Law school names new dean

Published: Monday, June 29, 1998

Monday, June 29, 1998

LAW SCHOOL: UCLA's Jonathan Varat hopes to improve academic environment for students, faculty

By Lawrence Ferchaw and Emi Kojima

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

After a national search of places of higher education, a selection committee decided they didn't have to look beyond our campus for the UCLA School of Law's next dean.

Jonathan Varat, a professor at the school for 22 years, will be the sixth dean. He follows Susan Prager, who is stepping down after 16 years.

"I'm very excited about it," Varat said. "We have this gorgeous new library, so I get to welcome the new class with facilities we haven't had before."

Unlike Prager, Varat will not have to spend much of his time raising funds for a new library. He indicated he will work on improving the academic programs, and at the same time he hopes to continue the cooperative atmosphere the school has.

"(The job) is to try to make sure our students are educated in a way that includes both wisdom and cleverness," he said. Varat also said he is accountable for providing a good working environment for the faculty and raising funds.

UCLA's law school currently is ranked No. 17 by the U.S. News Report and is the only public law school left in Southern California. Having opened in 1949, it is one of the younger law schools in the country.

"We will enhance our visibility so people will know how good we are," Varat said.

Campus leaders offered praise for Varat's skills and his ability to lead the school.

"(Varat) is respected both as a consensus-builder and a decision-maker - a rare combination of qualities that I believe commends him well for the post of law school dean," Chancellor Albert Carnesale said in an e-mail sent to the campus community.

Varat's predecessor is no less confident in him.

"He's a very special person," Prager said. "He's extraordinarily fair."

After a national search, a committee made up of faculty from the law school and other departments selected Varat. He was approved by the UC Board of Regents on June 19.

Members of the selection committee declined to comment on the process.

Varat has served twice as an associate dean of the law school and is the co-author of a book on constitutional law used in law schools throughout the country.

He was approved as the new dean about 12 months after Prager announced her decision to step down.

Having taken office in 1982, Prager was the first female dean of law in the UC system. Her term of 16 years is about four times longer than the average time served by a dean, making her one of the most senior law deans in the country. Varat said he would serve the five-year appointment, but beyond that he does not know.

During her lengthy term, Prager helped promote diversity at the law school, serving as a role model for law students and guiding the school's growth in size and reputation.

"Diversity is very important in a discipline where the discipline is about what the law ought to look like," Prager said.

Varat said he sees achieving diversity in the post-affirmative action period as one of the challenges that awaits him.

Most recently, Prager oversaw the construction of the school's new Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library - one of the top 20 libraries in the country - and helped its funding with private donations. The library will open this August.

Prager will return to being a member of the faculty, but is going on a sabbatical before deciding what she will do next. She is considering other administrative work and is interested in a broader leadership role in a university.

"I'm looking forward to stepping back and taking stock," Prager said.

During her time as dean, Prager left a mark on the school by shaping both the programs and the facilities. Prager said she expects a smooth transition.

"I followed a wonderful dean, and I have a theory that it is easier to follow successful people," Prager said.

Regardless, Varat said he thinks stepping into Prager's position could be difficult.

"It's a daunting task. She's been about as good a dean as possible," Varat said.

Photo courtesy of UCLA School of Law

Professor Jonathan Varat will assume the role as dean of UCLA's law school.