President and Dean Camille M. Davidson
Mitchell Hamline School of Law President and Dean Camille Davidson was named one of the 25 most influential people in legal education in 2026 by The National Jurist. The list includes innovators, scholars, and thought leaders who are “moving the field forward and redefining what leadership looks like in a changing landscape.” As one of the named leaders, Dean Davidson is recognized for her influence in shaping the legal academy.
The official rankings were announced at a special reception at the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) annual meeting Jan. 6–9 in New Orleans, La. At the annual meeting, Dean Davidson is one of several Mitchell Hamline members sharing expertise with law school leaders by chairing the deans forum and presenting about Mitchell Hamline’s blended-learning enrollment option at the panel “From Classrooms to Clicks: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Legal Education,” sponsored by West Academic, a BARBRI company. She also sits on the AALS Deans Steering Committee.
Here is how The National Jurist recognized Dean Davidson’s accomplishments and impact:
Since taking office in July 2024, President and Dean Davidson has made an immediate impact at Mitchell Hamline, guiding the school through a year of record growth as it marks its 125th anniversary. Applications rose 25% in one year — and 52% over two years — as she strengthened the school’s reputation for access and academic excellence. Davidson has pushed technology and facility upgrades, expanded experiential learning through new partnerships with businesses and nonprofits and encouraged deeper collaboration across the faculty. A former judge and longtime educator, she has also prioritized alumni engagement, creating new externship, mentorship and professional development pathways nationwide.
The first woman to serve as both president and dean of Mitchell Hamline, she has earned wide recognition for her leadership, including honors from Twin Cities Business Magazine (TCB 100 and Notable Women in Law), Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (Power Shift 25) and Minnesota Lawyer (Top Women in Law). Her work continues to position the school as a national model for innovation and inclusion.
Read more about all 25 most influential people in legal education.