An Unconventional Path to International Law: Meet Professor Shanks-Dumont

The School of Diplomacy and International Relations is pleased to welcome Daimeon Shanks-Dumont J.D., Ph.D. to its community. He holds a joint appointment as assistant professor at the School of Diplomacy and the School of Law. A first-generation college student, Shanks-Dumont has pursued an intellectual path across varied disciplines and professions, connecting international law, history, legal theory and philosophy. At Seton Hall, he continues that journey as a professor of Public International Law with a focus on helping students understand the many ways law and international relations shape one another.

Shanks-Dumont graduated from the University of Oregon in 2002 with a degree in Italian and history. At the University of Colorado, he earned a law degree in 2019, with a focus on international law, international human rights, American Indian law, and administrative law. Shanks-Dumont worked as a legal assistant to the chair of the 70th session of the International Law Commission, within the United Nations General Assembly, which is responsible for the progressive development and codification of international law. In that role, he helped represent the Maya people before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Shanks-Dumont holds a Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy from UC Berkeley, where his dissertation examined the relationship between international law and energy extraction, focusing on whaling and the global transition from coal to petroleum in the 19th century and early 20th century. His research spans international criminal law, legal theory, historical methodology and immigration law. In a recent article published in the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities he explores how Godzilla films can change the way we think about legal history.

Shanks-Dumont’s journey to Seton Hall was unconventional. He spent over a decade working as a mechanic for professional cycling teams across Europe. His experience included World Cups, World Championships, Grand Tours and the 2012 Olympic Games. He later opened a bike shop in Boulder, Colorado, for six years before pursuing law school in his thirties. He ultimately earned a Ph.D. taking a longer academic journey than he anticipated, but one he has no regrets about.

Shanks-Dumont says he feels connected to Seton Hall’s welcoming environment and appreciates the way the school prioritizes its students. He values the diversity of its faculty, who are political scientists, international relations theorists and historians, giving students many perspectives to view the world.

In the classroom, Shanks-Dumont blends legal doctrine, international relations theory, history, and philosophy, emphasizing the connection between law and politics. His course this semester focuses on the theory and history of international law, encouraging students to see how historical context shapes legal systems today. “Everything has a history, and history is the ultimate horizon of meaning in any social system," he says. His goal is to challenge the idea that the international system is only about power, highlighting that even legal dimensions, territory, sovereignty and the state itself carry legal content.

Asked what advice he has for students aiming to build a career in international law, he says, surprisingly, “Don’t pursue one. He’d rather see students “Pursue the questions and passions and let the rest follow. Think of it less as a career and more as something that gives your life meaning." As his Seton Hall experience begins, Shanks Dumon looks forward to bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to the classroom. He hopes to encourage students to remain curious, follow questions that matter and let their intellectual interests shape where their careers go, rather than following a predetermined path.

Categories: Education, Nation and World