Johnson Named New Law Dean

In December, Jennifer Johnson was named the next dean of Lewis & Clark Law School.

In December, Jennifer Johnson was named the next dean of Lewis & Clark Law School. Johnson, the Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law, is a widely respected teacher and scholar who has served on the law school faculty since 1980. She begins June 1 and will succeed Robert Klonoff, who will be stepping down at the end of the current academic year.

“Jennifer Johnson, with her exemplary record as a teacher and researcher and with her vast knowledge of the law school, is ideally positioned to lead the school through the next stage of its remarkable journey,” says President Barry Glassner.

Johnson, a member of the American Law Institute, teaches business and securities law and is a nationally known authority in the field of securities regulation and arbitration. Her current research focuses on private placements and investor protection.

Johnson is a 1973 graduate of Mills College, and received her JD from Yale Law School in 1976. After graduating from law school, Johnson clerked for Judge Alfred T. Goodwin on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She practiced law with the Stoel Rives firm in Portland for several years before joining the law school faculty. She has received awards and accolades for excellence in teaching, including the Leo Levinson Award given annually to recognize the top teacher at the law school.

“Lewis & Clark Law School is a truly world-class institution. I am very honored to serve as its next dean,” Johnson says. “The board, faculty, staff, and alumni are all dedicated to enriching the educational experience we provide our students. I look forward to working with President Glassner and my talented colleagues to build upon Lewis & Clark’s tradition of success and continued excellence in a changing world.”

During his seven years’ service as dean, Klonoff advanced the school’s reputation, established innovative new programs in global law, and attracted numerous world-class legal minds—including several U.S. Supreme Court justices —to speak at the law school. He will return to teaching at Lewis & Clark after a one-year sabbatical.