Professor Abebe’s scholarship focuses on the relationship between the constitutional law of U.S. foreign affairs and public international law. His research has been published in leading academic journals and edited volumes in the fields of foreign affairs, human rights law, international institutions, and institutional design, and he is an elected member of the American Law Institute.
I am confident that Professor Abebe will be an exceptional Dean for Columbia Law, one of the most highly regarded law schools in the world. His fundamental belief in the academic enterprise is evident and deeply rooted. His skilled, diplomatic, and inclusive approach to leadership will help foster an environment in which faculty, students, and staff can innovate, succeed, and flourish.
Please join me in welcoming Professor Abebe to the Columbia community as he takes up the deanship of Columbia Law and in thanking the search committee, capably chaired by Professors Anu Bradford and Richard Briffault, for its tireless effort and thoughtful engagement throughout the search process. We also owe a deep, collective debt of gratitude to Gillian Lester for her leadership and dedication during the past decade; she has left an indelible imprint of accomplishment that will be visible at the Law School for years to come.
Sincerely,
Minouche Shafik
President, Columbia University in the City of New York