Georgetown Law established the Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Chair in Human Rights in 2006. This position is designed to bring distinguished human rights practitioners to Georgetown Law to teach and engage with our community.

Former Drinan Chairs

  • Alfred Brownell

    2024-2025 Drinan Chair: Founding Executive Director of Green Advocates International

    Alfred Lahai Brownell, Sr.

    Watch the 2025 Drinan Lecture

  • Soledad García Muñoz

    2023–2024 Drinan Chair: Former Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (REDESCA)

    Soledad García Muñoz

    Watch the 2024 Drinan Lecture

  • David Tolbert headshot

    2022–2023 Drinan Chair: Former Registrar for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

    David Tolbert

    Watch the 2023 Drinan Lecture

  • Diann Rust-Tierney headshot

    2021–2022 Drinan Chair: Former Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

    Diann Rust-Tierney

    Watch the 2022 Drinan Lecture

  • Elisa Massimino headshot

    2019–2021 Drinan Chair: Former President and CEO of Human Rights First

    Elisa Massimino

    Watch the 2021 Drinan Lecture

  • Hina Jilani headshot

    2018–2019 Drinan Chair: Former UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders and former President of the World Organisation Against Torture

    Hina Jilani

  • Stephen Rapp headshot

    2017–2018 Drinan Chair: Former Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice

    Stephen Rapp

  • François Crépeau headshot

    2016–2017 Drinan Chair: Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants and Full Professor at the McGill University Faculty of Law

    François Crépeau

  • Eric Rosenthal (L'92) headshot

    2015–2016 Drinan Chair: Founder and Executive Director of Disability Rights International

    Eric Rosenthal (L'92)

  • Bela Kapur (LL.M. '92) headshot

    2013–2014 Drinan Chair: Former UN Human Rights and Political Affairs Officer; Senior Advisor at TrustWorks Global

    Bela Kapur (LL.M. '92)

  • Gay McDougall headshot

    2011–2012 Drinan Chair: Former UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues

    Gay McDougall

  • Aryeh Neier headshot

    2009–2010 Drinan Chair: President Emeritus, Open Society Foundations

    Aryeh Neier

  • Fatsah Ouguergouz headshot

    2008–2009 Drinan Chair: Justice, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

    Fatsah Ouguergouz

  • Thomas Buergenthal headshot

    2007–2008 Drinan Chair: Former Judge, International Court of Justice

    Thomas Buergenthal