Dr. Cheryl Harris

Biography

Cheryl Harris is the Rosalinde Arthur Gilbert Professor at UCLA School of Law, specializing in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. A graduate of Wellesley College and Northwestern School of Law, she has contributed significantly to the fields of Critical Race Theory and civil rights law. Since joining UCLA in 1998, she has developed a distinguished career as a legal scholar and educator, recognized for her foundational contributions to Critical Race Theory and anti-discrimination law. Harris's notable scholarship includes her acclaimed essay "Whiteness as Property" published in the Harvard Law Review. Throughout her career, she has engaged in significant pro bono work, including serving as a senior legal advisor for the City of Chicago's legal counsel during the historic election of Harold Washington. Harris has also been involved in global human rights delegations and has organized conferences aimed at developing South Africa's democratic constitution. In addition to her academic achievements, she has received several awards for her teaching excellence and contributions to civil rights education, including the ACLU Foundation Southern California's Distinguished Professor Award and UCLA's Distinguished Teaching Award. Currently, she focuses on initiatives responding to attacks on Critical Race Theory and leads major research projects in the intersection of law and race.

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