UC Law names Jenn Dye assistant dean of inclusive excellence and belonging

The University of Cincinnati College of Law announces that Dr. Jenn Dye has been named assistant dean of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at the college. This new position is in addition to her role as director of the Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice.

"Inclusive excellence is a major priority for our College of Law.  Our faculty, staff, and student body come from a wide variety of racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds and bring with them vastly different perspectives of the world. We believe that this rich diversity is a strength of ours to harness, and that core to that enterprise is building an inclusive culture where all feel like they belong,” said College of Law Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi. “Given Dr. Dye’s personal and professional experience, I have great confidence in her capacity to undertake the difficult work before us so that we can begin to realize our ambitions in this very important space.  I am deeply grateful that she is willing to devote the time necessary to move us forward.”   

Dr. Dye’s interest in this work grew from her lived experiences as an Asian American woman in a non-diverse community. She shares that early on she developed an understanding of differences, belonging and not belonging. “From that personal journey, I leaned into it with my scholarly and professional pursuits. It became a passion area of mine.”

Prior to joining the college as the inaugural Theodore M. Berry Director of the Jones Center, Dye was research associate and director of the Human Services Research and Innovation Center for the University of Cincinnati, where she was responsible for cultivating relationships to advance research in ways that increased community impact.  She is also an adjunct professor at the university, teaching courses in international human rights, American politics and judicial system, women’s politics, and women’s studies.

She received her PhD and master's from the University of Cincinnati, her JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and bachelor's from Wilmington College.

“In the law school space and in higher education, legal profession, [DEIB] is so vitally important,” said Dye.  “Thinking about the people and populations that attorneys serve and how they interact, it is vital that [the legal profession] is more representative of broader populations and groups. Law schools are the future legal profession—the future attorneys, the future judges. It’s important that we make sure we provide curriculum, experiences and a law school that is inclusive and focuses on trying to embrace the demographic makeup of our larger population.

“In this new role, I will have a platform to have a positive impact—not just on students, faculty, and staff, but to put into place infrastructure that will keep the college on the right path.”

Dr. Jenn Dye spoke extensively about DEIB initiatives, their importance, and plans for the college.  Check out the interview below.