Education

B.A., The University of Kansas
J.D., St. Louis University School of Law

Biography

Michael J. States joined the law school in December 2021 as the Inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Prior to coming to UW Law, he was the Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid, and Diversity Initiatives at The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas and his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law, where he was president of the Black Law Students Association and a member of the Council of Presidents.  Dean States began his law school administration career as the Associate Director of Admissions at the UIC John Marshall Law School.  He has been the Director of Admissions at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Stuart Graduate School of Business.  From 2004 to 2015, he was the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of North Carolina School of Law. 

Dean States is a member of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Schools and Candidates committee, a consultant for the Council for Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), Achieving Success in the Application Process program, and a member of the Executive Committee for both the Association of American Law School's section on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Legal Professions Chapter. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of Christian Brothers High School in St. Louis, Missouri.