Noted human rights scholar Dr. Sandor Szemesi, a professor from one of Hungary’s top research-elite universities, will spend time as a visiting professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law beginning in the spring 2016 semester.
A teacher and researcher at the Department of European and Public International Law at Hungary’s Debrecen University, Dr. Szemesi is visiting the United States as the recipient of a private scholarship from the Arizona-based Rosztoczy Foundation.
Dr. Szemisi is a leading Hungarian expert on human rights whose professional background includes serving as a branch officer of the International Law Association Hungarian Branch, as well as being an associate member of the American Bar Association and its International Law Section. He is also secretary of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Subcommittee on Public International Law.
In 2008, Dr. Szemesi received his PhD from Miskolc University in Hungary, for which he authored a dissertation focused on the question of prohibition of discrimination in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. After obtaining his doctorate, Dr. Szemesi became a leading Hungarian expert of the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisprudence. He also continued to pursue research and publish articles about human rights. Some of his more recent published writing has dealt with the international protection of human rights, the international protection of the environment, and prohibition of discrimination in EU law.
The Rosztoczy Foundation scholarship was established to provide financial support to bright young students and scientists from Hungary, allowing them to visit the United States for one year. The scholarship is just the latest award Dr. Szemesi has received during his distinguished career. He was also the recipient of the Bolyai Fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Award of National Excellence of Hungary – both received in 2015.
His home university, Debrecen University, was established in 1912 and is one of Hungary’s top five universities, also known as a University of National Excellence.
During his visit, Dr. Szemesi will be conducting research, writing for various publications and delivering guest lectures. His hosts while at Thomas Jefferson Law will be Prof. Aaron Schwabach and Prof. William R. Slomanson—both of whom visited and presented lectures at Debrecen University in 2015.
