THE COLLEGE OF LAW WELCOMES DOUGLAS E. RAY AS ITS 16th DEAN

The University of Toledo College of Law, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has welcomed back former professor and associate dean Douglas E. Ray as its 16th dean.

Read full interview with Dean Ray

Dean Ray, who taught at UT Law from 1981 to 1998, looks forward to leading the College of Law into its second century, working with the community to continue the College’s steady climb.

“I accepted this position because I think the College of Law has a bright and positive future,” said Dean Ray. “My hope is to spend much of the next academic year working with the faculty, staff and alumni in a planning process to ensure that we make the most of our opportunities and continue the College’s progress.”

Dean Ray returns to UT Law following six and a half years of service as dean of the Widener University School of Law and as vice president of Widener University. At Widener, he was responsible for law school campuses in Wilmington, Del., and Harrisburg, Pa., with more than 1500 students.

As dean, one area of focus will be expanding opportunities for students to engage in public interest work, building upon the College’s rich heritage of clinical programs, as well as upon student enthusiasm for using their legal education to help others.

“The College’s clinic programs and public service externships give students the opportunity to serve the poor, learn practical skills, build confidence, and learn that a lawyer can make a big difference in a person’s life,” Dean Ray said.

President Lloyd Jacobs said he was delighted to welcome Dean Ray as the College’s newest leader.

“Doug Ray has the perfect mix of familiarity with our College, expertise in an important area of law, and willingness to lead in difficult times,” Dr. Jacobs said.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota and the Harvard Law School, Dean Ray has been an economist with the U.S. Department of Labor, a labor attorney with Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis, and a professor at the University of Richmond Law School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1970.

He has also been active in a number of professional and civic organizations including state and local bar associations and the Association of American Law Schools. He has served as chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools and is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators.

Dean Ray has taught and published extensively in the fields of labor law, employment discrimination law, and labor arbitration. His publications include two labor law treatises, Understanding Labor Law, and Labor Management Relations: Strikes, Lockouts and Boycotts. He has been a frequent speaker on national programs concerning labor and employment law and has appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.