Lara Hope Schwartz

Lara Schwartz teaches at American University, where she is the founding director of the Project on Civil Discourse. She specializes in civil discourse and campus speech, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. Drawing on her experience as a legislative lawyer, lobbyist, and communications strategist, Lara brings an advocate’s-eye view to her teaching.

Prior to joining the American University faculty, Lara worked at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy; Media Matters For America; Human Rights Campaign; the American Association of People with Disabilities; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom. She also served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald Lee Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Lara has appeared on national and local radio and television programs and written op-eds published in national papers and local papers of record.

She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Brown University.