As Tim Zinnecker coyly suggested here, Oklahoma City lawyer Joe Harroz was named the University of Oklahoma Law Center's new dean. Harroz, a graduate of OU and Georgetown Law, served as general counsel to the university for over a decade before becoming president of Graymark Health Care in 2008. He also served as legislative director and legal counsel to Senator David Boren before Boren left Washington and became President of OU. Not surprisingly, Harroz also joins the law faculty as a tenured professor.
This is an interesting hire. Harroz seems likely to have a quick and easy rapport with both the Oklahoma business and law community and the university administration. He emphasizes, "we need to make sure the bar understands there is no divide between academic lawyers and the practicing bar." That should bode well for the law school financially. And given his years as GC to the university, he is also familiar with the university environment. On the other hand, as with all non-academic decanal hires, we'll watch to see the degree to which he identifies with - and is protective of - faculty values.
-- Dan Filler (cross-posted at The Faculty Lounge)
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