Law and Philosophy Professor Anita Allen Headlines MSU Law Dean’s Speaker Series

By Jake Jenkins

Sept 30, 2022

When Dean Linda Sheryl Greene came to MSU Law, she promised to share her “collegial family.” And through her annual Dean’s Speakers Series, she is doing just that.

This week, Dean Greene opened her second annual series by welcoming Dr. Anita Allen, a global leader in ethics, philosophy, and privacy – and their intersectionality with the law – as the first among five speakers this academic year to address "Ethics, Law, and Society."

Dr. Allen is the Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a Professor of Philosophy. She won the 2021 Philip L. Quinn Prize for Service to Philosophy and Philosophers.

“There is no one more qualified and passionate about ethics and how it plays out in our lives – through privacy, data protection, and biology and medicine,” Dean Greene said. “We are deeply grateful and honored that Dr. Allen took time out to spend a few days with us exploring the future of ethics in legal education.”

The session comprised an intellectual Q&A between Dean Greene and Dr. Allen, covering a wide range of topics from the Rule of Law in adjudication to the importance of diversifying the legal profession to better reflect the percentage of minorities in the U.S. population; and the most effect method to teaching ethics to law students.

Dr. Allen explained that law school administrators have been debating how best to teach ethics for years. One way, she said, was through moral philosophy curriculum. Another was through freestanding ethics and professional responsibility courses. Yet another belief is to teach legal ethics through experiential learning such as pro bono clinics.

“I do think that there are more hands-on ways to teach legal ethics,” Dr. Allen said. “A lot of people think that clinics and skills training courses are the place to teach ethics. But then the other view, which I think is also a viable view, is that we should be teaching ethics all the time.”

Michael Sant’Ambrogio, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, worked with Dean Greene to organize the Speakers Series for MSU Law and was pleased with the outcome.

“Dr. Allen is just a delight,” said Sant’Ambrogio. “She had so much to present on the topic of ethics and privacy, which was great for our college. This is a wonderful start to another great Dean’s Speakers Series.”

Students in attendance enjoyed her wisdom, which gave them insight to topics they haven’t thought about recently.

“I really enjoyed her view on the basics of ethics and policy,” said John Forest, student at MSU Law, ’25. “She is well-credentialed. I was impressed by her introduction and to hear her accolades.”

Gerardo Miranda, student at MSU Law, ’25, stated that Dr. Allen was able to present information to him he has never thought about before and encourages others to come out and attend future speakers.

“This was my first experience with the speaker series,” said Miranda. “I will definity be coming back for the speaker in November as it is different being in class and hearing from those who are in the field and hearing their experiences.”

This is the second time in a year that Dr. Allen visited Michigan State University. In October, 2021, she was a keynote speaker at the first MSU Ethics Symposium, the inaugural event of the MSU Ethics Symposium, which Dean Green is championing with Dean Christopher Long, Dean of College of Arts & Letters and the Honors College.

A graduate of Harvard Law School with a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Philosophy, Dr. Allen is internationally renowned as an expert on philosophical dimensions of privacy and data protection law, ethics, bioethics, legal philosophy, women’s rights, and diversity in higher education.

Allen is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Law Institute, the American Philosophical Society and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2018-19 she served as President of the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association. From 2010 to 2017, Allen served on President Obama’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues.

The next speaker is Bernadette Atuahene, James E. Jones Jr. Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School. Her topic is “Ethics, Law, and Predatory Governments” and it will be held on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in the Castle Board Room.