By Brian Bohl

The University School of Law named its new dean two weeks ago, tapping Aaron D. Twerski to take the helm of one of the University’s rapidly growing schools. The adjustment from professor to dean can be formidable, as former University Professor David Yellen can attest to.

Yellen was the preceding dean, serving from 2001 through 2004. While free of the massive administration responsibilities, Yellen has still remained active since he stepped down from the top post of the law school last year. He served as a full-time professor of criminal law and sentence reforming at the University last semester and is currently working as a visiting professor at the New York Law School. The distinguished Max Schmertz Professor of Law is enjoying the latest challenge in an eminent career, but also looks back on his University days with a fond recollection.

“Being dean was a very exciting and rewarding job,” Yellen said. “I loved my time as dean of Hofstra.”

If Twerski’s experience is in any way similar to that of his antecedent, it will take some time for him to be fully acquainted with the promotion. Deans face a slew of new responsibilities that regular professors do not normally need to concern themselves with. A premium is put on delegating responsibility and ensuring that all administration duties are addressed.

“Going from professor to dean was a big adjustment,” Yellen said. “Being a law school dean is like managing a business and most of us in academia have little training in management.”

After spending over 16 years as part of the University’s faculty, Yellen finally has cut back his schedule. The position of visiting professor means more flexibility and more time to pursue other endeavors.

“I stepped down because I was commuting from the Philadelphia area and it was time to spend more time with my family,” Yellen said.

Serving as a visiting professor will not be an entirely new experience for Yellen. He served in that capacity in the spring of 2000, when he was a visiting instructor at Cornell Law School.  

The New York Law School post is just another step in a very prominent career. Prior to joining the University in 1988, Yellen served as staff counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives. He also worked as a law clerk for Arlen C. Beam of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Professor Yellen is renowned for his work on federal sentencing law. His works have been published in many prominent journals, such as the Northwestern Law Review, Southern California Law Review and Minnesota Law Review.