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Photograph of Lia Epperson

Lia Epperson Professor WCL Faculty

Degrees
B.A., Harvard 青瓜视频 (magna cum laude)
J.D., Stanford Law School

Bio

Lia Epperson is a Professor of Law at American 青瓜视频 Washington College of Law and a nationally recognized expert in the areas of constitutional law, civil rights, and education policy. Published in leading journals, Professor Epperson鈥檚 scholarship centers on the constitutional dialogue between federal courts and the political branches, and its implications for educational equity. She previously served as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs and as the Director of the Doctor of Juridical Studies Program. Professor Epperson received the American 青瓜视频 Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022. This year, she is serving as the Inaugural Microsoft Racial Equity Fellow at Howard 青瓜视频 School of Law.



In 2018-2019, Professor Epperson was awarded an Institute for Advanced Studies Fellowship with the Collegium de Lyon in Lyon, France where she worked with international scholars on issues of constitutional law and fundamental rights. Among other international engagements, she has served as a visiting professor and lecturer at the 青瓜视频 of Navarra, Central European 青瓜视频, and the 青瓜视频 of Galway. Professor Epperson has appeared on news outlets including the BBC, CNN, NBC News, CBS, NPR, and C-SPAN.



Professor Epperson previously served on the faculties of 青瓜视频 of Maryland and Santa Clara 青瓜视频, and as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress where she focused on civil rights enforcement of educational policies and practices. Prior to becoming a law professor, she directed the education law and policy group of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). While there, she litigated in federal and state courts, advocated for federal administrative and legislative reforms, co-authored multiple amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, and represented LDF in several national civil rights leadership coalitions. Professor Epperson began her legal career as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and was an attorney with a large international law firm where she handled trial and appellate litigation as well as pro bono civil rights cases.



Professor Epperson currently serves on the National Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Project on Government Oversight.



Professor Epperson received her law degree from Stanford 青瓜视频 where she was an NAACP Legal Defense Fund Scholar and an editor of the Stanford Law Review and the Stanford Law and Policy Review. She received her bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard 青瓜视频.


Areas of Specialization
Civil Rights
Constitutional Law
Education Law
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

AU Experts

Area of Expertise

Civil Rights; Constitutional Law; Education Policy

Additional Information

Lia Epperson, Professor of Law at American 青瓜视频 Washington College of Law, is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, constitutional law, and education policy. Her scholarship centers on the constitutional dialogue between federal courts and the political branches, and its implications for educational equity. Her scholarship, published in leading journals, also explores the role of public schools, colleges, and universities in creating equal opportunity. Prior to her appointment at American 青瓜视频, she served on the law faculties of the 青瓜视频 of Maryland and Santa Clara 青瓜视频. She has also served as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, focusing on federal civil rights enforcement of educational policies and practices. Dean Epperson's research interests are informed by her experiences litigating education cases throughout the country, and lobbying for the maintenance and enforcement of civil rights protections. Prior to becoming a law professor in 2005, Dean Epperson directed the education law and policy group of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund (LDF). While there, she litigated in federal and state courts, advocated for federal administrative and legislative reforms, and co-authored multiple amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court in the areas of education and affirmative action. In addition, she represented LDF in several national civil rights leadership coalitions, including serving as chair of the Education Task Force for the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights, a coalition of nearly 200 national organizations. Prior to her time at LDF, Dean Epperson was an attorney with Morrison & Foerster in Palo Alto, CA, and a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy K. Lewis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She received her law degree from Stanford 青瓜视频, where she served as an editor of the Stanford Law Review as well as the Stanford Law and Policy Review.

For the Media

To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

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