Erin B. Corcoran, J.D., has been appointed executive director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs beginning Jan. 15 (Monday). Corcoran will help to oversee operations and staff administration at the Kroc Institute, one of the world’s leading centers for strategies for sustainable peacebuilding and the study of violent conflict.
Corcoran’s work has focused on immigration and refugee law, human rights law and other complex legal topics at the national and local level. Prior to joining the Kroc Institute, Corcoran provided counsel to Kids in Need of Defense and the Vera Institute of Justice. As a professor of law at University of New Hampshire School of Law, her research centered on protecting vulnerable non-citizens, including developing best practices for adjudicating claims of unaccompanied children seeking international protection.
Previously, she served as a resettlement consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lusaka, Zambia, a staff attorney for Human Rights First in Washington, D.C., and legal counselor to former Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland.
Corcoran’s administrative experience includes a one-year term as the inaugural executive director for the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Policy and four years as the director of the Social Justice Institute, both at the University of New Hampshire. She also served two years as a professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science Related Agencies.
"Erin brings many strengths to the executive director position including extensive administrative experience and academic expertise in social justice and law,” says Asher Kaufman, John M. Regan Jr. Director for the Kroc Institute. “She joins Kroc at a time of transition as we are just completing our five-year strategic plan. Erin will take an important role in working on its implementation.”
Corcoran is excited to begin her work at the Kroc Institute and sees the role of executive director as a strong blend of her wide-ranging expertise and experiences.
"The work of the Kroc Institute is more important than ever as conflict continues to wage around the globe. To be appointed to the leadership team at the Kroc Institute, which has been on forefront of this peacebuilding work for many years, is deeply significant to me personally and professionally,” says Corcoran.
Contact: Erin Corcoran, ecorcora@nd.edu
Originally published by at kroc.nd.edu on January 04, 2018.