Faculty Transitions

Professor Joanna Sax

Joanna Sax 5/2/22 Renewed lawsuit challenges San Diego Unified vaccine mandate KPBS.

Professor Glenn Smith

Glenn Smith 5/3/22 Case at center of SCOTUS decision on Roe v Wade KGTV Ch. 10

Dean Sean Scott announced several leadership transitions within the Dean’s Office that were effective August 1. Vice Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson, and Associate Deans Catherine Hardee and Kenneth Klein all completed their terms of service and will take sabbatical for the 2022-2023 academic year before returning to their faculty roles full-time. Susan Bisom-Rapp will assume the role of Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, while William Aceves takes on the role of Associate Dean for Teaching and Assessment, and Daniel Yeager will reprise his role as Associate Dean for Faculty Research.

Dean Scott shared the following thoughts in her message to students, faculty, and staff.

“California Western owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Vice Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson and Associate Deans Catherine Hardee and Kenneth Klein. They made significant contributions to the law school as academic administrators and did so with grace, sensitivity, and humor. We are fortunate to have a group so deeply committed to advocating for the best interests of students, faculty, and the entire Cal Western community.

Hannah, Cat, and Ken provided valuable counsel upon my arrival as Dean in 2020. Their understanding of the unique culture of California Western informed many of the important decisions we have made during my tenure, ranging from the revision of academic policies to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

They also had the unenviable task of serving during the COVID pandemic. They brought wisdom and insight to some of the most complicated deliberations an institution can face. Our success navigating these uncharted waters is a testament to their dual focus on serving our educational mission while maintaining the health of our community.”