Meghan Leong ’25, a dedicated educator and advocate committed to equity and justice, has been named as the second recipient of the annual Tyler Lawrence Memorial Peacemaker Award. Tyler, grandson of Northeastern Law friend and colleague Stan Lawrence, was just 13 years old when his life was tragically cut short by horrific violence in January 2023. Those who knew Tyler describe him as “a boy who was going to have a big impact on the world,” “a force for good” and “a peacemaker who brought people together.” This award was established by Professor Richard Daynard and his wife, Carol, to annually recognize and support Northeastern Law students who carry on Tyler’s legacy through youth advocacy or community-building work accomplished through experiential learning.

“It is an immense honor to receive this award in Tyler’s memory,” said Leong, who taught sixth-grade math and science prior to attending law school. “Students like Tyler are my inspiration and the reason I have dedicated my legal career to ensuring all kids have a high-quality education and equitable access to justice.”

At Northeastern, Leong has completed a first co-op at the EdLaw Project within the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Boston, serving indigent, court-involved youth. This summer, Leong will complete a primary co-op as a judicial law clerk at the Suffolk and Middlesex County Juvenile Courts and a secondary co-op as a legal intern at Strategies for Youth in Cambridge. She intends to deepen her understanding of the intersections of law, education and juvenile justice in order to combat the historic and systemic inequities that continue to exclude and harm marginalized communities.