Doriane Coleman

Doriane Coleman is the Thomas L. Perkins Distinguished Professor of Law at Duke Law School, specializing in interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of women, children, medicine, sports, and law. She is a Faculty Fellow and Advisory Council Member at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, a Faculty Associate at the Trent Center for Bioethics, and Co-Director of the Center for Sports Law and Policy.

Her research explores the evolving definition of sex and its legal, ethical, and societal implications. Key themes include

• Sex verification in sports
• Gender policy and Title IX
• Medical decision-making for minors
• Bioethics and human rights

Recent articles analyze sex differences in elite athletics, transgender inclusion in sports, and ethical issues in pediatric research. She also authored the book On Sex and Gender: A Commonsense Approach (2024), advocating for balancing biological sex recognition with transgender rights.

Scientific awards include the Thomas L. Perkins Distinguished Professor title. She holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law and a BA from Cornell University, and was a collegiate and national champion in track and field.