Rep. Katie Porter will return to teaching at the UC Irvine School of Law next year, once her congressional term is complete.
Porter, following her loss in the U.S. Senate primary earlier this year, is set to leave Congress in January after six years. The Harvard Law alumna had been teaching at UCI Law prior to her 2018 election, and she will return to its faculty in the spring of 2025, the school announced on Wednesday.
Related: What’s next for Rep. Katie Porter after she leaves Congress?
In an interview earlier this year, Porter said she’d like to pick up some of her old classes, as well as new ones that could draw on her experiences in Washington, D.C. When she returns in the spring, Porter will teach courses on bankruptcy, consumer law, secured credit and legislation, she said Thursday.
“I’m thrilled to return to the classroom next year, where I’ll be doing the same work I did in Congress: holding corporations accountable, reducing the influence of special interests and fighting for justice for all by empowering our next generation of consumer advocates,” Porter said.
“Californians know our future depends on bright, young leaders who can cut through partisanship and deliver real solutions to our state’s most pressing problems — like the cost of housing and existential threat of climate change. I’m looking forward to helping equip these new leaders at UC Irvine with the tools and skills they need to succeed,” she added.
Porter’s UCI Law faculty bio, which notes she’s on leave, lists her expertise in bankruptcy, commercial law, consumer law, debt collection, empirical studies of legal systems and mortgage foreclosure.
In Congress, Porter quickly cemented her place as an expert on campaign finance reform. She went toe-to-toe with corporate leaders during congressional hearings, often hoisting what became her trademark: a whiteboard.
A prolific fundraiser, Porter has been using her prowess to raise money for other like-minded Democrats since her primary loss.
While she was on leave from UCI Law, Porter was able to retain her home secured through a program the university offers to certain academics. She faced some criticism, but her housing situation did not violate U.S. House ethics rules, according to the Associated Press, and Porter maintained she followed all UC policies.
