Wendy Collins Perdue named dean of University of Richmond law school
University of Richmond School of Law
February 28, 2011
Wendy Collins Perdue, an associate dean and professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, has been named the next dean of University of Richmond’s School of Law, effective July 1.
A prolific scholar of civil procedure and conflict of laws, as well as land use and public health, Perdue has served at Georgetown since 1982. Upon graduation from Duke Law School, she clerked for Anthony M. Kennedy, then a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge and now associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She went on to practice law in Washington, D.C., before joining Georgetown’s law faculty.
She succeeds John G. Douglass, Richmond law dean since 2008 and a professor of law at the school since 1996.
“Wendy Perdue is a creative, accomplished dean, recognized nationally for scholarship and her academic leadership at Georgetown Law,” said Stephen Allred, Richmond’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, in announcing Perdue’s appointment. “She will work closely with our law school faculty, staff and students to take the University of Richmond Law School to a higher level. She was the clear first choice of our stakeholders, and we’re delighted she will be joining us this summer.”
Perdue expressed enthusiasm for the challenges that Richmond’s law school and legal education face in the coming years.
“There are many changes happening in the legal profession, and legal services will be delivered in many different ways, but I believe the need for well educated lawyers will continue to be strong,” Perdue said. “The best lawyers combine intellect with imagination, and rigorous analysis with an understanding of human complexity.”
