The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) has appointed Judith Areen, former dean of the Georgetown University Law Center and Paul Regis Dean Professor of Law, as executive director.
Areen has served, since the fall of last year, as interim executive director of the association, which represents 178 American law schools.
“The appointment of Judy Areen as executive director comes at a time of tremendous opportunity, as well as a time of challenge, in legal education. As interim executive director, Judy began a process of collaboration among stakeholders in legal education; as executive director, she will advance these efforts in the service of member schools and their missions,” said Daniel Rodriguez, AALS President for 2014 and Dean of
Northwestern University School of Law. “We need Judy, her experience, wise judgment, and her imaginative leadership in the coming years.”
Leo Martinez of the University of California, Hastings, AALS President during 2013 and the chair of the search committee, said, “Judy Areen has a rare combination of expertise, experience, and stature. She is unquestionably the right person to lead the AALS in these uncommon times.”
“Legal education is undergoing a time of transition and innovation to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving society,” said Areen. “As the voice of the legal education community, AALS will support innovation at member schools and work to reinforce public and professional understanding of the value of legal education.”
Areen succeeds Susan Prager, who served as AALS executive director for five years and now leads Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.
Areen served for 15 years as executive vice president for Law Affairs at Georgetown and dean of its Law Center. She served as AALS president in 2006, and has served as a trustee at Cornell University. She is a graduate of Cornell and Yale Law School. She has authored a number of books and articles on higher education law and family law.
