The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is proud to announce the promotion of Greer Donley and Anjali Vats to the rank of Full Professor, recognizing their scholarly achievements, international impact, and deep commitment to teaching and advocacy.
Professor Donley, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, and John B. Nicklas, Jr., Faculty Fellow, is one of the nation’s leading experts on abortion and the law. Her scholarship, published in top law reviews such as Stanford Law Review, Columbia Law Review, Michigan Law Review, Duke Law Journal, and Cornell Law Review, has shaped national conversations around reproductive justice and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and state Supreme Courts. In addition to her academic contributions, Donley has been a trusted voice in the media, authoring pieces in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Slate, and lending her expertise to critical policy initiatives, including drafting abortion shield laws and leading amicus efforts.
“It is an honor to join the ranks of so many distinguished faculty at Pitt Law. I am incredibly grateful to the whole Pitt Law community for supporting me and helping me achieve this accomplishment.”
Professor Vats is an internationally recognized scholar at the intersections of race, rhetoric, media, and intellectual property law. Her award-winning monograph, The Color of Creatorship: Intellectual Property, Race and the Making of Americans (Stanford University Press, 2020), has reshaped the way scholars and practitioners think about the relationship between intellectual property and racial justice. Vats is also co-founder of Race + IP, a biennial conference that has become a leading forum for exploring the connections between race and intellectual property. She has published across disciplines in venues including the Texas Law Review, Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, Quarterly Journal of Speech, and Communication, Culture, and Critique, and taught courses such as Torts, Copyright and Music, International Intellectual Property, and Critical Race Theory. Additionally, Vats was named a 2022 Soros Equality Fellow by The Open Society Foundations.
"I am delighted to join the group of accomplished and inspirational colleagues who hold the rank of Professor at Pitt Law. I am also grateful to those pioneering Asian American legal scholars across the nation who have offered mentorship and support on the path to this achievement."
Dean Jerry Dickinson noted, “Professors Donley and Vats exemplify the highest standards of academic excellence and public engagement. Professor Donley’s groundbreaking work in reproductive justice has influenced courts, policymakers, and the public in profound ways. Professor Vats’ innovative scholarship at the intersection of race and intellectual property has opened new avenues of inquiry that will shape the field for decades to come. Their promotions are a testament to their impact, leadership, and the strength of Pitt Law’s faculty.”