News

Professor Andrew Koppelman Wins Walder Award for Research Excellence

May 22, 2015

Andrew Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law and professor of political science, has been named the 14th recipient of the Martin E. and Gertrude G. Walder Award for Research Excellence.

This award, established in 2002 by Joseph A. Walder, MD, and given annually by the provost, recognizes excellence in research at Northwestern University. 

Koppleman’s scholarship focuses on issues at the intersection of law and political philosophy. His latest books are The Tough Luck Constitution and the Assault on Health Care Reform (Oxford University Press, 2013) and Defending American Religious Neutrality (Harvard University Press, 2013).

Koppelman is a sought-after expert on issues of constitutional theory, free speech, freedom of religion, gay rights, and political philosophy.  He has written for the New York Times, Salon, USA Today, Commonweal, the Balkinization blog, and dozens of other outlets. He recently co-authored an amicus brief in Obergefell v. Hodges, the same-sex marriage case currently before the Supreme Court.

Koppelman received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and his JD and PhD in political science from Yale University. He joined the Northwestern Law faculty in 1997 after clerking for the Connecticut Supreme Court and teaching at Princeton University.

Joseph Walder, who established the Walder Prize, earned a doctorate and medical degrees from Northwestern. Northwestern historian T.H. Breen received the first Walder Award in 2002.

A complete list of Walder Award recipients can be found on the Office of the Provost website.

View the related Northwestern University press release.