From Queen’s Law classroom to leadership in academia

After graduating from Queen’s Law, Susan Breau, Law’79 (Artsci’76, MA’92), has continued to make her mark on both sides of the Atlantic. First a sole practitioner in Kingston for almost two decades, she moved across the pond, where she added to her academic credentials, established herself as a distinguished scholar and teacher, and led the University of Reading Law School to new heights. This summer she returned to Canada as Dean of Law at the University of Victoria.

“The demanding Queen’s Law degree gave me the analytical and critical skills needed both for my research in international law and have been put to good use in my academic leadership roles,” she says.

Breau, who holds an LLM and a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science in addition to her three Queen’s degrees, began lecturing in international law at Queen’s

University Belfast in Northern Ireland. She has also been the Dorset Fellow in International Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and a Reader in International Law at the University of Surrey in England, and a Professor of International Law at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. In 2014, following a year on the faculty, she was appointed Head of the University of Reading School of Law.

What does she find most rewarding about leading a law school? Says Breau, “I particularly enjoy assisting in establishing the strategic direction of a faculty and working with brilliant faculty and staff in realizing the vision.”

That’s what she excelled at over the past four years at Reading. Under her leadership, the school has created an innovative research-led curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate students, established partnerships with several international law schools, undertaken impactbased research projects, and offered top career and pro bono programs that have earned it the seventh place ranking in England for employability.

Before she headed to Victoria, B.C. to take up her new post, on June 7 she made a stop at Queen’s Bader International Study Centre in East Sussex, England, for Career Options Day. This was her third time participating in the event during which Queen’s Law students taking the International Law Programs at the Castle have the opportunity to speak with her about careers in academia. “I enjoy meeting the next generation of Queen’s Law students,” says Breau, “and I am so impressed by their ability and dedication to their studies.”

Susan Breau, Law’79, Head of the University of Reading School of Law and incoming Dean of Law at the University of Victoria, met Queen’s Law students at Herstmonceux Castle for Career Options Day on June 7.

— LISA GRAHAM