Monica E. Monroe: Penn Law Dean of Students |
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March 15, 2016, Volume 62, No. 26 |
Continuing a longstanding ethic of fostering a student-centric, collegial and collaborative law school community, the University of Pennsylvania Law School (Penn Law) has appointed Monica E. Monroe as the new Dean of Students.
Ms. Monroe came to Penn Law last month from the George Washington University Law School (GW Law), where she served as associate dean of students and a lecturer in law. In this position, she directed student affairs and academic programming while advising the dean and senior staff on student-related matters in and out of the classroom. In addition to her work in student affairs, she also taught legal research and writing.
“We are exceptionally happy to welcome Monica Monroe to Penn Law,” said Ted Ruger, dean of Penn Law. “We know that she will bring commitment and drive to working with and supporting students as part of their educational experience here, and that she will become a vital part of the intellectual and social fabric of the Law School for years to come.”
Ms. Monroe earned her BA from Boston University and her JD from GW Law. She clerked for the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
After completing her clerkships, she spent six years in private practice in Washington, DC, where she focused on real estate, housing, employment and commercial law. She began teaching in the legal research and writing program at GW Law in 2004 and served as assistant dean of student affairs before her promotion to associate dean.
In addition, she is a former member on the Executive Committee of the George Washington University Law School Alumni Board of Directors, past president of GW’s Black Law Alumni Association and a founding member of the Young Professional’s Group of Covenant House Washington.
“It is an honor to join the community at Penn Law,” said Ms. Monroe.“I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand the Law School’s collegial and supportive environment. I embrace the role the Dean of Students has in modeling that ethic for our students. I look forward to working with Dean Ruger, faculty, administrators, students and alumni in an effort to ensure students engage deeply in their experience at Penn Law.”
Ms. Monroe assumed the role of Dean of Students upon the retirement of Penn Law’s longtime Dean of Students, Gary Clinton, who joined Penn Law as a library assistant in 1976 and had led the School’s student affairs office since 1992.
“I am delighted that Monica Monroe will be succeeding me as Penn Law’s Dean of Students,” said Mr. Clinton. “Monica has a wealth of experience in student affairs, a demonstrated commitment to supporting students and the sense of balance between responsiveness and responsibility that is a hallmark of Penn Law. Each meeting with her has left me with an increased certainty that Monica is the right person for this job and this place.” |