DU Chancellor Robert Coombe has announced that Professor Martin Katz will serve as interim dean of the Sturm College of Law, effective July 1.
Katz follows outgoing Dean José (Beto) Juárez Jr., who announced in February his decision to step down as dean. Juárez plans to conduct research during the 2009–10 academic year, then return to a teaching position at DU. He began his tenure at DU in July 2006.
A national search for a new dean is under way.
Katz joined the Sturm College of Law as a faculty member in 2000. Prior to that, he served as partner in the law firm Davis, Graham & Stubbs and taught as an adjunct instructor of law at the University of Colorado. He received his BA, magna cum laude, in economics from Harvard College in 1987 and his JD degree from Yale. His scholarly career has focused on labor and employment law.
Coombe recognized Katz’ many contributions to the University and the legal community as a whole.
“Professor Katz has become actively involved in faculty governance and committee work at the College,” Coombe says. “He was recently elected by his peers to the Faculty Executive Committee and the Planning for Excellence Committee.”
“I am extremely pleased to be able to serve in this capacity,” Katz says. “It is a tremendously exciting time for the Sturm College of Law. My goal is to hand over the job to the next dean a school with a solid sense of direction—one oriented towards excellence.”