The Women’s Law Caucus at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law recently presented Fern Holland awards to two remarkable members of the UTulsa Law community: alumna Elaine Dunlap (J.D. ’13) and Taylor Wilson, a current law student and the first recipient of the Fern Holland Student in Service Award.
Dunlap, a staff attorney with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, received the Fern Holland Award for her work supporting crime victims and expanding access to legal services. Wilson was recognized with the inaugural student award for her leadership in service and community advocacy during law school.
The award is named in memory of Fern Holland (J.D. ’96), a women’s rights activist whose work remains a powerful example of service through law. Holland was killed in Iraq in 2004 while working to advance women’s rights and legal protections during a period of national transition.
The annual honors recognize individuals who reflect Holland’s courage, compassion and commitment to justice within the legal profession and their communities.
Elaine Dunlap
Dunlap has spent more than a decade advocating for crime victims, dedicating her career to expanding access to civil legal aid for survivors of violence and abuse.
Since 2014, she has served in an embedded role at Tulsa’s Family Safety Center, representing survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in cases involving protective orders, custody, divorce and other civil legal matters. She also works closely with law enforcement and prosecutors as clients navigate the criminal justice system.
“One of the biggest barriers to actually breaking the cycle of domestic violence is access to civil legal services,” Dunlap said. “If you can’t take care of your civil legal needs – ending your marriage, figuring out what to do with your property, your children – sometimes that’s where the barrier arises.”
Receiving the Fern Holland Award, she said, is especially meaningful because it reflects support from fellow women in the legal community.
“The fact that it’s nominated by women is just a good honor,” Dunlap said. “Helping other female attorneys along the way and making sure they have the same resources I did has always been really important to me.”
Taylor Wilson
Wilson was selected as the first recipient of the Fern Holland Student in Service Award, recognizing a student whose leadership reflects Holland’s legacy of service and advocacy.
Before attending UTulsa Law, Wilson worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where she became interested in the Innocence Project, an experience that helped inspire her passion for public interest law and criminal justice reform. During law school, she has continued that commitment through leadership and community engagement.
Wilson worked for two years at the Public Defender’s Office and has served as Public Interest Board president, vice president, secretary and executive director, organizing four silent auctions to fund a summer stipend program that enables students to pursue underpaid or unpaid positions serving the local community.
She has also coordinated and participated in volunteer projects including Meals on Wheels, the Take Control Initiative and Tulsa Lawyers Fighting Hunger food drives, while helping author statements condemning wrongful executions.
In addition, Wilson helps organize letter-writing initiatives for residents of Murdock Villa and Emerald Care, supporting disabled adults and individuals in assisted living facilities.
Receiving the inaugural student award, Wilson said the recognition reinforced the purpose behind her work. “It was very humbling,” she said. “Fern Holland dedicated her life to human rights and social justice, and it’s a good reminder that that’s what the legal profession should be – doing good work for people.”
The 2026 Fern Holland awards were presented at a celebratory banquet held at UTulsa’s 101 Archer space in the Tulsa Arts District.