2025 VERITAS AWARD WINNER: SOFIA ADROGUÉ ’84
Sofia Adrogué ’84 is a trailblazing attorney, public servant, and community advocate whose lifelong dedication to justice and service reflects the Veritas spirit. She is two-time magna cum laude graduate, earning her B.A. from Rice University, Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, Order of the Coif & Barons, both on full academic scholarships. She is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program (first female U.S. Keynote Speaker & U.S. Class Representative) and has earned national recognition for her legal and civic leadership.
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2024, Sofia now serves as an inaugural Judge of the Eleventh Business Court Division in Houston, a statewide court for complex business disputes. A native of Argentina, Sofia is a former Senior Trial Partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP, a 10-year+ Texas Super Lawyer, Best Lawyer, & Latino Leaders “U.S. 25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyer” & “Most Powerful Woman in Law.”
She is the Editor of the Texas Business Litigation treatise (5th Edition). Her pioneering work includes over 120 published legal articles, 125+ CLE presentations, and service on more than 15 boards. Sofia’s legacy to the community spans dozens of impactful organizations, including board and leadership roles with Girls Inc. of Greater Houston, Houston First Corporation, Theatre Under the Stars, and the UH Law Center Immigration Clinic. She has also served on the boards of the Chinquapin School, Memorial Hermann Foundation, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, United Way of Greater Houston, and her three alma maters, among others. A dedicated advocate for education, she co-founded the Youth Leadership Forum at Rice University. She served on the Richard Tapia Center for Excellence & Equity at Rice University as an Executive Committee Member. She also co-hosted and co-produced over 125 episodes of Latina Voices: Smart Talk, an award-winning TV Show engaging, educating, and inspiring our prophetic city—Houston.
Her community impact is reflected in awards such as the Barbara Jordan Legacy Award, YWCA Woman of Achievement, Neuhaus Education Center Icon Award, UH Law Center Arrival Award, and Rice University’s Meritorious Service Award. She has been recognized with “Sofia Adrogué Day” proclamations from the City of Houston twice. She was named Executive Woman of the Year, Woman of Distinction by ABC13, and among the 10 Outstanding Young Americans by the U.S. Jaycees. She has also received the Greater Houston Woman’s Chamber of Commerce Pioneering Leadership in Justice Award, the Tributo Mujer Hispana “Mujer del Año” recognition, the L.I.F.E. Mother’s Day Award, the UHLC Hispanic Law Heritage Wall of Honor recognition, the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Leader of Influence, Comcast Hispanic Heroes Award, a Houston Chronicle Channel 11 “Texas Legend” and 10 “Extraordinary Latinos” (Inaugural List).
A consistent supporter of St. Agnes Academy, Sofia served as the school’s first alumna Board Member (2000–2003), helping elevate the alumnae voice in school leadership. She is a devoted aunt to alumna Alessandra Adrogué ’23 and current student Lisette Adrogué ’25, as well as to her children—Sloane Adrogué Gustafson, Schuyler Adrogué Gustafson, and Stefan Adrogué Gustafson. She continues to support the Academy through her attendance, advocacy, and philanthropy.
Sofia’s deep commitment to faith, education, leadership, and community impact embodies the mission of St. Agnes Academy. She represents the highest ideals of Dominican education and has used her talents to uplift others, lead with purpose, and inspire meaningful change.
