The following story originally appeared on W&M Law School’s website. – Ed.
James Alcorn, senior director of the William & Mary Law School Election Law Program (ELP), and his outside team of operations research and organ transplant experts have received the 2025 MSOM Society Award for Responsible Research in Operations Management. The award recognizes their work on reshaping national organ allocation policy.
James Alcorn provides leadership and expertise on matters of election law, and he also teaches election law at William & Mary. (Courtesy photo)
This prestigious award, co-sponsored by the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (MSOM) Society and the Community for Responsible Research in Business and Management (RRBM), recognizes academically credible research that has a significant, positive impact on society. The MSOM Society is a key community within INFORMS, the largest international association for operations research and analytics professionals.
The work for which Alcorn and his team were recognized was conducted prior to his arrival at William & Mary. The award highlights the expertise he brings to the law school, particularly his experience in healthcare law and responsible AI as it applies to organ transplantation. He has presented at multiple national conferences, authored numerous articles and overseen the development of next-generation organ allocation algorithms, contributing to advancements in this critical area of health care.
“James’s vast knowledge and attention to detail in his research is what makes him so valuable at our law school,” said Rebecca Green, professor of law and co-director of the ELP. “This deserving recognition showcases how scholarship can influence and improve critical public systems, which aligns with our values and mission.”
Alcorn is a 2005 graduate of the University of New Hampshire Law School. Following graduation, he served multiple governors of Virginia as deputy secretary of elections and later chaired of the Virginia Board of Elections. During his tenure, he was widely known for his role in resolving a tie election in 2017 and his commitment to fair and transparent electoral processes.
As senior director of the ELP, Alcorn provides leadership and expertise on matters of election law, and he also teaches election law at William & Mary. He oversees the development of resources like the Election Law Navigator, which are designed to enhance understanding of federal and state election laws, support judges in election cases and share research with trusted partners.