Published May 25, 2023
Dear University Community:
I am writing to share that Dean Aviva Abramovsky will step down as dean of the School of Law effective July 1, 2023, and return to her faculty role as professor of law.
Dean Abramovsky has served as dean of the School of Law since 2017. Under her leadership, the school has focused on enhancing academic and academic support programs, improving important student success metrics. The school expanded its clinical programs, adding clinics in criminal justice advocacy and community engagement and revitalizing its innocence and justice project. In addition, the school introduced program enhancements, expanded experiential learning opportunities, improved the student experience, expanded student support and wellness resources, introduced support programs for students taking the bar exam, and expanded its alumni mentoring program. As a result of these efforts, the school improved bar passage rates and employment rates among recent graduates.
During Dean Abramovsky’s tenure, the school has also developed innovative new academic programs that have attracted excellent students and built on the school’s and university’s strengths. The school launched a bachelor’s in law program, only the second of its kind in the nation, designed to prepare students for future legal study or related professions. In addition, the school created a new Doctor of Juridical Science degree to prepare students for careers as law professors, judicial and other public offices, and prominent international policy positions, and introduced several new joint and dual degree programs with campus partners. The school also created two new interdisciplinary centers—the Center for the Advancement of Sport and the Entrepreneurial Law Center Clinic—which provide students with unique experiential learning opportunities.
An engaged university citizen, Dean Abramovsky has served in a variety of leadership and service roles during her tenure. She led a comprehensive campaign to support the school’s research, education and engagement activities. Philanthropic gifts to the school have increased, resulting in the creation of new endowed chairs; funding for academic support and experiential learning programs; support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs; enhanced endowment funding; and expanded student scholarships.
For more information, please see UBNow.
In the coming weeks, an interim dean of the School of Law will be named and a national search will commence in the fall.
I am grateful to Dean Abramovsky for her leadership to the university and to the School of Law. Please join me in thanking Dean Abramovsky for her service and in wishing her well as she returns to the faculty.
Sincerely,
A. Scott Weber Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
