Dear Members of the New York Law School Community,
Earlier this year Dean Richard A. Matasar announced his decision to leave New York Law School. Dean Matasar will become Vice President of University Enterprise Initiatives at New York University (NYU) effective January 1, 2012. In this new position, he will focus on e-learning technologies and partnerships as well as programmatic synergies across the different schools of NYU and throughout their global network.
Dean Matasar's change comes after more than two decades as a law school dean, including 11 years as the Dean of New York Law School. Among the many highlights of Dean Matasar's tenure at New York Law School are the following: the establishment of innovative academic programs providing students instruction in both legal theory and practice skills; several academic centers and programs in which students hone their skills through direct collaboration with faculty; the launch of an innovative first-year skills curriculum; the addition of leading scholars to the faculty; the launch of a successful capital and fundraising campaign; and the building of an outstanding new learning facility.
For over a decade, Rick Matasar has been a transformational presence at New York Law School, guiding us through a period of great change in New York City and the nation. A passionate advocate for educational reform, his commitment to the welfare of our students has been unwavering. I am confident that he will continue to make positive change in the field of higher education and in the lives of students as they find their way to rewarding careers in the law and elsewhere.
In Dean Matasar's letter to the School in which he announced his decision, he said: "I am deeply grateful to have had the extremely rewarding opportunity of working with the New York Law School community. I believe that together we have made a positive and enduring difference embodied in the theme that informs our curriculum and defines our mission, 'Learn Law, Take Action.' We have achieved much, we are ready for future challenges, and we are stronger than ever."
The Law School will recognize Dean Matasar's contributions at the 2011 New York Law School Gala to be held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on November 9, 2011. He will be honored for representing the Law School's core value of fostering professionalism and integrity, alongside fellow honorees, trustees Susan Mendik Tarkinow, for her commitment to justice, and Vincent Carbonell '00, for his commitment to innovation. For more information, please visit www.nyls.edu/gala2011 .
The Board of Trustees has asked Associate Dean Carol Buckler to serve as Interim Dean beginning January 1, 2012, until a new Dean and President is appointed. Dean Buckler has taught at New York Law School since 1991, and has been an Associate Dean, first in Professional Development and now in Academic Affairs, since 2002. We have launched a search for a new dean, recently hiring the firm of Storbeck/Pimentel to assist a committee of trustees and faculty in the search. The Committee will be reaching out to the various constituencies of the School through electronic surveys and on-campus meetings. You can expect to hear from them shortly about how you can participate. I hope that you will give us your input as we engage in the process of finding a new Dean and President. I am confident that New York Law School will find a dynamic new leader to build on the successes of the last 11 years and to take our School to even greater prominence in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
Arthur N. Abbey '59
Chair, Board of Trustees