A Conversation With Cynthia E. Nance
Cynthia E. Nance was appointed last year as dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, joining a small but elite club of Black law school deans.
An internationally recognized expert in international labor law, Nance is the first woman and the first African-American to lead the law school. She earned her bachelor’s from Chicago State University and her master’s and law degrees from the University of Iowa. Nance speaks with Diverse about Bar passage rates and the benefits of diversity.
DI: Can the dean really impact the direction of a law school, or is it the faculty and other entities that are the primary stakeholders?
CN: I think it’s a combination, but I do think the dean can have an impact. I think the faculty wants leadership. They want someone to help them get the institution to a new level. And so I really do think that you can, particularly if you are willing to say, ‘I don’t know everything, and I’m willing to listen to you, and let’s do this together.’
DI: One of the issues that continues to vex Black law students is the Bar passage rate. Are you planning to address this issue?
