On June 30, Interim Dean and Visiting Professor Nell Jessup Newton, steps down after a year leading Miami Law to return to the faculty at Notre Dame Law School, where she served as dean from 2009-2019.
Including Miami Law, Newton has served as dean of five law schools – public and private, as well as large and small. “Nell brought a wealth of experience, compassion, and humor to steady Miami Law,” said Drew Dawson, vice dean for academic affairs and Judge A. Jay Cristol Professor of Bankruptcy Law. “We are extremely grateful for her leadership during this year and throughout our dean search process, and we will miss her terribly (at least until we can get her to come teach a course for us!).”
Newton's mandate was to provide solid leadership as the law school returned to in-person instruction after COVID-19 and to assist with the search for a permanent dean. As soon as she arrived, she immersed herself in the process of learning about the staff, professors, and programs that comprise Miami Law. In her meetings, she was often asked for the history and the rationale for any program or project. She was particularly interested in what process the law school used to establish new programs and in the role of faculty in governing the academic mission of the law school. It is her strong belief that the law school's primary mission is to train the next generation of lawyers. "How does this program benefit our students?" she often asked as she sought to remind those requesting additional resources to make the case based upon the students' needs.
“She rose to the occasion at a difficult time and prepared us for a new beginning with grace and a steady hand,” said Bernard Oxman, the Richard A. Hausler Professor of Law. “We will always be grateful.”
With a long history as a legal education trailblazer, Dean Newton strengthened the law schools' admissions, career development, and academic achievement programs because of their importance to student development and success, according to Katrin Hussmann Schroll, associate dean of admissions, enrollment management and financial aid.
“She allocated additional funds to the Academic Success program to hire additional tutors to help students in need,” said Schroll. “And she brought financial aid under the umbrella of the admissions office providing for supervisory authority to strengthen service to students with questions and concerns about their financial aid.”
Newton also reinforced the career development office by providing for additional advisors and by encouraging Acting Assistant Dean Amy Perez's initiative to focus the CDO more strongly on broader professional development, as well as career development. The pivotal new focus will encourage more students to see the office as a source of personal and professional development and not just as a place to get a job.
“Dean Newton was the right interim at the right time for Miami Law,” said Laurie Silvers, J.D. ‘77 and B.A. ‘74, and chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees. “Because of her vast experience, she was able to step in and step up to keep Miami Law moving forward and leave the school in better shape than she found it. She has made a lasting and invaluable imprint on Miami Law.”
Newton began her tenure during the University's Ever Brighter Capital Campaign and made time to meet with and listen to ideas and concerns of key alumni leaders and donors. During her tenure, the law school raised over $18 million in gifts, pledges, and a significant cy pres award.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to help Miami Law through this recent transition,” said Newton. "Because of the on-the-ground knowledge I gained about the law school, I recommended Miami Law wholeheartedly to dean candidates and can continue to recommend this great law school to prospective faculty and students."
