Jeff Dobbins joined the Willamette Law faculty in 2006. Since that time he has served as interim dean, associate dean, chair of numerous faculty committees, and as a dedicated teacher and scholar. Now, he is preparing to bring his years of experience on the faculty, plus his years of practice in the public and private sectors, to his role as the 23rd Dean of Willamette Law.
With nearly two decades of service to Willamette, Dobbins is well-positioned to lead the law school into its next chapter. Willamette University president Steve Thorsett shares, "After serving the institution in various capacities with distinction for nearly 20 years, I am pleased that Jeff has agreed to serve as dean of Willamette Law. Jeff’s deep commitment to our institution, combined with his exceptional legal scholarship and teaching excellence, makes him the ideal person to lead Willamette Law into the future.”
Deep connection to Oregon and Willamette
Dobbins’ roots run deep at Willamette, and he has long held an admiration for the school. Growing up in Oregon, he has fond memories of attending speech and debate tournaments on the Willamette campus throughout high school. When the chance to join the faculty at Willamette Law arose, he seized the opportunity without hesitation and has never looked back.
“Willamette’s strong foundation, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, has always stood out to me,” he says. “I appreciate the school’s deep connection to the State of Oregon and its Capitol just across the road, and its long history in the legal community of the state.”
Throughout his career, his admiration for the school has only grown stronger. He has enjoyed watching the University as a whole grow and change over the years to best meet the needs of students.
“The times I have most appreciated at the law school are those spent in meetings with faculty, talking with staff, or connecting with alumni, all with a focus on how to improve and advance our institution for the betterment of students,” Dobbins shares. “There is a strong commitment at Willamette to our students and a collective drive and creativity that I find motivating.”
The teaching dean
As a professor, Dobbins thrives on encouraging students to think of the law in new and innovative ways. He enjoys pushing students to take the knowledge they learn in class and turn it into practical tools for legal practice. He has taught an array of courses, including Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Native American Law, and seminars in specialized areas of appellate process. During each of these courses, he says the one constant is how rewarding it is to watch students grow and learn in their understanding of complex legal theories and how they think about being practicing attorneys.
As he begins his role as dean, one thing is certain: Dobbins will continue to teach. He views it as an important connection point for students while also keeping him grounded in what brought him to the law school in the first place.
“There is a long tradition of deans teaching here,” he shares, “which makes our law school unique.”
A vision for the future of Willamette Law
Over the last year as interim dean, Dobbins focused on maintaining the school’s positive momentum while encouraging a culture of creativity and continuous improvement. He focused on enhancing programs that were going well, while finding spaces to add his unique perspective and value, always with a focus on bettering the school for the students.
Looking to the future, Dobbins shares, “I want to keep thinking about how to continue improving Willamette Law, specifically when it comes to supporting our students. We have a strong foundation, and we intend to continue building on that.”
In particular, Dobbins plans to focus on student outcomes by emphasizing bar passage and attorney licensure while also continuing the school’s strong career placement results. His goal over the upcoming years is to ensure that every student who enters the law school is given the education and support to be transformed into an excellent practicing attorney - while also enjoying the process of learning about the law.
“Law school can be rigorous, but it is also a time of intellectual growth and curiosity. I want our law school to prepare attorneys for excellence while also reminding our students to enjoy the process and have fun exploring new and interesting legal concepts,” expresses Dobbins.
Beyond campus, Dobbins hopes to both emphasize and expand the law school’s role in the broader Oregon legal community. Willamette Law has alums who are amongst some of the most prominent and involved members of the Oregon State Bar, and Dobbins plans to build off of that reputation by continuing to cement the law school’s active involvement in the local community. He will encourage faculty to continue to produce relevant and timely scholarship that will directly impact the state, and will also host events, trainings, and activities that encourage an exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Both locally and regionally, Dobbins is focused on setting the law school up for long term success. Viewing his role as a steward, his aim is to “leave the place better than it is today and make it as great as possible for the people that are coming next.”
The Willamette Law community is looking forward to the work that Dobbins plans to do as he begins his tenure as dean. Longtime colleague, Professor and Dean Emeritus Symeon Symeonides shares, “I have known Jeff for twenty years, and I am thrilled that his talents and accomplishments are recognized in this way. Jeff is truly brilliant, but he doesn’t always show it. He has no ego problem. He is principled, empathetic, diplomatic, and extremely hard working. It is as if he was born for the dean’s job. We are very lucky to have him as our new leader.”
As he begins his time as Dean, Dobbins wants students, faculty, staff and alumni to know his door is always open and he is available for conversation.
