Summary: Mercer University’s School of Law has announced that Cathy Cox will be joining the school as the new dean starting in July.

Mercer University’s School of Law is receiving a new dean starting July 1. Cathy Cox, Young Harris College President and former Georgia Secretary of State, will succeed Daisy Hurst Floyd, who served as dean from 2004 to 2010 and then again from 2014 until now.

As a 1986 graduate of Mercer Law School, Cox will be the first alum to serve as a permanent dean of the School since William Augustus Bootle in 1933. Bootle was appointed to the federal bench and directed the integration of the University of Georgia.

Mercer Provost Dr. D. Scott Davis said, “Cathy Cox brings to the Mercer Law deanship an uncommon breadth and depth of experience in higher education, public service and the practice of law. We could not be more excited about her accepting this opportunity to return to her alma mater and provide leadership for the state’s oldest ABA-accredited law school.”

Cox has been the president of Young Harris since 2007, moving the school from a two-year college to a four-year institution. Student enrollment has doubled under her leadership as well as the number of faculty.

Cox said, “I am very excited about building on the deep foundation and rich heritage at Mercer’s School of Law to educate practice-ready lawyers who want to make a genuine difference for their clients and have a positive impact in their communities. The opportunity to do this at my alma mater makes it even more meaningful. I have loved working with phenomenal trustees, faculty and staff during the past 10 years to transform Young Harris College into a thriving liberal arts college and I hope YHC will continue to send some of its strongest graduates to Mercer’s Law School, just like the three who are enrolled there now.”

Before leading Young Harris, Cox served two terms as the secretary of state for Georgia. She was the first woman to hold the position and made Georgia the first state to move to a universal electronic voting system.

Mercer President William D. Underwood said, “I am very pleased that Cathy Cox has accepted our invitation to serve as the next dean of Mercer Law School. She has provided extraordinary leadership at Young Harris College over the past decade, is well-known and highly respected throughout the State of Georgia, and has a deep affinity for our School of Law and Mercer University. We look forward to great things from Mercer Law School under her leadership.”

Dean Floyd added, “I am thrilled that Cathy Cox will be the next dean of Mercer Law School and am excited about the future of the Law School under her leadership. She brings extraordinary experience, talent and skill to the position. I, and the other members of the Law School community, look forward to working with her to continue to provide the distinctive Mercer legal education that prepares our students for lives of service and meaning as lawyers.”

What do you think law schools can do to attract more students? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

To learn more about recently appointed deans at other law schools, read these articles:

• Incoming Law School Dean Asked for Pay Cut
• The Time of New Law School Deans Begins
• Hawaii Takes Villanova Law School Dean

Photo: columns.uga.edu