University of Washington Provost Phyllis Wise has announced that Kellye Testy, who currently is dean and professor of law at Seattle University, will become dean of the UW School of Law, effective Sept. 1. She also will be named the James W. Mifflin University Professor.
Her appointment was approved by the UW Board of Regents May 14.
“Kellye Testy has demonstrated broad leadership experience and has successfully led the Seattle University Law School to its current stature,” said Wise. “We are excited for her to bring her commitment to legal education to our law school to advance it to an even greater level of excellence, gaining even greater national and international recognition and respect.”
“I am honored by this appointment and thank President Emmert, Provost Wise, and the faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the UW law school for their trust and confidence,” said Testy.
“I look forward to leading the law school to its next level of educational excellence and to leveraging the UW’s status as one of the top public research universities in the nation to build collaborative partnerships inside and outside the university to address complex issues facing our state, nation and world.”
Testy is the first permanent female dean in the School of Law’s 110-year history.
Testy has been professor and dean at Seattle University since 2005. She began at Seattle University in 1992 as assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 1996. From 2001 to 2003, she was the Patricia L. Wismer Professor of Law, and in 2004 became associate dean for academic administration.
Testy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University in 1982. She received her J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991, graduating summa cum laude. She served as law clerk for the Honorable Jesse E. Eschbach on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1991 and 1992.
At Seattle University, Testy has taught courses on contracts, corporate governance, corporations and public policy, business entities, securities regulation, payment law, gender and law, and economic justice.
As dean at Seattle University, Testy has increased the school’s reputation and accomplishments regionally, nationally and internationally. She has raised the school’s rankings, improved its advancement operations, elevated faculty scholarship and enhanced institutional pride and morale.
Her awards include the Washington State Trial Lawyers Public Justice Award (2006), the President’s Award from King County Women Lawyers (2006), the President’s Award from Washington Women Lawyers (2007), the President’s Award from the Washington State Bar Association (2007), the Friend of the Legal Profession Award from the King County Bar Association (2008) and the Special Friend Award from the Loren Miller (African American) Bar Association of Washington (2008).
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