Roxana Vatanparast

How does your unique expertise and experience help you teach this course?

I come from a background of studying international law in law school, and I completed my Ph.D. in Europe. Being in the EU while policies like the General Data Protection Regulation were being implemented — during a time of intense discussion around data privacy — really helped broaden my perspective.​

It gave me more than just an American or U.S.-centric view on these issues, which I believe is crucial for teaching this subject through a truly global lens.​

What can students expect to learn in your Harvard Summer School course?

Having a thorough understanding of the relationship between law and technological developments is essential. If we don’t take a systemic and global view of these issues, we risk missing the foundational problems that lead to harmful effects.​

I don’t assume students have any prior background in law — many haven’t taken a law course before. I also don’t assume any technical knowledge. I provide a strong foundation in both areas so that everyone begins the course on the same page.​

What do you enjoy most about teaching at Harvard Summer School?

I work with a very unique group of students — some are pursuing law degrees in other countries and bring different cultural and legal perspectives. Others work as software engineers for government institutions around the world.​

It’s fascinating to hear their diverse viewpoints — I learn a lot from them as well. The students also begin to approach issues differently when they consider these cultural aspects. There’s nothing universal about law or technology, and understanding that is important — not only for being informed citizens but for helping students thrive in whatever career path they choose.​

More About Roxana

Dr. Roxana Vatanparast is an assistant professor of law at Capital University Law School. Her main interests lie at the intersection of international law and technology, as well as digital global governance, where she brings an interdisciplinary lens to legal issues.​

Vatanparast has published articles and speaks regularly at international conferences about current issues around law and digital technology. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Heidelberg Journal of International Law, Harvard International Law Journal Online, Brooklyn Journal of International Law, and Juridikum, Austria’s critical law review.​

She also serves as a founding member of the Coordinating Committee of the European Society of International Law’s Interest Group on International Law and Technology. She has previously completed research stays at Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Sciences Po Law School. Vatanparast holds a PhD in law and institutions from the University of Turin and a JD from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.