Dean Jennifer Bard Placed on Leave at the University of Cincinnati College of Law

On July 1, 2015, Jennifer S. Bard became dean of the College of Law at the University of Cincinnati. She is the first woman dean in the 184-year history of the law school.

But by the end of 2016, many faculty members had become disenchanted with Dean Bard’s leadership with some calling for her removal. Apparently, some faculty members were not pleased with the dean’s cost-cutting measures. In a statement Dean Bard said that she had been hired “with the express written expectation that my principal responsibility was to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the very considerable financial deficit at the College of Law.” After some faculty members voiced concerns about the effort, an agreement was made to bring in a mediator to address the faculty’s concerns.

Now, the interim provost at the university has placed Dean Bard on administrative leave. He stated that he would formulate a transition plan for the college. Dean Bard stated that she is currently evaluating her legal options.

Before becoming dean of the College of Law at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Bard was the Alvin R. Allison Professor of Law and special assistant to the provost at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. There, she was the director of the JD/MD program. Professor Bard is a graduate of Wellesley College in Massachusetts and Yale Law School. She holds a master of public health degree from the University of Connecticut and a doctorate in higher education from Texas Tech University.