María M. Pabón

María M. Pabón serves as the Dean Brian Bromberger Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she previously led as Dean from 2011-2015. She formerly held faculty positions at Indiana McKinney School of Law and University of Missouri Columbia School of Law.

Her academic foundation includes:

• J.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Law
• B.A., Princeton University

Professor Pabón's research critically examines Immigration Law (focusing on undocumented children's education and U.S./European comparative systems), Family Law (including inheritance for non-citizens), and Diversity in the Legal Profession. Her work intersects with race, gender, and immigrant rights, notably in her co-authored book Persistent Inequality (2009).

Her extensive honors include Hispanic Business's '50 Most Influential Hispanics' (2013), New Orleans CityBusiness 'Woman of the Year' (2013), and election to the American Law Institute (2010). Additional recognition:

• Two-time 'Most Powerful and Influential Woman in Louisiana' (National Diversity Council)
• National Latino Law Students Association Excellence in Leadership Award
• Indiana State Bar Association's Rabb Emison Diversity Award (2007)

As an educator, she has taught Criminal Law, Immigration Law, and Family Law across five countries, including Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain) and Renmin University (China). She pioneered Loyola's Incubator Program and Panama Summer Program during her deanship, boosting bar passage rates and fundraising.

Her current research explores marriage contracts, U.S./European immigration frameworks, Louisiana women lawyers' status, and diversity amid economic downturns.