What drew you to the law?
Growing up in British ruled Hong Kong, I wondered how different cultures and political systems could ever work or even co-exist together. This drew me to international law and an interest in international politics and cooperation.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy re-discovering concepts and structures with students as they question assumptions and applications. There is no received wisdom in the classroom. We learn together. It is rare that I do not learn something from the students. Of course, I hope that they learn from me as well.
What do you hope students gain from your courses?
An appreciation for the complexity of the world and the array of systems that try to maintain order and to facilitate productive global engagement.
What did you do prior to entering academia?
I was a legislative staffer in the U.S. Senate, worked for a community foundation, and served as a senior executive of an academic association. What unified these career choices was an interest in how public policy is shaped, implemented, and touches people’s lives.
What are you passionate about outside of the law?
I enjoy gardening, embroidery, and cooking for family and friends.
What are your research interests?
I am interested in how law operates as a social phenomenon not necessarily dependent on formal structures or institutions. I am particularly interested in understanding the structures and processes that facilitate the development and implementation of international law.