Hamline University School of Law, Dean, 2003-2008

A Minnesota native, Garon received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1985 and his J.D. from Columbia in 1988.  He came to Hamline as dean in 2003 after practicing at three Los Angeles law firms and teaching at Franklin Pierce Law School and Western State University College of Law.  At Hamline, he created new J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.F.A  and LL.M. …

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William Mitchell College of Law, President and Dean, 2004-2007

Allen K. Easley earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio and his juris doctor and Master of Law degrees from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. He came to William Mitchell College of Law in 2004 from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan., where he taught in the areas of civil procedure, conflict …

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William Mitchell College of Law, President and Dean, 2007-2015

Eric S. Janus received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College and his juris doctor degree from Harvard University. Before joining the William Mitchell faculty in 1984, he was with the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society for 11 years, serving as managing attorney for the developmental disabilities advocacy project, then as managing attorney of the central office. Since joining the …

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Hamline University School of Law, Dean, 2008-2013

Don Lewis began his legal career with the U.S. Department Justice: he was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division in Washington from 1978 to 1982, and later prosecuted white collar crimes as an assistant U.S. attorney in Minneapolis from 1982 to 1988. Lewis then entered private practice with the Popham Haik law firm, and in 1996 co-founded the …

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Hamline University School of Law, Dean, 2014-2015

Jean Holloway graduated from Yale College with degrees in engineering and political science and received her J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1984.  After graduation, she clerked for Seventh Circuit Judge Luther M. Swygert.  Holloway began practicing as a trial lawyer with Sidley & Austin in Chicago in 1986.  She moved to Minnesota in 1990 to serve …

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Hamline University School of Law, Interim Dean, 2015

Marie Failinger earned her B.A. (1973) and J.D. (1976) degrees from Valparaiso University in Indiana and taught for a year in its clinical program. After practicing law from 1977-1982 at Legal Services Organization of Indiana, Inc., she received her LL.M. from Yale Law School in 1983. That year, she came to Hamline University School of Law, teaching poverty law, constitutional …

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William Mitchell College of Law, President and Dean, 2015 ; Mitchell Hamline School of Law, President and Dean, 2015-2019

Mark Gordon was selected as president and dean of William Mitchell College of Law in 2015, and he continued as dean and president with the merger that produced Mitchell Hamline School of Law (MHSL).  Gordon earned his B.A. from Columbia (1981), an M.A. from its School of International Affairs (1982), and his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1990). He was …

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Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Interim President and Dean, 2019-2020

Peter Knapp received his bachelor’s degree (1980) and J.D. (1983) at Harvard.  He practiced with Oppenheimer, Wolff and Donnelly in St. Paul from 1983-1989.  He was hired as an assistant professor of law in 1989, and was promoted to associate professor in 1992 and full professor in 1994. Knapp was the co-director of Mitchell and Mitchell Hamline clinics from 1989-2017.  …

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William Mitchell College of Law, President and Dean, 2020-2023

Anthony Niedwiecki received his B.A. (1979) from Wayne State University, his J.D. (1995) from Tulane Law School, and his LL.M. (2000) from Temple University Beasley School of Law. He has taught at Temple (1988-2000, 2001-2003), Nova Southeastern, Arizona State, and John Marshall law schools. At John Marshall, he served in two associate dean positions for academic affairs and experiential learning. …

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Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Interim President and Dean, 2023-2024

Jim Hilbert was appointed Interim President and Dean pending a national search for a permanent successor to Anthony Niedwiecki.  Hilbert had been the Vice-Dean for Academic and Student Affairs since 2020, and he had taught at Mitchell Hamline since 2015. Hilbert graduated from Carleton College in 1989 and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1996.  He served …

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