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Identifier
soh-057
Collection Number
Suffolk University Oral History Project (SOH-057)
Description
Robert Smith, professor of law and former dean of Suffolk University Law School reflects on his eight years as dean (1999-2007) and his return to teaching (2007-2020). He notes the priorities that defined his deanship, including enhancing the external reputation of the school, diversifying the student body, expanding clinical opportunities for students, increasing the role and standing of the clinical and legal writing faculty, and increasing the bar passage rate. He describes efforts to increase the scholarly work of the faculty, the development of international programs, and the addition of specializations in the curriculum. He also discusses the creation of the Rappaport Center for Public Policy, the first endowed faculty chair, as well as the development of a distinguished visiting faculty program. Smith reflects on university-wide developments such as the hiring of Suffolk’s first provost and her role in advancing the identity of Suffolk as one university, not three individual schools. He concludes with recollections of his transition to the faculty, his committee assignments, important colleagues, and significant aspects of his career at Suffolk.
Subject Heading
Suffolk University—History; Suffolk University--Law School
Interview Date
2021
City
Boston
Keywords
Suffolk University History
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Robert H. and Stoll, Nancy, "Oral History Interview with Robert Smith (SOH-057 video recording and transcript)" (2021). Suffolk University Oral History Project. 68.
https://dc.suffolk.edu/soh/68