Published May 1, 2024
Dear University Community:
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of S. Todd Brown as dean of UB’s School of Law, effective May 9, 2024. Professor Brown has served as interim dean since July 2023. Prior to interim dean, Professor Brown was William J. Magavern Faculty Scholar and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs in UB’s School of Law.
Professor Brown’s appointment results from an extensive international search that yielded a pool of highly competitive candidates. Professor Brown brings to this role significant scholarly and teaching accomplishments, substantial administrative experience, a proven dedication to UB students and faculty, and a deep commitment to enabling their success. Under his leadership, I am confident that the School of Law will continue to build its reputation and strength as a world-class center for interdisciplinary studies and innovation in scholarship, teaching, and clinical education.
Prior to interim dean, Professor Brown served for seven years as vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Law. In this role, he led several aspects of the school’s strategic planning efforts and improved support for faculty. He made important contributions to improving student outcomes during this time, and updated academic policies to align with evolving American Bar Association (ABA) and New York Bar requirements. In addition, he was critical to the School of Law’s successful transition to distance learning in spring 2020 during the pandemic.
An accomplished scholar, Professor Brown is an expert on bankruptcy trusts, chapter 11, complex litigation and mass torts. His scholarship has been cited in a variety of state and federal opinions, and he has testified concerning these issues before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, state legislatures, American Bar Association task force on asbestos and bankruptcy trusts, and the American Bankruptcy Institute's Commission to Reform Chapter 11.
Prior to joining UB in 2009, Professor Brown was the managing partner of a small business, an attorney with WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., and Jones Day in Washington and Cleveland, and a Freedman Fellow at Temple University. He received his JD from Columbia University and an LLM from Temple University.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dean Kemper Lewis and all of the members of the search committee for their outstanding service, which was crucial to the successful outcome of this search. For more details on this appointment, please view the full announcement here.
Please join me in congratulating Professor Brown and welcoming him to this significant leadership role within our campus community.
Sincerely,
A. Scott Weber Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs