Newswise — WASHINGTON—The George Washington University announced today the selection of Blake D. Morant as the next dean of the GW Law School and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law. He will assume the deanship on Sept. 1 after having served seven years as dean of the Wake Forest University School of Law.
“Blake Morant is not only a seasoned dean but also a national leader in legal education,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “He brings to this important position a proven record of accomplishments, and his extensive leadership experience will make him an extremely valuable addition to our law school and the entire university.”
"I have respected and admired The George Washington Law School throughout my career and consider serving as its next dean to be a distinct privilege,” Mr. Morant said. “I look forward to working with the constituency of this historic institution during this time of both challenge and extraordinary opportunity."
At Wake Forest, Mr. Morant built a national reputation as an exceptional law school administrator, tireless advocate for students and respected legal scholar. He has published extensively on his areas of scholarly focus, including contract theory, media law and administrative law. Throughout his career, he also has been active in national professional legal organizations.
Following many years of deep involvement at the committee level, he was elected by representatives of 176 law schools representing more than 10,000 faculty members in the United States to serve as president-elect of the Association of American Law Schools for 2014 and president in 2015. He also has served in numerous leadership positions for the American Bar Association (ABA), including as vice chair of the ABA Diversity Committee and as a site inspection team member for ABA law school accreditation. He was appointed to the Federal Judicial Center Foundation Board by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts and by the Virginia Supreme Court to serve on a task force to study gender bias in the Virginia courts.
“Blake is an outstanding academic leader who has the experience and vision to further enhance the Law School's well-deserved reputation for academic excellence,” said GW Provost Steven Lerman. “I also want to thank Professor Gregory Maggs who, for a second time, led the Law School as interim dean in an incredibly effective manner.”
Mr. Morant previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr. Professor of Law and as the director of the Frances Lewis Law Center at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He has been an associate professor at the University of Toledo College of Law; a visiting professor at the University of Michigan Law School and University of Alabama School of Law; and a visiting fellow at University College, University of Oxford. He also brings extensive experience in legal practice in the public and private sectors, including service as assistant general counsel for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and as a member of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, earning the Meritorious Service Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster.
“My colleagues on the search committee assembled an extremely strong pool of candidates. Within that talented group Blake stood out, not only for his significant academic and administrative accomplishments, but for his personal warmth and charm,” said Roger Schechter, professor of law and chair of the search committee. “I am very excited to see him build on the accomplishments of his predecessors. He will be an extraordinary dean.”
Among his many professional honors, Mr. Morant was named the John R. Kramer Outstanding Law Dean by Equal Justice Works and twice recognized by National Jurist magazine as one of the most influential people in legal education. He was the first American to deliver the annual Thomas More Commemorative Lecture at St. Dunstan’s Church, Canterbury, England. He was twice named professor of the year by the Women Law Students Organization at Washington and Lee University and received five awards for outstanding teaching at the University of Toledo College of Law.
Mr. Morant earned a B.A. with high distinction and Phi Beta Kappa honors and a J.D., both from the University of Virginia.
The George Washington UniversityIn the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.-
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