Kelebogile / ki-le-bu-hi-le / 1. I am grateful. [Setswana]
Zvobgo / zhrob-go / 1. That which has always been. [Shona]
she/her
I am an Assistant Professor of Government at William & Mary, a faculty affiliate at the Global Research Institute, and the founder and director of the International Justice Lab. I am also a Stephen M. Kellen Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations. I earned my Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California in 2021 and received the USC Ph.D. Achievement Award. I earned my B.A. in International Relations and French Language & Literature from Pomona College in 2014 and received the Cordell Hull Prize in International Relations.
My research engages questions in human rights, transitional justice, and international law and courts, and is published or forthcoming in a number of peer-reviewed journals, including the British Journal of Political Science, International Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Human Rights, and mainstream outlets like Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and The Washington Post. I have appeared on CNN, NPR, and PRX, and have been quoted in The Atlantic and Vox, among others. I have won several awards for my work, including Best Paper in Human Rights from the American Political Science Association (APSA) and International Studies Association (ISA). I also won Best Dissertation in Human Rights from both APSA and ISA.
Much of my past and ongoing work concerns quasi-judicial and judicial bodies that have proliferated around the globe over the past half-century to address serious violations of human rights law and humanitarian law. Thus far, my scholarship has centered on domestic truth commissions and international criminal tribunals, especially the International Criminal Court. My work has been generously supported through fellowships from the National Science Foundation (Graduate Research Fellowship), USC (Provost Fellowship in the Social Sciences), and W&M (GRI Pre-doctoral Fellowship) and a number of grants, including from APSA and the Office of the Provost at W&M.
I am a dedicated teacher and mentor and a committed advocate for the fundamental human rights and dignity of all people. In 2022, I received the Craig L. Brians Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Mentorship from APSA and the Emerging Human Rights Leader Award from the United Nations Association, National Capital Area. I am also the recipient of the 2024 Inspirational Young Alumni Award from Pomona College, awarded to a graduate from the last decade "in recognition of their dedication, perseverance, and consistency in following the inscription on the College Gates: 'They only are loyal to this college who departing bear their added riches in trust for mankind.'"
Outside my work, I am an avid traveler, hiker, kickboxer, and dancer. My lightbulb moments tend to happen when I'm in motion.