The Faculty Lounge

Tom Mayo Named Interim Dean of SMU Law

Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Law Tom Mayo has been named interim dean of SMU Law beginning on July 1, stepping in for Jennifer Collins who will be come President of Rhodes College.  Mayo joined SMU in 1984 and holds a JD from Syracuse.

Hutchins Named Dean of Maryland Law

The University of Maryland has announced that Dean Renée McDonald Hutchins of UDC Law will be the new dean of its law school.  She joined UDC as dean in 2019 after fourteen years on the Maryland Law faculty.   Hutchins, who holds a JD from Yale, will head back to Baltimore on August 1. 

Jennifer Mnookin Named Chancellor of of UW-Madison

Jennifer Mnookin  has been named Chancellor of  the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   Mnookin has served as dean of the UCLA School of Law since 2015.  A Bruin no longer, Mnookin will become a Badger on August 4.  

David Yellen Named Dean of Miami Law

The University of Miami School of Law has announced that its new dean will be David Yellen.  Yellen, who is currently the CEO of Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, previously served as the president of Marist College, the dean of Loyola-Chicago Law and the dean of Hofstra Law. He holds a JD from Cornell.

Theresa Radwan Named Interim Dean of Stetson Law

Professor Theresa Radwan has been named interim dean of Stetson Law beginning on June 24th, stepping in for Michèle Alexandre who is decamping for Chicago.  Radwan joined Stetson in 2001 and holds a JD from William & Mary Law School.

 

Robert Chesney Named Dean of Texas Law

The University of Texas has announced that Bobby Chesney, a member of its law faculty since 2008 and long-time associate dean of academic affairs, will become the new dean of UT Law.  Chesney, who holds a JD from Harvard, steps in for Dean Ward Farnsworth who has been leading the law school for the past decade. 

Rodney Smolla named President of Vermont Law

Vermont Law School has announced that its new president will be Rod Smolla. Smolla is currently dean at Widener's t Delaware Law School and has previously served as president of Furman University, and dean at Washington and Lee University and University of Richmond law schools. He holds a JD from Duke and will take over on July 1.

 

 

North Dakota Law Names Brian Pappas Dean

University of North Dakota School of Law has named Brian Pappas as its new dean.  Pappas is currently completing a multi-country Fulbright grant in Denmark and Greece, where he is training academic administrators in mediation and conflict resolution. Previously, Pappas served as associate provost and associate vice president for faculty affairs and academic personnel at Eastern Michigan University.  Pappas, who holds a JD from Wayne State, an LLM from Missouri, a PhD from Kansas, and an MPP from Michigan, will take over in July.

NB: Typo corrected.

BC Law Names Odette Lienau Dean

Boston College Law has announced that its new dean will be Odette Lienau.  Lienau, who holds a JD from NYU and a Ph.D from Harvard, is a faculty member and former associate dean at Cornell Law.  She takes over in January.  

Troy McKenzie Named Dean of NYU Law

NYU School of Law has named Troy McKenzie as its new dean.  McKenzie, who joined NYU in 2007, is also a graduate of  NYU Law.  He will take over on June 1.

Christiana Ochoa Named Interim Dean of Indiana-Bloomington Law

Indiana University Bloomington’s Maurer School of Law dean Austen Parrish will step down to become dean of UCI Law.  Executive Associate Dean Christiana Ochoa has been named interim dean beginning on July 1st until a new dean is selected.  Ochoa joined Indiana-Bloomington in 2003 and holds a JD from Harvard.

University of Montana Law Announces Three Dean Finalists.

University of Montana School of Law announced that their three dean finalists are Rosa Brooks (Georgetown), Norman Bay (Willkie Farr & Gallagher), and Johanna Bond (Washington & Lee.)

Austen Parrish Named Dean of UCI Law

The University of California - Irvine law school has named Austen Parrish, as its new dean.  Parrish, who joined Indiana-Bloomington as its law dean in 2014, is a graduate of Columbia Law.  He will join UCI in August.  

Vischer to be Interim President of St. Thomas (MN); Nichols Named Interim Dean

The University of St. Thomas, in Minnesota, has announced that its law dean, Rob Vischer, will step in as interim president on June 1.   In that interim, associate dean Joel Nichols will take over as dean of the law school.  Nichols, who holds a JD from Emory, joined St. Thomas in 2007.

Nicky Boothe Named Dean of UIC Law

University of Illinois Chicago Law  has announced that its new dean will be Nicola Boothe.  Boothe is a professor, and former interim dean, at Florida A&M Law and she is currently visiting at Boston University Law.  She  holds a JD from Florida State University.  Boothe will take over from interim dean Julie Spanbauer in June.

Melanie Jacobs Named Dean of Louisville Law

University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law has announced that its new dean will be Melanie B. Jacobs.  Jacobs is currently a Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law and served as interim dean from  January 2020 to June 2021.  She  holds a JD from Bostin University. Jacobs will take over from interim dean Lars Smith in July. 

Melanie Wilson Named Dean of Washington and Lee Law

Washington and Lee School of Law announced that its new dean will be Melanie D. Wilson.  Wilson is currently dean emerita and Lindsay Young Distinguished Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law.  She  holds a JD from the University of Georgia School of Law. Wilson will take over from interim dean Michelle Drumbl on July 1. 

 

 

Temple Law Seeks Dean

This just in:

Temple University, a top-ranked research university experiencing great momentum and situated in the City of Philadelphia, seeks a bold and dynamic leader to serve as dean of the Beasley School of Law (Temple Law). Temple University invites inquiries, nominations and applications for this exciting opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking and thriving institution. A Pennsylvania state-supported comprehensive research university ranked in the highest Carnegie research university category, Temple is the 38th largest four-year public university in the United States and one of the nation’s leading centers of professional education. With 17 schools and colleges, eight campuses, more than 600 degree programs and more than 35,000 students, Temple is one of the nation’s most comprehensive and diverse learning environments.

Since its inception in 1895, Temple Law has been committed to preparing smart, talented people for success as lawyers and advocates. By focusing on experiential learning that dovetails with and informs doctrinal coursework, Temple Law students are educated in the lived experiences of real people and inspired to pursue the big ideas that can move the law forward. Temple Law graduates have excelled in every imaginable practice area and setting, locally and around the world, and are sought after by employers who know the value of a Temple Law degree. Temple Law's institutional mission is to deliver an accessible, affordable, and excellent legal education.

In addition to outstanding faculty, Temple Law students learn from, and teach, each other. Temple Law is committed to building and sustaining a diverse, inclusive law school community that welcomes people who have historically encountered barriers to legal education. Every student benefits from the opportunity to see the world from various vantage points, and to understand better how their own perspective has been shaped over time. Such exchanges, whether held in the classroom or outside of it, deepen the understanding of how laws and legal systems impact real lives. Diverse viewpoints strengthen the community and profession, and make Temple Law students better lawyers.

Carla Pratt Stepping Down as Dean of Washburn Law

Dean Carla Pratt has decided to step down as dean of Washburn University College of Law after almost four years of service.  She will be leaving Washburn and moving to Norman, Oklahoma to become the OU' Law's inaugural Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights, Race and Justice in Law. Washburn plans to name an interim dean before Pratt's departure. 

New Law Schools Coming Soon in Jacksonville and High Point; Jacksonville Seeks Dean

After a bit of a lull, we are seeing a couple of universities creating new law schools.  Jacksonville University in Florida plans to open a downtown law school this fall, with the help of a $5 million contribution from the city. The University is searching for a dean.  Jacksonville was previously home to Florida Coastal Law School.   Meanwhile, High Point University in North Carolina announced it will open a law school starting in 2024.