Dr. Chika Okafor

Biography

Chika O. Okafor is a scholar specializing in law, economics, and inequality. He teaches constitutional law and climate/energy law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. His scholarship integrates economic theory and empirical methods to explore legal institutions and social networks, addressing major economic and social problems facing contemporary American society, such as economic inequality, historic levels of incarceration, and climate change. His work has been published or is forthcoming in leading peer-reviewed journals and law reviews, including the Journal of Law and Economics. Professor Okafor’s research has garnered attention from various media outlets, including NPR’s Things Considered. He has also contributed writings to the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Newsweek. Before joining academia, Professor Okafor held leadership positions across the private and public sectors, including roles as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and a corporate attorney at Skadden in London. He has a notable background in public service and social impact, including founding Todaydream® to support K-12 students and leading efforts in gun violence prevention in Chicago. He previously served as an Academic Fellow at Harvard Law School and is currently a Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University.

Research Interests

Experience