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From left to right: Professors Jamie Abrams, Thomas Williams, and Angi Porter.

AUWCL Welcomes Three New Faculty Hires for 2022-2023

American University’s Washington College of Law is thrilled to welcome three new faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

Jamie Abrams, Angi Porter and Thomas Williams bring fresh expertise on critical issues facing the legal community, including issues of gender, race and bioethics. 

Jamie Abrams

Professor of Law, with tenure

Director of the Legal Rhetoric Program

Professor Abrams returns to Washington College of Law, where she earned her J.D. and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002, after most recently serving as a professor of law at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She has held visiting appointments at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, University of Turku School of Law and University of Leeds School of Law. Her research focuses on reproductive and birthing decision-making, gendered violence, masculinities theory, feminist theory and legal education pedagogy. She is the author of “Tort Law Simulations: Bridge to Practice” (2020) and co-author of “Family Law Simulations: Bridge to Practice.” Professor Abrams will teach Legal Rhetoric, Torts, Family Law, Women and the Law and Legislation.

"Jamie Abrams brings an outstanding record of scholarship and teaching back to WCL,” Fairfax said. “Her scholarly commitment and pedagogical vision will help revolutionize our Legal Rhetoric program as it prepares our students to engage the modern practice of law."

Angi Porter

Assistant Professor of Law

Professor Porter comes to Washington College of Law after serving most recently as a research fellow at the Georgetown University Law Center, where she researches Africana Legal Studies, the extension of Africana Studies to the discipline of law. Professor Porter, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Howard University School of Law, will teach Contracts,Torts, Higher Education Law and a seminar on Africana legal studies. 

"Angi Porter brings a sharp intellectual frame to critical issues in education law and Africana legal studies,” Dean Fairfax said. “Her outstanding scholarly work will augment WCL's strengths in public law and policy, and greatly expand our reach in global legal studies."

Thomas Williams

Assistant Professor of Law

Professor Williams comes to Washington College of Law from the Duke University Initiative for Science and Society, where he is a lecturing fellow, a Law and Biosciences post-doctoral fellow and director of the DukeEngage Washington program. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a J.D. and master’s degree in bioethics, Professor Williams will teach Contracts, Torts, Introduction to Health Law and a course or seminar in “Pandemics in Popular Culture.” 

"Thomas Williams brings a tremendous addition to WCL's top-rated Health Law program,” Dean Fairfax said. “His interdisciplinary scholarship in health law, bioethics, and race and the law builds upon and extends our strengths in these important areas."