The Advocate - May 2012 - Idaho State Bar - Idaho.gov

Co n C o r d i a Un i v e r s i t y na m e s in a U g U r a l Fa C U lt y
Kimberley Hoidal
Concordia University
School of Law
Concordia University School of
Law Dean Cathy Silak announced the
selection of the founding team of fulltime
law faculty in preparation for the
enrollment of the inaugural class in
August 2012. The faculty will teach
first-year law courses while taking all
necessary steps to present a program
of legal education that will qualify
for approval by the American Bar
Association.
“We’re delighted about the quality
of our incoming first-year faculty.
Together, with Dean Silak, they bring
teaching expertise, experience as
practicing attorneys, and a commitment
to Concordia’s tradition of community
service and engagement,” said Concordia
University President Chuck Schlimpert.
“Our law faculty will contribute a
wealth of resources and talent to Boise’s
legal community and prepare students
with a rigorous academic curriculum,
a range of practical skill-building
experiences, and the ethical foundation to
contribute to the state and region.”
Greg Sergienko has been named
Associate Dean of Academics, Chad
DeVeaux as Associate Professor of Law
and will teach two first-year law classes.
Boise attorney Tenielle Fordyce-Ruff will
direct the law school’s Legal Research
and Writing Program. Jodi Nafzger
joined the law school in January as the
60 The Advocate • May 2012
Director of Experiential Learning and
Career Services. The law school recently
hired Phillip Gragg as the Director of the
Law Library. Faculty was introduced to
students admitted to the inaugural class at
a dinner in April.
The law school is currently enrolling
the inaugural class of 75 to 95 students in
the fall 2012.
Concordia University School of
Law is a private, Lutheran, liberal arts
university based in Portland with a
mission of preparing leaders for the
transformation of society.
In 2007, Concordia University
announced plans to open a law school
in downtown Boise. The expansion was
completed in 2010 as the law school
was designed for sustainability and
multifaceted learning. Features include
the George R. White Law Library and
the latest advancements in classroom
technology.
____________________________
Greg Sergienko will join Concordia
University, School of Law as the
Associate Dean of Academics in June.
An experienced legal educator, Mr.
Sergienko comes to Concordia Law
after serving as the associate dean of
academics (2003-2004, 2007-2009)
and professor of law (1999-present)
at Western State University, College
of Law, in Fullerton, Calif. During his
tenure at Western State, Mr. Sergienko
was instrumental in helping guide the
school through the process of gaining
full ABA approval. In his second term as
Photo by Chad case Photography
Concordia university School of Law inaugural faculty. Front row (l to r): Jodi Nafzger, Dean Cathy Silak,
Chad DeVeaux. Back row (l to r): Phillip Gragg, Tenielle Fordyce-Ruff, Associate Dean Greg Sergienko.
The law school is
currently enrolling
the inaugural class of
75 to 95 students
in the fall 2012.
dean, he helped increase the bar-passage
rate from 17% to 73% (February 2007 to
July 2008).
Mr. Sergienko also has served as
visiting faculty to several law schools
including the University of Chicago, the
University of Richmond, the College
of William & Mary, the University of
Maryland, Wayne State University,
Southern Illinois University, and Albany
Law School.
Prior to teaching, Mr. Sergienko
clerked for the Honorable Alfred T.
Goodwin, United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit from 1985-1986,
before becoming an associate at Barrett,
Hale & Gilman in Seattle, Wash.
Mr. Sergienko received his Bachelors
of Arts, magna cum laude, from Harvard
College in 1980. Awarded his Juris
Doctor, magna cum laude, from Harvard
Law School in 1985, Mr. Sergienko