W&L Law’s Calhoun Named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Washington and Lee University School of Law Dean Nora V. Demleitner has announced the appointment of veteran law professor Samuel Calhoun to the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Calhoun’s appointment took effect on Aug. 15.
“I could not be more delighted to have Sam as our academic dean and am deeply grateful to him for having accepting this challenging and institutionally crucial position,” said Demleitner. “His excellent judgment, organizational talent, steady hand, and deep understanding of the institution will serve us well in what remain challenging times for all of higher education, but especially for legal education.”
Calhoun joined the W&L Law faculty in 1978, following teaching stints at the University of Wyoming and the University of Puget Sound. A highly-regarded teacher, Calhoun has twice been awarded with fellowships recognizing excellence in the classroom.
As academic dean, Calhoun will spearhead curricular initiatives, oversee the staffing and scheduling of all law classes, coordinate student advising on academic resources and course selection, and serve as the primary liaison between the faculty and dean of the law school.
“The Law School has been a wonderful place to work for 35 years. I’m honored to serve as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and look forward to the challenges of this new job,” said Calhoun.
In addition to teaching contracts, sales and legal writing, Calhoun teaches and researches on the legal and religious issues implicated by the controversy over abortion. His recent articles in this area have addressed the case of Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, as well as partial-birth abortion. Calhoun is spearheading this year’s W&L Law Review Symposium commemorating the fortieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Calhoun has also written about the role religion played in the beliefs and actions of Abraham Lincoln.
Prior to entering the legal academy, Calhoun was an associate with King & Spalding in Atlanta. He received his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and his B.A. from Harvard.
