Message from Dean Jackson

Hello, Washburn Law Alumni and Community,

It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead my alma mater as interim dean during the past 18 months, and I am deeply honored to have been chosen to be the next leader of Washburn University School of Law. During these past few days since being named Dean, I have been tremendously encouraged by the emails and phone calls of support from many of you. It is heartening to know that your aspirations for your law school are grand, and I look forward to leading Washburn Law and continuing to strengthen our legacy of preparing outstanding lawyers.

Law School is special, a time apart, a place of unlimited intellectual challenge. It is a place where young people will be challenged to give their best effort and, thereby, to grow and gain confidence. Here they will experience joy and great happiness as well as disappointment and frustration. Like you and I did, they will make friends for life and create legends. It is here, now, that they will start their life's work.

We will not take for granted the influence we have on our students’ experience. It is important that we employ strategic recruitment processes, including the utilization of 3+3 programs with area schools, to recruit students of outstanding ability. We are blessed with a talented and diverse faculty and innovative academic programs such as our Rural Legal Practice Initiative and Third Year Anywhere that lead to exceptional graduates. Our newly formed partnership with BARBRI has created a bar preparation and passage program that provides our students with the greatest opportunity to gain admission to the practice of law. Finally, we will continue to provide the best career planning programs and services, as instructional excellence at Washburn Law is ultimately measured by our graduates’ ability to find employment.

The evolution of Washburn Law continues. It did not begin with us, nor will it end with us. As I begin this new journey, I reflect with appreciation on the work of my predecessors and my colleagues at our law school and across Washburn University, whose leadership is instrumental in ensuring we remain the ideal place to study law. Going forward, I commit to shining a bright light on our core strengths as a law school: our collaborative character, our experiential learning programs, our faculty prowess, the grit and resiliency of our students, and the steadfast and generous support of our alumni.

I look forward to hearing from each of you and encourage you to come visit your new home; a home I am blessed to work at each day thanks to your commitment and generosity. As I always say, this is your law school. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

With great pride,

Jeff

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