From the Dean

Dear Alumni and Friends:

In the absence of the ability individually and personally to thank so many of you for the support you have given me and the law school, this serves to convey that appreciation and to advise that, effective January 1, 2006, I am ending my service as dean and assuming the responsibilities of a professor of law.

As this chapter concludes, I look forward to a resumption of my teaching and scholarly responsibilities while simultaneously feeling enormous pride about what we have accomplished. In addition to reorganizing the campaign for the new building through the enlistment of alumni and friends across the state and beyond, I am pleased that both internally and externally we are a stronger law school in every respect. We enter the third, most critical, phase of our campaign not only ready for, but deserving of, the support that has been promised us.

Nothing more dramatically captures the future we envision as one of the very best law schools in the nation than our commitment to improve our facilities. Our current building, constructed for a mission more than three decades old, strains to address the increasing demands and opportunities made possible by evolving law, developing pedagogy, and advancing technology. The construction of a state-of-the-art law school building symbolizes our commitment to seize every opportunity to assure that the next generation of South Carolina lawyers share a future that is as significant in its contribution, as rewarding in its service, and as defining in its impact as today's generation of lawyers.

Throughout its history, the School of Law has had a long and outstanding record of teaching, research, and service; alumni who have earned distinction in both the private and public sectors; and a commitment to making a difference at local, state, and national levels.

This is the tradition to which we have now had the opportunity to rededicate ourselves. It is also the tradition that makes clear why I am proud to have served as dean and why I plan to continue being a part of the great tradition of the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Burnele Venable Powell