Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award Recipients

• Mariana Mora Bayo — 2023

  Dr. Mariana Mora Bayo’s pioneering career demonstrates a lifetime of devotion to human rights and social justice. As a researcher and professor at the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico City since 2011, her fieldwork and research has shed light on struggles for justice against gendered and racialized forms of violence and territorial dispossession in Indigenous and Afro-Mexican regions of Mexico, particularly the states of Chiapas and Guerrero. Additionally, her research focuses on gendered struggles against the continued processes of colonization as part of state formation in Latin America.

  Dr. Mora’s work highlights and examines Indigenous activism, exploring the everyday exercise of autonomy and self-determination in Mayan territories that support the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). Her 2017 book Kuxlejal Politics: Indigenous Autonomy, Race and Decolonial Research in Zapatista Communities summarized ten years of her extended research that critically analyzes Zapatista indigenous autonomy. This research directly impacted key juridical debates through her co-authorship of an expert witness report addressing Indigenous collective territorial and land rights before Mexico’s Supreme Court.

  Since the 1990s, Dr. Mora’s solidarity work with Zapatista communities has sowed the seeds for her engaged scholarship. As a UC Berkeley undergraduate she supported Mayan autonomous education projects advancing Indigenous rights and women’s participation. This hands-on human rights ethos catalyzed her award-winning doctoral research on Zapatistas Indigenous communities and has resulted in her engaged participation in decolonial feminist networks in Latin America as well as her leading role as a legal anthropologist in Mexico.

  A tireless advocate, Dr. Mora’s human rights work against extreme forms of violence in Guerrero, Mexico, including against police brutality and forced disappearances, has contributed to both local and federal justice reforms. Dr. Mora has leveraged her expertise to assist human rights lawyers and policymakers. In addition to presenting cultural affidavits to Mexico’s Supreme Court, she participated in psychosocial reports under the petition of the Group of Interdisciplinary Experts of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission for the case of the 43 Ayotzinapa students, victims of forced disappearance in 2014, as well as worked diligently with Indigenous and Afro-Mexican women’s organizations on elaborating proposals for restorative justice from an intercultural perspective. Through her human rights work and decolonial feminist efforts, she is mentoring new generations of socially committed anthropologists. Dr. Mora frequently writes essays and opinion columns for Mexico newspapers and magazines.

  Dr. Mora received her Master's degree in Latin American Studies from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Texas, Austin.

  Dr. Mora will presented the award at an on-campus ceremony in February 13, 2024.

• Damir Arnaut — 2023

  Damir Arnaut has dedicated his life and career to strengthening democracy and human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Elected to three terms in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Parliament, he has chaired committees tackling judicial reform, gender equality, and human rights protections while authoring over 20 pieces of legislation focused on a wide array of issues including fighting corruption and abuse of power. In addition to his domestic efforts to create a more just country, Mr. Arnaut also represented Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad as a delegate to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.

  Mr. Arnaut began his legal career in the United States as an attorney at the State Department. He would go on to litigate landmark human rights cases before the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, later serving as legal advisor to both a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Cabinet of Minister of Security.

  As Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ambassador to Australia from 2010–14, Mr. Arnaut's achievements included drafting the unanimous Srebrenica Remembrance Motion commemorating the 1995 genocide. He also negotiated landmark social security protections benefiting citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Australia. A steadfast advocate, Mr. Arnaut has championed LGBTQ equality since the early post-war period when he helped efforts to organize Sarajevo's first Pride parade in 2008. In 2019, he became one of the first Bosnia and Herzegovina officials to march at Sarajevo Pride. Mr. Arnaut's human rights commitment is also reflected in his decade-long fight to overturn discriminatory election laws.

  In 2014, Mr. Arnaut was elected to his first term as a member of the House of Representatives in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to his legislative work, Mr. Arnaut has published scholarly articles in international and constitutional law journals, and has spoken at numerous academic conferences, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. He holds B.A., M.A., and Juris Doctor degrees, all from UC Berkeley.

  Ambassador Arnaut will be presented the award at Winter Commencement on December 16, 2023.

• Moses R. Kamya M.P.H. ’95 — 2022

  Dr. Kamya is a Ugandan physician, academic, and researcher who serves as a professor of medicine. He is past chair of the Department of Medicine and past dean of the Makerere University School of Medicine in Kampala, Uganda. He is a founding member of the Makerere University Joint AIDS Program (MJAP), the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC) in Uganda. For more than 20 years, Dr. Kamya has been researching and teaching infectious diseases with a particular interest in malaria, HIV, and the interaction between the two. He is a central figure in training at multiple levels at Makerere University and significantly contributes to shaping the malaria and HIV treatment policies in Uganda. He is the chair of the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) National AIDS Advisory and Malaria Scientific Advisory Committees. Dr. Kamya has a passion for the capacity building of young African scientists. He is a recipient of several awards including being honored in 2018 by the UC Berkeley School of Public Health's as one of the 75 most influential public health alumni over the college's 75-year history.

