Mark E. Steiner, professor of law at South Texas College of Law Houston, has been named the 2022 Barbara Day Volunteer of the Year by local nonprofit BakerRipley.
For more than 15 years, Dr. Steiner has been a stalwart of organizations that support the needs of Houston’s underserved communities. As a volunteer attorney, he has spent hundreds of hours consulting and advising immigrants as they begin their journey to naturalization through the BakerRipley Immigration and Citizenship program.
This public service award is the latest in a series of accolades Steiner has earned. He was recognized previously for his volunteer work with the creation in 2017 of the Mark Steiner Award for Immigration Altruism by BakerRipley, in partnership with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), Univision, and the City of Houston’s Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities.
The following year, Shell named him one of their six “Heroes of Houston” as part of a campaign to honor the resiliency, bravery, and generosity demonstrated by everyday Houstonians in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey.
His longstanding commitment to pro-bono service has qualified him for membership in the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas every year since 2014. Steiner received the 2022 HBA Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Award for his extraordinary commitment to public service and delivery of direct services to low-income Harris County residents.
Dr. Steiner is retiring from South Texas Law but is planning to continue his pro bono service as an immigration attorney assigned to Ripley House in the East End.
