Kathy Graham After three decades of teaching and setting policy, associate dean Kathy Graham said she’s ready for a change. The second woman to join the College of Law’s faculty back in 1977, Graham said Willamette has been a wonderful place to work. But her second act — traveling, perhaps running for the Salem school board or the state Legislature — is calling. “I was reading this from Tom Brokaw — ‘Get out while you’re still good. Don’t wait until they throw you out,’” she said in her radio-perfect baritone. “I never looked at anything other than being here. In some ways I regret that, but in other ways I don’t.”
program, which instructs first-year students in how to be a good lawyer. As associate dean, she was the chair of the academic affairs committee, which proposes changes to the academic program and law school curriculum. She was responsible for carrying out new policies such as the grading curve and mandatory student attendance. She counseled students and handled sticky issues — like the time a student complained about racially insensitive remarks made inside and out of class. Now, with Graham’s decision to teach part-time, those duties fall to associate dean Peter Letsou. He said Graham did a great job of running the school effortlessly.
Graham has worked under four deans and lives next door to “She never seemed irritated or excited,” he said. “She did the the current one, Symeon Symeonides. During her time at job with a smile on her face the whole time.” the College of Law, the number of female professors has grown to about one-third of the faculty. Some years, women Daniel Kittle JD’10, who was class president when the issue of racially insensitive remarks came up, brought his concerns have made up the majority of students. Legal Research and to Graham. He said she truly tried to understand the situation Writing is taught by full-time professors; faculty members and that her open door policy made students feel welcome. publish more frequently. Graham herself uses PowerPoint and has her own Website. “She was always available, always willing to answer questions,” said Kittle, who graduated last spring. “We saw “I’ve seen this law school transform itself,” she said. “You just her at so many different social events. It stood out that this wouldn’t know this law school from the way it was to now.” was a neat lady.” Besides teaching an array of legal subjects, Graham also has taught in the school’s groundbreaking professionalism
Remembrance: “Willamette has been a wonderful place to work,” said Kathy Graham. “I couldn’t have asked for a better career.” She and her husband hope to do some of the traveling they’ve put off while raising their family.
Fall 2010 | 19