Alumni

Justin Desautels-Stein

Class of 1998

Justin Desautels-Stein (class of 1998) double majored in Political Science and Psychology.  After graduation, Justin satisfied a thirst for international travel and experience.  During his travels, he slowed down long enough to teach a course on the US Civil Rights Movement at a Chinese College and work for a development NGO based in South Africa.  When he returned to the United States, Justin married Amy Desautels (Class of ’98) and began work on a whirlwind of graduate degrees.  Justin earned his LL.M. from Harvard Law School, his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and his M.A.L.D. from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.  Justin joined a large law firm in Washington, DC before being hired as a Law Professor at the University of Colorado Law School, where he currently teach international law and legal theory.

In the frequent company of colleagues from elite universities, Justine might have doubted the wisdom of having attended such a small school for his undergraduate studies.  But Justin recounts with emotion the profound and lasting impact several faculty members has on his personal and professional development and expresses confidence in his choice.  He explains, “UNC Asheville provided me with a set of teachers and the kinds of intellectual tools most people only dream about, an incredible community of close friends, and my future wife.  UNC Asheville, it turned out, was a pretty good choice.”