Jennifer Johnson Appointed Dean

Jennifer J. Johnson will be the next dean of Lewis & Clark Law School, President Barry Glassner announced in December. Johnson, the Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law, is a widely respected teacher and scholar who has served on the law school faculty since 1980. Her appointment as dean culminates an intensive internal search. She begins June 1 and will succeed Robert Klonoff, who will be stepping down at the end of the current academic year.

“Jennifer Johnson, with her exemplary record as a teacher and researcher and with her vast knowledge of the law school, is ideally positioned to lead the school through the next stage of its remarkable journey,” Glassner said. “I cannot imagine anyone better qualified than Professor Johnson to navigate the challenges and opportunities of legal education in this new era, while continuing the school’s steadfast commitment to putting students first.”

Johnson, a member of the American Law Institute, teaches business and securities law and is a nationally known authority in the field of securities regulation and arbitration. Her current research focuses on private placements and investor protection. Johnson is a frequent speaker at securities conferences held by the American Bar Association and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).

Johnson is a 1973 graduate of Mills College, and received her JD from Yale Law School in 1976.

“Lewis & Clark Law School is a truly world-class institution. I am very honored to serve as its next dean,” Johnson said. “The board, faculty, staff, and alumni are all dedicated to enriching the educational experience we provide our students. I look forward to working with President Glassner and my talented colleagues to build upon Lewis & Clark’s tradition of success and continued excellence in a changing world.”

After graduating from law school, Johnson clerked for Judge Alfred T. Goodwin on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She practiced law with the Stoel Rives firm in Portland for several years before joining the law school faculty. She has received awards and accolades for excellence in teaching, including the Leo Levinson Award given annually to recognize the top teacher at the law school. In 2008, Johnson was named Jeffrey Bain Faculty Scholar in recognition of her exemplary teaching and scholarship in business law. She was installed as the Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law in 2011.

“How fortunate we are to have Jennifer Johnson as our next law school dean,” said John Bates, life trustee, past chair of the Lewis & Clark Board of Trustees, and member of the law school’s Board of Visitors. “Over many years at the law school, Jennifer has proven that she is a leader, a scholar, and an exceptional teacher. I am confident she will continue the tradition of strong, expert leadership at Lewis & Clark Law School.”

Glassner thanked Klonoff for his seven years’ service as dean, noting his success in advancing the school’s reputation, establishing innovative new programs in global law, and attracting numerous world-class legal minds—including several U.S. Supreme Court Justices—to speak at the law school.

Klonoff will return to teaching at Lewis & Clark after a one-year sabbatical.