Mark West, who held the position of dean at the University of Michigan Law School for a decade, has been appointed as the provost of Washington University in St. Louis, starting August 1. He is set to succeed Beverly Wendland, who will conclude her term at the end of July. In addition to his role as provost, West will join the Washington University School of Law faculty as a visiting professor. West’s tenure at Michigan Law was marked by significant initiatives such as the implementation of a summer funding guarantee for first-year students and the creation of new clinics, including a pioneering Veterans’ Legal Clinic.
However, his time at Michigan was not without controversy. West has been involved in an ongoing litigation case since 2022, initiated by Laura Beny, a Michigan Law professor, who alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment. While the initial case was dismissed, the lawsuit has progressed to an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. More details are available through this announcement from Washington University.