The Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) is pleased to announce that Marcos Soler has joined as CERL’s new executive director.
Dr. Soler served previously as the deputy secretary for public safety for Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, in which role he advised the Governor on public protection and criminal justice policy, administering a $10 billion budget and overseeing State Police, National Guard, Military and Naval Affairs, Homeland Security, Veteran Services, Corrections, Criminal Justice Services, Victim Services, Human Rights, Indigent Legal Services, and other agencies and boards.
From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Soler served as New York City’s criminal justice coordinator and the director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ ). Prior to that, he was a policy executive at the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board and a deputy federal monitor in the Agreement for the Sustainable Reform of the Puerto Rico Police for the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico.
“I thank Professor Finkelstein and the Executive Board for this incredible opportunity. The rule of law is an indispensable condition for our society, and CERL is at the forefront of the fight to preserve and promote it. I have joined the Center to do everything in my power to defend the rule of law, not only as an academic, but as a citizen and a member of the broader Penn community.”
—Dr. Marcos Soler
Dr. Soler is an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). His scholarly work has focused on American political development, legal theory, moral and political philosophy, and criminal justice policy.
He holds a Ph.D. in politics and M.S. in public policy and management from the New School University (New York), as well as degrees in law and philosophy from several European universities. He is also a graduate of the New York City Leadership Institute and a recipient of the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship program. He was a doctoral research fellow in legal theory at the University of Valencia Law School in Spain and a research fellow in constitutional law at the national Center for Constitutional and Political Studies in Madrid, Spain.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Marcos to the Center,” said Professor Claire Finkelstein, faculty director of CERL. “Marcos brings a wealth of knowledge from his time in state and local government. His energy, significant expertise in domestic and national security, and deep regard for the rule of law make him the ideal candidate to join the CERL team and expand our impact.”
“I warmly welcome Marcos as executive director,” said Dr. Morton H. Halperin, chair of the CERL Executive Board. “CERL will benefit tremendously from his vast knowledge of criminal justice policy and legal theory. I look forward to working with Marcos to advance the center’s goal of deepening expert and public awareness of vital ethical and rule of law issues in the national security context.”
CERL is a non-partisan interdisciplinary institute at the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to preserving and promoting ethics and the rule of law in national security, warfare, and democratic governance. CERL draws from the study of law, philosophy, and ethics to answer the difficult questions that arise in domestic and transnational crises and conflicts. As executive director, Dr. Soler will lead CERL and its team on research projects, publications, conferences and symposia, and the summer internship program.