WMU-Cooley Law School appoints Timmer as interim dean

Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School has appointed Amy Timmer to be interim dean effective October 22,.  The appointment was announced to faculty and staff by WMU-Cooley’s Interim President Jeffrey Martlew, who assumed office September 1, 2018.

“Amy’s 22-year career as associate dean of students and professionalism is an asset to WMU-Cooley and her skills make her a great choice as interim dean,” said Martlew. “Her work implementing the law school’s professional plan has gained national attention including the ABA Professionalism Award.” 

Timmer joined the WMU-Cooley faculty in 1992, teaching torts and equity & remedies. In 1996, she became the associate dean of students and in 2000 was named associate dean of students and professionalism. She has published books and articles on torts and professionalism and has spoken at programs offered by the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, the National Association of Law Placement, the Nelson Mullins Center on Professionalism, the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism, the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, the Council of Bar Admissions Administrators, the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, the National Legal Mentoring Consortium, and the National Conference of Bar Executives. Since 2008, Timmer has taught the professional development course at WMU-Cooley. She has received numerous teaching awards from the school.

“From its beginnings, WMU-Cooley has a tradition of providing a quality practical learning environment for law students. I am honored to take on the role of interim dean as the board continues their search for its next president,” said Timmer.

Timmer graduated in 1988 summa cum laude from WMU-Cooley and after passing the bar she practiced law at Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn. Before that, she had a 10-year career in economic development and environmental regulation with the Michigan Department of Commerce after graduating from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1978.

Timmer is a fellow of the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism, a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and was designated in 2012 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its top women in the law.