Introduction
Columbia University has announced the appointment of Daniel Abebe, a University of Chicago law professor, as the new dean of its law school. Abebe will officially assume his new role on August 1, replacing Gillian Lester.

Daniel Abebe’s Background and Experience

Academic and Administrative Roles
Daniel Abebe has been a prominent figure at the University of Chicago Law School since joining in 2008. In addition to his teaching duties, he has served as the vice provost for academic affairs and governance for the past six years. His academic focus includes the constitutional law of U.S. foreign affairs and public international law.

Free Speech Advocacy
During his tenure as vice provost, Abebe played a crucial role in clarifying the University of Chicago’s free speech policies, showcasing his commitment to upholding academic freedom and open dialogue.

Transition at Columbia Law School

Gillian Lester’s Tenure
Gillian Lester’s decade-long tenure as the dean of Columbia Law School is coming to an end. Her departure coincides with a turbulent period on campus, marked by conflicts related to the war in Gaza. Despite announcing her plans to step down in November, before the protests, Lester will continue to serve on the law school faculty.

Challenges and Controversies

Campus Protests and Judicial Response
The campus has faced significant controversy, particularly concerning pro-Palestinian protests. In May, a group of 13 conservative federal judges declared their refusal to hire Columbia students, criticizing the university’s handling of the protests and labeling the campus an “incubator of bigotry.”

Defense of Columbia Law Students
In response to the criticism, Lester defended Columbia law students, highlighting their consistent appeal to legal employers and their strong professional reputation.

Looking Ahead

Abebe’s Vision for Columbia Law School
Expressing his enthusiasm and humility about the new role, Abebe acknowledged Columbia Law School’s unique attributes and expressed his commitment to furthering its distinguished legacy. His appointment is seen as a significant step towards continued excellence and growth for the institution.

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Summary: Kimberly Yuracko, one of their own professors, was named the dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law didn’t have to look long or far for a new dean. The school announced the appointment of Kimberly Yuracko, the Judd and Mary Morris Leighton Professor of Law at the law school, as their dean, effective September 1, according to a report from the school.

Provost Jonathan Holloway said, “President Schapiro and I are extremely pleased that Professor Yuracko has accepted our offer. Her talents as a legal scholar focusing on antidiscrimination law in employment and gender equity in education are well suited for leading our great law school, and she has excelled in a number of administrative roles at Northwestern Law.”

Dean Daniel Rodriguez added, “I am pleased that my colleague Kim Yuracko has been appointed as Northwestern Law’s next dean. Her long experience at Northwestern will serve her well. I wish Kim the very best and will look forward to working with her as a colleague in helping her and her team to take Northwestern Law to even greater heights.”

Yuracko served as the interim dean in 2011. She will be succeeding Rodriguez, who is stepping down this summer. She has been with the law school since 2002, previously serving as their associate dean for academic affairs: faculty and research from 2009 to 2010. She now holds a joint appointment in the political science department in Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

She said, “Northwestern Law is rich with brilliance, energy, collaboration and kindness. This is an extraordinary community, and I am honored to serve as the next dean. I look forward to working closely with President Schapiro, Provost Holloway and the entire Law School community in the coming years.”

Yuracko is known for her leadership at the University. She serves on the Provost’s Advisory Council on Women Faculty, has served on the Provost Selection Faculty Advisory Group, the Search Committee for Associate Provost of Diversity and Inclusion and the Catalyst Working Group, and is co-chair of the Organization of Women Faculty.

Some of her accomplishments include publishing “Gender Nonconformity and the Law” in 2016 by Yale University Press and “Perfectionism and Contemporary Feminist Values” in 2003 by Indiana University Press. She has also gained her reputation as a scholar of employment law, antidiscrimination law and gender equity with numerous articles in notable journals and with accolades and awards for her teaching.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in political science and feminist studies. She also earned a Ph.D. in political science and a J.D. from Stanford University. She clerked for Honorable Gary L. Taylor, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and Honorable Stanley Marcus, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Miami.

She is married to Michael Barsa, a professor of practice at Northwestern Law. They have two children together.

How long do you think a dean should hold their position before moving on? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

To learn more about Northwestern Law School, read these articles:

• Northwestern Law Receives Largest Single Gift
• Northwestern Announces Acceptance of GRE Test Scores
• Northwestern Law Student and Boyfriend Victims of Swatting Hoax

Photo: diversifiedus.com

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Summary: Berkeley Law has hired a new dean from UC Irvine School of Law to begin July 1.

Berkeley Law is in need a fresh start after the scandal involving former dean, Sujit Choudhry, who took over the headlines. The law school will have a new dean starting July 1 to relieve interim dean Melissa Murray. Erwin Chemerinsky will be the new leader of Berkeley Law.

