Andrea Cayley named executive director of the Center for Law and Global Affairs

Andrea Cayley has been named executive director of the Center for Law and Global Affairs at

the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, bringing new energy and vision to the position. In this role, Cayley brings decades of experience in international law and a deep commitment to student mentorship as she leads ASU Law’s international initiatives into an exciting new chapter.

She will also serve as a lead for the college’s new International area of expertise. With more than 20 years as a lawyer for the United Nations, Cayley has worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, prosecuted Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambodia and advised on accountability efforts in Ukraine. She has taught international human rights, led initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and serves as an adviser to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on cultural heritage protection.

Under her direction, the center will serve as a hub for international research, scholarship, programming and student engagement at ASU Law.

“I look forward to giving students meaningful international opportunities no matter their specific area of legal interest,” she said. “Whether a student wants to focus on global health, human rights, trade or another discipline, we want to help them look at their work in a global context and understand how it fits into the legal landscape of the United States and beyond.”

The revitalized center will expand on the law school’s global commitment, offering programming that extends beyond the previous focus of the International Rule of Law and Security program. While IRLS was based primarily in Washington, D.C., LGA will now have a strong presence in Phoenix and D.C., with additional partnerships and events planned in Los Angeles and beyond. 

Key initiatives will include:

• Support for faculty research: The center will help publicize scholarly work, host panels/conferences and foster collaboration across international law topics.
• Expanded student opportunities: From attending events to conducting research, students can engage at multiple levels.
• Two levels of fellowships:
  • Junior fellows (2Ls and 3Ls) will work with faculty on international research and writing, with opportunities for publication.
  • Senior fellows will serve as paid, hands-on contributors based in Phoenix and D.C., conducting in-depth research and helping drive LGA programming.
• Career and internship support: The center will expand the law school’s already robust international internship offerings and guide students pursuing global legal careers.

As Cayley steps into her new role, she brings with her a vision of inclusivity, academic rigor and real-world engagement that will help prepare ASU Law students to thrive in a globally connected legal world.

For more information on the center, visit law.asu.edu/centers/law-global-affairs.

Written by Crystal Jimenez