Dr. Brianne McGonigle Leyh is Professor of Global Justice Studies at Utrecht University’s School of Law, affiliated with the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) and the Montaigne Centre for Rule of Law and Administration of Justice. Her areas of expertise include human rights law, international criminal law, transitional justice, victims’ rights, and the documentation and accountability of serious human rights violations. In an era where the rule of law faces mounting challenges both nationally and internationally, McGonigle Leyh believes universities and societal partners play a vital role in promoting and protecting justice worldwide. Her chair emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together practitioners, researchers, and students to address complex global justice issues.

She currently serves as Director of Master’s Education at the Law School and is a Senior Teaching Fellow, leading an interdisciplinary education initiative on Open Source Investigations. She also sits on the editorial board of the Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights. Previously, she was a member of the core team of the interdisciplinary research platform Contesting Governance. In 2020, she co-founded the podcast Travelling Concepts on Air with Dr. Tessa Diphoorn (Cultural Anthropology), exploring questions of interdisciplinarity in research and teaching. Beyond academia, McGonigle Leyh is a Senior Peace Fellow with the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG). She has also served on the advisory boards of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and Pro Bono Connect.

She earned her BA from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude with a self-designed major in international law and human rights; her JD from American University’s Washington College of Law, graduating cum laude; and her MA in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service. In 2011, she obtained her PhD from Utrecht University, where she wrote her award-winning dissertation on victim participation in international criminal proceedings.