Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative
The Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative at ASU Law advances justice through education, scholarship and community engagement focused on civil rights, migration and workplace law. Through interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching and public programming, the Initiative explores how law shapes access to economic and political opportunity while promoting strategies for meaningful change.
By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from law, history, political science, sociology, the humanities and business, the initiative reflects ASU’s charter to measure success by whom it includes and how they succeed, and serving the social and cultural health of the communities we serve.
Anchored in ASU Law’s Phoenix campus and connected to ASU’s presence in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, the initiative serves as a hub for collaboration and student engagement, and impact for the legal profession and the public. Its curriculum and programming span topics such as civil rights and social movements, immigration law and policy, labor and employment law, and innovative topics like AI, social media and social justice. Students gain hands-on experience through experiential learning trips as well as through research support, fellowships, CLE workshops and community engagement and partnerships.
Through major conferences, symposia, Arizona/Southwestern oral history Civil Rights project, speaker series and publications, the initiative positions ASU Law as a national leader in civil rights, workplace and migration, legal and humanities scholarship. It builds bridges between academia and the community, supporting students, advancing public-value research and engaging alumni and partners passionate about these issues.
David Lopez leads ASU Law’s Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative
David Lopez is a nationally recognized leader in civil rights, migration and labor law whose career has been defined by advancing justice through advocacy, scholarship and public service. As the longest-serving General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), he helped shape landmark policies and litigation expanding protections against workplace discrimination and promoting equal opportunity across the country. He also served as the co-Dean of Rutgers Law School-Newark campus.
Lopez’s work bridges law, policy and community impact. His leadership at the EEOC, academia, and in private practice has influenced key areas including employment rights, immigration, gender equity, disability access and systemic discrimination. In academia, he has developed and taught courses exploring how law operates as a force for social and economic change, inspiring students to apply their legal education toward public value. Other than Rutgers, where he served as the Dean of the Newark campus, has taught at several law schools including Harvard, Yale, NYU, and Georgetown.
Widely regarded as a thought leader in the field, Lopez continues to guide national conversations on civil rights and labor justice through his research, mentorship and collaboration with advocacy organizations and institutions dedicated to justice.
Lopez is a Phoenix native and proud graduate of Arizona State University Barrett, The Honors College, and co-founded the ASU Hispanic Celebration, which has grown into a signature celebration of achievement and community during the university’s graduation ceremonies.
Past events and workshops
Mixed Status Family Conference: Immigration enforcement, resistance and narratives through the lens of mixed-status families
April 9, 2026
ASU’s Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative discussed the lived experiences of mixed-status families. The evening included remarks from the following individuals:
- Professor of Law César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández
- Clinical Professor of Law Evelyn Cruz
- Professor of Law Rose Cuison-Villazor
- Vice Dean Angela Banks
In connection with this program, we also hosted a book talk at the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC) featuring César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández’s newest work, Welcome to the Wretched. Register for the Book Talk here.
Sponsors
- Fragomen Immigration Firm
- Michael Córdova Injury Attorneys
- Law Offices of Daniel A. Rodriguez
- Law Offices of Esteban Escobedo
Religious Conscience in the Age of Punitive Immigration Enforcement
March 18, 2026
This program explored the complex intersections of immigration policy, religious liberty and civil rights, featuring:
- Scott Warren – former ASU geography professor and immigration advocate with No More Deaths acquitted on smuggling and harboring charges which he defended partly based on religious conscience.
- Elizabeth Reiner Platt – director of the Union Theological Seminary's "Rights and Religion Project.”
- Dr. Warren Stewart – senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church of Phoenix
Co-sponsored by the ASU Law Center for Constitutional Design, this event was part of a cross-campus series featuring Scott Warren, with additional co-sponsorship from the ASU School for Transborder Studies; the Religious Studies program at the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies; the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict; the Committee for Strategic Charter Initiatives at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change; the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning; and No More Deaths ASU.
AI and Legal Practice Panel
March 17, 2026
- Whitney Stefko, JD — Director and Senior Counsel, Policy and Legal Ops+, Ford Motor Company
- Joe Tiano, JD — Founder and Chief, Executive Officer at Legal Decoder
- Sean Harrington, JD — Director of the AI and Legal Tech Studio, ASU Law
Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law
February 19, 2026
This collaboration between the Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative and the Center for Constitutional Design offered an in-depth exploration of the Rule of Law—examining its foundations, challenges and applications both within the United States and across the globe. The evening included remarks from the following individuals:
- David Lopez, Distinguished Professor of Practice
- Professor Justin Weinstein-Tull, Co-director for the Center for Constitutional Design
- Michelle Behnke, American Bar Association President
- Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents and Foundation Professor of Law
- Rosevelie Marquez Morales, Hispanic National Bar Association President
- Honorable Abdul Kallon, Former U.S. District Court for Northern District of Alabama
- Chris Houk, Houk Employment Attorneys, ASU Law 2000
Explore photos from the event.
Celebrating the Life, Legacy and Service of Dr. Martin Luther King
January 20, 2026
The program featured a timely conversation with former EEOC Chairs Jenny Yang and Charlotte Burrows, who reflected on Dr. King’s legacy and its continued relevance in today’s civil rights and workplace equity landscape. The evening opened with a video introduction by Dr. Warren Stewart and included remarks from the following individuals:
- Benjamin Taylor — Civil Rights Attorney, Taylor and Gomez; former Head of Arizona Bar Association (MC)
- Shannon Walker — University Archivist, ASU Community Driven Archives
- Jessica Salow — Assistant Archivist, Black Collections
- Tommy Espinoza — Co-Chair, Committee for MLK Holiday
- Dr. Warren Stewart — Retired Pastor, First Institutional Baptist Church (via video)
- David Lopez — Distinguished Professor of Practice, ASU Law
- Vice Dean Angela Banks — Panel Moderator
- Jenny Yang — Former Chair, EEOC
- Charlotte Burrows — Former Chair, EEOC
- Danny Ortega — ASU Law 1977, Community Activist
AI Bias and Discrimination Panel
January 20, 2026
- Jenny Yang, JD — Former Director of Office of Federal Contract Compliance and Chair of EEOC
- Charlotte Burrows, JD — Former Chair of EEOC
- Jim Ko, JD — Founder, The AI Rights Project
Evolving Landscape
November 12, 2025
This event set the stage for the Initiative’s mission — advancing justice through education, scholarship and community engagement. Explore the event on LinkedIn.
- Featured Guests: Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women’s Law Center
- Expert Panel Discussion: deep dive into the shifting legal frameworks influencing gender-based workplace protections, moderated by Professor Michael Selmi
- Fireside Chat: conversation with Dean Stacy Leeds exploring the broader civil and workplace rights landscape
- Reception: network with special guests follows the program
Derechos y Esperanza – Rights and Hope
A podcast of the ASU Law Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative
Derechos y Esperanza – Rights and Hope is a podcast of the ASU Law Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative that advances public education and dialogue by exploring historical and contemporary stories of civil rights, migration and workplace law, examining how law shapes access to opportunity while uplifting pathways for change, inspiration and hope.
This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.
Faculty experts
Gary Marchant
Regents and Foundation Professor of Law; Faculty Director, Center for Law, Science and Innovation
Partner with us to advance justice and opportunity
The Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative at ASU Law is driving meaningful change at the intersection of law, policy and community impact. We invite advocates, organizations and partners to collaborate with us as we expand education, research and engagement in civil rights, migration and labor. Together, we can shape the future of justice through scholarship, dialogue and action.