1st woman dean for University of Florida law school

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – It took the University of Florida two searches and nearly a year to select a new dean for the Levin College of Law.

The university announced Monday it selected the law school’s first female dean, Laura Rosenbury, to replace Robert Jerry, who stepped down in June after 11 years.

Provost Joe Glover made the announcement following an extensive interview process that included campus visits and appearances before faculty, students and staff, the Gainesville Sun reported (http://bit.ly/1DwowZC).

“Laura Rosenbury’s outstanding scholarship and breadth of experience in administration made her the ideal candidate to lead the Levin College of Law,” Glover said in a statement. “We have great confidence in the college’s future under her leadership.”

Rosenbury is a professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and will begin her new job July 1. Law professor George Dawson will continue as the law school’s interim dean until then.

The first attempt to find Jerry’s successor reportedly ended after the search did not yield candidates with the vision and academic qualifications then-President Bernie Machen and Glover wanted in the next law dean.

Rosenbury was selected after the second nationwide search yielded 10 candidates to interview and four finalists, the University of Florida said in a statement.

Rosenbury’s research focuses on feminist legal theory, family law, employment discrimination, property and trusts and estates. She earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1997.

“I am excited to collaborate with faculty, students, staff and the college’s loyal alumni network to maximize UF’s potential,” Rosenbury said. “Building upon the faculty’s recent strategic planning process, we will make UF the leader in developing innovative responses to the changing legal services market.”