Natalie Nanasi

Natalie Nanasi is an Associate Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University and the founding Director of the Judge Elmo B. Hunter Legal Center for Victims of Crimes Against Women. At the Hunter Clinic, she supervises students in representing survivors of intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and sexual abuse, while also guiding systemic policy advocacy. Her academic background includes a J.D. from Georgetown Law, where she received an Equal Justice Foundation fellowship, and a B.A. from Brandeis University.

Professor Nanasi's research explores the intersection of gender-based violence, immigration law, and the Second Amendment. Key interests include:

• Clinical legal education methodologies
• Humanitarian protections for immigrant survivors
• Firearm regulations in domestic abuse contexts
• Feminist legal theory applications
• Asylum law reform

Her publications critically analyze legal frameworks addressing violence against women, often advocating for victim-centered reforms.

Her scholarly work primarily focuses on dismantling systemic barriers for survivors, with recurring themes of firearm regulation, asylum policy, and patriarchal structures. Recent articles examine the tension between Second Amendment rights and domestic violence protections, while earlier works address gaps in U visa implementations and forced marriage asylum claims.

Awards include:

• Equal Justice Works Fellowship (2007-2009)
• Equal Justice Foundation Fellowship at Georgetown Law

Professor Nanasi directs the Hunter Legal Center, where she oversees clinical programs combining direct legal services with policy advocacy. Prior roles include positions at American University's Domestic Violence Clinic and the Tahirih Justice Center, where she represented immigrant survivors of gender-based violence.