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Dean Washburn from law school anticipates regaining his voice in face of tough political environment


University of Iowa College of Law Dean Kevin Washburn has announced that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of 2024. Washburn, who has been dean since 2018, shared his reflections on his career in higher education and public service in a conversation with Ben Kieffer on River to River.

Washburn’s decision to step down comes at a time when the state Legislature and the Republican party have been targeting what they perceive as bias in education. This includes policies that limit reading materials in K-12 libraries and restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges. Washburn expressed concern about the current climate, describing it as a “war on higher education.” He mentioned that recent legislation, such as the ban on critical race theory in Iowa’s regent schools, has had a chilling effect on academic freedom.

The outgoing dean emphasized the importance of writing skills for aspiring lawyers and implemented changes at the law school to support this, including hiring additional writing professors and increasing positions at student-edited law journals. Washburn also prioritized mental health by embedding a full-time counselor in the law school.

Before his time at the College of Law, Washburn served in various roles, including as general counsel to the National Indian Gaming Commission and assistant secretary for Indian Affairs. He expressed his desire to return to research and the classroom environment to interact more with students. Washburn’s departure will mark the end of his impactful tenure at the University of Iowa College of Law.

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Photo credit www.iowapublicradio.org

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