STANFORD, California, October 5, 2023 – E. Tendayi Achiume, Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor of Human Rights at Stanford Law School (SLS), was one of 20 people selected for a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as a “genius grant.” The scholarship includes an $800,000 stipend and is “intended to encourage individuals of exceptional talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual and professional inclinations,” according to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation website.
The award, announced October 4, recognizes Achiume’s scholarship and long-standing work in the areas in which she teaches at SLS, including global issues of racism and xenophobia, as well as the legal and ethical impacts of colonialism on contemporary international migration. Achiume gives lessons on International human rights And Third World Approaches to International Law, Borders and Migrationamong other courses at SLS.
“This award provides the opportunity to further my research, policy and advocacy work in innovative ways that highlight the critical work in this area led by racially marginalized communities in particular,” said Achiume, who in 2017, became the first woman to serve as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. “In my current seminar on empire, borders and international migration, it has been stimulating and inspiring to exchange ideas with students who are also interested in the project of reshaping the law under more equitable conditions. »
Achiume said his interest in reconceptualizing international law “pushes for a deeper consideration of how colonialism and other forms of empire continue to shape the current functioning of international law.” As an international lawyer working at the United Nations, she has “similarly advocated for approaches to the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, that address the racial and national inequalities that are at the heart of heart of these challenges.
“We are very pleased to see Tendayi Achiume receive this recognition for his groundbreaking work, which is not only conceptually innovative in the field of international law, but also of great potential practical importance.” said Jenny Martinez, dean of Stanford and former dean of Stanford Law School.
“All of us at Stanford Law School and across the university are delighted and pleased to see her recognized with an award that promotes the same ultimate goal as hers: creating a better world for all of us.” , said Robert Weisberg, Edwin E. Huddleson. , junior professor of law and interim dean of SLS.
Achiume, law professor Alicia Miñana at the UCLA School of Law, was born in Zambia. She won the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award from UCLA Law School, the highest honor for excellence in teaching, as well as the Eby Award for the Art of Teaching. Achiume is also a research associate at the African Center for Migration and Society at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and a research associate at the Center for Refugee Studies at the University of Oxford.
About Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is one of the nation’s leading institutions of legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision-makers in the fields of law, politics, business and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, produce exceptional legal studies and empirical analyses, and contribute regularly to the national press as legal and policy experts. Stanford Law School has established a model of legal education that provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, practical experience, a global perspective, and a focus on public service, spearheading a movement for change.
