USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Alison Dundes Renteln

Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, and School of Policy, Planning, and Development

Contact Information
E-mail: arenteln@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-3248
Office: VKC 231A

LINKS
Faculty Profile on Departmental Website

Education

J.D. , University of Southern California, 1991
Ph.D. Jurisprudence and Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley, 1987
M.A. , University of California, Berkeley, 1985
B.A. History and Literature of Modern Europe, Harvard, 1981

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests

Professor Renteln studies international law, human rights, comparative legal systems, Constitutional law and legal and political theory. An expert on cultural rights, including the use of the "cultural defense" in the legal system. Professor Renteln has lectured to judicial organizations and law enforcement groups on this subject. She served on the State Bar Commission on Access to Justice and the California Judicial Council Access and Fairness Advisory Committee. She also served as a member of the California Attorney General's Commission on Hate Crimes.

Research Specialties

International Law, Human Rights, Comparative Law, Constitutional Law, Political and Legal Theory

Affiliations with Research Centers, Labs, and Other Institutions

Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics,http://www.usc.edu/dept/polsci/unruh/
USC Center for Law, History, and Culture,http://lawweb.usc.edu/clhc/
USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
USC Delinquency Control Institute,http://www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/dci/

Honors and Awards

Mellon Award for Excellence in Mentoring for undergraduates, 2010-2011
USC Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award, Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award for Creativity in Research, 2005-2006
USC Associates Award For Excellence In Teaching, 2005
Mellon Award for Excellence in Mentoring, 2005
Remarkable Woman Award, 2004-2005
Mortar Board Teaching Award, 1994-1995

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments

Chair, 08/16/2011-08/15/2012
Vice Chair and Director, Unruh Institute of Politics, 08/16/2005-08/15/2007