Julie Leftwich is an international human rights and women, peace and security advisor, Director of the International Peace and Security Initiative at the College of Law, and a Professor of Practice in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. She is a proven expert and thought leader who has long worked in, created, and led organizations globally. Julie has worked with women and organizations around the world advancing human rights, rule of law, and peace and provided expertise across sectors including the civil society, government, justice, security, private, and academic sectors. She has advised, trained and published extensively on women, peace and security, international human rights law, gender-based violence, refugee and asylum law, and human trafficking. 

Julie provides expertise to international peacebuilding, human rights, justice, and security organizations, bringing her experience to offer hands-on learning to students and opportunities for community engagement. 

Julie has worked with many organizations including the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Freedom House, U.S. Institute of Peace, Women in International Security (WIIS), Our Secure Future, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), National Defense University, International Association of Women Judges, American Association of People with Disabilities, Internews, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. 

She is the founder and former executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center, where she also represented women refugees and those seeking asylum from gender violence.  

Julie previously held adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Korbel School of International Affairs at the University of Denver.  

 Julie is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law/Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, holds a master's degree in international relations and communications from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and received her bachelor's degree from Brandeis University.