UI Names Adams as New College of Law Dean
Thursday, March 27 2014
MOSCOW, Idaho – March 27, 2014 – The University of Idaho has appointed Mark Adams as dean of the College of Law, following a national search. Adams will begin his role effective June 22, 2014.
“Mark Adams brings considerable administrative experience to the University of Idaho and is well prepared to lead the College of Law as it adds the second year program in Boise and continues to provide outstanding legal education opportunities on the Moscow Campus,” said Katherine Aiken, interim provost and executive vice president.
Adams is thrilled to be joining the University of Idaho community and is honored to be selected as the new dean of the College of law.
“The law school is widely recognized for providing an excellent education and value to effectively prepare students for professional careers and positions of leadership, faculty dedicated to personal teaching and influential scholarship, as well as its long-standing commitment to service,” said Adams. “I look forward to working with the distinguished members of the law school and university to guide the law school in continuing to make a difference in Idaho and the lives of its students and alumni.”
Adams brings a wide breadth of experience to the University of Idaho. Adams has served as vice dean at Valparaiso University Law School. His teaching and scholarship focus on contracts, labor law and employment law.
He also served Valparaiso University Law School as associate dean for Academic Affairs, director of International Programs and a professor. During his tenure, Adams was responsible for the creation and development of programmatic initiatives including a revised curriculum, joint Juris Doctor/Masters programs and a Master of Laws for Foreign Lawyers.
In addition, he developed plans that significantly increased the enrollment and academic success of under-represented minorities, established agreements with law schools in Latin America and Europe for student and faculty exchange, and implemented improved student services.
Prior to joining the faculty at Valparaiso, Adams was an attorney at the Seattle firm of Davis Wright Tremaine. Adams graduated in 1983 with a Bachelors of Arts from Williams College. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate in1988 from the University of Chicago.
Adam succeeds interim dean Michael Satz who was appointed after former dean, Don Burnett, was named interim president of the University of Idaho in May 2013.
The College of Law is Idaho’s only accredited law school. With an average enrollment of 300 students, the college guarantees the personal attention each student deserves and provides firsthand public service and clinical opportunities that set Idaho Law alumni apart. A strong commitment to diversity ensures a vibrant community of scholars, lawyers and professionals. Established in 1909, the college has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1914 and has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1925.
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.