New Academic Colleagues

As the new year begins in earnest, I write with more positive news about our influence on legal education. Among the most prestigious jobs for lawyers are those within the academy. A continuing sign of the excellent reputation of UC Hastings is our graduates' competitiveness within this marketplace.

Please join me in congratulating two additions to the decanal ranks.

Rachel Van Cleve ('89), who had been Associate Dean and then Interim Dean, at Golden Gate University has been named as the permanent Dean. I've enjoyed working with Rachel; with the other law schools in San Francisco, we share the benefit of significant scholarships for our students from the Blum Foundation and the deans constitute its Board. You also may recall that Rachel has been a visiting professor with us.

Michael Hunter Schwartz ('87) has been named Dean at University of Arkansas (Little Rock). He kindly made the trip back to his law school alma mater last year to provide the faculty advice on assessment of student learning outcomes. He has published widely in the subject -- likely to be increasingly important within legal education.

Rachel and Michael join Nell Jessup Newton ('76), former Chancellor & Dean here, who is Dean at Notre Dame.

In addition, Briana Rosenbaum ('04) has recently accepted an appointment to the faculty of University of Tennessee. Briana and her husband, Peter (a UC Hastings classmate), have been active alumni. Over the past few years, the Appointments Committee has helped our candidates who have registered for the AALS faculty recruitment process. Briana joins Boris Mamlyuk ('05) of University of Memphis and John Haskell ('06) of Mississippi College, among recent hires to tenure-track positions (not to mention our own David Takacs and Sheila Purcell).

We look forward to our former students continuing their success as they become our academic colleagues. Best wishes to all.

Frank H. Wu