Sherif Girgis (born March 11, 1986) is an American legal scholar, ethicist, and professor of Egyptian descent, likely influenced by Coptic Christian heritage. He gained prominence as co-author of the influential 2012 book 'What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense' with Ryan T. Anderson (his Princeton classmate) and Robert P. George, which articulated natural law-based arguments against same-sex marriage and has been widely cited in legal and political debates. His work focuses on conservative legal theory, particularly on marriage, religious liberty, and the philosophy of law, intersecting law, religion, and ethics. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame since 2021 as a professor of law, instructing courses in criminal law, jurisprudence, constitutional law, and related fields. Previously, he clerked for federal judges and worked in legal fellowships. He has served as a fellow at the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture and contributed to organizations like the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, advocating for religious freedoms in public policy. His scholarship has influenced conservative policy advocacy while drawing criticism from progressive circles for traditionalist stances.