10 ❖ 23:1 / USD LAW ADVOCATE No Stranger to USD KEVIN COLE Named 11th Dean <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Law Story by Sarah Severson Photos by George Decker and Pablo Mason
In his first commencement speech as dean, newly appointed Dean <strong>Kevin</strong> <strong>Cole</strong> spoke about skills graduates would need to succeed in the legal pr<strong>of</strong>ession. “Remember the case <strong>of</strong> Napoleon Dynamite,” <strong>Cole</strong> recalls. “When asked whether he had a girlfriend, Napoleon responded, ‘Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills. You know, like nunchuck skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.’ Napoleon’s perception that he was lacking in certain respects motivated him to improve his lot. As lawyers, your ability to critically examine your own positions, arguments and plans will be even more helpful.” Although lacking in bow-hunting skills, Dean <strong>Cole</strong> brings a rich combination <strong>of</strong> skills and experience to his new position. <strong>Cole</strong>, a scholar in criminal law and procedure, was named the new dean <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Law in April, after serving as interim dean since July 2005. <strong>Cole</strong> got a glimpse <strong>of</strong> a dean’s responsibilities even before his year as interim dean by working for four years as the associate dean for former Dean Daniel B. Rodriguez. “Having worked closely with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>Cole</strong> for the past several years, I have full confidence in his skills, judgment and ideas about making the law school great. With support from the <strong>University</strong> and law school alumni, he will lead the school toward a higher level <strong>of</strong> excellence and reputation,” says Rodriguez. <strong>Cole</strong>’s prior experience in administration gave him insight into what life will now be like in the dean’s chair. <strong>Cole</strong> is the first dean to come from the USD law faculty in many years, and there are definite advantages to coming from the inside. “I think I’ve come into the job with a better idea <strong>of</strong> what the faculty’s interests and ambitions are,” <strong>Cole</strong> said. “There is less transition time needed to formulate the plan for moving the school forward.” As a dean who has spent a large portion <strong>of</strong> his career at USD’s School <strong>of</strong> Law, <strong>Cole</strong> has an even greater motivation to improve and expand the program. “Not only have I known my colleagues from the beginning, I can also imagine what it will be like to return to the faculty one day when my duties as dean are over,” he says. “It gives an incentive to build for the long haul because <strong>of</strong> my investment in the institution.” Michael Rider, an alumnus on the dean’s search committee, says as a tenured faculty member and administrator, <strong>Cole</strong> knows the culture <strong>of</strong> the law school, how things work and how to make good things happen. “<strong>Kevin</strong> is affable, outgoing and is very solutions-oriented,” Rider says. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Steven Smith, chairman <strong>of</strong> the dean’s search committee, said the committee was looking for a dean who would appreciate the school’s academic strides in recent years. “We wanted someone who would understand this and have good academic values. Being here for quite a while, Dean <strong>Cole</strong> understands the progress we’ve made.” This also helps when meeting with alumni and community members—they know <strong>Cole</strong> has been at USD School <strong>of</strong> Law for a long time and has a sincere interest in seeing the school succeed. <strong>Cole</strong> has already helped the law school’s progress. He has aided in reforming the grading system, modernizing the curriculum and providing more class choices for students. He has also hired a new assistant dean <strong>of</strong> career services to assist students in finding employment after graduation. <strong>Cole</strong>’s prior experience in administration gave him insight into what life will now be like in the dean’s chair. <strong>Cole</strong> is the first dean to come from the USD law faculty in many years, and there are definite advantages coming from the inside. <strong>Cole</strong> has three main goals he hopes to accomplish as dean: First, <strong>Cole</strong> says USD’s law school is a real asset to the city. But he believes the school can do a better job in making the community aware <strong>of</strong> all the school has to <strong>of</strong>fer. “Our events on campus benefit the community only to the extent that we make the community aware <strong>of</strong> them,” <strong>Cole</strong> said. Along the same lines, <strong>Cole</strong> wants to spotlight the law school’s legal clinics, which provide free services to an underserved population in <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>, a benefit <strong>of</strong> which many people in the community are not aware. Second, <strong>Cole</strong> plans to continue to support the law school's effort to attract a high caliber <strong>of</strong> students and faculty, and to support them in the ways needed to help them to achieve at a high level. He says the law school is very well regarded as a strong general purpose law school, and overall, a sound place to get a legal education. “The students are very strong, with credentials as high as they’ve ever been,” <strong>Cole</strong> says. “This translates into great accomplishments when they graduate and become alumni. More and more alums are making big splashes in the legal world.” The law school’s tax program was recently ranked ninth in the nation, and the faculty is ranked twenty-third in how <strong>of</strong>ten its work is cited. These are strong indicators <strong>of</strong> the promise <strong>of</strong> the faculty, <strong>Cole</strong> says. “As the school becomes better known, the faculty is a target <strong>of</strong> opportunity for other law schools, and we need to be in a position where the faculty is willing to resist these <strong>of</strong>fers from ADVOCATE USD LAW / 23:1 ❖ 11
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