Susan Longfield Karr

Susan Longfield Karr is an Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of History at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on state and empire formation, legal frameworks of rights, and the evolution of international law from the early modern era to the present. She holds a Ph.D. in Early Modern European History from the University of Chicago, alongside M.A. and B.A. degrees in related fields.

Her research emphasizes conflicts over legal concepts like tolerance, citizenship, and inequality. Recent work explores how early modern legal language shaped modern notions of rights and empire. She has authored a book (2022) and contributed to edited volumes on humanist jurisprudence and ius gentium.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on Renaissance Europe, legal history, and the U.S. Constitution. She has held academic roles at Princeton University, American University, and the European University Institute. Her articles analyze intersections between legal theory, political power, and cultural frameworks across multiple historical periods.