Professor Hemanth Gundavaram Honored with 2025 John Portz Faculty Excellence Award

05.28.2025 — Professor Hemanth Gundavaram, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs at Northeastern University School of Law, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 John Portz Faculty Excellence Award. Portz is a longtime Northeastern faculty member and former director of the John Martinson Honors Program. The award, presented annually by students in the John Martinson Honors Program, recognizes exceptional teaching, mentorship and impact on the honors community.

Gundavaram was honored during the program’s Honors Cording Ceremony on May 5 at Blackman Auditorium. In addition to his role as associate dean, Gundavaram serves as director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic and director of clinical programs at the School of Law. Through his immigration studio course (part of the Inside the Honors Studio Series), he mentors undergraduate honors students as they build legal skills while contributing directly to real-world asylum cases.

“Few professors during my time at Northeastern have shown a level of passion for teaching and care for their students’ wellbeing and success as much as Hemanth Gundavaram,” said Skyler Cohen CSSH ’25, a former student in the honors program. “In just eight class periods, Professor Gundavaram cultivated a classroom experience that most professors would take months to create. If I am to be a teacher in the future, I’d want to model my approach after him.”

“I am deeply honored to receive the John Portz Faculty Excellence Award. I’ve had the privilege of guiding honors students through my immigration studio, where they develop essential research, writing and analytical skills while making meaningful contributions to actual asylum cases,” said Gundavaram. “Witnessing undergraduate students transform from classroom learners into compassionate advocates has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my teaching career. This award reflects the dedication and growth of every student who has embraced the challenge of using their academic skills to support those seeking safety and a new beginning.”

About Northeastern University School of Law

The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,100 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.

For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu.