DeanWuBlog

Introducing the Law School Administration

Our Law School is a large institution with many offices that have distinct responsibilities. I would like to introduce the talented individuals who serve as administrators here, to ensure that students are able to contact the appropriate person for any matter that arises during their education or afterward.

Our Associate Dean is David Moran. The Associate Dean is responsible for all aspects of our academic program, including development of the course schedule. He also supervises the Admissions Office and the Dean of Students Office. The Dean traditionally names an Associate Dean from the faculty. The Dean and Associate Dean work together closely on all aspects of the law school operations, ranging from strategic planning and budgeting to policy-making and personnel; however, the Associate Dean is not heavily involved in advancement. Professor Moran, who is a tenured Associate Professor, became Associate Dean in January 2006, after arguing before the Supreme Court for the fifth time. An expert in criminal law, he has won the Teacher of the Year Award each year he has been on the full-time faculty, including winning both First-Year and Upper-Class Teacher of the Year in 2005-06.

Our Law Library Director is Georgia Ann Clark. The Law Library is part of the Wayne State University library system, which has its own Dean, Dr. Sandra Yee. Ms. Clark, who began service at the Law Library in 1973, has built it into the 32nd largest law library in the nation. Under her leadership, it has excelled in offering services to the community as well.

The Admissions Office is operated by Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment Linda Fowler Sims and Director of Admissions Marcia McDonald. They are responsible for all aspects of admissions, including decision-making, working with a faculty Admissions Committee (chaired this year by Professor Jan Findlater). Although current students typically will have little need for further contact with the Admissions Office, we encourage any current students who would like to assist in recruitment of prospective students to contact the Admissions Office. Assistant Dean Sims is a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School and Ms. McDonald is a graduate of University of Michigan; both have many years of experience in law school admissions and have served so well as the first faces that many of our students encounter from the moment they considering legal education to the moment the arrive here.

Our Director of Financial Aid, Karen Fulford, maintains her office within the Admissions Office. Ms. Fulford came to the Law School from Walsh College and University of Detroit-Mercy. She works within the university-wide financial aid system, and she is responsible for all issues related to processing of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans arranged through the Law School. She does everything she can to provide advice and counsel to students about their financial needs, guiding them through the process.

The Dean of Students Office is operated by Assistant Dean of Students Michele Miller and Director of Student Life and Educational Outreach Ricardo Villarosa. As a general rule, any inquiry affecting current students, whether academic or non-academic in nature, should be directed to the Dean of Students Office as an initial matter. The professionals in the Dean of Students Office will be able to resolve issues or if appropriate refer individuals to another office. Assistant Dean Miller, a former schoolteacher and attorney with one of the largest firms in the state, is an alumnus of the Law School (class of 1986) and Mr. Villarosa, a recipient of the prestigious David Henry award as a WSU undergraduate, is an alumnus of the first class of the joint JD-MBA program (class of 1997). All issues related to the Lombard Fellows and the Dean’s Scholars also should be directed to Mr. Villarosa. Together, Assistant Dean Miller and Mr. Villarosa form a terrific team that ensures we have a “one-stop shop” for virtually everything students need.

Our Registrar is Betty Van Goethem. The Registrar is responsible for all aspects of course registration, administration of exams, and issuance of transcripts. Ms. Van Goethem has forty years experience in the office and has worked with eight of the nine deans of the Law School. She is invaluable and helps keep the institution operating, especially during the most stressful periods of registration, the start of classes, and final exams.

Our Career Services Office is operated by Director of Career Services Krystal Gardner. The CSO assists students with job placement, including in judicial clerkships. (Note that first year students may use CSO services only after November 1; this is a rule governing all law schools, not only Wayne State University.) Ms. Gardner, a former journalist, has practiced law at a prominent local firm, with a Fortune 500 company, with the federal government, and with a state prosecutor’s office. She has introduced important innovations to the office and improved its operations in all respects.

The Advancement Office is operated by Director of Advancement Michelle Olmsted, who works with Associate Director of Advancement Ericka Jackson, Development Officers Sarah May and Angie Zelenak, and Director of Communications Heidi Christein. The Advancement Office is responsible for all fundraising activities, and student groups involved in any fundraising should contact Ms. Olmsted in advance o undertaking any such activities. Ms. Jackson also serves as Director of the Damon J. Keith Collection and the staff to the Alumni Association. Ms. Christein handles all media and public relations and publicity for the Law School. Ms. Olmsted joined the Law School after serving as Director of Advancement at the Business School, and, prior to that, in several increasingly responsible roles in advancement at Georgia State University. Ms. Jackson is an alumnus of the Law School and practiced law with a major local firm. Together, Ms. Olmsted and Ms. Jackson ensure that the many friends of our Law School continue to be informed about our progress and provide the support crucial to continuing the many positive developments. They play key roles in the fundraising for the Keith Classroom Building and Center for Civil Rights. Ms. May also is a graduate of the Law School (class of 2003), whom we were pleased to welcome back just this summer.

I am pleased to announce that Pat Gawlik will be the new Director of Operations and Finance, leading the Business Office, beginning October 9, 2006. Ms. Gawlik has sixteen years of business management experience at Wayne State in University Relations, Marketing and Communications, the President’s Office and Development and Alumni Affairs. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Madonna University and a Master’s degree from Wayne State. The Business Office processes all disbursements and reimbursements. It also is responsible for the physical facilities. All building or maintenance issues should be referred to the Building Coordinator, Ms. Susan Williams, who is on the staff of the Business Office.

Finally, the Assistant to the Dean is Karen Tarnas. She has many responsibilities, including arranging all appointments on my schedule, supervising the Dean’s Suite, handling special projects, and all-around troubleshooting. Ms. Tarnas has worked in several capacities at Wayne State University, including organizing commencement ceremonies. She is a wonderful right-hand person upon whom I rely to ensure everything functions as it should on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you very much.