American Bar Association Honors Cooley Law School Professor

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – The American Bar Association’s Pipeline Council has awarded Cooley Law School Professor Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick and her nonprofit, Journey to Esquire® Scholarship & Leadership Program, with the 2026 Alexander Rising Star Award.

Founded by Hardrick in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2018, Journey to Esquire® is dedicated to mentoring and supporting law students from underrepresented backgrounds. The intensive, year-long program addresses the significant lack of diversity within the legal profession by supporting diverse third-year law students from Stetson University College of Law and Cooley Law School.

Additionally, the nonprofit provides scholarships to students at Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Cooley Law School, Florida A&M University College of Law, and Stetson University College of Law.

The Alexander awards, named after Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, one of the first Black women attorneys in the United States, recognizes organizations that have made significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The Rising Star Award honors an emerging program that has shown promise in its mission and efforts to increase diversity in the legal profession through the expansion of opportunities for and success of underrepresented students along the educational pipeline.

“After learning about Dr. Alexander’s groundbreaking work, I understood exactly why this award bears her name,” said Hardrick. “She blazed trails for all of us, and we’re honored to follow in her footsteps.

“Journey to Esquire® may be small but mighty, and this recognition reaffirms the power of mentorship and community,” continued Hardrick. “We hope it inspires more people in Central Florida and beyond to get involved. Law students need our guidance more than ever — and with our help, yes, they can make a difference.”

The award will be presented to Hardrick and Journey to Esquire® at the Titans for Change Gala: Celebrating Excellence, Impact, and Pathways to the Profession on Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.