April 15, 2025

Gary Marchant named inaugural holder of Clarissa Cerda Professorship in Law and Technology at ASU Law

Gary Marchant, Regents and Foundation professor of law and faculty director for the Center for Law, Science and Innovation at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, has been named the inaugural holder of the Clarissa Cerda Professorship in Law and Technology.

 

The namesake and visionary behind the new professorship, Clarissa Cerda, is a distinguished leader in law, technology and student advocacy. She currently serves as the chief legal officer and corporate secretary of Pindrop, a company specializing in authentication, fraud and deepfake detection technology. Before joining Pindrop, Cerda was the executive vice president and chief legal officer at LifeLock (NYSE: LOCK), where she managed the legal and government affairs functions of the corporation, playing a key role in taking the company public in 2012. Cerda’s career also includes public service, having served as Assistant Counsel to the President in the White House, and as a corporate and securities partner at a major international law firm. 

 

 

A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School, Cerda has been a strong advocate for ASU Law. In 2018, she endowed the Clarissa Cerda Legal Leaders Scholarship and has mentored seven ASU Law students. Her deep connection with ASU Law and its students is a key reason why she chose to honor the college with this professorship.

 

“I have witnessed firsthand how ASU Law's innovative environment and dedicated faculty nurture exceptional legal talent,” Cerda said. “I believe establishing this professorship at ASU Law will help cultivate legal minds who can navigate the increasingly complex intersection of technology and law with technical proficiency and ethical clarity.” 

 

Marchant is a recognized leader in law and technology and has been at the forefront of studying the intersection of technology, law and governance. His work aligns closely with the mission of the new professorship, which aims to foster the development of legal expertise in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. His recognition with this professorship underscores the significant impact of his contributions to both academia and the broader legal field.

 

“It recognizes that one can be at the absolute top of their legal field and also a remarkable institutional citizen, providing direct benefit to what matters most to us, which is our students and their professional growth,” said Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents and Foundation professor of law.

 

As the inaugural holder of the Clarissa Cerda Professorship in Law and Technology, Marchant plans to continue his work advancing governance in the context of emerging technologies while training ASU Law students.

 

“I’m honored to be the first Clarissa Cerda professor in law and technology,” Marchant said during ASU Law’s winter convocation ceremony. “My work involves innovative governance and technologies and training the next generation of lawyers to be better able to deal with technologies. This generous support will help us with both of those goals.”

 

“In this rapidly evolving world of AI, Gen AI and Super AI, we will need legal leaders who understand both the technical complexities and profound human implications of emerging technologies,” Cerda said. “I am honored to support ASU's commitment to educating and developing these leaders who will shape the future of technology law for generations to come."

Written by Crystal Jimenez