UC Law’s dean appointment makes national news

The appointment of Verna L. Williams to the deanship at the University of Cincinnati College of Law has been recognized by many in the local media, national legal media, and national higher education media. Williams is the second woman named to the role and the first African American.  

Said Kristi Nelson, University of Cincinnati executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, in the announcement: “I am confident Verna’s strong leadership and progressive vision for the college coupled with her legal practice in both the public and private sectors will continue to propel the College of Law forward as we create our Next-minded future.”

The university is implementing a new strategic direction - Next Lives Here - to propel the university through the next 10 years and lead urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be asked to continue the College of Law’s positive trajectory,” said Williams. “I look forward to working with the university and our regional community to teach and graduate future legal innovators.”

• Announcement: Verna L. Williams named dean of UC College of Law
• National Law Journal: Incoming batch of law deans is more diverse than ever
• National Law Journal/Law.com: Meet the record-setting number of incoming women law deans
• National Jurist: Schools name new deans
• Diverse Education: Verna L. Williams named first African-American dean of UC College of Law
• Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (JBHE): Verna L. Williams is the new leader of the College of Law at the University of Cincinnati
• Cincinnati Enquirer: UC names Verna Williams as first African-American law school dean
• Enquirer Thumbs Up: editorial
• The News Record: UC College of Law names its first African-American dean
• The News Record: Meet the first African American dean at UC College of Law
  

Williams's appointment was also acknowledged by many on social media.  

Ohio State Bar Association executive director Mary Amos Augsburger sent congratulations:  

CEO of Democracy for America, Yvette Simpson, wrote:  

Byron McCauley, columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer, had this to say:

Rob Richardson, attorney, producer of Disruption Now podcast/tv show, and former UC Board of Trustees president, sent his congratulations:    

And, this congratulatory message came from the University of Cincinnati Provost's Office:  

Dean Williams has appeared at national events such as the Women's Power Summit, hosted by the Center for Women in Law: Summit photos

She also visited Villanova Law School.