Vanessa Rüegger

Vanessa Rüegger is Full Professor of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, as well as attorney and mediator. Prior to her appointment in Geneva, she was Privatdozentin and lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Basel. In the course of her academic career, she held lectures at various universities in the field of constitutional law, administrative law and procedure, human rights, constitutional theory and legal philosophy.

Her practical leadership experience includes the position of Head Legal Division, Digital Transformation at the State Chancellery, Canton of Zurich. She practiced as attorney at a major Swiss business law firm. She is a Board Member of the Swiss National Museum, appointed by the Federal Council, and serves as Chair of its Finance Committee.

She earned her doctorate in law from the University of Fribourg in 2013 and completed her habilitation at the University of Basel in 2020 with the venia legendi for constitutional theory, constitutional law, administrative law, and international human rights protection. Her habilitation thesis on artistic freedom was published in 2020 by Helbing Lichtenhahn and Nomos.

Her research focuses on constitutional law and constitutional theory, human rights, innovation and digital transformation, democracy and communication rights. She is particularly interested in the role of the state in fostering individual well-being and democratic stability.

Vanessa Rüegger has been a visiting scholar at renowned institutions such as the Cardozo School of Law (as a Fulbright Scholar), NYU School of Law (Bernstein Human Rights Fellow), the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg (visiting professor), the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (Van Calker Fellow), and the University of London (SNSF Fellow).