When Kevin Washburn arrived as the University of Iowa College of Law’s new dean two years ago, he was surprised by the low number of Iowa undergraduates staying at Iowa for law school. The vow to improve local recruitment efforts resulted in a dramatic increase in 2020.

With the start of the semester, the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City, Iowa, welcomed one of the most ethnically diverse classes in its 155-year history. Collins Byrd, assistant dean for admissions, announced that 24.6 percent of the members of the incoming class are people of color, eclipsing the previous high of 23.6 percent in 1992’s incoming class.

Iowa Law welcomed eight new faculty for Fall 2020: three full-time faculty, two Legal Analysis, Writing and Research faculty, a new law library director, and two faculty beginning multi-year visits. We are excited to have this impressive group join us at the Boyd Law Building.

The University of Iowa College of Law recently announced the hiring of Neda Barrett as its first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Global Engagement.

“Following the death of George Floyd and amongst the extensive historical backdrop of police brutality among communities of color, we understood that it was time to do more and address racism in the College of Law,” said Committee member Meddie Demmings IV, “The College of Law recognized this, too, and gave us the green light to meet, talk, and submit this report.” 

The portraits lining the corridor at Boyd Law Building represent a long standing tradition dedicated to those who devote their lives to teaching law school. Faculty who have taught law for 25 or more years - 15 of those years being at Iowa - have the opportunity to have their portrait painted if they wish. Professor Sandler’s portrait will hang among many esteemed colleagues like Dean Adrien Wing and Professor Emeritus William Buss.