The Faculty Lounge

Susan Freiwald Named Dean of USF Law

The University of San Francisco School of Law announced that Interim Dean Susan Freiwald has been named to the position permanently.  Freiwald, who holds a JD from Harvard, took over on an interim basis last summer.

Tony Varona Named Dean of Miami Law

The University of Miami School of Law has named American University law professor Anthony Varona as its new dean. Varona previously served as both vice dean and associate dean for faculty and academic affairs at American.   He holds a JD from Boston College and an LLM from Georgetown.

Dean Jose Frontera Named VP at Pontifical Catholic

Dean Jose Frontera, of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, has been named the university's new vice-president of finance and administration.  He has been replaced by an interim dean, Fernando Moreno, who was previously the law school's associate dean.

Dean Jennifer Brown Named Quinnipiac Interim Provost

Quinnipiac Law Dean Jen Brown has been named the university's interim EVP and provost, effective this month.  During her time in university administration, former dean Brad Saxton will helm the law school.  

Joseph Harroz Named Interim President of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma College of Law dean, Joseph Harroz Jr., has been named the interim president of the university.  He will serve for at least 15 months.  Harroz has been the dean of the law school since 2010.  An interim dean of the law school will be announced shortly. 

Charlie Rose Named Dean of Ohio Northern Law

Ohio Northern University has announced that Professor Charles Rose III will be the new dean of its law school, effective this summer.  Rose, who directs the well-regarded trial advocacy program at Stetson Law, holds a JD from Notre Dame Law.  

Mary Davis Named Interim Dean of Kentucky Law

No, no, no.  Dean David Brennen hasn't suddenly decided to leave his post at the University of Kentucky College of Law.  Actually, he will be an ACE Fellow next year.  In order for him to devote his full attention to the task, the University has appointed Professor Mary Smith as the interim dean for the coming school year.  She holds a JD from Wake Forest.

Mary Anne Bobinski Named Emory Law Dean

Emory University School of Law has announced that Professor Mary Anne Bobinski of the University of British Columbia law school will be its next dean.  Bobinski served as dean of UBC law from 2003 to 2015.  She holds a JD and Ph.D from SUNY Buffalo and an LLM from Harvard.

Nicola Booth Perry Named Interim Dean at FAMU Law

Florida A&M University has named Professor Nicola Booth Perry its interim dean of the law school.  She takes over from interim dean LeRoy Purnell.  Booth Perry holds a JD from Florida State Law.

Dean Curtis Bridgeman Stepping Down at Willamette Law

Dean Curtis Bridgeman of the Willamette University School of Law has announced he will step down in the summer of 2020.  He has served as dean since 2013.  

Nebraska Law Dean Tapped as Interim Executive Vice-Chancellor

The University of Nebraska has named the dean of the law school, Richard Moberly, as its interim executive vice-chancellor, the school's chief academic officer.  During his stay in university administration, Professor Anna Shavers will serve as interim dean of the law school. 

Wendy Hensel Named Interim Provost of Georgia State

Georgia State University has announced that Dean Wendy Hensel of the law school will serve as interim provost.  Professor Leslie Wolf will serve as interim dean of the law school during Hensel's time in the provost's office.

Joshua Fershee Named Dean of Creighton Law

Creighton University announced that Professor Joshua Fershee will be the new dean of its law school, effective July 1.  Fershee is a member of the West Virginia University law faculty, and served as that school's associate dean for faculty research and development for several years.  He holds a JD from Tulane.  

Elizabeth McClanahan Named Dean of Appalachian Law

Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. McClanahan, who will be retiring from the court September 1, will become the new dean of the Appalachian School of Law the next day.   She replaces Dean Sandra McGlothlin who is stepping down.  Justice McClanahan holds a JD from the University of Dayton and has served previously at ASL as a visiting faculty member.

Henry Butler Stepping Down as George Mason Law Dean

George Mason University has announced that Henry Butler will step down as dean of the law school at the end of the 2019-20 school year.  Butler has done some prodigious fundraising since joining the law school in 2015 and he has continued the school's emphasis on law and economics.  

Chris Bracey Named Interim Dean of GW Law

George Washington University School of Law has announced that law school professor Christopher Bracey, who is currently vice-provost affairs at the university, will serve as interim dean beginning this summer.  Dean Blake Morant previously announced he would step down after five years in the position.  Bracey will not be a candidate for the deanship on a permanent basis.  GW Law professor Ralph Steinhardt  is chairing the search for a new dean with the assistance of Isaacson Miller. 

Michael Hunter Schwartz Named Univ. of Pacific Interim Provost

Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz, of Pacific-McGeorge Law has been named interim provost of University of the Pacific effective this summer.  In his stead, Associate Dean Michael Colatrella will serve as interim dean of the law school.  

James McGrath Named Dean of WMU Cooley Law

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has announced that James McGrath, professor of law and associate dean for academic support and bar services at Texas A&M University School of Law, will serve as its next president and dean.  McGrath received a JD from Howard, an LLM from Temple and an MPH from Harvard.  He takes over July 1.

Jane Aiken Named Dean of Wake Forest Law

Wake Forest University has announced that Jane Aiken will be the next dean of its law school.  Jane, the Blume Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, previously served as the law center's Associate Dean for Experiential Education and then Vice Dean.  She holds a JD from NYU and an LLM from Georgetown.  I'm particularly excited to see Jane take on the deanship for two reasons.  First, it's incredibly encouraging to see the appointment of a dean with roots in clinical legal education.   Second, on a purely personal level, Jane has been a hugely supportive person for me over the course of many years - since the days she was teaching at Wash U and I was teaching at Alabama.   She makes the big move this summer.

Lincoln Davies Named Dean of Ohio State Law

The Ohio State University has named Lincoln Davies as its new law school dean.  Davies is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Utah College of Law; he joined the Utah faculty in 2007.  He holds a JD from Stanford and will be taking over at OSU this summer.