Major personnel changes at Brooklyn Law School: New roles emphasize student success and diversity

July 17, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

Karen Porter, the former Arthur Pinto & Stephen Bohlen Associate Dean of Inclusion & Diversity, has transitioned to the role of Associate Dean for Academic and Student Success. Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Law School.

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Brooklyn Law School has ushered in a wave of personnel changes, with seven new faculty and staff appointments announced this summer. These transitions, which became effective on July 1, aim to bolster the institution’s commitment to diversity, student success, experiential education, and academic excellence.

Professor Joy Kanwar steps into Porter’s previous role as Associate Dean of Inclusion & Diversity.

Karen Porter, the former Arthur Pinto & Stephen Bohlen Associate Dean of Inclusion & Diversity, has transitioned to the role of Associate Dean for Academic and Student Success, where she will work towards improving student experiences and outcomes. To assist in these efforts, Linda Feldman, Associate Professor of Legal Writing Emeritus, will serve as the Director of Bar Preparation and Adjunct Professor of Law.

Professor Joy Kanwar, known for her legal writing courses and scholarship on inclusion and exclusion in immigration and citizenship law, steps into Porter’s previous role as Associate Dean of Inclusion & Diversity. She has already planned initiatives such as a Town Hall to discuss recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action in higher education and efforts to highlight Native American and indigenous law within the school’s curriculum.

Professor Susan Hazeldean will be succeeding Professor Stacy Caplow as Associate Dean of Experiential Education.

Another significant appointment sees Professor Susan Hazeldean taking up the position of Associate Dean of Experiential Education, succeeding Professor Stacy Caplow. Hazeldean is set to expand the school’s renowned clinical education program with a new civil clinic for eviction prevention led by newly-hired Assistant Professor of Clinical Law, Professor Aissatou Barry.

In addition to these changes, the law school has also announced the appointment of four directors. Notably, alumna Diane Penneys Edelman has transitioned from her spring 2023 role as Visiting Director of International Programs to permanent Director of International Programs. Simultaneously, Professors Prianka Nair, Heidi Gilchrist, and Maria Termini have taken up director roles in the Disability and Civil Rights Clinic, and Legal Research and Writing, respectively.

Brooklyn Law School’s recognition of outstanding faculty also continues with the appointment of Professors Wilfred Codrington III and Alexis Hoag-Fordjour as Dean’s Research Scholars. This title, first introduced in 2022, celebrates distinguished faculty researchers for a three-year term.