Professor Heather Field Named New Associate Academic Dean

Professor Heather Field has been named Associate Academic Dean designate for UC Hastings, leading the school's efforts to put students first.

Field, who holds the Bion Gregory Chair in Business Law, will replace Associate Academic Dean Keith Wingate, beginning July 1, 2013. Wingate joined the UC Hastings faculty in 1980. He taught Civil Procedure; Race, Racism, and American Law; Critical Race Theory; Reparations: Domestic and International; and Law and the Japanese-American Internment. He also serves on the board of the Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond.

As Associate Academic Dean, Field will supervise several departments, enforce academic regulations and the code of student conduct, and play a key leadership role in the college’s operations.

“I’m delighted that Heather Field is willing to take on this new role for UC Hastings,” said Academic Dean Designate Beth Hillman. “She’s an ideal fit because of the great respect she’s earned from our students, her innovative approach to legal education, and her proven ability to get things done.”

Field is looking forward to the post. "UC Hastings students are smart, engaged, and hard-working, and I truly enjoy working with them,” Field said. “I am excited to have this new opportunity to contribute to the quality of their law school experiences. I am also honored to work with the college’s outstanding professionals, who are deeply committed to serving and supporting our students. I hope that, together, we can continue to create an environment that encourages and empowers students as they build the knowledge and skills that will prepare them to solve 21st century problems."

Field joined the faculty in 2006, and has played a leadership role in forging and implementing important aspects of the college’s new strategic plan. “Heather has an energy and student-oriented focus that makes her perfect for this job,” said Chancellor and Dean Frank H. Wu.

Field will continue to teach, including in the college’s Tax Concentration Seminar. “Professor Field will stay involved in UC Hastings’ well-established Tax Concentration, a course of study near and dear to her heart, ensuring it provides students with the knowledge, skills, and community essential to success in practice,” Hillman said.