Board approves animal law degree program, Fields remodeling

October 25, 2011

Following approval by the trustees at their recent meeting, Lewis & Clark Law School now boasts the first animal law degree program in the world. Beginning next year, law students may earn an LL.M. in the emerging field of law pertaining to the rights and interests of animals.

The approval of the animal law degree program highlighted the recent meeting of the Lewis & Clark Board of Trustees, which took place October 13 and 14 on the undergraduate campus.

“The new LL.M. degree program marks another historic milestone in the evolution of animal law,” Pamela Frasch, assistant dean of the Animal Law Program and executive director of the Center for Animal Law Studies, said. “I’m proud of Lewis & Clark’s strong commitment to educate the next generation of animal law attorneys. With the new LL.M., our graduates will be poised to become the leading legal educators and advocates in the field.” Read more about the new animal law degree program at Lewis & Clark.

Signaling its support for facilities that benefit and bring together students and faculty from the three campuses, the Board also endorsed the remodeling of Fields Dining Hall to accommodate the new a la carte meal plan that will be implemented at students’ request beginning next year. The plan will enable students and professors from all three schools to purchase food at Fields Dining Hall, the Trailroom, Maggie’s, and the Dovecote throughout the day.

In addition, the Board approved the appointment of two new trustees, Judi Beck and Ron Timpe. Beck, a member of the Lewis & Clark Parents Council, is a philanthropist, community volunteer, and former business executive. Timpe B.S. ’61 is a director of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and, among numerous other service roles in the community, a senior director of the Oregon Business Council. The trustees also welcomed to the Board two new ex-officio members, Frank Dillow B.S. ’68, J.D. ’77 and Connie McKelvey J.D. ’83, the new presidents of the CAS and Law School alumni associations, respectively.

In other actions at the October meeting, the trustees:

• passed a resolution of tribute to the late Samuel Wheeler, life trustee, for “touch[ing] many lives through his generous support of secondary and higher education, medical care and research, cultural programs, and youth-service agencies”
• heard a presentation on the contributions of Edna L. Holmes to the College and the recent decision to name the new residence hall in her honor
• heard a report on the upcoming strategic planning process.

The board will next meet in February.