Daniel Abebe, currently the vice provost for Academic Affairs and Governance at the University of Chicago Law School, has been appointed the next dean of Columbia Law School. This appointment marks a historic moment as Abebe becomes the first Black leader of the prestigious institution.
Abebe will be taking over from Gillian Lester, who has served as the dean since 2015. Lester announced in November that she would be stepping down at the end of this academic year.
In a letter announcing his appointment, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik referred to Abebe as “an impressive and experienced academic leader.” This new chapter at Columbia Law School is seen as a significant step towards increasing diversity and inclusion within the legal academic community.
For more detailed information, visit the New York Law Journal.