Bill Johnson named dean of law school
William P. Johnson, professor and scholar of international business law, has been appointed dean of the Saint Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, Mo., effective Jan. 3, 2017. Johnson’s appointment follows a national and internal search that drew many qualified candidates.
Bill Johnson is a 1990 graduate of Staples Motley High School. His parents are Kenneth and Hope Johnson, of Leader.
Johnson’s wife is Kathleen O’Keefe Johnson, also a 1990 graduate of SMHS. Her parents are Jerry and MaryAnn O’Keefe, Staples. They have three children: Will, 18 a student at the University of Minnesota; Hope, 15; and Rose, 12.
Four of Johnson’s seven siblings live in the area: KaAnn Drone and Sue Johnson, Staples; Jim Johnson, Motley; and Gene Johnson, Leader. Siblings Kate Johnson and Karen Seaberg are in other parts of Minnesota and Janet Michlitsch is in North Dakota.
Johnson is currently a professor at the Saint Louis University law school and director of the school’s Center for International and Comparative Law. He also serves as director of the SLU Summer Law Program at the University’s Madrid campus in Spain.
He joined the SLU law faculty in 2012 after holding an appointment on the law faculty at the University of North Dakota. He has also been a visiting professor at law schools in Germany, Lithuania and Hungary. He graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
“We are fortunate to find such a bright, collaborative leader with a global view of legal education,” said University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D. “Bill is the right person to move the School of Law forward and he has strong support within the law school, where he has served on a number of important committees.”
“It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead the Saint Louis University School of Law and it is a responsibility I take very seriously,” said Johnson. “I am mindful that there are major challenges in legal education today facing every U.S. law school. There is hard work to do. But I have seen over and over how impressive and how dedicated to SLU our alumni are. I know how hard-working, responsible and accomplished the student body is. I am amazed every day at the brilliant accomplishments of my faculty and staff colleagues.
“I see terrific opportunities that come with being part of an outstanding university and I believe in our mission. I am proud to be part of this great institution, and I’m eager to continue the great work of the School of Law.”
Johnson will replace retiring Dean Michael Wolff, J.D., who has served as dean since 2013.
