Leading Teacher and Scholar Stephen C. Yeazell Named Interim Dean of UCLA School of Law
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Lauri Gavel
Director of Communications
UCLA School of Law
(310) 206-2611
gavel@law.ucla.edu
LOS ANGELES, CA, October 30, 2009 -- Stephen C. Yeazell, David G. Price and Dallas P. Price professor of law at UCLA, has been named interim dean of UCLA School of Law, effective November 23, 2009.
"Professor Yeazell brings a wealth of experience to the position, and I appreciate very much his willingness to take on this important role," said UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott L. Waugh.
Stephen Yeazell has been a member of the UCLA Law faculty since 1975. He has written extensively, in books and articles, and to much acclaim, about the history and theory of procedure. He teaches courses that correspond to these interests: Civil Procedure, Contemporary Civil Litigation, International Civil Litigation and an occasional foray into legal history.
"I am delighted that Steve Yeazell has agreed to serve as interim dean. Steve is an acclaimed teacher, is well known for his academic research and writing and has significant law school and university administrative experience," said Dean Michael H. Schill, who will step down as dean of the law school at the end of November after serving in the position since fall 2004.
A legendary teacher, Yeazell has received the University's Distinguished Teaching Award and was the first recipient of the law school's Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching. Active in service to both the law school and the university, among other positions he has served as chair of the UCLA Academic Senate (2000-2001) and as associate dean of UCLA Law under Dean Susan Westerberg Prager (1995-1998).
Yeazell is a frequent speaker and author whose books include Civil Procedure (7th ed., 2008), the most widely used casebook in the field, From Medieval Group Litigation to the Modern Class Action (1987) and most recently a course book exploring contemporary civil litigation and the legal profession, Contemporary Civil Litigation (2009).
Before studying law, Yeazell taught English and history in junior high schools in New York City, an experience, he reports, that has made him appreciate the relative calm of even the most lively law school class. After law school, he clerked for Justice Mathew Tobriner of the California Supreme Court. He earned his B.A. from Swarthmore in 1967, his M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia in 1968 and his J.D. from Harvard in 1974.
The university has appointed a search/advisory committee charged with identifying candidates for dean of UCLA School of Law. The search committee is chaired by Judy D. Olian, Dean and John E. Anderson Chair of Management in the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and also includes: Kathryn A. Atchison, Vice Provost, Intellectual Property and Industry Relations; Associate Vice Chancellor for Research; Professor of Dentistry; Professor of Health Services; James D. C. Barrall, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP; Member, School of Law Board of Advisors; Devon Carbado, Vice Dean and Professor of Law; Arleen Leibowitz, Professor of Public Policy; Jennifer L. Mnookin, Professor of Law; Kevin Reed, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and Associate General Counsel; Kirk Stark, Professor of Law; and Eric Zolt, Professor of Law.
About UCLA School of Law
Founded in 1949, UCLA School of Law is the youngest major law school in the nation and has established a tradition of innovation in its approach to teaching, research and scholarship. With approximately 100 faculty and 970 students, the school pioneered clinical teaching, is a leader in interdisciplinary research and training and is at the forefront of efforts to link research to its effects on society and the legal profession. For more information, visit http://www.law.ucla.edu.
