Carolyn Jones, a UI
graduate, was named the 16th dean of the UI College
of Law by UI President David Skorton on March 19.
Currently a professor of law at the University of
Connecticut, Jones will succeed N. William Hines
as dean on July 1.
Jones, a native of Carroll, says she’s looking
forward to returning to her home state.
“It’s tremendously exciting to be able
to go back to The University of Iowa and the College
of Law,” she says. “The college really
created all kinds of opportunities for me to have
a successful career in law and legal education. Nothing
could be better for me than to go back and work with
its outstanding faculty, staff, and students. It’s
also an opportunity to reconnect with people like
me, whose lives were made better and much more interesting
by going to the UI College of Law.”
Jones received a BA from Iowa with a major in English
in 1976 and completed course work toward an MA in
English, with an emphasis in medieval and Celtic
literature. She received the Sanxay Prize for promise
in college teaching while a UI graduate student.
She earned a JD from the UI law school in 1979,
graduating with highest honors and Order of the Coif.
As a student, she was on the staff of the Iowa Law
Review. Since graduating, she has returned to campus
twice as a visiting law professor, in 1986-87 and
during the summer of 1989.
Adrien Wing, Bessie Dutton Murray Professor of Law
and chair of the search committee, points out that
Jones has administrative experience as an associate
dean at Connecticut’s law school.
“She also has an infectiously engaging personality,
as well as lots of enthusiasm and energy,” Wing
says.
In addition to her UI degrees, Jones received a
Master in Laws from Yale University in 1982.
Following her graduation from the UI law school,
Jones worked an assistant city attorney in Sioux
City from 1979 to 1980 and as an associate in the
Sioux City law firm of Klass, Whicher, and Mishne
from 1981 to 1982. She is a member of the Iowa bar.
Jones began her academic career at the St. Louis
University School of Law in 1982 and taught there
until 1990. She has taught at the University of Connecticut
since 1990, where she has served as associate dean
of academic affairs and on numerous committees.
She also has been a visiting professor at the University
of Exeter in England and Washington University in
St. Louis. This academic year she is a visiting professor
at the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University.
Jones’ legal specialty is tax law, and her
research specialty is tax law from a feminist perspective.
She has contributed to five books on tax law and
is the author of numerous scholarly articles on the
issue. She also has made numerous presentations about
tax issues, estate law, and Social Security.
Jones was selected from a field of 239 applicants
and nominees who originally were considered by the
11-member search committee. From that pool, the committee
screened 20 candidates in person and then invited
seven to campus for interviews in January and February.
The committee forwarded the names of three finalists
to Skorton for his selection.
Jones’ annual salary as UI law dean will be
$245,000. Her appointment is pending approval of
the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.
Jones is the second Iowa native and UI alumnus to
be named to a high-level University position this
year. Michael Hogan, a native of Waterloo and recipient
of two UI graduate degrees, was named provost in
January. Coming from Ohio State University, Hogan
will begin his new position July 1.
Current law dean Hines is retiring in June after
28 years of leading the College of Law. His tenure
is the longest of any current law school dean in
the United States and the longest in the history
of the UI law school. He has been teaching at the
law school since 1962 and will stay on as a faculty
member after stepping down as dean.
by Tom Snee
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