A Dean for All Seasons

The average tenure of a law school dean in the United States is three years, in large part because the task is both eclectic and difficult. Michelle Simon, the longest tenured Dean at our law school, was able to surpass that average because she was a dean for all seasons: Leadership and care of faculty; attention to student concerns; financial acumen; curricular relevance; keeping the day-to-day operation of a multi-faceted institution on track; maintaining a close but arms-length relationship with the university; and managing external relations on all fronts.