G. Marcus Cole, the William F. Baxter-Visa International Professor of Law at Stanford University, has been appointed Joseph A. Matson Dean of the and professor of law at the University of Notre Dame by University President Cole succeeds Nell Jessup Newton, who is stepping down July 1 after serving 10 years as dean.
A leading scholar of the empirical law and economics of commerce and finance, Cole joined the Stanford faculty in 1997. He previously held two endowed chairs and served for five years as associate dean for curriculum and academic affairs. Before joining the Stanford Law faculty, Cole was an associate with the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown. He clerked for Judge Morris Sheppard Arnold in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
Cole currently teaches courses including bankruptcy, banking regulation, contracts and venture capital. His research explores the ways in which the world鈥檚 poor are using technology to overcome local government restrictions to solve community and societal problems.
鈥淧rofessor Cole brings to Notre Dame scholarly accomplishment, experience in academic leadership, an impressive set of international appointments and a concern for social inequities and the human impact of law,鈥� Father Jenkins said. 鈥淲e warmly welcome Professor Cole as the new dean of our Law 91视频.鈥�
Cole currently serves on the editorial board of the Cato Supreme Court Review, the academic advisory board of Bar-Bri and the advisory board of the Independent Institute鈥檚 Center on Culture and Civil Society. He is the former president of the board of directors of Rocketship Education, a national, nonprofit charter school network operating California鈥檚 most successful charter schools for low-income children. He also is a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th聽Circuit's聽Bankruptcy Judicial Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees of Bellarmine College Preparatory, the oldest Jesuit secondary school on the West Coast.
鈥淧rofessor Cole is an extraordinary person, teacher, scholar and leader who brings to this role a deep commitment to our Law 91视频鈥檚 mission, vision and values,鈥� said , Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at Notre Dame. 鈥淪earch committee members were uniformly impressed with his reputation for collegiality, as well as his global experience and involvement on issues ranging from social justice and equality to providing educational access for low-income children. We are pleased to welcome him to our University community and family.鈥�
Cole earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in applied economics from Cornell University and his juris doctorate at Northwestern University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business.
鈥淭o me, law is the noblest profession in the world,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淟awyers save lives, protect rights and grease the wheels of the economy. It has been the great honor of my life to train lawyers, and I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to help do so at one of the most important law schools in the world. As the needs of our society call for ethically and morally guided lawyers and leaders, Notre Dame will continue to answer that call.鈥�
Cole鈥檚 extensive legal and scholarly background includes serving as a national fellow at the Hoover Institution, and he is a fellow at the University of Amsterdam Center for Law and Economics. He has been a visiting professor at a number of institutions around the world, including the University of Amsterdam, the University of Vienna, Leiden University, Bucerius Law 91视频 in Hamburg, Germany, Northwestern University, Korea University and Peking University 91视频 of Transnational Law in Shenzhen, China.
Cole also has served on the boards of several civic and charitable organizations, including those of the Central Pacific Region of the Anti-Defamation League of B鈥檔ai B鈥檙ith and Businesses United in Investing, Lending and Development.
Burish praised the work of search committee members who recommended Cole.
鈥淐ommittee members worked tirelessly to identify, evaluate and recruit a strong slate of candidates for this important position,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e all owe them our gratitude.鈥