“Freaky Wednesday” – 1Ls Switch Places with Deans Guttenberg and Mays

April 14, 2008

First year law students Ajmeri Hoque and Laurin Wisnor filled in for Dean Jack Guttenberg and Associate Dean Shirley Mays on April 9, 2008. The two of them were the highest bidders for the “Dean for a Day” package in the 2008 Public Interest and Government Law Association (PI-Gov) Silent Auction. As the highest bidders, they were able to change places with the deans who attended the students’ classes that day.

Both student “deans” are evening students originally from New York City: Hoque is from the Bronx; Wisnor is from Staten Island. Hoque, who played the part of Dean Guttenberg, graduated from The Ohio State University with a major in political science and a minor in professional writing. She took a year off before attending law school and worked at the Franklin Municipal Court. Her fields of interest are business and international law.

Wisnor, who filled in for Dean Mays, graduated from Boston College with a degree in secondary education and Irish studies. Additionally, she has a certificate in public policy from the University of Massachusetts. Prior to law school, she worked in the legal department of a financial services organization.

Both students spent the day in meetings, conducting interviews and reviewing promotional literature for the Law School. They attended a reception with students and faculty at the end of the day in honor of their service for a day.

Wisnor and Hoque were in agreement as to why they bid on the opportunity to be dean for a day: “We thought it was a good way for students to see the deans’ perspectives and for the deans to be reminded of what it’s like to be a student.”

Deans Guttenberg and Mays, playing the roles of student, attended classes and took notes for their counterparts. As students, they hung out in the commons, studied for class, went to the library, and got involved in the life of the law school.

The student “deans” were asked to give advice to incoming students. Hoque responded that students should “take handwritten notes and be organized.”

Wisnor suggested, “Don’t sit near friends. And no matter how prepared you are, you won’t feel prepared, but don’t panic.”

The “Dean for a Day” packages were offered as part of the 2008 PI-Gov Silent Auction. This year, the auction raised its greatest amount in the three years it has been held: $7614.00. The auction funds a fellowship for law students working in public interest and government positions during the summer.