Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights

05/27/2026

“Because of my education in civil and human rights, I have become a more confident advocate ... .” 🎓

We recently celebrated the 11 students in the University of Notre Dame’s Class of 2026 who graduated with a minor in civil and human rights.

👉 Read reflections from two of our graduating minors, Bella Vasquez and Natalia Rodríguez, here:

05/15/2026

The Klau Institute brought together scholars from Catholic universities on five continents this spring for a roundtable on dignity, democracy, and human rights education.

The gathering was part of the institute’s ongoing work with the Vatican’s Global Compact on Education.

👉 Read more here: https://klau.nd.edu/news-events/news/vatican-global-compact-on-education-roundtable-dignity-democracy-human-rights/

Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
Università LUMSA | The Catholic University of Eastern Africa - CUEA

04/29/2026

We’re proud to be one of the co-sponsors bringing Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, to the Notre Dame campus.

👉 Join us at 5:30 p.m. this evening (Wednesday, April 29) in the Eck Visitors Center.

04/20/2026

This year’s Notre Dame Day is underway! ☘️ Support the Klau Institute’s mission to advance the God-given dignity of all human persons through transformative education, innovative research, and meaningful engagement.

👉 Give here: go.nd.edu/klaundday

04/17/2026

Notre Dame sophomore Mo Elberry wrote a wonderfully vivid reflection about the enriching experience of taking Introduction to International Human Rights, taught by Klau Institute faculty fellow Erin Corcoran.

Introduction to International Human Rights is one of the core courses for the Minor in Civil and Human Rights administered by the Klau Institute.

Read Mo’s reflection here:

Author Mo Elberry participates in…

04/15/2026

We celebrated a book launch this past Monday with Alexander Kustov, associate professor of migration in the Keough School of Global Affairs and a core faculty affiliate of the Klau Institute.

His book, “In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular,” explores how immigration remains one of the most divisive issues in democracies today, even though surprisingly few voters oppose it on principle. Kustov draws on extensive research across multiple countries.

👉 Read more about the book here: https://klau.nd.edu/news-events/news/researcher-studies-how-to-craft-immigration-policies-that-resonate-with-voters/

👉 And check out a recently published policy brief, “To Protect Humanitarian Immigration, Build Trust First”: https://doi.org/10.7274/31856671

Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
Columbia University Press

04/13/2026

Current first-year students and current sophomores at the University of Notre Dame are eligible to apply for our Melsheimer Fellows Program.

This two-year experiential learning program is designed to offer undergraduate students an important opportunity to serve the local community and become involved in research and legal assistance work on campus. In the first year, fellows receive a $1,000 stipend and placement, arranged by the Klau Institute, in a partner organization dedicated to civil and human rights.

🗓️ Application deadline: Wednesday, April 22
👉 See more details at: klau.nd.edu/melsheimer

04/08/2026

Join us Monday, April 13, at 12:30 pm for a book launch with Alexander Kustov, associate professor of migration in the Keough School of Global Affairs and a core faculty affiliate of the Klau Institute.

His book, “In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular,” was published in 2025 by Columbia University Press.

Lunch will be provided, and books will be available for purchase.

👉 See more details here: https://klau.nd.edu/news-events/events/2026/04/13/book-launch-in-our-interest-how-democracies-can-make-immigration-popular/

04/02/2026

Amy Hsin, a professor of migration in the Keough School of Global Affairs and a core faculty affiliate of the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, was among a group of scholars who submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in advance of the case on birthright citizenship that justices heard this week.

The brief argues that the legal right to citizenship for all children born in the United States strengthens the country’s economy and promotes better educational and health outcomes. It also warns that ending birthright citizenship would have far-reaching consequences, including expanding the country’s undocumented population.

Read more about the brief here:

Amid the Trump administration’s legal challenge to birthright citizenship, Amy Hsin is among a group of scholars who have submitted an amicus brie...

03/12/2026

University of Notre Dame Provost John McGreevy will speak on Monday, March 23, about the Catholic Church’s historical and contemporary commitments to democracy and human rights education.

His public lecture is the keynote of the “Dignity, Democracy, and Human Rights Education” roundtable hosted by the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights in the Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame.

All are welcome! See more details here: https://klau.nd.edu/news-events/events/2026/03/23/provost-john-mcgreevy-dignity-democracy-and-the-catholic-church/