Fall 2012 Dean’s Message

Dear Friends of Santa Clara Law:

In October, I informed President Engh that this academic year is my final year of service as dean at Santa Clara. It has been a great honor to serve as dean and I look forward to working together with the law school community to move the law school forward this year and in coming years.

My term of service ends in June 2013. This is the last year of my second, five-year appointment as dean of the law school, and this year will also conclude my 20th consecutive year as a law school dean. Though I will be taking a sabbatical leave during next year, I will continue to advance the mission and goals of our law school by working closely on the key points of our strategic plan, as well as our critically important building and fundraising projects.

After my sabbatical leave, I look forward to resuming my teaching duties as well as re-engaging in some projects that I have not been able to devote as much time to due to my duties as dean. I especially look forward to getting more involved in projects related to leadership education, international teaching, and the topic of the regulation of legal education.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you—the law school’s alumni, friends, volunteers, and extended family—for all you have done to assist me and the law school’s leadership team in strengthening Santa Clara Law’s programs during the past nine years. We have accomplished a great deal together, and I couldn’t have done it without your commitment to making Santa Clara Law an outstanding law school. The successful completion of the law school’s first capital campaign in 2007, the development of the strategic plan in 2010, the successful and enjoyable law school centennial in 2011, and the law school’s building plan in 2012 are among the many accomplishments during my tenure as dean.

I know that there is much work ahead to help prepare Santa Clara Law to face the many challenges to legal education. I am grateful for your continuing support of the mission and goals of this great law school, and I look forward to working with you during this transition time. Please contact me and share you questions, thoughts, and ideas.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. POLDEN
Dean