Former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland named next dean of U of M Law School

Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
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Former Mayor of Memphis Jim Strickland has been named the next dean of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law the University of Memphis announced Tuesday. Strickland, who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Memphis, taught as an adjunct instructor there from 1989-1996.

“Jim Strickland’s experience in law practice, public service and administration will complement the teaching, research and engaged scholarship talents of our outstanding law faculty,” said David J. Russomanno, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, in a press release.

Russomanno continued, saying that Strickland will "build on a strong foundation as the school evolves to meet the changing demands of legal education." Russomanno also said Strickland's relationships with local and state legal communities will help the next generation of attorneys.

"I am honored to be named Dean of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, my alma mater. We have a very good law school with a strong faculty, a well-rounded student body, great alumni, a supportive university administration and the best facility in the nation," Strickland said in the release.

Memphis mayor Jim Strickland can be seen greeting the crowd before he presses a button to “release the Tigers” from a tunnel before the Memphis Tigers play against South Florida in their homecoming game on Saturday, November 04, 2023 at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis mayor Jim Strickland can be seen greeting the crowd before he presses a button to “release the Tigers” from a tunnel before the Memphis Tigers play against South Florida in their homecoming game on Saturday, November 04, 2023 at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.

Strickland will join the law school as a professor of practice on April 8 and assume the deanship on June 1, the university said.

It was reported earlier this month that Strickland was the university's "preferred candidate," to be the next dean. The current dean, Katharine T. Schaffzin, emailed university officials and students at the law school on Aug. 18, 2023, to say she would be stepping down from the post.

In an email sent to faculty earlier in March by Russomanno, he said he took into account "all forms of feedback," in addition to reading up on "relevant (American Bar Association) criteria." He prompted faculty to read a paper he found in his research "regarding traditional and non-traditional candidate pools."

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at (901) 484-6225, brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @brookemuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis names Jim Strickland as dean