Wayne State University hosted an intimate Fireside Chat on November 12 in the Partrich Auditorium featuring Interim University President and Dean of Wayne State University Law School, Richard A. Bierschbach. Joined by a small audience of students, staff, and faculty, Bierschbach reflected on the personal experiences that shaped his path to law, the unconventional steps that guided his career, and the lessons he hopes today’s students will carry forward.
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A Michigan upbringing that opened unexpected doors
Bierschbach began the conversation by grounding his story in Wyoming, Michigan, the blue-collar suburb outside Grand Rapids where he grew up. Raised by hardworking parents, the future dean experienced a modest upbringing with love from a supportive, close-knit household.
College was never a major topic at home, and his education offered little exposure to higher-education pathways. He described applying to the University of Michigan “almost by accident,” after a counselor suggested engineering because he was good at math. Once on campus, he felt out of place among classmates from more privileged and academically connected backgrounds. After struggling to connect with his engineering courses, a single history elective changed the trajectory of his academic life. That course ultimately led him to major in history, fall in love with the liberal arts, and consider law school as a space where those interests converged.
Even then, his path remained complicated. He deferred his acceptance to Michigan Law and moved to Tucson with a friend, unsure of what came next. Only six days before classes began did he call the law school to ask if he could still enroll... an impulsive decision that, he said, “changed everything.”
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A career built on curiosity, courage, and taking meaningful risks
Bierschbach emphasized that his career was not the product of a long-term plan. He entered the profession without understanding many of the “traditional steps” law students often pursue. Instead, he followed work that felt genuinely interesting and challenging—an instinct that led him from an appellate clerkship to the Office of Legal Counsel, to a Bristol Fellowship in the Solicitor General’s Office, and ultimately to a clerkship with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Those experiences prepared him for opportunities he never anticipated, including an unexpected call about the Wayne Law deanship. At the time, he and his family were considering moving closer to relatives, and he had long admired Wayne State’s mission. After interviewing, he left impressed by the faculty, the school’s trajectory, and the power of educating diverse, mission-driven students. He accepted the role and returned to Michigan, later stepping into the university’s interim presidency.
“I never expected to be a dean, let alone an interim president,” he said. “You rise to the role. You don’t step into any job fully prepared, and if you think you are, that’s a sign you may not understand the weight of the responsibility.”
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Advice for students: “You’re already what you need to be.”
In closing, Bierschbach offered a message to students navigating their own uncertainty or feeling out of place.
Trust your own path: “You’re already what you need to be to be successful,” he told the audience.
Lean into risk: Many of his defining opportunities came from doing things that scared him.
Don’t fear failure: “We all fail, multiple times. It’s a normal part of the journey.”
Stay grounded in values: Work hard, listen well, put the mission first, and stay humble.
Embrace uncertainty: “Nine weeks ago, I didn’t expect to be interim president. And yet here I am.”
He also reminded students of the importance of building a “squad”, a trustworthy people who will support them through difficult moments, while sharing lighthearted stories about hacky-sack on the U-M Diag, manual labor jobs at Steelcase, family life, and even his daughter’s enthusiastic Taylor Swift fandom.
—————
A Michigan upbringing that opened unexpected doors
Bierschbach began the conversation by grounding his story in Wyoming, Michigan, the blue-collar suburb outside Grand Rapids where he grew up. Raised by hardworking parents, the future dean experienced a modest upbringing with love from a supportive, close-knit household.
College was never a major topic at home, and his education offered little exposure to higher-education pathways. He described applying to the University of Michigan “almost by accident,” after a counselor suggested engineering because he was good at math. Once on campus, he felt out of place among classmates from more privileged and academically connected backgrounds. After struggling to connect with his engineering courses, a single history elective changed the trajectory of his academic life. That course ultimately led him to major in history, fall in love with the liberal arts, and consider law school as a space where those interests converged.
Even then, his path remained complicated. He deferred his acceptance to Michigan Law and moved to Tucson with a friend, unsure of what came next. Only six days before classes began did he call the law school to ask if he could still enroll... an impulsive decision that, he said, “changed everything.”
—————
A career built on curiosity, courage, and taking meaningful risks
Bierschbach emphasized that his career was not the product of a long-term plan. He entered the profession without understanding many of the “traditional steps” law students often pursue. Instead, he followed work that felt genuinely interesting and challenging—an instinct that led him from an appellate clerkship to the Office of Legal Counsel, to a Bristol Fellowship in the Solicitor General’s Office, and ultimately to a clerkship with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Those experiences prepared him for opportunities he never anticipated, including an unexpected call about the Wayne Law deanship. At the time, he and his family were considering moving closer to relatives, and he had long admired Wayne State’s mission. After interviewing, he left impressed by the faculty, the school’s trajectory, and the power of educating diverse, mission-driven students. He accepted the role and returned to Michigan, later stepping into the university’s interim presidency.
“I never expected to be a dean, let alone an interim president,” he said. “You rise to the role. You don’t step into any job fully prepared, and if you think you are, that’s a sign you may not understand the weight of the responsibility.”
—————
Advice for students: “You’re already what you need to be.”
In closing, Bierschbach offered a message to students navigating their own uncertainty or feeling out of place.
Trust your own path: “You’re already what you need to be to be successful,” he told the audience.
Lean into risk: Many of his defining opportunities came from doing things that scared him.
Don’t fear failure: “We all fail, multiple times. It’s a normal part of the journey.”
Stay grounded in values: Work hard, listen well, put the mission first, and stay humble.
Embrace uncertainty: “Nine weeks ago, I didn’t expect to be interim president. And yet here I am.”
He also reminded students of the importance of building a “squad”, a trustworthy people who will support them through difficult moments, while sharing lighthearted stories about hacky-sack on the U-M Diag, manual labor jobs at Steelcase, family life, and even his daughter’s enthusiastic Taylor Swift fandom.
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