Dr. Lauretta A. Farrell possesses an extensive background in international travel and advocacy. She worked with the national credit union system in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to assist with their expansion and to train staff to better meet members’ financial needs. While there, she also launched the Macedonian chapter of the Global Women’s Leadership Network, an international organization that helps women step out of survival and dependence into their inherent power, enabling the transformation of world conditions.

She focused her doctoral studies on the issue of torture as a counter-insurgency technique. During that time, and in subsequent years, she travelled frequently to the north of Ireland, meeting with the surviving “Hooded Men,” who were tortured by British security forces during their war with the Irish Republican Army.

As Director of the Human Rights Institute at Kean University, Dr. Farrell produced interdisciplinary programming designed to teach students about human rights and contemporary social justice issues. Through academic and co-curricular projects and events, she supported students’ in their journey as activists and allies.

Dr. Farrell created the Civil Rights Travelean at Kean University, an experiential learning program which affords students the opportunity to visit important civil rights sites throughout the world, and meet with the people how made and changed history. Using this experience, students conduct scholarly research for presentation and publication.

She holds a baccalaureate degree in biology from Colgate University, and master’s degrees from the University of Richmond and Drew University. She earned her Doctor of Letters degree with a concentration in Irish Studies from Drew.