The U.S. Senate has confirmed Catholic University Law Professor Robert Destro to serve as the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).
"I am honored to have been nominated,” said Destro, a professor in the Columbus School of Law, “and very pleased by the confirmation vote. I look forward to joining the dedicated team of professionals who are DRL, and to advancing the President’s human rights agenda around the world. I am also grateful for the support of University President Garvey, my faculty and staff colleagues, our students and alumni at The Catholic University of America. They have been with me every step of the way and I deeply appreciate their prayers and best wishes!”
Dean Stephen Payne of the Columbus School of Law said, “I am thrilled that the U.S. Senate has confirmed our Catholic Law colleague, Professor Bob Destro, as Assistant Secretary of State. Our country — and the rest of the world — is getting a strong advocate and leader for Democracy and Human Rights, and we wish him well.”
Destro is a human rights advocate, a human rights attorney with expertise in elections and employment law, and director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at Catholic University. He has been a member of the faculty in the law school since 1982 and served as its interim dean from 1999 to 2001. He also served a six-year term as commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 1983-1989.