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Robert Schwartz, 277-3119
Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

Jan. 14, 2002

OPEN FORUMS SET FOR UNM LAW SCHOOL DEAN FINALISTS

Open forums have been scheduled for five finalists for the position of University of New Mexico School of Law dean, announced UNM Provost Brian Foster today. Foster complimented the search committee for its efforts to produce an excellent pool of candidates.

The forums will be held from 9 - 10 a.m. in the law school, room 2401, as follows:

Thomas F. Guernsey, dean and professor of law, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Il, 1996 to present, has also served as the University's interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, 1999-'00.

Guernsey was professor of law, University of Richmond School of Law, 1986- '96, and the school's associate dean of Academic Affairs, 1992-'95. At Richmond he was also associate professor of law, 1983-'86, and assistant professor of law, 1980-'83. The University named him distinguished educator in 1983 and 1989.

He serves on the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure, Association of American Law Schools, 2000-'02, and served as chair, 2001. He has been a consultant for the National Conference of Bar Examiners since 1992, and for the Committee of Bar Examiners, State of California, since 1984.

Guernsey earned his BA, 1973, from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; J.D., 1976, from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; and LL.M, 1980, Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, PA.

Suellyn Scarnecchia, clinical professor of law, University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, also serves as the University's associate dean for Clinical Affairs. She was the University's associate dean for Law School Administration, 1999-'01, clinical coordinator, 1994-'96 and clinical assistant professor of law, 1987-'93. She was adjunct professor for Wayne State University Law School, 1994.

Scarnecchia has been a member of the University of Michigan's Interdisciplinary Research Program on Violence Across the Lifespan and Campus Safety and Security Committee since 1998. She sits on the Association of American Law Schools' Committee on Sections and the Annual Meeting, and its Resource Corps, and has co-chaired the group's Clinical Section Committee on Dealing with Difference.

She earned her BA, 1978, from Northwestern University, and JD, 1981, from University of Michigan Law School.

Donald N. Zillman, Edward Godfrey professor of law, University of Maine School of Law, since 1991, served as the University's interim provost and academic vice president, 1999-'00, and law dean, 1991-'98.

He held the position of distinguished visiting professor of law, Department of Law, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1990. Zillman was professor of law and director of graduate studies, University of Utah, 1986-'90, and director of the University's Energy Law Center, 1979-'86.

In 1978, Zillman served as Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Arizona. From 1970-'74, he was a captain in the United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps. He has also held law appointments at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom and Arizona State University.

Zillman earned his B.S., 1966, J.D., 1969, at University of Wisconsin, Madison, and LL.M., 1973, at University of Virginia,
He is a member of the American Law Institute and fellow of the American Bar Foundation and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law.

Alfred D. Mathewson, associate dean for Academic Affairs, UNM School of Law, since 1997, has served in the school as assistant professor, 1983-'86, associate professor, 1986-'89, and professor since 1989.

He was visiting professor, 1992-'93, St. John's University School of Law, and visiting associate professor, 1989, and also served as lecturer in legal writing, 1979 and 1980, University of Colorado School of Law.

He has served as a consultant for the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners and was the principal investigator for a UNM School of Law Clinical Experience Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Mathewson is a member of the American Bar Association's Accreditation Inspection Teams and Sections on Business Law and Entertainment and Sports. He is on the Judicial Education Advisory Committee and member of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association, and involved in other community organizations. He has served on the State Bar of New Mexico Task Force on Minority Involvement in the Profession.

He earned his BBA, 1975, from Howard University, and JD, 1978, Yale University.

Fred R. Harris, professor of political science, UNM Political Science Department, since 1977, also served at UNM as visiting professor of political science, 1976, and director for the Institute for Public Policy, 1985-'87. He has directed the UNM Summer Program in Granada, Spain, the UNM University Partnership Program-Guatemala and UNM Overseas Program in Mexico. The New Mexico Commission on Higher Education designated him "Eminent Scholar," 1989.

Harris was a member of the United States Senate (Dem., OK), 1964-'73, and Oklahoma State Senate, 1956-1964. He chaired the National Democratic Party, 1969-'70, and was a member of the President's National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission), 1967-'68.

He is past chair of both the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission and Governor's Commission on Higher Education. In 1998-'99, he served as chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and has also been a member of the New Mexico State Lands Trust Board.

Harris earned his BA in political science and history, 1952, and JD, 1954, at University of Oklahoma, earning the latter with the highest cumulative three-year GPA in the history of the college.

Robert J. Desiderio, dean of the UNM School of Law for the past four years, will resign effective June 30, 2002, announced UNM Provost Brian Foster this past July.

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The University of New Mexico
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