Gillian Lester

Gillian Lester is a renowned dean and Professor of Law at Columbia University, known for her expertise in Employment Law, Labor Law, and Social Welfare Policy. Her work has been influenced by scholars such as Cass Sunstein, Erin Murphy, and Katherine Franke. Lester's research has been published in esteemed journals, including the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and Stanford Law Review, and has been cited by courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States and the California Supreme Court.

● Early Life and Education

Gillian Lester was born in Canada and spent her formative years in Toronto, where she developed an interest in Social Justice and Human Rights, inspired by figures like Pierre Trudeau and Bertha Wilson. She pursued her undergraduate degree at McGill University, where she was exposed to the works of John Rawls and Ronald Dworkin. Lester then moved to the United States to attend Stanford Law School, earning her Juris Doctor degree and benefiting from the guidance of professors like Paul Brest and Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar.

● Career

Lester began her career as a Law Clerk for Judge Harry Edwards of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, working alongside other notable clerks like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. She then joined the faculty at University of California, Berkeley, where she taught courses on Constitutional Law, Torts, and Employment Discrimination, and collaborated with colleagues such as Goodwin Liu and Melissa Murray. In 2014, Lester was appointed as the dean of Columbia Law School, succeeding David Schizer and becoming the first female dean in the school's history, following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.

● Academic Work

Gillian Lester's academic work focuses on the intersection of Labor Law and Social Welfare Policy, with a particular emphasis on issues related to Workplace Discrimination, Unemployment Insurance, and Worker Compensation. Her research has been influenced by scholars such as Frank Dobbin, Erin Kelly, and Katherine Stone, and has been published in top-tier journals like the University of Chicago Law Review, New York University Law Review, and California Law Review. Lester has also written about the impact of Globalization on Labor Markets, citing the work of Joseph Stiglitz and Dani Rodrik, and has explored the relationship between Employment Law and Human Rights, drawing on the expertise of Philip Alston and Christine Chinkin.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Gillian Lester has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the field of Law. She has been recognized by organizations such as the American Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, and Society of American Law Teachers, and has received awards like the Thurgood Marshall Award and the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, joining the ranks of distinguished recipients like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor. Lester has also been elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Law Institute, alongside luminaries like Cass Sunstein and Martha Minow.

● Personal Life

Gillian Lester is married to Brad DeLong, a prominent Economist and Professor at University of California, Berkeley, and has two children, Gabriel DeLong and Eva DeLong. Her family has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including supporting organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women, and has been inspired by the work of Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai. In her free time, Lester enjoys reading the works of authors like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, and has a strong interest in Classical Music, often attending performances at venues like Carnegie Hall and the San Francisco Symphony.