• Yun-Hsien Diana Lin LL.M. ’02, J.S.D. ’04 — 2022

  Dr. Yun-Hsien Diana Lin is an Associate Professor of law at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan and is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice. Her draft of the bill to legalize same-sex marriage was passed by the Legislative Yuan in 2019, making Taiwan the first Asian country to do so.

  Dr. Lin currently serves as a committee member of the Executive Yuan for the Prevention of Human Trafficking and the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; she also holds consulting positions appointed by Taiwan Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interiors, and Ministry of Health and Welfare. She has been a frequent speaker at international conferences and was invited to offer courses for Taiwan Judges Academy, Taipei Bar Association, and various government departments.

  Dr. Lin was the Director for Graduate Entry LLB Program, NTHU, from 2017–2020. Her specialized areas of research are family law, reproductive justice, and gender equality; and her articles can be found in both Taiwanese and international major law journals including University of Pennsylvania East Asia Law Review, Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, Asian Bioethics Review, and others.

  Dr. Lin received her LL.B. from National Taiwan University; LL.M. and her J.S.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and is a founding board member of Taiwan Family Law Society.

• Ahmed Al-Rawahi M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’95 — 2021

  Dr. Ahmed Al-Rawahi has provided remarkable leadership, direction, and continuity to govern and guide higher education in Oman. He is an accomplished leader with an established record of achievement in education and science, and outstanding service to his country and to the welfare and prosperity of its people.

  Following his education at Berkeley, Ahmed became a lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University, where he also conducted research in soil-borne pathogens, biocontrol, and disease management programs. From 1997 to 2005, he served as Oman’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and he served as a member of the state Council from 2001 to 2011.

  In 2004, Al-Rawahi became the first chancellor of the newly founded University of Nizwa. Under his dynamic leadership, thousands of Omani students graduated with bachelor’s and higher degrees, and the university contributed strongly to community services and produced innnovative research relevant to the needs of Oman.

  Ahmed received the Oman Medal of Merit from HM Sutlan Qaboos bin Said in 2000. In 2013, the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, awarded him an honorary doctorate degree, in recognition of his role as “a distinguished and visionary academic leader with an international voice and perspective.”

• Neung-hoo Park Ph.D. ’98 — 2020

  Minister of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea

• Mario Schjetnan M.L.A ’70 — 2018

  Founder, Urban Design Group, Mexico

• Adnan Shihab-Eldin ’65, M.S. ’67, Ph.D. ’70 — 2017

  Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences

• Todung Mulya Lubis LL.M. ’78, J.S.D. ’90 — 2016

  Founder and Senior Partner, Lubis, Santosa & Maramis, Indonesia

• Sir Colin Blakemore Ph.D. ’68 — 2015

  Professor of Neuroscience and Philosophy, Director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, England

• Patrick Awuah — 2014 Founder and President of Ashesi University, Ghana
• Andrés Roemer — 2013 Writer
• Xiulan Zhang — 2012 Social Policy Expert, Founder of Beijing Normal University’s Institute of Social Development and Public Policy, China
• Yuan Tseh “Y.T.” Lee — 2011 Nobel Laureate, academician, educational reformer, statesman, Taiwan
• Josephine Namboze — 2010 Champion of public health research, practice, and education in Africa
• Reynato S. Puno — 2009 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Mario Bergara — 2008 President of the Central Bank of Uruguay
• Marcos Espinal — 2007 Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership
• Dr. Mu Sochua — 2006 Secretary General, Sam Rainsy Party, Cambodia
• Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan — 2005 National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Thailand
• David Harrison — 2004 CEO loveLife, South Africa
• Norman Myers — 2003 Environmental Scientist, United Kingdom
• Dr. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti — 2002 Economic Minister of Indonesia
• Miguel Angel Rodríguez Echeverría — 2001 President of Costa Rica
• Zivorad I. Kovacevic — 2000 Ambassador of Yugoslavia to the United States
• Dr. Urvashi Malhotra Sahni — 1999 Educator and Education Reform Advocate, India
• Dr. Ahmed Ahmed Goueli — 1998 Minister of Trade and Supply Arab Republic of Egypt
• Laura Castillo de Gurfinkel — 1997 Minister of Education, Venezuela
• Venkataram Ramakrishna — 1996 Director, South East Asia Regional Bureau for the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (iuhpe)
• James C. Y. Soong — 1995 Governor, Taiwan Provincial Government, Republic of China
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