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22 ¦ AUGUST 10, 2020 NEWS

Meet Eboni Nelson:
New Dean of UConn School of Law

Eboni Nelson takes the reins as By Robert Storace
dean of the University of Con-
necticut School of Law in the virtually who might not have consid-
midst of a global pandemic and ered UConn Law in the past.”

Nelson continued: “We will be
working with pre-law advisers around
during a time of social upheaval, es- the country talking about our passion
pecially in the wake of the May 25 for a creating a diverse environment
killing of George Floyd at the hands and that can include working with
of Minneapolis police. different ethnic bar associations who
Nelson, who became the law have a diverse membership.”
school’s 18th dean in its 99-year his- With regard to women, Nelson
tory on July 31, said her immediate said, “UConn law school is close to
short-term goals is addressing the Eboni Nelson, the new dean the 50/50 ratio of women to men,
fallout of the COVID-19 crisis head- at the University of Connecticut but we want to look at offering schol-
on as the school prepares to go online. School of Law. Courtesy photo

arships to help women to go to law
Noting that all the fall classes will be conducted school, and it’s also very important to have leadership
online, Nelson said, “We need to devise programs programs where women can mentor each other. We
and opportunities for students to engage with each can work with alumni to develop programs like that.”
other. I think a lot of students are getting more com- Another way to attract a diverse student body is to
fortable with online learning. We will be offering expand the legal education programs offered. Nel-
opportunities for webinars with different aspects of son said, “We can engage in having more non-J.D.
the law that students can participate in.” programs like professional certificates to provide le-
In addition, Nelson, who becomes the law school’s gal training for members of the community already
second black female dean, said she feels a special ob- in the profession.”
ligation to make a difference and be a role model. And, Nelson said, she’ll look into having an under-
“I bring to the role diversity and experience, and graduate summer program and a summer pipeline
my background and my perspective to offer ideas initiative that would bring in “college students who
about ways to further social justice,” said Nelson. are potentially thinking about a career in law and
The new dean is a South Carolina native, formerly exposing them to law schools.”
of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Nelson moved to the west end of Hartford and
where she worked for 13 years, the last two years as began as dean July 31, but she began meeting with fac-
associate dean for academic affairs. ulty, including outgoing dean Timothy Fisher, in May.
Diversity and inclusion efforts and making it eas- “One of the challenges for me has been trying to
ier for women to go to the law school are among her get to know everyone and meet as many people as
top priorities, Nelson said. I can, but virtually,” she said. “It’s not ideal, as I like
“We want to reach out to diverse students, and that’s that face-to-face interaction.”
where COVID creates an opportunity,” said Nelson, ¦

a 2001 graduate of Harvard Law School. “It maybe Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and analysis
difficult to fly to different colleges and to attend work- for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow him on Twit-
shops, but it could be easier to reach out to students ter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at 203-437-5950.

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