2019 Provost’s Scholar-Teacher of the Year Award Winner

Khiara Bridges, of the School of Law

Professor Khiara Bridges exemplifies the principles of the Boston University Provost’s Scholar-Teacher of the Year Award: a record of ongoing, outstanding research; proven excellence as a teacher; and a history of dedication and contribution to the learning arts.

Since joining the BU School of Law in 2010, with a joint appointment in the Department of Anthropology, Professor Bridges has emerged among the nation’s leading scholars of  race, class, and reproductive justice. The award-winning author of  three acclaimed books and dozens of articles in premier legal journals, Professor Bridges has earned equal praise as an inspired instructor, adept at engaging students as critical thinkers and motivated participants in the classroom experience. Her efforts have been widely acknowledged, from inclusion in Lawyers of Color’s “50 Under 50” list, to invited talks at numerous national conferences and selection for  the School of Law’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Professor Bridges’ interdisciplinary research examines the equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution and how issues of race and privilege impact the experiences of people of color, particularly in healthcare. In addition to teaching LAW’s first-year course in criminal law, she has developed three timely classes exploring the Fourteenth Amendment, inequality in pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, and critical race theory – all with a vitality and freshness of approach that have garnered accolades. In the words of her dean, “Professor Bridges does it all – with remarkable energy, commitment, and insight.”

Professor Bridges’ students sprinkle course evaluations with adjectives like “awesome,” “amazing,” and “engaging” to describe her inspirational teaching and gift for building rapport. “Professor Bridges is the kind of teacher and human I aspire to be one day,” writes one student. “She is extremely capable and approachable… and sets a high bar for us to meet.” From her exceptional record of original scholarship, to her inventive, forward-focused courses and talent for drawing the best from students, Professor Khiara Bridges exemplifies the outstanding research and teaching that this award  acknowledges and celebrates.