asylum Advocacy Initiative, Danielle has defended the rights of immigrants, including directly engaging with legislators to advocate for more humane immigration policies. She is also a member of Georgetown Law’s ACLU chapter, the International Law Society, the Women of Color Collective, and Law Students for Climate Accountability.

After graduation, Danielle will join the U.S. Advocacy and Litigation Team at RFK Human Rights as a Dale and J. James Pinto Fellow, where she will partner with grassroots human rights defenders to reduce the scope and power of mass incarceration in American society and fight for changes to the criminal and immigration systems that guarantee respect for everyone’s human rights.