The educator, litigator, and legal scholar had been with UC Irvine School of Law for the last nine years as its founding dean. He will begin a five-year term at Berkeley starting in a few months. He was selected after an open, national search that looked at internal and external candidates concluded. UC Berkeley Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Carol Christ said of the hire that he is an “acclaimed researcher, gifted teacher and accomplished administrator. I believe he will be a phenomenal leader for our law school, someone who will ensure that Berkeley Law remains not only a powerhouse of legal scholarship and training, but also a community built on mutual respect and inclusion.”

Chemerinsky also served as the Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law while at Irvine. This means he taught classes on appellate litigation, free speech rights, constitutional analysis and more. Member of the search committee and law professor Sonia Katyal said Chemerinsky is a “living legend – a person who exemplifies the very best that the field of law has to offer: brilliant, warm-hearted, thoughtful, open-minded, and deeply engaged in the culture of public service.”

Chemerinsky, at 64-years-old, brings experience and leadership that the school needs. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University. He said, “I care deeply about the public mission of the law school and the public service it provides through its clinical and pro bono programs. My goal as dean is to maintain the school’s excellence – be it in intellectual property, social justice or business law – and look for every opportunity I can to enhance it.”

He has worked at four law schools during his career, including Duke and USC. He has been awarded three outstanding teacher awards during that time. He is considered to be one of the leading experts in constitutional law, civil rights, civil liberties, and federal practice. Chemerinsky is also a writer, authoring 10 books, including one of the most widely read legal textbooks in the country called “Constitutional Law.” He has also written hundreds of law review articles for the country’s top journals.

Chemerinsky already has plans on how to start at Berkeley. He wants to “listen and learn” from the community to find out what is going well and what needs improvement. When he founded Irvine Law, Chemerinsky offered free tuition to the first entering class for all three years of their education. The school was highly-ranked even though it was not yet accredited. He had top law professors, clinical programs, and curriculum to propel the school forward into what it is today. He said, “I think one of the responsibilities of a dean is to create a warm and inclusive community, where all members feel welcome and can thrive. I think Interim Dean Murray has done an outstanding job in the most difficult circumstances. I need to build on that.”

He continued, “We must do all we can to serve our students and prepare them to practice law at the highest level of the profession. Berkeley should aspire to be one of the top five law schools in the country, by any and every measure.”

Do you think he will be able to turn Berkeley Law around? Tell us your thoughts on the comments below.

To learn more about Berkeley Law, read these articles:

• Berkeley Law Dean Resigns
• Berkeley Law Dean Accused of Sexual Harassment
• UC Berkeley Law School Dean on Medical Leave

Photo: youtube.com

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Summary: Mercer University’s School of Law has announced that Cathy Cox will be joining the school as the new dean starting in July.

Mercer University’s School of Law is receiving a new dean starting July 1. Cathy Cox, Young Harris College President and former Georgia Secretary of State, will succeed Daisy Hurst Floyd, who served as dean from 2004 to 2010 and then again from 2014 until now.

As a 1986 graduate of Mercer Law School, Cox will be the first alum to serve as a permanent dean of the School since William Augustus Bootle in 1933. Bootle was appointed to the federal bench and directed the integration of the University of Georgia.

Mercer Provost Dr. D. Scott Davis said, “Cathy Cox brings to the Mercer Law deanship an uncommon breadth and depth of experience in higher education, public service and the practice of law. We could not be more excited about her accepting this opportunity to return to her alma mater and provide leadership for the state’s oldest ABA-accredited law school.”

Cox has been the president of Young Harris since 2007, moving the school from a two-year college to a four-year institution. Student enrollment has doubled under her leadership as well as the number of faculty.

Cox said, “I am very excited about building on the deep foundation and rich heritage at Mercer’s School of Law to educate practice-ready lawyers who want to make a genuine difference for their clients and have a positive impact in their communities. The opportunity to do this at my alma mater makes it even more meaningful. I have loved working with phenomenal trustees, faculty and staff during the past 10 years to transform Young Harris College into a thriving liberal arts college and I hope YHC will continue to send some of its strongest graduates to Mercer’s Law School, just like the three who are enrolled there now.”

Before leading Young Harris, Cox served two terms as the secretary of state for Georgia. She was the first woman to hold the position and made Georgia the first state to move to a universal electronic voting system.

Mercer President William D. Underwood said, “I am very pleased that Cathy Cox has accepted our invitation to serve as the next dean of Mercer Law School. She has provided extraordinary leadership at Young Harris College over the past decade, is well-known and highly respected throughout the State of Georgia, and has a deep affinity for our School of Law and Mercer University. We look forward to great things from Mercer Law School under her leadership.”

