The Canadian Association of Law Teachers (CALT) has awarded Professor Joanna Harrington the CALT Prize for Academic Excellence for 2018, given to honour exceptional contributions to research and law teaching by a Canadian law teacher in mid-career.
A national award, this is the first time the prize has been awarded to a UAlberta Law professor. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee based on the quality of and innovation in teaching and learning, and the quality and impact of legal scholarship.
Harrington, who first joined the Faculty in 2004, specializes in international and constitutional law.
"I have always had an interest in the world around me, and law offers a natural route for addressing how we can implement wider policy reforms," she said.
Harrington's accomplished career has taken her around the world, from Australia to China and Vietnam.
She has taught human rights to government officials in Suriname, and international dispute settlement to students in Shanghai. Her research activities have led to visiting appointments at the University of Oxford and the University of Texas at Austin.
A widely-published author and frequent guest speaker in Canada and abroad, she has written over 30 law review articles and book chapters, and presented at over 60 conferences and CLE seminars. She is also the co-author of a leading text used for teaching international law in Canada.
Her writing has contributed to law and policy discussions on the balance between protecting human rights and securing cross-border cooperation in the prosecution of serious crime. Her research often involves collaborations with organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the international think tank Chatham House.
Currently, she is part of a $2.5 million SSHRC Partnership Grant project providing experiential learning opportunities for law students in both national and international law.
Harrington also has experience in the practice of international law. During a two-year secondment with Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, she provided advice to government on international human rights law, international Indigenous rights law, issues of corporate social responsibility and the law and practice of international criminal tribunals.
She was also a member of Canada's official delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York.
Asked about her experiences, she explained: "Often in law school you are taught to be precise and to be very clear in the words you choose. But when working at the UN, and negotiating text, you are looking for words that are broad and encompassing, and can be acceptable to a variety of different legal systems and perspectives. It pushes you to think in a different way."
When it comes to teaching, Harrington likes to bring her international experiences into the classroom. Since she teaches in a dynamic and ever-changing area, she said that travelling to different places allows her to add different perspectives to her courses - her upcoming travel plans include work-related trips to Beijing, Montreal, New York and Tel Aviv.
"I teach in areas that are not static, and my research experiences, and engagement with the global society, keep you alert to new developments and add new dimensions to old topics. The research infuses your curriculum and what you choose to discuss, and I feel it is valuable to have students feel engaged in legal and policy discussions for the wider benefit of all."
Harrington expressed gratitude for the work done on her behalf by those involved in the nomination process. Her nomination was supported by three letters from law professors across the country, and a letter from a current student.
"I'm certainly very grateful for the efforts that were undertaken," she said.
Harrington received her award during the annual CALT conference at Queen's University, May 31 to June 2, 2018.