Dean Alicia Ouellette

I work with superheroes! We celebrated my last ever all-staff meeting in style. I’m so grateful to the Albany Law staff for all the ways they make our institution better!

Congratulations to our Government Law Center Fellows! After all the classes, the mentoring, and the special programs, you are ready to lead in public service and beyond. We are so proud of you!

It’s a busy time at our law school: grilled cheese courtesy of the SBA, chess in the gym, affinity groups at my house, a new group of newly crowned editors in chief, Gabrielli finals, and the Watkins Rugby tournament. Only at Albany Law!

NY’s brand new Chief Judge, Rowan Wilson, visited Albany Law today. What a great opportunity for our students. Many thanks to the Chief. You are welcome any time!

Spring has finally arrived when Professor Redwood teaches in the courtyard.

Congratulations to the amazing 2022-2023 Moot Court Board for running a hugely successful national competition this weekend. 24 teams from law schools across the nation competed in the 35th annual Gabrielli Family Competition. Led by competition Chair Emma Salazar-Blake, the board tended every detail in an incredibly well run and complicated event, showing off the best of Albany Law! Well done!!

With mixed emotions, and enormous pride in our law school, I sent the following message to our alumni community today. For what it is worth, I will always be a proud member of the Albany Law family.

Dear Alumni:

Last Friday, Albany Law School celebrated the Class of 2022 with its 171st Commencement ceremony. The well-deserved celebration was full of joy, inspiration, and pride for our incredible graduates and their families. As a community, we looked back on years of hard work, learning, and law school in a time of pandemic. We also looked ahead with excitement as our new graduates transition from student to professional, ready to take on their next challenge.

I too am looking ahead, and I am writing today to share some news. With the Law School moving in a positive direction on all fronts, I believe now is the time to begin a transition to new leadership. I have decided to end my term as president and dean at the end of my current contract, which runs until June 30, 2023. It’s an exciting time for Albany Law School, and I believe we will benefit when a new leader takes the helm with fresh ideas, energy, and inspiration to further elevate our school.

In the meantime, I remain at your service. I will continue to put everything I have into growing and improving our school. During my last year, I plan to continue to support our community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni; fund raise; teach; mentor students and employees; work to develop new flexible programs; improve our existing JD program; grow our graduate school; and begin implementation of a new strategic plan.

In other words, I’m still all in. And after I finish my current term, I expect that I will return to full-time teaching as a member of the faculty following a sabbatical leave. I love nothing more than working with our extraordinary students; I hope I can contribute meaningfully in that role.

Given that we have so much work to do in the months ahead, I am not going to spend time now reflecting on the past 8 years. There will be plenty of time for reflection this time next year. I will, however, take a moment to thank each one of you for the support and confidence you’ve shown me and our school. We would not be where we are without you.

Looking forward to another year of forward progress.

My best,

Alicia

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

It was a joy and honor to spend some time with the inaugural class of Women’s Leadership Fellows at the Albany Women’s Leadership Initiative retreat. Inspiring students, inspiring speakers, and a lot of laughs!

A little miracle on ice fun in the courtyard. Students Matt Walsh and Dwight Eagan make the best of a frigid February afternoon. Photo credit Amy Mangione

Look who stopped by while interviewing candidates for JAG jobs. So great to see Natalia (Detko) Helmsing, ‘14, CPT, JA. Visits from former students are one of the best parts of my job!

Welcome back picnic with faculty and families at our house. Thanks to Four Corners Luncheonette for filling our bellies. A nice way to kick off the new semester!