This year, international law expert Paul Kuruk was appointed as the Lucille Stewart Beeson Professor of Law.

 

Kuruk joined the Cumberland faculty in 1995. He teaches commercial law courses and an array of international law courses, including International Law, International Business Transactions, and International Intellectual Property.

 

He is a global authority on traditional knowledge as intellectual property and is the author of two books, including most recently Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, Customary Law and Intellectual Property: A Global Primer. He has published numerous articles and book chapters in American and international journals.

 

Kuruk has a long and impressive record of service with numerous trade and international organizations. He currently serves as the representative of Ghana to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) where he has served as reporter for important working groups; facilitator for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Traditional Knowledge; and Deputy Chairperson of the Ghana International Trade Commission.

 

Additionally, he has served as a consultant to organizations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, as well as many United Nations subgroups including its Conference on Trade and Development; the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; and the Economic Commission on Africa.

 

He has won both the Jackson Excellence in Teaching Award and the Lightfoot, Franklin & White Faculty Scholarship Award.