Class of 2025: Maryann Serra Panoho’s SJD Experience Honoring Her Ancestors, Shaping the Future

For Maryann Serra Panoho, pursuing the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law was a deeply personal and purposeful journey. As an Indigenous woman from Aotearoa, New Zealand, her academic and professional path has been shaped by a commitment to honoring her family, people, and the broader Indigenous community. 

 “Pursuing an SJD was a way to honor them and contribute to the conversation around Indigenous rights and justice,” she says.  

Drawn to Arizona Law for its internationally renowned Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program, Panoho found a scholarly home that aligned with her values and vision. She cites the opportunity to learn from leading faculty such as Professors Robert Williams, Melissa Tatum, and Seánna Howard as a key reason for choosing the program.   

“I was drawn to a program that not only fosters deep academic excellence but also creates space for Indigenous Peoples from around the world to work together in solidarity,” says Panoho. 

Her dissertation explores the rebirth of Māori Indigenous justice systems as an exercise of self-determination. Panoho says her research is not just about imagining something new but restoring balance and creating justice for her ancestors, descendants, and all those caught in systems not designed for them. 

“I hope my work inspires Indigenous Peoples to know what is possible, to see the strength of our traditions, the legitimacy of our systems, and the power we hold to shape our own futures,” says Panoho. 

Throughout her time in the SJD program, Panoho was engaged with Indigenous scholars and communities from around the world. 

“The program gave me the space and support to grow into the scholar and advocate I always hoped I would become,” she said. “I leave this program more confident, connected, and committed than ever.” 

She advises all future SJD students to say yes to every opportunity that aligns with your spirit, values and vision, as this is a once in a lifetime experience that goes by quickly.  

This fall, Panoho will join the University of California, San Francisco as the Indigenous Law Center’s Visiting Professor of Law, where she will teach courses on Land Back and Indigenous-led family law . Her long-term goal is to return to Aotearoa and continue her academic career in service of Māori and Indigenous legal scholarship. 

“I want to be part of a movement that restores Indigenous legal orders to their rightful place, not as alternatives, but as equal, living systems of law,” she said. “Through teaching, research, and advocacy, I hope to help create space for future generations to thrive in both our worlds.”