Her research and writing interests include cross-national analysis of legal activity, international law, immigration, and women's rights. She teaches sociology of law and criminology. Professor Boyle received a B.S. degree in sociology, summa cum laude, from the University of Iowa in 1983. She graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Iowa School of Law in 1987, where she was an Associate Editor of the Iowa Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. After practicing securities law with the firm of Kutak Rock in Omaha, Nebraska, Professor Boyle attended Stanford University, where she received a Ph.D. degree in sociology in 1996. Professor Boyle joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1996, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2002.