Mastrosimone Promoted to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Receives Tenure

Please join Washburn University School of Law in congratulating Joseph Mastrosimone on his new role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and for achieving tenure and promotion to full professor in July.  

Mastrosimone is an integral part of Washburn Law’s nationally ranked Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing Program, which helps to build a strong foundation for first-year students. In addition, he teaches in the area of labor and employment law. His research interests include traditional labor law reform, employment law, and the intersection of legal writing and legal ethics.  He was the recipient of the 2017 William O. Douglas Outstanding Professor of the Year Award.  He is also the chair-elect of the Associate of American Law School’s Section of Labor Relations and Employment Law and the editor-in-chief of the Kansas Bar Association’s Employment Law Handbook.

“My time at Washburn has been the most professionally rewarding of my career,” Mastrosimone said.  “From the hardworking and bright students to the amazing faculty and staff, I have always been honored to be part of the Washburn Law family.  I look forward to many more years here.  I am particularly thrilled to be joining Washburn Law’s leadership team as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and to help lead Washburn Law into the next chapter of legal education.”

Achieving tenure is an intensive and rigorous process that occurs over a three to seven-year period in which faculty candidates are assessed by the Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure. Faculty must possess a substantially above-average teaching ability, an extensive contribution to scholarship, and significant performance of service obligations.

A candidate’s quality of teaching is evaluated by students, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Dean, and when feasible by a law professor from another school. A substantial contribution to scholarship normally consists of at least two significant law review articles or a book of similar or greater magnitude, accompanied by other less-significant contributions. Significant performance of service obligations includes fulfilling customary administrative and committee responsibilities, and may include responsible activities in local, state, or national bar associations; service for local, state, or federal government agencies; community service; or legal pro bono service.

Mastrosimone’s appointment was approved by the Washburn University Board of Regents and took effect July 1, 2017.

To view Dean Mastrosimone’s complete profile, visit: http://washburnlaw.edu/profiles/mastrosimone-joseph.html