Dean Floyd added, “I am thrilled that Cathy Cox will be the next dean of Mercer Law School and am excited about the future of the Law School under her leadership. She brings extraordinary experience, talent and skill to the position. I, and the other members of the Law School community, look forward to working with her to continue to provide the distinctive Mercer legal education that prepares our students for lives of service and meaning as lawyers.”

What do you think law schools can do to attract more students? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

To learn more about recently appointed deans at other law schools, read these articles:

• Incoming Law School Dean Asked for Pay Cut
• The Time of New Law School Deans Begins
• Hawaii Takes Villanova Law School Dean

Photo: columns.uga.edu

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Summary: The end of the academic school year is the typical time for the transfer of deans at law schools across the country.

The academic school year is winding down. The time for newly appointed law schools deans to take over is starting with the announcement from five schools.

Syracuse University School of Law has appointed the current dean of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Craig Bose as the new dean for their school. Boise was the dean at Cleveland-Marshall for the past five years, boosting the practical skills offered and launching a solo practice incubator program. University chancellor Kent Syverud said, “Craig’s bold vision and commitment to academic excellence have enhanced the student experience, improved student outcomes and positioned graduates for career success. He is the ideal person to lead the College of Law into a new era, particularly as it seeks to enhance its global reputation and continue its ascent in national rankings.”

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles made their announcement of a new dean the day before. Michael Waterstone, a professor at the school, will be the new dean. He is an expert in disability rights, teaching at the L.A. law school for the past ten years. He also served as the associate dean for research and academic centers for five years.

The University of Colorado Law School has selected a professor from another law school as their dean. James Anaya currently teaches at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Anaya is a high-profile advocate on international human rights issues, focusing on indigenous people. He has been the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his work. University provost Russell Moore said, “As a legal scholar and practitioner, Jim Anaya for decades has not only contributed distinctive quality, character and importance to legal theory, but he also has advanced protections for indigenous peoples around the globe.”

The University of Denver Sturm College of Law appointed former dean of the University of Illinois College of Law Bruce Smith. He will take over on July 1. He has taught at the Illinois law school for 15 years and was dean from 2009 to 2014. His efforts as dean include raising $50 million and establishing a program in Chicago for third-year students.

Professor Gordon Smith at Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School has been promoted as the new dean. Smith will start a five year run as the dean starting May 1. He has been with the school since 2007, serving as associate dean of faculty and curriculum from 2009 to 2014. He taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School for five years before moving to BYU.

Source: http://www.nationallawjournal.com/home/id=1202754992956

Photo: thedailybeast.com

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Summary: The Dean of the law school at Duquesne has been named as the President of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Duquesne University has a new dean. Ken Gormley is replacing Charles Dougherty to become the 13^th president of the school. Dougherty announced last February that he would be retiring at the end of June.

Marie Millie Jones, president of the university board of directors, said of Gormley during the press conference, “Dean Gormley has outstanding academic credentials, built an extensive network of local, state, and national relationships and has proven a track record of fundraising. He is well-positioned to continue the academic excellence of Duquesne, to maintain the solid financial management of the University and to position Duquesne for significant growth in its endowment through extensive community and national engagement.”

Gormley has been with the university for 21 years and will be the third Catholic president in the school’s 137 years. He worked in private practice and taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law before the school. He had been serving as the interim dean for 15 months before being appointed dean of the law school in March 2010.

Under Gormley’s reign as Duquesne Law School Dean, he has brought the school to a top-tier law school, completed the largest fundraising campaign in the law school’s history, hosted alumni events nationwide, and revamped the school’s curriculum, student organizations, and international programs.

Dougherty has been the president of the school since 2001. He has helped the university gain a $350 million investment in facilities and programs. He has overseen the Advancing Our Legacy capital campaign that raised $15 million toward its goal of $150 million.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/11/04/Duquesne-University-names-Law-School-Dean-Gormley-as-new-president-pittsburgh/stories/201511040159

Photo: taylorc5blog.wordpress.com

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Summary: Florida A&M University Law School has narrowed its search for a new dean to three highly qualified individuals.

Florida A&M University Law School has been on the hunt for a new dean since July. The former dean of the law school, LeRoy Pernell, had been leading the school since 2008 until he stepped down this summer.

The three finalists are Angela Felecia Epps, Darryll Jones, and Willajeanne McLean. There were 28 applicants for the position, including legal advisers, law educators, and judges. The date for the final decision has not been announced but it’s anticipated it will be soon.

