معرفی
Susan Williams is the Walter W. Foskett Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy. She teaches Constitutional Law II, Feminist Jurisprudence, Comparative Law: Constitutional Design and the Economy, Seminar in Constitutional Design, and Seminar on Constitutional Processes, bringing a practical perspective to her classroom through her extensive international constitutional work.
Professor Williams earned her B.A. in 1982 and J.D. in 1985 from Harvard University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served on the board of editors for the Harvard Law Review. After graduation, she clerked for Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (1985-86). She has held visiting positions at the University of Paris II (Pantheon-Assas), Wolfson College at Cambridge University, and the European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy.
Her research focuses on constitutional design, feminist legal theory, women's political representation, and free speech. Williams examines how constitutional frameworks can advance gender equality and democratic values, particularly in transitional societies. Her comparative work spans Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, analyzing how different constitutional models address social difference and inequality. She has increasingly focused on practical applications of constitutional design, examining mechanisms like gender quotas and provisions for customary law systems.
Professor Williams' scholarly publications demonstrate a consistent interdisciplinary approach that bridges legal theory with practical constitutional challenges. Her work has evolved to address increasingly complex questions about how constitutional design can effectively promote equality while respecting cultural contexts.
- Walter W. Foskett Professor of Law (endowed chair)
- Delivered the 2013 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture
- Member of Phi Beta Kappa at Harvard University
Professor Williams is actively engaged in advising constitutional reformers worldwide. She works with ethnic minority groups in Burma on constitutional negotiations and with women's organizations in that country. She has advised the Law Reform Commission of Liberia on constitutional amendments and has worked with civil society groups in Libya to build capacity for constitutional drafting. Currently, she is developing programs with partners in Jordan, including the Constitutional Court. This practical work directly informs her teaching and scholarship, creating a dynamic exchange between academic research and real-world constitutional challenges.
As Director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy, Professor Williams leads initiatives that connect academic expertise with constitutional reform efforts globally. The Center serves as a hub for scholars, practitioners, and reformers interested in democratic governance and constitutional design, facilitating dialogue between theory and practice in constitutional development.
