PROFESSOR ANDREA J. MARTIN PRESENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL
February 2024 — Professor Andrea J. Martin delivered a presentation, “Antisemitism and the Law,” at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School on February 20. She addressed how the law was historically used to perpetuate antisemitism and examined current laws that protect groups based on race, nationality, or ancestry. Professor Martin demonstrated the commonalities between antisemitism and racism, including how Nazi leadership modeled anti-Jewish legislation on American jurisprudence, such as Jim Crow and anti-miscegenation laws. An engaging discussion followed, focused on the significant increase in antisemitic incidences in the U.S., despite current legal protections for religious freedom, hate crimes legislation, and anti-discrimination laws.
Andrea J. Martin is an assistant professor of law and recipient of the Penn State Dickinson Law Phillip M. Scott Teaching Excellence Award. Her research draws on constitutional and legal history to explore and analyze current social justice issues including American Indian sovereignty rights, antiracism and antisemitism in education, and voter suppression.
Prior to joining Dickinson Law, Martin spent twelve years as a strategic legal advisor, managing business and regulatory legal affairs at a multi-billion-dollar company. She gained diverse experience in general corporate matters and regulatory compliance, providing astute counsel
and employing a pragmatic approach to law and the needs of the business. Professor Martin also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Appellate Division of the Rhode Island Department of Attorney of General, drafting appellate briefs and presenting compelling arguments before the Rhode Island Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
She is actively involved in diversity and inclusion efforts and served on the Governor’s Task Force on Diversity, the Governor’s Commission on Prejudice and Bias, and the Thurgood Marshall Lawyer’s Society. She has also taught legal writing in the CLEO (Council on Legal Education Opportunity) program to increase the number of lawyers from diverse backgrounds and served as a chairperson for the 17th Annual Lutie A. Lytle Black Women Law Faculty Workshop and Retreat. Professor Martin has served on the boards of many nonprofit and community development organizations including the YMCA, Caritas House and Pink Out, Inc., and is currently a member of the Penn State Hillel Board of Directors.
Professor Martin received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law, M.B.A. from Suffolk University, and B.A. in History from the University of Rhode Island. Her interests and hobbies include art history, Holocaust studies, and writing.