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American diplomat, scholar will deliver McGeorge School of Law commencement address
Photo courtesy of Harold Hongju Koh.
Harold Hongju Koh, the Sterling Professor of International Law at Yale Law School, will deliver the 2026 commencement keynote address for the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
Koh will speak to McGeorge graduates Saturday, May 30 at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium for the law school’s 102nd commencement ceremony.
“Law graduates, in other times, rarely had to ask what they should do to uphold the rule of law. But this year’s graduates must at this challenging time for the rule of law. I am deeply honored to have the chance to address McGeorge’s graduates as they enter the legal profession,” Koh said.
Koh is widely recognized as a leading authority in international law, national security, and human rights. A longtime member of the Yale Law School faculty, he has held several distinguished roles, including serving as the school’s 15th dean from 2004 to 2009. He also served in senior positions within the U.S. Department of State, including Legal Adviser from 2009 to 2013, where he was awarded the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, and earlier as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
Koh has earned 18 honorary degrees and more than 30 honors recognizing his human rights work, including lifetime achievement awards from Columbia Law School and the American Bar Association. He has written or co-written nine books, published over 200 articles, frequently testified before Congress, and argued numerous international law cases in U.S. and global tribunals.
“Koh’s insight and leadership will undoubtedly inspire our class. Having had the privilege of hearing him as my own commencement speaker, I hold him in the highest regard and know our graduates will benefit greatly from his words,” said Dean Michael Colatrella.
Previous commencement speakers include retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, actor Raymond Burr, sports agent Scott Boras ‘77 ‘82, members of Congress, governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general, mayors, university presidents, law school deans and 52 judges.
