In my previous entry I acknowledged Ms. Arabella Mansfield who established a place in the legal world for women across the country. Today, I would like to recognize the Dean of my law school, Dean Joan Howarth, who is an incredible and profound leader to all her students in so many ways. 

 Dean Howarth is the first female Dean at Michigan State University College of Law (MSUCOL), and she has done a fantastic job since taking the position in 2008. Prior to being the law school’s proud Dean, Dean Howarth had already created an impressive academic and groundbreaking path for herself. 

 A native of the Garden State, she earned her A.B. in religion from Smith College. Following college and before law school, Dean Howarth worked for five years, including as a civil liberties organizer. 

Her work as a civil liberties organizer was the catalyst behind Dean Howarth’s law career. Dean Howarth decided that she wanted to improve the work that she was analyzing, and to do so, she would need to become a lawyer herself. This decision led her to the University of Southern California where she earned her J.D. (And on a side note to any pre-law ladies reading: Dean Howarth highly recommends taking some time off in between undergrad and law school if possible!)

After learning Dean Howarth’s background, it’s no wonder that she makes being the face of an entire law school look effortless. She’s been a law professor for over twenty years in California, and prior to moving to Michigan she was the Associate Dean of  the William S. Boyd School of Law in Nevada. But in 2008, Dean Howarth recognized some amazing possibilities at MSUCOL. 

“The opportunities here at MSUCOL were enough to get me out of my geographic comfort zone,” she said. 

Dean Howarth is very pleased and proud of her law school. According to the Dean, there have been many times when she has felt especially proud of the MSUCOL community.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments of our students and proud of what I believe is a very unusual, positive and collaborative student community.”

Dean Howarth also enjoys keeping in touch with graduates.

“A great part about being Dean is working with our graduates who are doing interesting and important things, and that makes me proud,” she said. 

Dean of a top 100 law school has to be challenging certain days, but Dean Howarth manages it well.  

“What all of us wants is a job that fits us, and this job fits me. I enjoy it a great deal,” she said. 

However, Dean Howarth doesn’t think of herself as a pioneer for being the first female face representing MSU and its community. 

“We still live in a world where expectations of women and men are very different, but on the other hand, the progress of women in these roles is very well-established and I have no problem with my role as far as gender. Most students are familiar with women in roles of authority,” she said. 

Throughout her career, Dean Howarth has been an influential figure for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, and today she is one of a very small number of Deans who is openly gay. 

“Being a woman at this law school, in this community, is not a major issue; it’s much more salient and unusual to be an openly gay Dean.” 

Law and sexuality were a strong part of Dean Howarth’s identity before becoming Dean at MSUCOL, and she is thankful that her position gives her the opportunity to continue teaching others on such important issues. 

“It’s a privilege to have a job that allows me to think and write about subjects that I care about,” she said. 

Dean Howarth continues to shape and build the LGBT legal community through the outstanding research she has done since the 1970s. Her research focuses on Gender and the Death Penalty, and Sexual Orientation and the Law. She has completed a vast amount of research on both areas pertaining to the death penalty and the rights of gay prisoners. 

In addition to this, Dean Howarth is also involved and enthusiastic about the developing relationship between technology and the legal world. This ensuing enthusiasm has shaped some of her goals for MSUCOL.  

“I want us [MSUCOL] to continue to be an institution and community that is always relentlessly working to get better every day; [to] continue providing more opportunities for our students; being out ahead of technology changes, being out ahead of legal services at every level,” she said.

“We have a vision for building a great 21st century law school, but we don’t know exactly what it will look like. It takes a lot of creativity and openness and it’s our opportunity to build it by continuing to focus on technology, globalization, vigorous fundamentals, and exciting experiential learning.”

Such inspiring goals for the law school are second nature to a lawyer and everyday problem solver. Dean Howarth has no problem addressing issues and finding a resolution within the legal education.

“I really enjoy being able to work with very talented, very smart, very good people in the collective project of making a fine law school even greater,” she said. 

“It’s enormously satisfying to be an educator - challenging, but satisfying.”

When asked where she sees herself in ten years, Dean Howarth naturally has big plans and no intention of ever stopping learning, teaching, and growing. 

“I’m not sure if I’ll be retired or working, but if I’m retired I hope to have lots of projects.”