Dean's Message

As I write this, the fall semester is drawing to a close, and a great quiet is beginning to fill the halls. The last group of students is taking examinations, and faculty are grading those examinations, finishing their articles and preparing for next semester’s classes. Right now is the perfect time for resolution and reflection; it’s also the perfect time to share news regarding some of the things that have been going on at the law school in recent months.

As some of you may already know, in June we were fortunate enough to hold an alumni reception at the United States Supreme Court for our Washington, D.C.-area alumni. Justice Clarence Thomas served as our most gracious host, and was kind enough to take the time to speak with as many of our guests as was possible. He also said more than a few kind words about our law school, and included memories of the time he spent studying for the bar in our very own Omer Poos Law Library.

We have also added fifteen new faculty members over the last six years; some of our most recent recruits are featured in this issue of the magazine. Three of our senior faculty members were recognized by appointment to professorships this fall. Professors Tim Greaney and Nic Terry were each appointed to a Chester A. Myers Professorship, and thanks to a splendid gift from Tom Keefe, ‘78, and his wife Rita, another professorship was established in the name of Vince Immel and given to Professor Joel Goldstein (now the Vincent C. Immel Professor of Law). You will see his remarks about Professor Immel in this issue on page 18. You will also see articles by three of our faculty, and a profile on Professor Alan Howard. And we are so proud that Professor John Griesbach is the President of the University Faculty Senate.

The Fall 2005 entering class is a terrific group of students, with an average undergraduate grade point of over a 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. What a pleasure it is to be in the classroom with them. The quality of our entering class is due in no small part to the generosity of Lance Callis, ’59, who provided full-tuition scholarships to ten of our students for their three years of law school. As new students arrive we are always heartened by the fine placement success of our law school — 91% of the May 2004 graduates had jobs within nine months of graduation. This betters the national placement rate of 89%. We anticipate that the May 2005 class has had similar success.

On another note, there has been a lot of activity in our Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the Student Services Office. Danielle Caruso has recently moved from her role as Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations to become the Assistant Dean of Development and Alumni Relations, and Dina Gale has taken over her old position. And our own Becky Chase, who was once on the floor with the Development group, has now moved to the Student Services suite to become the Director of Minority Affairs. I have no doubt these three will do fine jobs in their new roles and continue to make the School of Law proud.

I want to express my special thanks to you for your support of the law school. Your generous gifts make a real difference in the quality of legal education at Saint Louis University, and provide a crucial margin of excellence.

In this holiday season I wish for you and your family a time of reunion, joy and comfort. May peace be with us all.

Sincerely yours,
Jeffrey E. Lewis
Dean and Professor of Law