Mays and Hirsch Named Associate Deans

July 27, 2005

With the 2005-2006 school year, two Capital University Law School professors take on new roles as associate deans. Professor Shirley Mays has been named associate dean for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2005. Beginning August 2005, Professor Dennis Hirsch assumes a new position — associate dean for faculty and student development.

As associate dean of academic affairs, Mays is responsible for course scheduling, curriculum development and evaluation, and overseeing registrar and student services. She succeeds Professor Athornia Steele, ’75, ’77L, who held the position for seven years, including one year as interim dean, and returns to the law faculty to teach full-time.

Mays, a graduate of Harvard Law School and Central State University, is excited by the opportunity to serve the students and school in this capacity. “I hope to be able to leave a positive fingerprint on the school and foster creativity,” she says.

One of Mays’ early objectives is to evaluate the school’s class schedule (classes now meet more frequently, for shorter periods of time) and implementation of small sections for first year students. “My goal is to gather information and feedback on the effectiveness of these changes to the curriculum,” says Mays. “The faculty wants to ensure that we are providing the best learning environment possible.”

In his role as associate dean for faculty and student development, Hirsch is responsible for faculty development and intellectual enrichment, creating workshops on teaching and testing, and instituting programs to better integrate adjunct faculty into the life of the law school. Hirsch also oversees the academic support and bar services programs.

“By creating a second associate dean position, which is a national trend among law schools, we are able to significantly enhance our service to students and faculty,” says Dean Jack A. Guttenberg. “Professor Hirsch will provide focus to these two areas and programming that will enrich the professional development of our faculty and support our students to be successful and reach their fullest potential.”

Hirsch has many ideas for programs to enhance the scholarship and professional development of the law school faculty. “Capital’s faculty are excellent teachers, scholars and leaders. I want to offer them the best support possible as they pursue their many professional opportunities,” says Hirsch. “I plan to invite outside legal scholars to visit the law school to discuss current areas of the law and scholarly ideas, provide all faculty members with the resources they need to remain at the cutting-edge of law school education, and assist our faculty as they promote their ideas to the legal community and the broader public. It is going to be an exciting year.”

“Professors Shirley Mays and Dennis Hirsch are excellent teachers and able leaders,” adds Guttenberg. “Their knowledge and talents will be a strong addition to our administration, allowing us to continue our outstanding service to students and faculty. I also want to express my appreciation to Professor Steele who helped lead this school so adeptly for seven years.”

Prior to joining the Capital faculty in 1991, Mays practiced law in the public/municipal finance department with the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. Her experience in working with government entities has been instrumental to the Law School where she also coordinates the concentration in Governmental Affairs. Mays is a former judicial clerk for the Hon. Thomas J. Moyer, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. She is the faculty director of the Ohio Tobacco Public Policy Center, which is based at the Law School, and also serves as faculty advisor to Capital’s Black Law Students Association. Mays was a visiting professor at the University of Kentucky in fall 2001 and at Ohio State University in spring 2003. While her teaching load will be reduced during her tenure as associate dean, she teaches in the areas of business associations, local government law, property, and women and the law.

Upon graduating from Yale Law School, Hirsch clerked for Judge John M. Walker Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then practiced in the areas of environmental law and appellate litigation with Sidley & Austin in Washington, D.C., and, subsequently, taught environmental law and property at Drake University Law School and Notre Dame Law School. Professor Hirsch joined the Capital faculty in 1998 and teaches environmental law, advanced environmental law and property. His numerous scholarly writings include the textbook, Environmental Law Practice: Problems and Exercises for Skills Development. Hirsch’s expertise has been tapped by the American Bar Association (ABA) where he is vice-chair of the ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, Special Committee on Innovation, Management Systems and Trading. Hirsch directs Capitals concentration program in Environmental Law and serves as faculty advisor to the Environmental Law Society.