Professor Cynthia Mertens Named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

School of Law Dean, Donald J. Polden, announced that Professor Cynthia Mertens has agreed to serve as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, commencing with the fall 2006 semester.

Professor Mertens received her B.A. from Stanford and J.D. from University of California’s Hastings College of Law.  She joined the Santa Clara law faculty in 1975.  She has taught Legal Systems in El Salvador, Real Estate Finance, Contemporary International Issues:  El Salvador, Property, Advanced Real Estate Transactions Seminar, Real Estate Brokers, Real Estate Development and KGACLC Civil Clinical Skills 1.  She was Executive Director of the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Clinic from 2001- 2005.

She will begin her duties as Associate Dean in the fall semester, following her sabbatical leave this semester.  Her distinguished and energetic leadership of the Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center and her many years of service as a member of the law faculty make her an excellent choice to take up the important roles of the Associate Dean position.

As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor Mertens will assist Dean Polden, the administrative staff and the faculty in a number of important academic and program matters, including attracting and supporting adjunct faculty, course scheduling, reviewing new course proposals, recruiting new and visiting faculty, and institutional strategic planning.  She will work with key law school committees on curricular planning and faculty support, and she will be an integral part of the law school’s senior administrative leadership team.

Professor Mertens will work with other members of the faculty who have important faculty leadership roles, including June Carbone, who serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Development, and Gary Neustadter, who serves at an associate dean level with respect to faculty governance issues and processes.