Olsen Named Vice Dean For Academic Affairs At UB Law School

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- R. Nils Olsen, Jr., professor of law in the University at Buffalo School of Law, has been named to the new position of vice dean for academic affairs.

Olsen will oversee the implementation of the school's new curriculum, designed to help bridge the gap that has historically existed between law school and practice. The law school received $1.1 million from New York State to begin to implement the innovative program.

Olsen also will be responsible for long-range planning, evaluation and self-study, enrollment targeting, and faculty recruitment, promotion and tenure.

"Nils has demonstrated his administrative expertise as the director of the clinical legal- education program at UB for the past 15 years. With his background, I am sure that he will successfully lead the implementation of the new curriculum," said Dean Barry B. Boyer.

In addition to his duties as vice dean, Olsen will retain his responsibilities as director of clinical education and continue his research in the areas of federal post-conviction remedies and environmental policy.

A 1974 graduate of the Columbia University School of Law, Olsen joined the UB law school in 1978 after serving as a lecturer and clinical fellow in the University of Chicago School of Law. Before that, he had been a clerk to Chief Judge Thomas E. Fairchild, Seventh Circuit U. S. Court of Appeals.

He is a member of the boards of directors of the New York State Environmental Planning Lobby and Great Lakes United. He has served as the "Speedy Trial reporter" in U. S. District Court. He also authored evaluations of legal services programs funded by the Legal Services Corporation of New York State, and served as a member of the Human Subjects Investigation Committee of the VA Medical Center, and as a member of the Western New York Task Force for Effective Representation for Prison Inmates.

Olsen resides in Youngstown.