Ronald Weich to Step Down as University of Baltimore School of Law Dean
September 19, 2023
Contact: Office of Advancement and External Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Ronald Weich, who has served as dean of The University of Baltimore School of Law since 2012, announced his decision to step down by the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
"I am proud of my long tenure as dean of this outstanding law school. I have loved every minute of my deanship, but it is time for the school to enjoy a change in leadership while I pursue new professional opportunities," Weich says. "In the coming months, I remain committed to keeping the law school strong and on track for its next chapter."
Among the highlights of Weich's 11-year tenure are the 2013 opening of the landmark John and Frances Angelos Law Center, with keynote speeches by then-Vice President Joseph Biden and Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. Other distinguished speakers Weich brought to the law school over the years have included Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, and many leaders of the Maryland bench and bar.
During Weich's tenure, the highly regarded Clinical Law Program saw continued success, rising to a ranking of 6th in the nation for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. The law school continues to be recognized by preLaw magazine for the diversity of its student population and its success in preparing students for public interest law careers.
"It takes a special combination of strength, wisdom and humility to run a law school," says UBalt President Kurt L. Schmoke, who previously served as dean of Howard University Law School. "The law is often subject to sweeping change, sometimes in the face of social disorder and systemic injustices. A great law school like ours requires leadership that can thrive in the face of that constant need to improve the landscape. Throughout his tenure, Ron Weich exhibited these qualities in abundance, and our students, professors, alumni, clients and friends were the beneficiaries. We thank him for his service and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life."
Weich says he is extremely proud of the faculty and staff at the School of Law.
"Among other accomplishments, they kept the school running without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting swiftly to remote education when that was a public health imperative. We have happily resumed in-person classes and events, but we also are designing a number of online classes to provide more flexibility to students while maintaining the strong sense of community and shared purpose that makes our law school special," he says.
After a nationwide downturn in law school enrollments following the 2008 recession, the School of Law bounced back under Weich's leadership.
"Our school now enjoys stable enrollment, a sturdy budget and a healthy relationship with the central University. We also have very loyal alumni, many of whom support the school financially," says Weich. "With their help, we have established new clinics and centers, such as the Center for Criminal Justice Reform. And perhaps the best measure of our success is the extent to which School of Law graduates secure jobs and contribute to the civic life of Baltimore, the State of Maryland and beyond."
Plans are under way to celebrate Weich's service later this academic year. The University will conduct a national search for Weich's successor, with the goal of having a new dean in place by summer 2024.
About The University of Baltimore School of Law
Founded in 1925, The University of Baltimore School of Law provides a rigorous and practical legal education, combining doctrinal coursework and community-based learning to ensure that its graduates are exceptionally well prepared to practice law. The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.