The Board of Trustees of William Mitchell College of Law today announced the appointment of Mark C. Gordon, a respected educator and innovator, as its new president and dean.

Mark C. Gordon named president and dean of William Mitchell College of Law effective July 1, 2015. ( ...

Mark C. Gordon named president and dean of William Mitchell College of Law effective July 1, 2015. (Photo: Business Wire)

Gordon will begin as president and dean at William Mitchell on July 1, 2015, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in higher education and public service. He is currently president of Defiance College, a private, liberal arts college in Defiance, Ohio, and previously served as dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

“Mark Gordon emerged as the top choice from a diverse pool of highly accomplished leaders in the nationwide search,” said the Honorable Helen M. Meyer ‘83, retired justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, vice chair of Mitchell’s board, and chair of the search committee. “Mark’s academic and administrative experience coupled with his strong leadership skills and commitment to innovation in education make him the right person to lead William Mitchell at this time in its rich 115-year history.”

As president of Defiance College, Gordon strengthened the college’s position as one of the country’s premier academic institutions for students interested in public service and community engagement, as the college garnered recognition in 2013 as one of the top 20 schools nationally for community service and engagement. Gordon also led a team that increased full-time freshman enrollment, expanded diversity, created a range of academic initiatives to give students hands-on experience linking the classroom and the real world, and guaranteed full-time students in good standing an international opportunity. Under Gordon’s leadership, the college also significantly enhanced its financial condition and successfully completed a $26 million capital campaign.

As dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Gordon bolstered the school’s national reputation by creating exemplary public service programs, international opportunities, and curricular innovations focused on ensuring that students had the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the real world. During Gordon’s tenure, enrollment at the law school nearly doubled, diversity increased, and the school received national recognition for its success in helping students get jobs in major national law firms.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead William Mitchell during this time of great change both in the legal profession and in legal education,” said Gordon. “I am extremely impressed with the dedication, commitment, and openness to innovation of the trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and I am confident that Mitchell truly can lead the way in developing a distinctive model of 21st century legal education. Through initiatives like the hybrid program, a wide range of skills courses and simulations, and a top-ranked clinical program, William Mitchell has already demonstrated its ability to think outside the box, and I am eager to work with the entire Mitchell community to continue to take Mitchell’s brand of practical legal education to new heights.”

In addition to his time with Defiance College and Detroit Mercy School of Law, Gordon’s distinguished career includes serving as an associate professor in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, as general deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and on the staff of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

Gordon graduated magna cum laude with a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School. He holds a Master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University.

He will succeed Eric S. Janus who is stepping down after eight years to return to the faculty, a position he held for 23 years prior to being named president and dean in 2007. “I am thrilled to have Mark on board,” said Dan O’Keefe ’78, chair of Mitchell’s Board of Trustees. ”I know he will continue to build upon the significant achievements made under Eric’s leadership. On behalf of the board, I extend our deepest appreciation to Eric for his extraordinary service and profound and continued contributions to William Mitchell.”

About William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law was founded in 1900 to provide an accessible, practical legal education rooted in the real-world needs of lawyers, the legal profession, and the community. Today, it is home to the top-ranked clinical program in the region; robust externship and mentoring programs; faculty who are teachers, scholars, and practitioners; and a large, proud, and supportive alumni base of nearly 12,000. Accredited in 1943, Mitchell is the only ABA-approved law school to offer three distinct enrollment options: full time, part time, and a new on-campus/online hybrid option. For more information, visit wmitchell.edu.