New Dean of the Levin College of Law

David R. Colburn, Provost

I am very pleased to announce that Professor Robert Jerry from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has been named dean of the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law, effective July 1. Professor Jerry succeeds Jon Mills, who will remain on the law faculty and with the college’s Center for Governmental Responsibility.

The University of Florida is very fortunate to have Professor Jerry taking the helm at the Levin College of Law. He is a leading scholar in his field, widely respected nationally and former Dean at the University of Kansas. He also practiced law for three years before joining the academy. His combination of private sector experience and national standing as an administrator and scholar offers the Levin College of Law great leadership for the future.

Professor Jerry currently is the Floyd R. Gibson Missouri Endowed Professor of Law at the University of Missouri- Columbia School of Law, where he has been on faculty since 1998. From 1994 to 1998, he held the Herff chair at the University of Memphis School of Law. He taught at the University of Kansas School of Law from 1981 to 1994, where he also served as dean from 1989 to 1994. His teaching and published books/articles focus on insurance law, contracts and health care finance and access.

He earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in 1974 from Indiana State University and his law degree cum laude in 1977 from University of Michigan. After clerking for U.S. Circuit Judge George E. MacKinnon in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, he practiced law from 1978 to 1981 with Barnes Hickam Pantzer & Boyd of Indianapolis. Please join me in welcoming Professor Jerry.