Epps is a law professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. She has a lengthy history serving as a military attorney for the United States Marine Corps. She has also dedicated many hours to working for the community.

Jones has been the interim dean since July 1. Prior to becoming the interim dean he was a law professor and served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Jones also served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp.

McLean was the interim dean of the University of Connecticut School of Law from 2012 to 2013. She received a B.A. from Wellesley and a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She then went on to receive her J.D. from Fordham Law School and her LL.M. from the Free University of Brussels.

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-famu-law-dean-finalists-0915-post.html

Photo: limbachinc.com

Epps Photo: ualr.edu

Jones Photo: law.famu.edu

McLean Photo: law.uconn.edu

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Summary: The law school in Knoxville, Tennessee will be gaining a dean that has done it all and will be able to continue teaching students through his experience.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, TN has a new dean. Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary Wade in trading in his court robes for a faculty gown. Wade will be introduced as the dean on Monday in Boca Raton, Florida at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference. Wade will be introduced to the student body on August 11^th, the first day of class. He won’t officially join the school until he retires in September.

LMU Chairman Autry O.V. “Pete” DeBusk said of Wade, “I know that he has a passion for ensuring access to justice in rural and underserved areas. It has been a cause he has championed throughout his career. There is certainly a synergy between that cause and LMU’s mission to serve Appalachia. We founded the Duncan School of Law to train lawyers in the region to serve their communities and I look forward to the good that will come with Justice Wade’s leadership.”

Wade has devoted the last thirty years to civil service. Along with serving as a Justice for the Tennessee State Supreme Court, he was a presiding judge for the Criminal Court of Appeals. He served for over ten years as the Mayor of Sevierville as well as ran a private practice. His experiences will make him a great dean at any law school.

Source: http://wate.com/2015/07/27/lincoln-memorial-university-duncan-school-of-law-knoxville-tennessee-supreme-court-justice-gary-wade/

Photo: timesfreepress.com

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Summary: The new dean for USC Gould School of Law, Andrew Guzman, brings a strong entrepreneurial drive to improve the law school and help advance their students towards strong careers.

Many know that the new dean at USC Gould School of Law, Andrew Guzman, would have been a successful entrepreneur but he chose to put his drive and innovation into the law through academia. Guzman had held a longtime position at the University of California Berkeley School of Law.

The one thing that Guzman knows he needs to address with the law school is how to attract more to the legal field. The top law schools know they need to be approaching legal education with more ingenuity and willingness to adapt.

Guzman’s specialty is in international law and economics. He earned his J.D. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. Two years after graduating from law school, he was at Berkeley Law as a junior faculty member. He was the driving force for the school’s international and executive legal programs that made them the way they are today.

One trait that Guzman excels at is encouraging the ideas of others and not trying to monopolize the good ideas. He treats his office like a start-up company by pouring out energy and a pure enjoyment of what he does to rub off on everyone else.

Guzman’s family is from the Domician Republic, making him the first Latino dean at USC Gould. He plans to use his background to enhance the school by building the quality and reputation. He plans to draw in senior faculty through the entertainment law and international programs. The school’s new Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, which was given a $5 million donation by Judge Judith O. Hollinger in January, will be another way they can attract the best to come to the school.

Source: https://news.usc.edu/83892/new-law-school-dean-brings-entrepreneurial-spirit-to-usc-gould/

Photo: nationallawjournal.com

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Summary: With declining enrollment and high tuition, University of Illinois’s new dean is attempting to cut costs, starting with his salary.

The new dean at University of Illinois College of Law, Vikram Amar will be making $324,900 a year. That salary is $1,500 less than the last dean at the school. The number is lower than some of Amar’s peers but still higher than national average.

He was working at University of California-Davis School of Law as a constitutional law and civil procedure professor. He has also been a top administrator in academic affairs. Amar, brother to Yale law professor Akhil Reed Amar, wants to do his part to keep law school affordable. In his statement he acknowledges that “great law schools require great personnel and programs, both of which cost money” but that those that can should what they can to help keep law school in reach for everyone, no matter their background.

The University of Illinois College of Law enrollment numbers have been declining for the past four years, at a total of 20 percent. The number of applications they received last year was around a third of what they received in 2011. To top it off, out-of-state tuition has increased by $3,500.

The previous dean, Bruce P. Smith hasn’t left the school at its strongest either. The ABA fined and censured the school for inaccurate LSAT information on their entering classes during a seven year time frame. A number of law schools were caught cheating in some form, forcing the ABA to change the way they collect and report data from law schools.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2015/07/06/incoming-law-dean-says-he-demanded-pay-cut-before-taking-job/

Photo: law.illinois.edu

Profile: law.ucdavis.edu

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