2022 New Women Law Deans

Updated August 25, 2022

Each year Gender & the Law Prof tracks the new appointments of women deans in law schools.  We begin the list here, expecting updates as the spring progresses.

Michele Alexandre, Loyola Chicago (former Dean, Stetson)

Nicola Boothe, Univ. Illinois, Chicago (former Interim Dean, Associate Dean, Florida A&M)

Camille Carey, New Mexico (former Vice and Associate Dean, New Mexico)

Lisa Freudenheim, New England (former Co-Acting and Associate Dean, New England)

Leah Chan Grinvald, UNLV (former Associate Dean, Suffolk)

Emily Janoski-Haehlen, Akron (former Associate Dean, Akron)

Melanie Jacobs, Louisville (former Associate Dean, Michigan State)

Tamara Lawson, Washington (former Dean, St. Thomas)

Sudha Setty, CUNY (former Dean, Western New England)

Melanie Wilson. Washington & Lee (former Dean, Tennessee)

 

For the 2021 list, see 2021 New Women Law Deans, Gender & the Law Prof, which also includes some historic data and discussion.

See also Diversity Increases With Law School Deans, According to New Study

The number of women and people of color in law school dean positions is growing, but those hired through search firms were mostly white men, according to a new study released by the Association of American Law Schools.

 

The American Law School Dean Study surveyed 197 deans of ABA-accredited law schools and 222 former deans who served between 2010 and 2020. It was also compiled by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, also known as the NORC.

 

According to the study, released Tuesday, women headed 41% of law schools in 2020, compared to 18% in 2005. Also, 31% of the law schools in 2020 had deans who were people of color or Hispanic, compared to 13% in 2005.

 

According to the study, 18% of the law school deans in 2020 identified as Black or African American, and 6% identified as Hispanic or Latino. The number of law school deans who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was also increasing, in small amounts, according to the study.