Santa Clara Law

Santa Clara University School Of Law Appoints New Dean

Michael J. Kaufman has been appointed the new dean of Santa Clara University School of Law.

Kaufman will replace Anna Han, who has served as interim Dean of SCU Law since March 2019. He will begin his tenure on July 1, 2021.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Michael Kaufman to Santa Clara University, and we look forward to working with him to build upon the proven strengths of our law school in high tech, social justice and global law,” Kevin O’Brien, S.J., president of Santa Clara University, says in a press release. “His leadership, extensive scholarship, dedication to excellence in teaching, and commitment to the Jesuit, Catholic ideals make him an outstanding choice to lead Santa Clara University’s School of Law.”

A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

Kaufman has served as dean at Loyola University Chicago School of Law since 2016, where he has helped to strengthen a number of areas. These included diversity across students, faculty, and administrative staff, bar exam passage rates, employment outcomes, and the law school’s rankings. He also helped develop the law school’s innovative hybrid Weekend JD program.

Kaufman earned his BA from Kenyon College and his JD from the University of Michigan Law School. The distinguished scholar has published more than 30 books and law review articles on topics such as education law, equity, policy, and pedagogy; securities regulation and litigation; and civil procedure and dispute resolution, according to his bio on the Loyola School of Law website.

“Dean Kaufman’s collaborative leadership skills, extensive experience working with students, faculty and staff and a deep commitment to our mission, vision and values will be immensely valuable as our law school continues to grow in national reputation,” Lisa Kloppenberg, provost at SCU Law, says.

Kaufman bring his expertise to SCU Law, where he will help guide the law school towards its goals.

“I am overjoyed and honored to join the Santa Clara University community,” Kaufman says. “The School of Law is a transformative learning community with tremendous distinctive strengths. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work together with the entire Santa Clara community to build on those strengths, to harmonize the law school’s core social justice mission with its signature high tech programs, to achieve our shared vision of educational excellence, and to shape the future of the practice of law and the future of justice. Together, we can grow a law school community that incarnates our vital Jesuit, Catholic mission and promotes student access, formation, and success.”

Sources: Santa Clara University, Loyola University Chicago School of Law