Here is the message from Provost Elizabeth Béjar:
May 23, 2025
Dear members of the university community,
After leading the College of Law for the past seven years, Antony Page has completed his service as Dean and this summer will join the College’s full-time tenured faculty to reengage more directly with his academic and research interests. Under Antony’s leadership, the College of Law has continued its upward trajectory, achieving significant milestones and establishing itself as South Florida’s premier law school.
During Antony’s tenure, College of Law graduates earned the highest cumulative first-time bar passage rate of any law school in Florida and surpassed the 90% bar passage barrier on three separate occasions. The faculty has grown in stature to include experts in multiple areas, improving the curriculum's breadth while enhancing the college's scholarly impact, with faculty publications reaching scholars around the world.
Antony’s leadership has led to a remarkable growth in the College’s reputation. Since 2018, no other law school in the nation has seen a greater improvement in its U.S. News & World Report lawyer reputation score, and only four schools have seen a larger increase in peer reputation scores. This fall’s incoming class will have the strongest academic profile in the College’s history.
The College of Law is now well positioned to search for its new Dean to build upon these strengths. I am thankful that Antony is committed to FIU’s success, and as he transitions toward a reinvigorated dedication to his teaching and scholarship, he will support the university and the Interim Dean to facilitate a seamless transition. We will commence a search for a new Dean of the College of Law at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester.
During this time, I have asked Michelle Mason to serve as Interim Dean effective May 24, 2025.
Michelle has been serving as the College’s Senior Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Associate Dean for Enrollment since 2014. She has been a dedicated member of its senior leadership since its founding, previously serving as Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services, Senior Associate Dean for Enrollment Management, Student Development and Outreach, and Director of the FIU Law Center for Professionalism and Ethics. She also is a Faculty Fellow in the FIU Honors College. Her distinguished record of accomplishment includes launching multidisciplinary partnerships in new clinical programming, co-chairing the FIU Fostering Panther Pride Committee, and authoring or co-authoring more than $1.5M in successful grant proposals since 2010.
Before joining FIU, she earned both her B.A. and J.D. from Rutgers University and held key roles at Phillips Exeter Academy, Seton Hall University School of Law, and Vermont Law School. Previously recognized by the Daily Business Review as one of the Top 20 Women in the Law, her scholarly interests include civic engagement, ethics, and professionalism.
As we strive toward the next era of prosperity for our College of Law, please join me in thanking Antony for his outstanding tenure as its Dean. Please also join me in supporting and welcoming Michelle to her new role.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Béjar, PhD
Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer