W&L Law Names Michelle Cosby to Lead Law Library

By Peter Jetton
December 16, 2021

Interim Dean Michelle Drumbl has announced the appointment of Michelle Cosby as Assistant Dean of Legal Information Services and Professor of Practice at Washington and Lee University School of Law. Her appointment takes effect June 1, 2022.

Cosby joins W&L from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she is director of the law library and associate professor of law. A member of Temple’s senior administration team in the law school, Cosby has provided strategic vision for the library while overseeing day-to-day operations, managing fiscal resources, supervising a team of librarians and working closely with law faculty and students to ensure their research needs are met.

“Michelle brings years of leadership experience and strategic vision to our law library, and we look forward to welcoming her to W&L Law,” said Drumbl.

Cosby is a Past President of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and has served on a wide range of AALL committees for more than a decade. During her time leading the AALL, she helped steer the organization through the many challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including coordinating AALL’s first virtual conference. Last year she was recognized as a “Fastcase 50” award winner, an honor bestowed annually on “the most fascinating trailblazers and architects of the future of law and legal technology.”

Cosby was appointed following a national search. The search committee was chaired by Brian Murchison, the Charles S. Rowe Professor of Law.

“Professor Cosby brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enhance our library and prepare it to meet the rapidly changing needs of legal education,” said Murchison.

Cosby previously served as associate director at the University of Tennessee Joel A. Katz Law Library, senior reference and instructional services librarian at the North Carolina Central University School of Law Library and as a reference librarian at the law libraries of the universities of Kentucky and Miami.

“I am excited to assume the role of Assistant Dean of Legal Information Services and work with the librarians and library staff at W&L Law,” said Cosby. “I am also looking forward to working collaboratively with the students and faculty to create a library that meets the research, curricular, and social needs of the law school.”

Cosby received her J.D. and M.L.S. degrees from Indiana University-Bloomington and her bachelor’s degree with honors from Butler University.

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