Daniel O. Bernstine, who was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School from 1990 to 1997, will be the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) starting July 1, 2007.
Bernstine, who has been President of Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, was selected from scores of candidates by the LSAC Board after a lengthy search process.
LSAC, whose members include law schools across the United States and Canada, owns the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and administers a wide array of admission services for law school applicants. LSAC is a leader in encouraging members of underrepresented groups to attend law school and become lawyers.
Bernstine earned his LL.M. degree as a William H. Hastie Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1975.
Acknowledged as a highly effective and celebrated dean and president, he helped build Portland State University into the largest university in the state, increasing its impact in Oregon, the nation, and the world.
As Dean of the Wisconsin Law School, Bernstine was renowned for his administrative ability, dedication to students, and extraordinary faculty recruitment. Dean Bernstine commenced his legal career at the United States Department of Labor and has served as General Counsel of Howard University, where he was also a professor and Interim Dean of Howard University School of Law.
An attorney and an expert on courts and higher education, Bernstine is the author of three books and numerous scholarly articles. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the Northwestern University School of Law in addition to holding his master’s from the UW Law School.
"Dan Bernstine is the right leader for LSAC," said Kent Syverud, Dean at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and Chair of the LSAC Board of Trustees. "He brings great wisdom about undergraduate education, law schools, and the practicing bar, as well as a proven track record of success as a manager and academic leader."
Bernstine commented, "I'm looking forward to joining the LSAC, which has a tremendous impact on all law students and the legal profession in the United States and Canada. I will miss my colleagues and friends at Portland State, and I thank them all for our successes in moving the University forward."
Bernstine succeeds Dean Philip Shelton, who will retire in June after 14 years as LSAC President. Shelton greatly expanded LSAC programs and resources, emphasizing the importance of access to the legal profession for students from a wide array of backgrounds.
Submitted by on April 11, 2007
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