Hamline University, located in St. Paul, has named its new dean and for the first time in school history the position will be held by a woman. Jean Holloway, who has a long career as a corporate attorney, has been named as the school’s new dean, according to the Star Tribune.
For the past decade, Holloway has worked as general counsel for CR Bard Inc., Medtronic, and Boston Scientific, all medical device companies. Prior to her work as corporate legal counsel Holloway worked in private practice.
“For us to land somebody with her business acumen, that’s outstanding,” said Dave Jarzyna, assistant dean for marketing and recruitment. “You’re seeing a lot of schools that are going outside the academy for their law deans.”
Holloway will be succeeding Donald Lewis and is taking over the job as law schools in the state and across the country are facing declining enrollment. In 2010, there were 231 first-year law students at the school. That number took a major hit this year, with just 92 enrolled.
The president of Hamline University, Linda Hanson, described Holloway’s “demonstrated record of success in the practice and business of law” for a reason she was selected. Hanson also noted that Holloway is going to provide “considerable knowledge and passion for developing new approaches to legal education.”
Holloway graduated from Yale University and acquired her MBA and law degree from the University of Chicago. Lewis is resigning from his post on December 31 in order to dive back into private practice. Lewis held the position of dean for five years. Holloway will start on the job on January 6.