The Center for Civil and Human Rights is proud to announce that Daniel Philpott, Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies, has been appointed as its new Director. Philpott will begin his term on January 1, 2014.
A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 2001, Philpott is a scholar of international relations, political philosophy and peace studies whose research concerns religion and reconciliation in politics. He is the author of numerous articles and books on these subjects including, most recently, “Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliation,” which proposes concrete ethical guidelines to societies emerging from authoritarianism, civil war and genocide.
Philpott succeeds Paolo Carozza, Professor of Law, as Director of CCHR. Says Carozza, "Having attained the distinction of possessing one of the premier programs in the world for the education of human rights lawyers, it is time for the CCHR to take another important step forward. Dan Philpott’s selection represents a significant commitment to expanding the CCHR into the major interdisciplinary research institute that Fr. Hesburgh had originally envisioned. His outstanding scholarly record, interdisciplinary interest in a range of pressing human rights issues, and deep appreciation for Notre Dame's Catholic mission make him an ideal Director for this next era in the Center's development."
Sean O’Brien, Director of the Center’s LL.M. program in international human rights law, says “Philpott’s leadership will increase our students’ fluency in the languages of other disciplines, enabling them to be conversant with a wider range of interlocutors in promoting human dignity.” The program’s alumni network now includes over 300 human rights lawyers from more than 85 countries around the world.
In addition to directing a research program on religion and reconciliation for Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Philpott travels widely in pursuit of his scholarly interests. Between 2000 and 2006, he regularly visited Kashmir as an associate of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, and he regularly visits Uganda and the Great Lakes region of Africa to train political and religious leaders in reconciliation under the auspices of the Catholic Peacebuilding Network. He is also a faculty fellow of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies.
Philpott becomes the seventh Director of the Center since its establishment 40 years ago, and takes his place among a line of notable human rights scholars such as Howard Glickstein , Donald Kommers, Rev. William Lewers, Juan Mendez, Doug Cassel, and Carozza.
Portions of this story provided by Michael O. Garvey.