About
Barbara J. Stark is the Joseph Kushner Distinguished Professor in Civil Liberties Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra University, where she has been a faculty member since 2005. She teaches courses in Family Law, International Law, Human Rights, and International Family Law. She holds a BA from Cornell University (cum laude), a JD from New York University, and an LL.M. from Columbia University.
Her research focuses on the intersection of family law and international human rights, with particular emphasis on children’s rights, transnational families, and the impact of globalization on domestic legal systems. She has published extensively in leading law journals and is the author or editor of several influential books in the field.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in comparative and international family law, addressing issues such as divorce, adoption, child custody, and human rights across jurisdictions. Her work often engages with policy challenges arising from migration, cross-border disputes, and evolving family structures in a globalized world.
- Joseph Kushner Distinguished Professor in Civil Liberties Law
- Hofstra Distinguished Faculty Lecture
- Hofstra Research Fellow (twice)
- John DeWitt Gregory Research Scholar (twice)
Professor Stark has advised on international family law reform and served in leadership roles in professional organizations, including the American Society of International Law and the AALS Sections of International Law and Family Law. She has been a visiting professor at Columbia Law School, New England School of Law, and law schools in France and Japan. She co-taught a course on Human Rights and Gender with a judge from the European Court of Justice and taught international family law in Japan. She has also served on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law and chaired key committees in the AALS and International Law Association.
