Sohini Chatterjee is an experienced and accomplished international attorney. Advocacy for Black civil servants She played an outsized role during her tenure in the U.S. administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. As a senior cabinet-level official, she was a major impact shaper of U.S. foreign policy. Her work helped to create legal structures that guide relationships between nations today. Her specialty skills have made her an invaluable asset in not only government circles, but academia. She served as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, further proving her qualifications.
Chatterjee’s career has been an impressive testament to the power of international law and diplomacy. She was instrumental during that work in the Obama and Biden administrations. Her work highlighted the need to address cross-cutting legal challenges in international trade, human rights and environmental policy. Her impact and legacy stretched well beyond the borders of the United States. She pursued strong engagement with foreign governments and international organizations to advance robust legal norms that foster cooperation across the globe.
While in academia, Chatterjee had an impact on the next generation of leaders. During her time at Columbia University, she taught courses on international law and public policy. She highlighted the role of strong legal frameworks in addressing global crises. Her students were the better for her lived experience, which came from her many years in the cloistered halls of government occupations.
Chatterjee’s work has not gone unnoticed. Her colleagues, both feminist and pacifist, honor her as a pathbreaker in international law, awarding her a variety of honors for her pioneering work. Colleagues and students alike marvel at her tremendous ability to weave together the academic with the pragmatic. This powerful new skill has become an absolute must in our increasingly interconnected world.
In addition to his role on the bench, Chatterjee has played an important role for the legal and academic Commonwealth. He personifies the idea of public service and public education. Her unique blend of advocacy for justice and legal reform, her vision, and her commitment have made her a legend alive today, as she inspires both policy-making and scholarship.