We are pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa J. (MJ) Durkee, Professor of Law, beginning July 1, 2023. She joins us from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she serves as associate dean for international programs, the Allen Post Professor, and directs the Dean Rusk International Law Center. Her research explores international legal theory, global governance, and international environmental law, with a particular focus on the public-private interactions that produce and interpret international legal norms.
“Professor Durkee is an excellent addition to our faculty. Our community will benefit greatly from her expertise in the fields of international law and business law,” says Russell K. Osgood, dean of the School of Law.
“Professor Durkee is doing cutting-edge research at the intersection of several fields. She is also an outstanding teacher and an experienced administrator. We are delighted to welcome her to our faculty,” says Professor Daniel Epps, chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee.
Her scholarship has appeared in publications such as the Yale Law Journal, the Stanford Law Review, the Virginia Law Review, the UCLA Law Review, the Washington University Law Review, and the Yale Journal of International Law, which recently published her paper “The Pledging World Order.” She also serves on the board of editors for the American Journal of International Law.
Her book “States, Firms, and Their Legal Fictions: Attributing Identity and Responsibility to Artificial Entities,” is forthcoming with Cambridge University Press. She earned her JD degree at Yale Law School and bachelor’s degree at Westmont College.
