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Kathleen Boozang will serve as Seton Hall Law School's new dean, replacing Patrick Hobbs. (Seton Hall University photo)
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SOUTH ORANGE — Seton Hall University named Kathleen Boozang as dean of its law school Monday, 25 years after the veteran professor joined the school.
Boozang will take over the Newark-based law school in July, university officials said. She will replace Patrick Hobbs, who is stepping down after 16 years to return to teaching after taking a year-long sabbatical.
Word that Boozang would get the job leaked out last week after Hobbs sent an email to the Seton Hall law school faculty. But the university waited until today to make the formal announcement.
"Professor Boozang is deeply dedicated to students and faculty, as well as the community which Seton Hall Law serves. She embodies Seton Hall Law's mission, which makes her the perfect choice as our next dean," said Larry Robinson, the university's provost.
Boozang is currently the university's associate dean for academic advancement and a law professor. She helped launch and direct the law school's health and pharmaceutical law center.
"It is a great honor to be named the next Dean of Seton Hall Law School," Boozang said. "I will continue our drive to be a leader in legal education, preparing our law and graduate students with the knowledge and skill sets necessary to embrace the emerging opportunities in today's global market."
Boozang is the third woman to serve as Seton Hall's law dean. Miriam Rooney was the school's first dean in 1951. Elizabeth Defeis, still a professor at the school, served as dean for five years in the 1980s.
Seton Hall did not release Boozang's salary. Hobbs earned $424,853 in total compensation from Seton Hall as dean in 2011, according to the university's most recently available tax filing.
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