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Daniel Lamb, 277-2611 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

March 25, 2002

SCARNECCHIA NAMED UNM SCHOOL OF LAW DEAN

Suellyn Scarnecchia, associate dean for clinical affairs and clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, has been named dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law, effective Jan. 1. 2003, UNM Provost Brian Foster announced today. She is the first woman to hold the post.

"Suellyn's visit to UNM generated a great deal of excitement. There is broad support for her candidacy and we look forward to working with her," Foster said.

Scarnecchia began teaching at U. of Mich. Law School in 1987 as a clinical assistant professor. She was promoted to clinical professor of law in 1993. She has been associate dean for clinical affairs since 1996. She served as associate dean for administration, 1999-'01, and clinical coordinator, 1994-'96. Under Scarnecchia's leadership, the clinics gained national recognition for faculty and program excellence.

"This opportunity to build on the fine tradition of legal education at the University of New Mexico is a true privilege and I am honored to receive it," Scarnecchia said.

"I look forward to working closely with the faculty of the School of Law to provide students an excellent legal education and to serve the legal community of New Mexico."

Scarnecchia practiced for six years with McCroskey, Feldman, Cochrane & Brock in western Michigan, where she specialized in employment discrimination litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. She left the firm as a partner and joined the U. of Mich. Law School's Child Advocacy Law Clinic in 1987. In 1993, she represented the prospective adoptive parents in the high profile custody dispute over Baby Jessica. In 1994, she became the clinic coordinator and in 1996, she became the law school's first associate dean for clinical affairs. Currently, she is on special assignment to the University of Michigan Provost's Office.

Her research interests include bias in the courts, children's rights and corporal punishment of children. In addition to clinical courses, she has taught negotiation and a course about civil legal services for the poor called Access to Justice.

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, which she now chairs. 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 is a past president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.

She has published numerous articles on children's rights and race bias.

Scarnecchia received a bachelor's degree in history from Northwestern University, 1978, and law degree from the University of Michigan in 1981.

Current dean, Robert Desiderio had announced his resignation effective June 30, 2002, but will remain in the position until Scarnecchia takes the helm Jan. 1, 2003.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981