Groundbreaking
New Dean for UM Law School
Environmental and energy law expert is first woman to hold dean's job at the University of Montana School of Law.
By Amy Linn, 7-13-09
Legal scholar and educator Irma Russell, a specialist in environmental and energy law, is the new dean at the University of Montana School of law—the first female to hold that position. Russell replaces outgoing law school dean E. Edwin Eck, head of the law school since 1995, who announced last fall that he would step down at the end of the academic year and return to the law school faculty, according to UM’s announcement.
Here are some highlights from the UM press release about the new chief:
--Before coming to Montana for her new job, Russell was the Director of the National Energy-Environment Law & Policy Institute and NELPI Professor at the University of Tulsa College of Law.
--She chairs the innovations committee of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources.
--She earned two undergraduate degrees (in liberal arts and education), a master’s degree in English literature, and a law degree from the University of Kansas.
On a more concrete level—literally—she’ll eventually be moving the law school into a new building on campus that’s currently under construction.
For more details about Russell, click here.
Sounds like UM has its own green Sonia Sotomayor. Well, if she's so environmentally-conscious, I think UM should consider skipping the new building for the law school, and just conduct classes outdoors on campus. Could use tents when it rains. Snow caves in the winter. An idea whose time has come.
Comment By patbob, 7-14-09Hey Bill,
I spent the last 3 years at UM law, not only did we have classes outside, but at the Missoula Childrens Theatre, Coffee shops, and on every corner of campus. We never resorted to snow caves, but the lack of heat in the basement this winter was durn close. All this with an eight foot gulag fence surrounding most of campus. I'm jealous of the punks who get to actually study in a classroom.