Jeffrey Dobbins steps into the role of interim dean

Dobbins reflects on his career and discusses his top priorities as the law school’s interim leader

Dean and Professor Jeffrey Dobbins joined Willamette Law in 2006 after practicing law in public and private sectors. He spent the past four years in the role of associate dean for academic affairs.

Growing up in Oregon, Dobbins regularly attended speech and debate tournaments at Willamette University and long held an admiration for the school.

“Willamette’s strong foundation, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, has always stood out to me,” he says. “I appreciate the school’s deep connection to the Oregon State Capitol just across the road and its long history in the state.”

When the chance to join the faculty at Willamette Law arose, he seized the opportunity without hesitation and has never looked back.

Throughout his career, his admiration for the school has only grown stronger. He has enjoyed watching the university as a whole grow and change over the years to best meet the needs of students.

“The times I have most appreciated at the law school are those spent in meetings with faculty, talking with staff, or connecting with alumni, all with a focus on how to improve and advance our institution for the betterment of students,” Dobbins shares. “There is a strong commitment at Willamette to our students and a collective drive and creativity that I find motivating.”

As a professor, Dobbins thrives on encouraging students to think of the law in new and innovative ways. He enjoys pushing students to take the knowledge they learn in class and turn it into practical tools for legal practice. He has taught an array of classes, including Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, and seminars in specialized areas of the appellate process. During each of these courses, he says the one constant is how rewarding it is to watch students grow and learn in their understanding of complex legal theories and how they think about being practicing attorneys.

In his role as associate dean, Dobbins looked beyond the classroom to delve into all the operational intricacies of the law school. He was “in the weeds as much as possible,” he describes — something he enjoys. His role primarily focused on the academic and fiscal realism of the law school’s operations. From scheduling courses to working with different departments to plan their budgets, Dobbins’ ultimate goal was to ensure the law school can offer the best possible educational experience.

Now, after four years, Dobbins is stepping into the role of interim dean following the departure of former Dean Brian Gallini. His primary goal during this time is to maintain the school’s positive momentum.

“We are going to keep doing what we do well,” he says. “The school is in a strong, positive position, and I look forward to maintaining that while also finding the places where I can add value.”

Looking ahead, Dobbins will do all he can to maintain and encourage a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

“I want to keep thinking about how to make this place better, specifically when it comes to supporting our students,” he says. “We already have a strong foundation, and I hope to set us up to continue building on that.”

In particular, he is focusing on some of the ongoing projects and efforts of the law school, especially the new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE), increasing experiential learning offerings, and the new Criminal Defense Clinic offered this academic year.

In addition to his new administrative responsibilities and guiding the law school through this transition, Dobbins remains dedicated to teaching. It is important for him to teach because he sees it as an important connection point for students. He also says it keeps him grounded in what brought him to the law school in the first place.

“There is a long tradition of deans teaching here,” he shares, “which makes our law school unique.”

As his new role begins, Dobbins wants students, faculty, staff and alumni to know his door is always open.

When he is not at the law school, Dobbins is an avid cyclist. To prepare for this year’s commencement, he spent the day before graduation cycling 104 miles from Portland to Astoria, Oregon. He aims to make this journey each year, though he admits that sometimes the demands of his job can get in the way.