Summer 1999 – Issue 55 - Stanford Lawyer - Stanford University

Reflections on 12 years as DeanBY PAUL BRESTSIP REP ARE DTOW RIT E some remInISCenCesfor this issue ofStanford Lawyer, I glanced at the Fall1987 issue, in which I first appeared as Dean. Thecover photo elicited my first angry letter from an alumnus, whodisapproved ofmy somewhat casual dress. While my wardrobehas improved since then, I fear that he still would be disappointedby my lack ofgravitas a dozen years later. Nonetheless,I've learned a lot during these years. I'm always amazed whenI hear that the average tenure ofa law school dean today is onlyabout three years. It took me that long just to understand whatthe job was and to begin figuring out how to do it.Among the things I learned-tomy surprise and to the astonishment ofthose who knew me before-was to be apretty good fundraiser. (Necessity is themother ofself-invention.) I vividly recallthe first time I asked an alumnus for a gift:I was so nervous that I could not stoptalking, and I negotiated down my initialrequest for $1,000 to halfthat amountwithout ever letting him say a word. Tenyears later, I sat across the desk ofanotherprospect and allowed silence to envelopus as he contemplated an eight-figure request,which ultimately led to a seven-figuregift. One of my most memorablefundraising moments occurred last yearwhen I invited myself to join an alumnicouple at their wedding anniversary dinner,and asked for a major contributionto the Campaign. (It was a bonding ex-perience; they remain good friends andmade a generous gift.) 1() paraphraseBarry Goldwater, shamelessness in thecause ofStanford Law Schoo] is no vice,and modenltion no \lrme.One of the greatest joys of thedeanship has been getting to know alumni,learning from them, and bringingwhat I learned back to the Law School.In the process, I've made some lifelongfriends-and I also have a few really goodstories that I'll tell over a beer. I'm basicallya shy person and, at first, I found itdifficult to make small talk. Spectatorsports can be a great ice-breaker, but myignorance was awesome. After trying tocoach me early on, a colleague gave upand suggested that if! found myselfcorneredin a conversation about any sport,I should just say, "How about themNiners!" Our Provost, Condoleezza Rice,was more helpful. When she heard thatCarmen Policy was about to host a parents'night at 3Com Park, she took Irisand me to a Stanford football game,placed one ofus on each side, and mentoredus. (Like war, Condi explained,football is a game of territory.) Some ofit stuck, but to this day Carmen wonderswhat planet we came from.People attribute the short tenureof deans to the difficulties of dealing~ SlIMMFR 1999