Loyola Marymount University has appointed Brietta Clark as the new dean of its law school — the first woman to hold the position and also the first Black dean in the law school’s history.
Clark, the 19th dean of the LMU Loyola Law School, had served as interim dean since July.
“I am thrilled to welcome Brietta Clark as the new Fritz B. Burns Dean of LMU Loyola Law School,” LMU Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon said in a statement.
“Her unparalleled expertise, combined with her passion for advancing research and education and her commitment to diversity and inclusion, makes her an exceptional leader to propel our law school into a future of excellence and innovation.”
Since joining the law school faculty in 2001, Clark has been instrumental in developing and implementing the law school’s strategic vision, LMU said.
During her tenure, she served in numerous leadership roles in addition to interim dean, including associate dean for faculty from 2015-20. Clark also served as the co-chair of the Law School Strategic Planning Committee, chairing both the Tenure Review and Tenure-Track Appointments committees, helping to develop equitable practices in recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, according to the law school.
Clark’s research and public service have focused on inequity in the U.S. health care delivery and financing system, and she has assisted legal organizations and providers working to preserve access to essential health care services. She currently serves as a member of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Foundation Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board’s Advocacy Committee.
Before joining LLS, Clark specialized in health care transactions and regulatory compliance. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and her law degree from the USC Gould School of Law, where she was a postgraduate research fellow.