Monday, June 29, 1998
Law school names new dean
LAW SCHOOL: UCLA’s Jonathan Varat hopes to improve academic
environment for students, faculty
By Lawrence Ferchaw and Emi Kojima
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
After a national search of places of higher education, a
selection committee decided they didn’t have to look beyond our
campus for the UCLA School of Law’s next dean.
Jonathan Varat, a professor at the school for 22 years, will be
the sixth dean. He follows Susan Prager, who is stepping down after
16 years.
"I’m very excited about it," Varat said. "We have this gorgeous
new library, so I get to welcome the new class with facilities we
haven’t had before."
Unlike Prager, Varat will not have to spend much of his time
raising funds for a new library. He indicated he will work on
improving the academic programs, and at the same time he hopes to
continue the cooperative atmosphere the school has.
"(The job) is to try to make sure our students are educated in a
way that includes both wisdom and cleverness," he said. Varat also
said he is accountable for providing a good working environment for
the faculty and raising funds.
UCLA’s law school currently is ranked No. 17 by the U.S. News
Report and is the only public law school left in Southern
California. Having opened in 1949, it is one of the younger law
schools in the country.
"We will enhance our visibility so people will know how good we
are," Varat said.
Campus leaders offered praise for Varat’s skills and his ability
to lead the school.
"(Varat) is respected both as a consensus-builder and a
decision-maker – a rare combination of qualities that I believe
commends him well for the post of law school dean," Chancellor
Albert Carnesale said in an e-mail sent to the campus
community.
Varat’s predecessor is no less confident in him.
"He’s a very special person," Prager said. "He’s extraordinarily
fair."
After a national search, a committee made up of faculty from the
law school and other departments selected Varat. He was approved by
the UC Board of Regents on June 19.
Members of the selection committee declined to comment on the
process.
Varat has served twice as an associate dean of the law school
and is the co-author of a book on constitutional law used in law
schools throughout the country.
He was approved as the new dean about 12 months after Prager
announced her decision to step down.
Having taken office in 1982, Prager was the first female dean of
law in the UC system. Her term of 16 years is about four times
longer than the average time served by a dean, making her one of
the most senior law deans in the country. Varat said he would serve
the five-year appointment, but beyond that he does not know.
During her lengthy term, Prager helped promote diversity at the
law school, serving as a role model for law students and guiding
the school’s growth in size and reputation.
"Diversity is very important in a discipline where the
discipline is about what the law ought to look like," Prager
said.
Varat said he sees achieving diversity in the post-affirmative
action period as one of the challenges that awaits him.
Most recently, Prager oversaw the construction of the school’s
new Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library – one of the top 20
libraries in the country – and helped its funding with private
donations. The library will open this August.
Prager will return to being a member of the faculty, but is
going on a sabbatical before deciding what she will do next. She is
considering other administrative work and is interested in a
broader leadership role in a university.
"I’m looking forward to stepping back and taking stock," Prager
said.
During her time as dean, Prager left a mark on the school by
shaping both the programs and the facilities. Prager said she
expects a smooth transition.
"I followed a wonderful dean, and I have a theory that it is
easier to follow successful people," Prager said.
Regardless, Varat said he thinks stepping into Prager’s position
could be difficult.
"It’s a daunting task. She’s been about as good a dean as
possible," Varat said.
Photo courtesy of UCLA School of Law
Professor Jonathan Varat will assume the role as dean of UCLA’s
law school.