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SLU names new law school dean: William P. Johnson

William P. Johnson, new dean of Saint Louis University's law school
Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University has named William P. Johnson, a member of its faculty since 2012, as the new dean of its law school.

Johnson, 45, who has been director of the school’s Center for International and Comparative Law, takes over Jan. 3 from the retiring Michael Wolff, who has been dean since 2013. Johnson also has directed the SLU Summer Law program at the university’s campus in Madrid, Spain.

“It is a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead the Saint Louis University School of Law, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am mindful that there are major challenges in legal education today facing every U.S. law school. There is hard work to do.

“But I have seen over and over how impressive and how dedicated to SLU our alumni are; I know how hard-working, responsible and accomplished the student body is; I am amazed every day at the brilliant accomplishments of my faculty and staff colleagues; I see terrific opportunities that come with being part of an outstanding university; and I believe in our mission.”

SLU Provost Nancy Brickhouse said Johnson was chosen after a national and internal search that drew many qualified candidates.

“We are fortunate to find such a bright, collaborative leader with a global view of legal education,” Brickhouse said. “Bill is the right person to move the School of Law forward and has strong support within the law school, where he has served on a number of important committees.”

Wolff, who had rejoined the SLU law faculty after retiring from the Missouri Supreme Court, became dean during a turbulent time at the law school.

Annette Clark resigned as dean in 2012 after a public dispute with the Rev. Lawrence Biondi, who was president of the university. She said the administration had failed to live up to the ideals of “common decency, collegiality, professionalism and integrity.”

Her interim successor was Tom Keefe, a high-profile Metro East defense attorney and a member of the SLU board of trustees. He resigned after several months following complaints about inappropriate remarks he made, reportedly about students and faculty meetings.

He acknowledged saying things he described as “politically incorrect,” adding that they were not meant to hurt anyone.

Follow Dale on Twitter: @dalesinger

Dale Singer began his career in professional journalism in 1969 by talking his way into a summer vacation replacement job at the now-defunct United Press International bureau in St. Louis; he later joined UPI full-time in 1972. Eight years later, he moved to the Post-Dispatch, where for the next 28-plus years he was a business reporter and editor, a Metro reporter specializing in education, assistant editor of the Editorial Page for 10 years and finally news editor of the newspaper's website. In September of 2008, he joined the staff of the Beacon, where he reported primarily on education. In addition to practicing journalism, Dale has been an adjunct professor at University College at Washington U. He and his wife live in west St. Louis County with their spoiled Bichon, Teddy. They have two adult daughters, who have followed them into the word business as a communications manager and a website editor, and three grandchildren. Dale reported for St. Louis Public Radio from 2013 to 2016.