Summer 2018 Gavel Summer 2018 Gavel | Page 22

Rand Concludes Service as UND School of Law Dean By Rob Carolin, Director, Alumni & Public Relations UND School of Law University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy said it best when he called the UND School of Law a “cornerstone” of the University of North Dakota. and private funding for, and complete construction of, a $14.4 million major addition to and renovation of the existing law school building. Since 2009, this cornerstone program has been by guided by the outstanding leadership of Dean Kathryn R. L. Rand. On July 31, Rand concluded her service as leader of the state’s only law school. The project was ambitious both in scope relative to the budget and in deadline. Rand promised students they would be displaced only for a single academic year. With an extraordinary collective effort, the building project was completed on budget and on time, resulting in a state-of-the-art professional education setting for UND’s law students. “I have been honored to give back to the University that has given so much to me,” said Rand, a 1990 UND graduate. “My commitment to UND and the School of Law won’t end with my deanship, as I will return to my role as a full-time faculty member.” Under Rand’s leadership, the law school underwent one of the smoothest reaccreditation processes and earned the cleanest accreditation report in law school history – the educational program, student services, faculty, and library all met required standards. Rand, who also serves as the Floyd B. Sperry Professor of Law, was selected as permanent dean via a national search in 2011, following successive appointments as acting dean in 2009 and interim dean in 2010. She was the first permanent female dean in the school’s 119-year history. Her nearly 10 years of service as dean ranks her as one of the longest-serving law deans in the country. Development of a new law curriculum is another of the major accomplishments achieved by Rand and the law faculty. In recent years, UND Law has received national attention for its curricular innovations and distinctive programs, including the Rural Justice Program. A capstone accomplishment during Rand’s tenure was her effort to secure state Rand pictured with Chief Justice VandeWalle after he delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2012. 22 THE GAVEL “This has been a labor of love for me,” said Rand. “When I started as dean, I promised to work on the building project, successful reaccreditation, and supporting the faculty in Rand giving the command to raise the final steel beam at the topping off ceremony held at the new School of Law building construction site in November 2014. Rand in her first photo as interim dean in 2009. re-envisioning the curriculum. I’m delighted to have shared in those successes.” As North Dakota’s only law school, Rand took to heart the importance of the connection between the school and the state it serves. “Under her leadership, the law school has developed a wonderful partnership with the North Dakota courts and the State Bar Association of North Dakota (SBAND),” said Darcie Einarson, SBAND past president. “She has helped to improve the delivery of legal services in our state on a number of levels.” President Robert Kelley, Dean Rand, and Drew Wrigley cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony of the new School of Law building on Oct. 9, 2015. Rand successfully officiated 10 law school commencement ceremonies, which included a total of nearly 800 graduates.