Ran Hirschl appointed University Professor

Ran Hirschl, the David R. Cameron Distinguished Professor in Law and Politics in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s department of political science, has been appointed a University Professor, a designation bestowed on a small number of faculty members in recognition of exceptional scholarly achievement and pre-eminence in their fields.

Hirschl, who is cross-appointed to the Faculty of Law, is regarded as a leading expert of comparative constitutional studies, a cross-disciplinary area of inquiry that explores the dynamic interaction, mutual influence and power relations between the constitutional domain and the political sphere.

“The University of Toronto owes much of its reputation for excellence to its world-class professors, and I am delighted that Ran Hirschl – one of our finest faculty members – has been recognized as a University Professor,” said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost. “The title 'University Professor' is U of T's highest and most distinguished academic rank, which reflects Professor Hirschl’s long and honourable record of scholarly achievement.”

Hirschl began his academic career at U of T as a Canada Research Chair in Constitutionalism, Democracy and Development. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and considered one of the world’s leading scholars of comparative constitutional law, courts and jurisprudence.

“It is a tremendous honour to be recognized in this special way, and to have my name added to the long list of distinguished, world-class scholars at the University of Toronto who embody the University’s ‘defying gravity’ maxim,” said Hirschl.

Read the Faculty of Law story