Camille A. Nelson
3rd Dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law
Assumed office
1 August 2020
Preceded byAviam Soifer
Personal details
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Kingston, Jamaica
ResidenceWashington, D.C.
Alma materUniversity of Toronto, (BA)
University of Ottawa, (LLB)
Columbia University, (LLM)
ProfessionLegal Scholar, Lawyer, Professor of Law
WebsiteOfficial bio

Camille A. Nelson is a Canadian-Jamaican law professor and dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Jamaica,[2] Nelson graduated with her bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, earned her law degree from the University of Ottawa, and an LL.M. from Columbia University.[3][4]

Career

In 1994, Camille Nelson became the first black woman to clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada when she was selected by Justice Frank Iacobucci.[5] In 2000, Nelson became Professor of Law at Saint Louis University School of Law. Nelson served there until becoming a Visiting Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law. In September 2010, Nelson became the first woman and the first person of color to lead Suffolk University Law School as a Dean and Professor of Law.[6][7][8][3] At Suffolk, Nelson launched the Law Practice Technology and Innovation Institute, a law technology academic concentration and programs designed to provide access to legal services for people experiencing economic hardship.[6] Nelson visited Havana during the Cuban thaw, becoming the first American law school dean to do so since the Cuban Revolution, and facilitating discussions which enabled a class of Suffolk University Law School students to attend a course in Cuba.[9] After Suffolk, Nelson was appointed Dean and Professor of Law at the American University Washington College of Law. During Nelson's tenure AU,"[f]or the first time saw three specialty programs ranked in the top five in the 2021 U.S. News Specialty Rankings – Clinical Program #2, International Law #4, and Trial Advocacy #4."[10] in 2017, Nelson was awarded Columbia Law School's Distinguished Alumni Award[11] for her "excellent work as a scholar, practitioner, faculty member, and speaker, and [for her] outstanding service to the legal community".[12] Nelson is the first woman to serve as dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law.[6][2]

Nelson is an expert on the intersection of critical race theory and cultural studies with particular emphasis on criminal law and procedure, health law, and comparative law.[13]

References

  1. ^ "New dean for UH William S. Richardson School of Law". University of Hawai'i News. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Mendoza, Jim. "The University of Hawaii's law school welcomes its first female dean". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Historic firsts in Suffolk Law naming", Boston Globe (25 June 2010), p. B8.
  4. ^ "Suffolk taps Nelson as new law school dean". The Boston Globe. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  5. ^ Fineman, Martha Albertson; Thomson, Michael (15 April 2016). Exploring Masculinities: Feminist Legal Theory Reflections. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-13731-3.
  6. ^ a b c "Suffolk Law School dean to leave at year's end". Boston Business Journal. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Camille A. Nelson Chosen to Lead Law School". Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  8. ^ Mendoza, Jim. "The University of Hawaii's law school welcomes its first female dean". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  9. ^ Matt Rocheleau, "Suffolk students making well-timed visit to Cuba", The Boston Globe (17 January 2015), p. B1, B4.
  10. ^ "Camille Nelson Steps Down as Dean of AU Washington College of Law". American University Washington College of Law. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Paul Robeson Conference and Gala". Columbia Law School's Black Law Students Association. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Dean Nelson Receives Columbia Law BLSA's Alumni Award - Announcements - Dean & Leadership". American University Washington College of Law. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Camille Nelson: Opening Doors for Others". diverseeducation.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
Academic offices Preceded byBernard Keenan [interim] (2008–2010) Dean of Suffolk University Law School 2010–2015 Succeeded byAndrew M. Perlman Preceded byClaudio Grossman (1995–2016) Dean of American University Washington College of Law 2016–2020 Succeeded byRoger Fairfax Preceded byAviam Soifer Dean of William S. Richardson School of Law 2020–present Succeeded byIncumbent
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