Washburn University School of Law Names Emily Grant as New Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Washburn University School of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Grant as associate dean for academic affairs effective July 1, 2022. Grant, who joined the faculty in 2011, currently teaches courses in legal writing and estates and trusts. She will be transitioning to the role as current ADAA John J. Francis steps down this summer. 

Prior to coming to Washburn Law, Grant taught legal writing courses at her alma mater, the University of Illinois College of Law, where as a student she served as articles editor for the University of Illinois Law Review. She then joined the University of Kansas School of Law faculty as a part-time lecturer in the Lawyering Program; she was later named as a full-time lawyering professor while also working with students as part of the Academic Resources Program.

In her new role as ADAA, Grant will oversee the academic components of the school’s curriculum. Working closely with faculty and administration, she will assist in preparation of course offerings and teaching schedules and work collaboratively with leadership and faculty in the strategic planning process. 

“This is the first time in the law school’s history that the top two leadership positions will be filled by women, so this is an exciting time. I am very grateful to Dean Francis for doing an outstanding job as academic dean during a critical time as we were grappling with Covid. ” said Dean Carla Pratt. “This position is instrumental in shaping the future of the law school, and we look forward to the insight that Dean Grant will bring to the role.”

Before transitioning to a teaching career, Grant was senior court counsel for the Palau Supreme Court, which serves the small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean. She also clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.  Drawing on her many years as a law clerk, Grant now supervises students enrolled in the judicial externship program.

Grant’s scholarly agenda focuses on improving the classroom and law school environment for students.  Her articles on legal education and pedagogy have appeared in the Oregon Law Review, Arkansas Law Review, Journal of Legal Education, and Gonzaga Law Review. In addition, she demonstrates a commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching through her role as a Co-Director for the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, a nationwide organization dedicated to effective law school teaching.