announced that he is stepping down from his position as dean of School effective June 30. Rubin said he will continue to teach and write as a member of the faculty.
Rubin became the law school’s 14th dean and the first John Wade–Kent Syverud Professor of Law in July 2005. A highly respected public law scholar who came to ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ from the , Rubin said his main goal as dean was to “develop a new approach to legal education for the 21st century.” Rubin worked with faculty and alumni to enrich existing courses, develop a supportive administrative system and ensure the high employability of graduates.
“Ed came to ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ with a very clear and bold vision of what he wanted to accomplish, and his success is evident and measurable,” said Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos, a professor of law who, as provost, was instrumental in recruiting Rubin. “We are fortunate that Ed will continue to make enormous contributions to the law school as a distinguished member of the faculty.”
During Rubin’s four years as dean, the law school added two new first-year courses, “The Life of the Law” and “The Regulatory State” and began the process of updating a number of the existing first -year courses. In addition, the law school completely reorganized the upper class curriculum around programmatic concentrations leading to more intensive and interactive third-year experiences for the students. It introduced an elective that will serve as a platform for several of these concentrations. The law school also launched a Ph.D. in Law and Economics, which is the first offered by any American law school.
“Through these efforts, we’ve acquired the reputation in the legal academy as a leader in modernizing the law school curriculum,” said Rubin.
“Ed has added significantly to the reputation of the law school as a center for curricular innovation, teaching and scholarship,” said Provost Richard McCarty.
Other accomplishments during Rubin’s tenure as dean include the addition of 16 new faculty members; a 40 percent increase in student applications; a rise in median LSAT scores; the creation of a new admissions program through which applicants for admission are interviewed by alumni; a jump in the U.S. News and World Report ranking from 17 to 15; and a substantial increase in the school’s annual fund.
During the past four years, the law school also received the two largest gifts in its history. The first was a $2.9 million from Branstetter Stranch and Jennings that endowed the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program. The second was a pledge of almost $6 million to endow the Law and Business Program.
“I want to thank our faculty, staff and alumni for their part in making ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ the wonderful place it is today and will be in the future,” said Rubin. “It’s been my pleasure to work with such a talented group and engage in the law school’s initiatives.”
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Media Contact: Amy Wolf, (615) 322-NEWS
amy.wolf@vanderbilt.edu