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Advancing Public Purposes

Humanistic Inquiry for the Public Good: The Law in College Classrooms and Research Agendas

Thursday, January 22, 2026
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Scarlet Oak - Mezzanine

    Co-Presenter(s)

  • JC

    Joy Connolly

    President
    American Council of Learned Societies, United States

  • Michael Cooper

    Executive Director and Executive Vice President
    American Society of International Law, United States

  • Stacy Leeds

    Dean and Professor of Law
    Arizona State University, United States

  • LN

    Laura Nielsen

    Research Professor and Professor of Sociology
    American Bar Foundation, Northwestern University, United States

    • Primary Presenter(s)

  • Kellye Testy

    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Law School Admission Council, United States

The panel will feature a diverse group of experienced leaders of prominent academic professional societies, national organizations, and law schools. The speakers will lead a discussion on the advantages of integrating the study of law and related areas into undergraduate programs and offer concrete suggestions about best practices in doing so. Benefits to be probed include educating students for effective democratic participation, providing a range of practical career pathways, and building the future pipeline of lawyers who are charged with defending liberty and pursuing justice.