CUA Cover Winter 2004 final (Page 2) - Columbus School of Law

FRESHPerspectives“I want excellence to be our bottom line”A Conversation with the DeanIn July 2003, at the request of theVery Rev. David M. O’Connell,President of The Catholic Universityof America, William F. Foxaccepted the deanship of theColumbus School of Law for what willbe at least a two-year appointment.Dean Fox becomes the 24th dean ofthe Columbus School of Law. Heassumes the helm at a time of shiningpromise for the school, but also a timeof sobering challenges. During arecent chat with CUA Lawyer, ournew dean outlines his thoughts, plansand above all, enthusiasm for leadingthe law school he loves.Connecting to students has always been atop priority for the law school's new dean.CUA Lawyer: YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN ANEXTREMELY BUSY MAN, AND THESE DAYSYOUR WORK LOAD IS HEAVIER THAN EVER.WHEN THE INVITATION TO ASSUME THE DEAN-SHIP WAS EXTENDED, WHY DID YOU SAY YES?Dean Fox: I have spent roughly onehalfof my life at this law school. I firstcame here as a student in August1970 and became a member of thefaculty five years later. When I firstheard about Dean Kmiec’s resignation,it seemed to me that we desperatelyneeded a period of stability andequilibrium after the turnover in thedean’s office over the past severalyears. When Father O’Connell,the university president, askedme to take the position I was veryhappy to say yes.CUA Lawyer: AS STUDENT, PROFESSORAND ADMINISTRATOR, YOU’VE BEEN ASSOCI-ATED WITH THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL OFLAW FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. YOU’VEDECLINED OFFERS TO LEAVE IN THE PAST.WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS LAW SCHOOL THATKEEPS YOU HERE?Dean Fox: This is a veryspecial place. Its “specialness”is confirmed for mewhen I have occasion to goelsewhere and to see otherlaw schools and otherplaces where lawyers work.I have always beenimpressed by this lawschool’s dedication to themission of the universityand to the Roman CatholicChurch. We make faith andreason two of the mostimportant pillars of the lawschool. We have thecourage to address, discuss anddebate those crucial issues that intersectlaw and religion. At many lawschools, such discussion is eitherignored or deprecated.We also have a culture of hardwork, commitment, civility and generousnessof spirit that is lacking in mostother places where I’ve spent time. Ihave a little mantra that I use when Ispeak to groups outside the lawschool: I think we have the best facultyon the East Coast; I think we havethe best students in the UnitedStates; I think we have the best staffin the world. That combination isimpressive and compelling. The buildingthat we occupy is magnificent. Ilove showing it off to strangers. Ienjoy seeing their jaws drop whenthey first walk into the atrium. We areplanning a large-scale celebrationaround October 1, 2004, to commemoratethe 10th anniversary of the building.But we’re not just a pile of bricksand mortar. The most important andvaluable part of this law school is thepeople who are part of our community.It’s the people who make mehappy to come to work every day.They are the reason I’ve stayed onwith no regrets whatsoever.CUA Lawyer: WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHSOF THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL OF LAW?WHAT ARE ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGES?Dean Fox: I’ve already articulatedsome of the strengths in my earlieranswer. Another considerable sourceof strength is our alumni. I love teachingand I never want to be too far froma classroom. Teaching has alwaysbeen a source of great satisfaction forme. But another source is simplywatching all the great things that ourgraduates accomplish when theyleave here. One of the easiest waysfor me to become re-energized is toget out with our alumni and just sitand talk for a while.One of my big challenges isimproving the law school’s fundraisingprofile. Development herehas been static for too many years.One of my primary tasks as dean israising money. That’s something I’mhappy to tackle, but it’s not anythingthat I can do completely on my own. Iam enlisting the help of staff, faculty,students and graduates. We need6 CUALAWYER /Winter 2004