News Release
Contact:
Jim Greif
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Danielle M. Conway, Dean of Penn State Dickinson Law to serve as President-elect; Leonard M. Baynes, Dean of University of Houston Law Center and Stacy Leeds, Dean of Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law to serve on the AALS Executive Committee.
San Francisco (January 11, 2025) – Austen L. Parrish, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, was inducted as President of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) after delivering his inaugural address at the AALS Annual Meeting.
“It’s an honor to be selected as AALS President,” said Dean Parrish. “As the association celebrates the 125th year since its founding, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the enduring contributions of legal education, and the impact that our law schools, faculty, and staff have had on local communities, our nation, and the world. This year’s theme will reflect on our past achievements and celebrate the ways the association has advanced excellence in legal education. It’s been a privilege working with Melanie Wilson, Mark Alexander, and the AALS Executive Committee this past year, and I’m looking forward to what 2025 will bring.”
Dean Parrish takes over from 2024 AALS President Melanie D. Wilson, who transitioned to Immediate Past President on the AALS Executive Committee.
The AALS House of Representatives voted in advance to accept the nomination of Danielle M. Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law, to serve as 2025 President-Elect. The representatives also approved the nominations of Leonard M. Baynes, Dean, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Chair, and Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center, and Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents Professor, and Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, to serve a three-year term on the AALS Executive Committee.
“I have aspired to serve as AALS President for 10 years, beginning years ago when I was selected to serve on the Deans Forum Steering Committee,” said Dean Conway. “My ongoing support of and strong relationship with AALS has sustained me as a leader and administrator, gaining experience and wisdom from colleagues, all of whom are committed to visioning what is needed for the future of legal education and the profession as we press forward to engage teaching and learning in pursuit of equality and justice for all.”
“Higher education and law schools, in particular, are facing challenging times in trying to balance First Amendment freedom of speech while maintaining a welcoming environment for all irrespective of their background. At times like these, the association’s core values and mission provide a shining star for us to follow,” said Dean Baynes. “During this particular time, I am excited to serve as a member of the AALS Executive Committee, along with my peers, to help chart a path forward consistent with our values and mission.”
“AALS continues to play a critical role in advocating for law schools, faculty members, students, and the legal profession as a whole,” said Dean Leeds. “This is a particularly important time for legal education as technological advances transform teaching and learning modalities while enhancing our ability to make the transfer of legal knowledge more accessible and timely. I’m honored and excited to join the Executive Committee and help pursue this and many other topics as AALS continues to lead.”
About AALS
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS), founded in 1900, is a nonprofit association of 175 member and 19 fee-paid law schools. Its members enroll most of the nation’s law students and produce the majority of the country’s lawyers and judges, as well as many of its lawmakers. The mission of AALS is to improve and advance legal education. AALS carries out its mission by promoting the core values of excellence in teaching and scholarship, academic freedom, and diversity, including diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, while seeking to foster justice, and to serve our many communities–local, national, and international. In support of its mission, AALS serves as both the institutional membership organization for law schools, and as the learned society for law faculty.
