Despite the laudable ideals expressed by this nation\u2019s founders, US law has routinely been written, enacted, and interpreted by those in power in ways that reinforce, rather than dismantle, racial inequality. In this sense, law has become one part of the structures in which racism is embedded. This structural racism touches upon every area of the law, and nearly 250 years into this democratic experiment that is the United States, people of color have still not gained full and equal membership in US society.<\/p>\n
In this new speaker series, we invite leading scholars to examine the intersection between race, inequality, and the law; to reveal how US law, as it is currently written and interpreted, falls short of the ideals on which this country was founded; and to offer their insights on how we may pursue fundamental change in our system of laws that will finally deliver on the promise of equity and justice for all.<\/p>\n
The endowment of the Barbara Jordan Speaker Series is made possible through a generous gift from Gary Tischler, a graduate of our Class of 1987.<\/p>\n
Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/p>\n Monday, February 9th, 2026<\/strong> Monday, October 20th, 2025 Monday, October 28th, 2024 Thursday, October 10th, 2024<\/strong> Monday, October 7th, 2024<\/strong> Learn more and register for Barbara Jordan Lectures<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n 03\/25\/24 – Professor Daniel Kiel, University of Memphis<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/18\/24 – Dean Onwuachi-Willig & Dean Sandro Galea<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/06\/2023 – Yavilah McCoy, CEO, Dimensions Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n 09\/18\/2023 – Professor Steven Dean<\/strong><\/p>\n 04\/03\/23 – Nikolas Bowie, Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law, Harvard Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/10\/22 – Dahlia Lithwick<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/11\/22 – Trevor Rozier-Byrd (’10), Founder and CEO, Stackwell Capital<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/23\/22 – Professor Meera E. Deo, Southwestern Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/03\/22 – Professor Monica C. Bell, Yale University<\/strong><\/p>\n 2\/12\/22 – Professor Jamila Jefferson-Jones, Wayne State University Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/4\/21 – Professor K-Sue Park, Georgetown University Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/25\/21 – Professor Trina Jones, Duke Law<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/04\/21 – Professor Devon Carbado, UCLA Law<\/strong><\/p>\n 12\/03\/20 – Professor Issa Kohler-Hausmann, Yale Law<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/08\/20 – Professor Deborah Archer, NYU Law<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n Established in 2011 as part of the William & Patricia Kleh Visiting Professorship. The Kleh lecture is delivered by the Kleh Visiting Professor, who teaches one or more courses during their semester visiting BU Law. The Professorship and Lecture is made possible by the generosity of William Kleh (\u201971) and his wife Patty.<\/span><\/p>\n 11\/17\/25 – Enrique Alberto Prieto Rios, Universidad del Rosario<\/p>\n 11\/18\/24 \u2013 Preeti Pratishruti Dash, University of Cambridge<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/20\/23 \u2013 Dr. Charles C. Jalloh, Florida International University<\/strong><\/p>\n 04\/13\/23 \u2013 Zachary D. Kaufman, University of Houston Law Center<\/strong><\/p>\n 04\/04\/22 \u2013 Sahar Aziz, Rutgers University<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/05\/20 \u2013 Dr. Eddie Bruce-Jones, University of London<\/strong><\/p>\n 09\/26\/19 \u2013 Rashida Manjoo, University of Cape Town, South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n 09\/13\/18 \u2013 Peter J. Spiro, Beasley School of Law at Temple University<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/19\/17 \u2013 Chantal Thomas, Cornell Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/20\/16 \u2013 Leora Bilsky, Tel Aviv University<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/29\/15 \u2013 Michael J. Glennon, The Fletcher School at Tufts University<\/strong><\/p>\n 02\/23\/13 \u2013 Andrew C. Hall, Hall, Lamb, Hall & Leto, P.A.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n BU School of Law holds the annual Pike Lecture, which honors Mr. N. Neal Pike, a 1937 graduate of BU Law who was a distinguished lawyer and a lifelong advocate for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Pike suffered an illness as a child that left him permanently blind. He was educated at the Perkins Institution for the Blind before entering BU Law in 1934. He was admitted to the Federal Bar to practice law in the US District Court for the district of Massachusetts, and he practiced for 45 years. He was the first blind person to be admitted to practice before the Bar of the US Supreme Court.<\/p>\n 10\/7\/2025 –\u00a0 Samuel R. Bagenstos, of Michigan Law.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/25\/24\u00a0 – Chai Feldblum<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/30\/23 \u2013 Rabia Belt, Stanford Law School<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/27\/23 \u2013 Professor Mary Crossley, University of Pittsburgh School of Law<\/strong><\/p>\n 03\/28\/22 \u2013 Michael Ashley Stein, Harvard Law School<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n
\n12:45 – 2:00pm
\nBoston University School of Law, Barristers Hall
\nAtinu<\/u><\/strong>ke Adediran<\/a>, J.D., Ph.D.\u00a0Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law<\/p>\nPrevious Barbara Jordan Lectures<\/h4>
\n<\/strong>12:45 – 2:00pm
\nBoston University School of Law, Barristers Hall
\nShalanda Baker<\/a>, Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action, University of Michigan<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n12:45 \u2013 2:00pm<\/span>
\nBoston University School of Law, Barristers Hall<\/span>
\nAdrianna Quintero<\/a>, (\u201996)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n12:45 \u2013 2:00pm<\/span>
\nBoston University School of Law, Barristers Hall<\/span>
\nPaulette Brown, Former American Bar Association and National Bar Association President<\/span>
\nGhillaine Reid, Partner, Troutman Pepper (\u201995)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n12:45 \u2013 2:00pm<\/span>
\nBoston University School of Law, Barristers Hall<\/span>
\nDonald Calloway<\/a>, (\u201905)<\/span><\/p>\nPast Jordan Lectures<\/h4>
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\nThe Kleh International Law Lecture Series<\/h2>\n
Past Kleh Lectures<\/h4>
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\nThe Annual Pike Lecture<\/h2>\n
Past Pike Lectures<\/h4>
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