A former University of Arkansas at Little Rock law dean will take the reins of the law school once more -- this time on an interim basis.
John DiPippa, a dean emeritus and distinguished professor of law and public policy at UALR's W. H. Bowen School of Law, will take over as the interim dean July 1. He will succeed Michael Hunter Schwartz, who then-UALR Provost Zulma Toro said in November 2016 would resign as law school dean on June 30 and return to the UALR faculty.
Schwartz, who has run UALR's law school since 2013, will instead become dean of the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Calif., in July, according to a news release. He is currently earning $239,057 annually, which will be DiPippa's salary during the interim. DiPippa currently earns about $161,000 annually.
The university will start the search for a new dean in the fall.
UALR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson will appoint a committee this spring to help with the national search in the fall, DiPippa said. Law faculty will recommend finalists to the provost and chancellor, who will ultimately make the hire.
DiPippa joined UALR's law school in 1983 and had previously served as its dean from 2008-12, the university said. He currently teaches courses in constitutional law, First Amendment Law, legal profession, public service law and interviewing and counseling.
He earned his law degree from Virginia's Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1978 and was named to the Order of the Coif, a scholastic society that encourages legal-education excellence. He has worked at the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley as the managing attorney and at Blue Ridge Legal Services in Harrisonburg, Va., as the executive director, the university said. He was also one of the first professors to teach at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, UALR said.
Metro on 02/23/2017