Abramovsky named dean of UB School of Law

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Aviva Abramovsky, associate dean for international initiatives and Kaufman Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University College of Law, has been named dean of the University at Buffalo School of Law.

The appointment, effective in July, was announced today by UB Provost Charles F. Zukoski, who said Abramovsky emerged as the top choice after an international search.

“Professor Abramovsky was chosen for the position because of her impressive leadership experience, academic accomplishments, and creative, entrepreneurial vision for the UB School of Law and the future of legal education,” said Zukoski. “Under her leadership, I am confident that the School of Law will continue to build on its long tradition of delivering innovative and interdisciplinary research and learning in pursuit of justice.”

UB President Satish K. Tripathi said the university is very pleased to welcome Abramovsky to UB. “As a scholar and leader, professor Abramovsky brings to UB and our law school a wealth of experience, collaborative energy and intellectual creativity that will advance the School of Law’s national and international visibility and reputation,” Tripathi said.

Abramovsky has long-standing and deep roots with UB. She is the daughter of two UB alumni, Abraham Abramovsky, Law ’70, and Deborah Abramovsky, BFA ‘70.

“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to collaborate with UB’s world-class law faculty to chart a new path for the law school,” Abramovsky said. “Legal education in the United States is at an inflection point, and UB School of Law is perfectly poised to take the lead in providing innovative, multidisciplinary and modern legal education in a world where the practice of law is radically changing.

“As the daughter of two UB alumni, this position is also a kind of homecoming. It is with great pleasure that I anticipate my future in Buffalo.”

Abramovsky succeeds interim Dean James A. Gardner, who has led the UB School of Law since December 2014. Gardner will continue as the school’s Bridget and Thomas Black Professor.

As associate dean at Syracuse, Abramovsky led the internationalization effort in the College of Law. Among her impressive contributions, Abramovsky spearheaded Master of Laws (LLM) and two-year Juris Doctor (JD) programs for foreign lawyers, launched a visiting scholars and researchers program, developed international partnerships to enable a new international student exchange program and created a legal English pre-matriculation program. In addition, Abramovsky directed Syracuse’s LLM program and clinical internship in London and previously served as associate dean for special projects.

Abramovsky is an expert in commercial law, insurance law, regulation of financial entities and legal ethics. She has written numerous articles and legal treatises, including authoring McKinney’s Uniform Commercial Code forms for New York. She is also the editor of LSN Insurance Law, Legislation, & Policy. She contributed to “Research Handbook on International Insurance and Regulation,” which was awarded the 2013 British Insurance Law Association’s (BILA) Book Prize, and her scholarship has been recognized as a “litigation essential” by LexisNexis.

Abramovsky served as an academic evaluator for the American Bar Association’s federal judiciary committees for then Supreme Court nominees Samuel Alito and Sonya Sotomayor. Among other professional leadership positions, she also served as chair and later executive board member of the insurance law section of the American Association of Law Schools.

She holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.