New professorship celebrates a pioneer in international water and environmental law

Aug 22, 2024
Stephen McCaffrey photographed smiling with law students.

McGeorge School of Law proudly inaugurates the Stephen C. McCaffrey Endowed Professorship to honor one of its most dedicated and long-serving faculty members.

McGeorge School of Law celebrates the successful completion of a transformative $500,000 campaign to establish an endowed professorship in international law and resource sustainability, honoring the renowned career of one of McGeorge’s most distinguished faculty members, Professor Stephen C. McCaffrey. This campaign represents a pivotal moment for the law school, further solidifying its leadership in the field and perpetuating its legacy of excellence.

The achievement is amplified by an additional $500,000 in matching funds from the University of the Pacific’s Powell Fund, effectively doubling the impact of the initial endowment. The Powell Match was made possible by the transformative $125 million estate gift from the late Regents Robert and Jeanette Powell.

The Stephen C. McCaffrey Endowed Professorship will support the teaching, scholarship, and service activities of the faculty member in this role. This endowment is strategically designed to attract top-tier faculty and exceptional students, ensuring that McGeorge School of Law remains at the forefront of water and environmental law education.

Stephen McCaffrey standing at a classroom podium.

In photo: Professor Stephen C. McCaffrey teaching Public International Law at McGeorge School of Law. 

McCaffrey, who has dedicated more than 47 years to McGeorge, is celebrated not only asone of the first, but also as the foremost scholar in international water law.

His career highlights include serving as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC), chairing the ILC’s Thirty-Ninth Session, and acting as Special Rapporteur for the Commission's draft articles on "The Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses." These articles formed the foundation for the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, adopted in 1997.

He received the 2020 Louis B. Sohn Award for Public International Law and the 2018 Distinguished Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy and Law for both his lifetime of service in the development of international environmental law, and for his work as special rapporteur for the International Law Commission on the preparatory work for what became the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. 

McCaffrey shaking hands with an individual to accept an award.

In photo: Professor Stephen C. McCaffrey receives the 2018 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy and Law, noted as the world’s most prestigious award in the field of environmental law.

McCaffrey also was named the 2017 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate for his unparalleled contribution to the evolution and progressive realization of international water law.

McCaffrey's expertise has also shaped international policy through his role as Counselor on International Law for the U.S. Department of State (1984-1985) and as legal counsel to Slovakia, India, Uruguay, Nicaragua, and Chile on complex water treaty, border, river, and navigational rights issues.

The campaign to establish this professorship was spearheaded by Margaret J. Vick, JD ‘83, JSD ‘10, a fellow McGeorge School of Law adjunct faculty member and a prominent legal expert with over 40 years of experience in international and domestic water law and tribal relations.

Her leadership and dedication were instrumental in securing support for this endowed professorship.

“Professor McCaffrey shaped my career,” Dr. Vick said. “The simple fact that I studied international water law with him opened professional opportunities for me.”

She continued by explaining why the campaign was so meaningful to her: “I am pleased to help repay this by assisting to make this professorship possible. It is not often that we have the chance to personally honor someone who has profoundly influenced global civilization through their research, publications, and litigation.”

She added, “His work created and implemented the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses and established the processes for the peaceful resolution of disputes over water.”

Dr. Vick concludes by expressing her excitement for the future, explaining that she is thrilled to see a professorship carry Professor McCaffrey’s legacy forward at McGeorge.

McGeorge Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz celebrated the campaign’s success, emphasizing the profound impact the new professorship will have on the law school’s academic reputation.

“Professor McCaffrey is a legend in his field, a wonderful teacher, a fabulous colleague, and a good friend,” Schwartz said. “I am delighted that McGeorge is able to honor his legacy in this way while enhancing our ability to influence global policy and practice in water and environmental law.”

In celebration of this achievement, McGeorge School of Law will host a special reception on August 30, 2024, in the Hugh and Hazel Grand Salon, open to the law school’s faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. The event will honor Professor McCaffrey’s remarkable career and mark the establishment of the Stephen C. McCaffrey Endowed Professorship, a key moment that will undoubtedly shape the future of water and environmental law education at McGeorge School of Law.

For more information about McGeorge School of Law, visit our website. 

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