The University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy will recognize Hardy Vieux (MPP/JD '97) with the 2026 Neil Staebler Distinguished Service Award, the school's highest alumni honor for dedication to excellence in public service. Vieux will accept the award on Oct. 16 during the Ford School's 2026 Homecoming celebration.
Vieux currently serves as executive vice president and chief program officer at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), an international organization that works to protect the rights and well-being of children migrating alone in search of safety. In that role, he helps shape KIND's strategy, vision and global programming, including efforts to combat exploitative child labor in partnership with corporations.
"Hardy's nomination stood out to the committee not only because of what he has accomplished, but because of the way he has translated his commitment to public service into meaningful impact," said DJ McKerr (BA ‘13), chair of the award selection committee. "He reflects the kind of thoughtful, principled leadership that the Ford School seeks to cultivate in its students and alumni.
McKerr's grandfather, Bob McKerr (MPA '58), is the 2001 recipient of the award.
"The Staebler Award has a special legacy at the Ford School because it recognizes that public service can take many forms, while celebrating those who use their talents to strengthen their communities and institutions. It is a privilege to help carry that tradition forward and to recognize Hardy as part of it."
Before becoming executive vice president and chief program officer, Vieux served as KIND's chief of staff from 2021 to 2024. He helped align the organization's vision, strategy and operations in support of the legal and psychosocial needs of migrant children. He also was part of a team working in Poland to support children fleeing Ukraine during the early days of the war following Russia's invasion.
Vieux additionally chairs the board of directors of Refugee Council USA, a coalition of 39 U.S. nongovernmental organizations that advocate for and with refugees.
Prior to joining KIND, Vieux served as senior vice president for legal affairs at Human Rights First. There, he led the organization's pro bono asylum representation team and impact litigation efforts.
His career also has included work supporting children displaced by conflict. In 2014, Vieux served as a policy fellow with Save the Children in Jordan, focusing on efforts to safeguard and educate Syrian refugee children.
Earlier in his career, Vieux worked in private legal practice, concentrating on white-collar criminal defense and complex civil trials. His pro bono work included litigation related to abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, juvenile detention impact litigation and asylum representation.
Vieux previously served as a criminal appellate defense counsel in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, handling matters that included a death penalty case and national security issues. After leaving the JAG Corps, he served on the board of the National Institute of Military Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to the fair administration of justice in the armed forces. He began his legal career as a judicial law clerk in federal district court in Denver, where he worked on the Oklahoma City bombing cases.
"Hardy has built an extraordinary life of public service—one defined not only by the people and causes he has championed, but also by the compassion, integrity, and sense of purpose he brings to that work," said Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy. "We are especially fortunate that he has generously shared his time, wisdom, and leadership with our students and the broader Ford School community. Hardy represents the very best of the Ford School, and it is a joy to celebrate him with the Staebler Award."
Vieux has maintained close ties to the Ford School throughout his career. From 2017 to 2022, he served as a Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence, teaching graduate-level seminars on human rights law and making himself available to students beyond the classroom.
He also led four groups of Ford School students on spring break trips to Guatemala, most recently in 2024. Students partnered with the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala and learned about its work to pursue truth, restorative justice and accountability for families and communities affected by the country's internal armed conflict.
Since 2020, Vieux has served on the Ford School Committee, the dean's advisory group providing strategic and philanthropic support to the school. Through that role, he has helped expand the school's network of partners, supported student recruitment and participated in alumni and leadership events in Washington, D.C.
Vieux graduated from the Ford School and the University of Michigan Law School in 1997. While at Michigan, he co-founded the Michigan Journal of Race & Law and served as its editor-in-chief. He earned his bachelor's degree in public policy studies from Duke University. Vieux later served as president of Duke's national alumni association and, as a result, on the university's Board of Trustees. He also served on the board of visitors for Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy.
The Neil Staebler Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Ford School alum for outstanding professional achievement consistent with Staebler's dedication to excellence in public service. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to addressing public policy challenges through their professional accomplishments and service to others. The award is a program of the Neil Staebler Fund for Political Education, established at the Ford School in 1987 to honor one of Michigan's leading political activists. Staebler devoted his public life to improving democratic government by increasing citizen participation in all aspects of public affairs.